CHAP. LIII.
THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF PROVINS IN BRIE ARE WON BY THE ENGLISH AND BURGUNDIANS.—THE FRENCH RECONQUER THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF ST VALERY.
About this time, the town and castle of Provins in Brie was won by scalado, from the French, by the English and Burgundians. Their principal captains on this expedition were sir John Raillart, Mando de Lussach, Thomas Girard, governor of Montereau-faut-Yonne, Richard Huçon, and others, with about four hundred combatants. The leader of the scalers was one called Grosse-tête.
The castle was gained at five o'clock in the morning, although the governor de Gueraines, with five hundred fighting men, defended themselves most valiantly for the space of eight hours, to the great loss of the assailants, who had six score or more killed, and in the number was a gallant english man at arms called Henry de Hungerford. The town and castle were, however, conquered and pillaged, and the greater part of the French put to death. The governor, perceiving all hopes of success were vain, escaped with some others. The command of the place was afterward given to the lord de la Grange.
In the beginning of the month of January, the partisans of king Charles regained the town and castle of St Valery, under the command of Charlot du Marests, governor of Rambures, through the negligence of the guards. It had been intrusted to the care of Robert de Saveuses, but he was then absent,—and there was such a mortality in the town that few ventured to reside therein: the bastard de Fiennes, his lieutenant, with others were made prisoners, and the whole country of Ponthieu was in great alarm at this event. Philip de la Tour was also a principal commander on this expedition with Charlot du Marests.