CHAP. XCV.
THE ENGLISH SUSPECT THE BURGUNDIANS WHO ARE WAGING WAR WITH THEM AGAINST THE KING OF FRANCE: THEY NO LONGER CONVERSE OR KEEP COMPANY WITH THEM.—OTHER MATTERS BRIEFLY SPOKEN OF.
When the English in France were perfectly assured that a treaty had taken place between the duke of Burgundy and king Charles, they became very suspicious of the Burgundians, and guarded as much against them as they had done before against the French. Notwithstanding they had been on the greatest intimacy together, they had no longer confidence in each other,—and although there was no open warfare between them, the English and Burgundians were mutually taking measures in secret to gain advantages over each other.
The English guarding the frontier toward Calais even attempted to take the town of Ardres by surprise,—and the Burgundians in Ponthieu made a similar attempt in regard to the castle of Crotoy, keeping outwardly fair appearances. Each were, however, much displeased at these attempts, and made preparations for open war.
During this time, La Hire was quartered at Gerberoy;[24] and, in conjunction with Poton de Saintrailles and sir Regnault de Fontaines, collected about six hundred combatants, whom they led toward Rouen, in the hope of entering that town by means of friends within it,—but they failed in their enterprise. They and their men, being much tired, retreated to a large village, called Le Bois, to refresh themselves, but not without sir Thomas Kiriel, and the other English captains in Rouen, gaining intelligence thereof. He and his companions therefore speedily armed, and fell on the French at this village unexpectedly, with about a thousand combatants, who soon put them to the rout; for the French had not time to mount their horses, nor draw up in battle-array.
The greater part fled the way they had come,—but a few of their leaders, attempting to rally them, were conquered by the English. Among the prisoners were the lords de Fontaines, Alain Geron, Alardin de Monssay, Jean de Bordes, Garnarde and many others, to the amount of upward of sixty. Eight or ten only were killed: the rest saved themselves by flight. La Hire was wounded, and lost his equipage. The English gained almost all their horses,—for the greater part dismounted, and escaped into a wood hard by.
At this time, king Henry of England sent an embassy to the emperor of Germany; but the ambassadors, passing through Brabant, were arrested by the officers of the duke of Burgundy: they were, however, as I was informed, soon set at liberty, because the king of England and the duke had not declared war against each other. About this time also, by the exertions of sir John de Vergy, and some French captains under him, the English were driven out of the two strong towns they held in Champagne, on the frontiers of Bar, namely, Nogent le Roi and Montigny.
In like manner, those of Pontoise surrendered their town into the hands of the lord de l'Isle-Adam, which had before been under the command of the English; for though this lord de l'Isle-Adam had carried on the war for the English, and had even been made marshal of France by king Henry, within a short time he had turned against him. The English lost also the castle of Vincennes, and other places they held in the Isle de France, and now began to perceive how much they suffered from the duke of Burgundy having quitted them, and from his union with France. They therefore conceived a greater hatred against him and his friends than against their ancient enemies the French.