CHAP. XCIV.
THE FRENCH OVERRUN AND PILLAGE THE COUNTRY OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AFTER THE PEACE OF ARRAS.—THE MARSHAL DE RIEUX TAKES MANY TOWNS AND CASTLES FROM THE ENGLISH IN NORMANDY.
When the French ambassadors were returned to king Charles, and had shown him the treaty they had concluded at Arras with the duke of Burgundy, by which, among other articles, the duke acknowledged the king as his sovereign lord, he was much pleased, and ordered peace to be proclaimed in all the usual places.
Soon after, the French in the town of Rue marched away,—and the government of it was given up to the commissaries of the duke of Burgundy. Another party of French, however, collected in Santerre, and in the Amiennois, where they plundered many places belonging to the duke of Burgundy and his friends: they even robbed all they met in those parts, nobles and others. The duke, therefore, ordered some troops to march against these marauders, who, hearing of it, retreated from that country.
The English at this period laid siege to the bridge of Meulan, which the French had lately won, but, from some obstacles that arose, gave it up. In another quarter, the marshal de Rieux and Charles des Marêts gained the town of Dieppe, and some others in Normandy, in the following manner.
Soon after the conclusion of the peace at Arras, several valiant French captains, such as the marshal de Rieux, Gaucher de Boussach, the lord de Longueval, and others, having with them from three to four hundred tried soldiers, marched, by the invitation of Charles des Marêts, on the Friday preceding All-saints-day, to escalade the strong town of Dieppe, seated on the sea-coast, and in the plentiful country of Caux. Charles des Marêts entered the town secretly, with about six hundred combatants, on the side toward the harbour, and thence hastened to destroy the gate leading toward Rouen,—by which the marshal watered with his men at arms on foot, and with displayed banners.
It was about day-break when they arrived at the market-place, shouting out, 'Town won!' which cry greatly surprised the inhabitants, who began to shoot and to throw stones from the house-tops. As there were many in the town and on board of the vessels in the harbour, the French waited until nine or ten o'clock before they began to attack the houses,—but they were all won, with little loss to the French.
The lieutenant-governor, Mortimer, fled with many others of the English, but the lord de Bloseville was taken. At the first onset, only three or four of the English garrison were killed,—but several were made prisoners, with all those who had supported their party. The property of the inhabitants was confiscated, excepting, however, those willing to take the oaths of fidelity and allegiance to king Charles.
There were in the harbour numbers of vessels, the greater part of which fell into the hands of the French. The day the town was taken, proclamation was made for all foreigners to leave it, except such as were willing to take the oaths,—and Charles des Marêts was unanimously appointed governor for the king of France.
The whole of the English throughout Normandy were greatly troubled and vexed at this capture, and not without cause, for the town of Dieppe was wonderous strong and excellently situated in one of the most fertile parts of that country.
Shortly after, a body of French cavalry, to the amount of from three to four thousand, arrived at Dieppe and in the neighbourhood, under the command of Anthony de Chabannes, Blanchefort, Poton le Bourguignon, Pierre Regnault and other captains. They were soon joined by Poton de Saintrailles, John d'Estouteville, Robinet his brother, the lord de Montrieul Bellay, with other noble lords and commanders. To them came also a leader of the common people, called Le Kirennier, with about four thousand of the norman peasantry, who united themselves with the French forces, and took oaths, in the presence of the marshal de Rieux, to wage a perpetual warfare against the English.
When these troops had been properly arranged, they took the field in good array on Christmas-eve, and marched to Fécamp,[23] which by means of the lord de Milleville was surrendered to the marshal, on promise of remaining unmolested. John d'Estouteville was made governor thereof; and on the morrow of Christmas-day the army advanced to Monstier Villiers, which was also surrendered by a Gascon called Jean du Puys, who had been placed there by the English. The marshal made a person called Courbenton its governor.
The successes were now increasing on all sides in Normandy,—and many of the nobles took the oaths of fidelity to the marshal. The army was now marched to Harfleur, and made on it a vigorous assault; but they were repulsed by the garrison, with the loss of forty of their men killed,—the principal of whom were the lord de Monstrieul-Bellay and the bastard de Langle.
The marshal had determined to renew the attack on the morrow; but the townsmen concluded a treaty to surrender, on condition that the four hundred English in the place should depart in safety with their baggage and property. The English captain, called William Minors, conducted his men and baggage out of the town,—and the inhabitants took the oaths of allegiance.
At the same time, the following towns surrendered to the king's obedience, Le Bec Crespin, Tancarville, Gomerville, Les Loges, Valmont, Grasville, Longueville, Lambreville, and very many forts, with little loss to the French.
The count de Richemont, constable of France, now joined this army, to whom, on his arrival, the towns and castles of Charles-Maisnil, Aumarle, St Germain sur Cailly, Fontaines le bourg, Préaux, Blainville and others, surrendered, in all of which garrisons were placed; and thus, at this season, was the greater part of the country of Caux conquered by the French. It is true, that they were forced from want of provision to leave these parts,—but their captains, before they departed, posted strong garrisons along the frontier.
Charles des Marêts and Richarville were present at all these conquests: they took the field from Dieppe, and joined the marshal de Rieux, the lord de Torsy, Poton le Bourguignon, Broussart, Blanchefort, John d'Estouteville, and other captains renowned in war. To them, likewise, attached himself Le Kerennier with six thousand of the peasantry, to accomplish their work of driving the English out of the country.