CHAP. LXXII.
THE FRENCH GAIN THE TOWN OF RUE FROM THE ENGLISH.
In the beginning of the month of May, sir John de Bressay, lieutenant to the marshal de Rieux, Bertrand Martel, William Braquemont, the lord de Longueval, Charles de Marêts, and others of king Charles's party, assembled a body of well tried men at arms, amounting to about three hundred. They crossed the Somme during the night at Blanchetaque, and advanced to the town of Rue, which they entered by scalado, and gained complete possession without meeting with much resistance.
The noise they made awakened the garrison; and seven or eight Englishmen retreated to a bulwark which they defended for some time,—but in the end it was taken by storm, and part of the defenders were put to death: the rest saved their lives on paying a large ransom. Many of the inhabitants were made prisoners, and others escaped over the walls.
The town was completely plundered; and the countries of Ponthieu, Artois, Boulogne, and others in that neighbourhood, were in great alarms, when they learnt that the enemy was so near them, and so well supplied with all sorts of stores and provision. These alarms were well founded, for, shortly after, having increased their numbers, they overran all those parts, committing infinite mischiefs by fire and sword. They even one day made an excursion toward Boulogne, so far as Samer-au-bois, when they took many prisoners, and great numbers of horses and cattle.
On their return, they burnt the town of Estaples, wherein were many handsome houses,—and continued these excursions from Rue, doing every sort of mischief to the farmers of those countries. However, in one of the expeditions near to Montrieul, sir John de Bressay, Harpin, and de Richammes, were made prisoners; and at another time were taken the little Blanchefort and one of the bastards de Reully,—and on these accounts the country suffered the more.