THE COUNT DE RICHEMONT, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, GAINS THE TOWN OF MEAUX IN BRIE FROM THE ENGLISH.
WHILE these things were passing, Arthur of Brittany count de Richemont and constable of France, collected about four thousand combatants, under the command of La Hire, Floquet, the lord de Torcy, sir Giles de Saint Simon, and other french captains, as well from Champagne as from other parts, whom he marched about the beginning of July before the town of Meaux in Brie, then in the possession of the English.
He first fixed his quarters at Champ-commun[42], which is a very large village, and, shortly after, erected a blockhouse, fronting the gate of Saint Remy at Meaux, and lodged his men in the convent of the Cordeliers at St Faron-les-Meaux, and in other places near. He erected another blockhouse on the island opposite the town,—and one was placed by sir Denis de Chailly at the gate of Cormillon, leading toward Brie. Five others were afterwards erected on two islands near the court of Supletes, and opposite to the market-place, all of which were filled with men at arms.
Several large engines were also pointed against the gates and walls, which damaged them greatly. Having continued these attacks on the place for about three weeks, the constable consulted his officers and determined to storm the town, for which the men were very eager,—and it was won with but little loss to the assailants. The bastard de Thian was made prisoner in the town, who was instantly beheaded together with another gentleman called Carbonnel de Haule, and some others. The besieged lost about sixty men,—and from forty to fifty were made prisoners on their retreat to the market-place. The constable now quartered himself and the greater part of his army in the town of Meaux, leaving, however, very strong garrisons in the blockhouses.
The chief commanders for the English in the market-place of Meaux were sir William Chamberlain, sir John Ripley and others, with about five hundred combatants. Prior to the siege, they had sent information to the government at Rouen of the intentions of the French to besiege them, and required to be reinforced as speedily as possible.
The earl of Cambridge, at that time governor of the duchy of Normandy for the king of England, accompanied by sir John Talbot, the lord Falconbridge, sir Richard Woodville, and other english captains, with about four thousand fighting men, began their march from Rouen to raise this siege, and arrived before the town of Meaux. The constable, hearing of their intentions, had, however, withdrawn into the town before they came all his men and stores; and lucky it was, for had they remained in the field great mischiefs must have happened on both sides,—for the English desired nothing more than to fight the French.
They made many proposals to the constable to this effect,—but he refused to listen to them, or consent to a general action. Several skirmishes, however, took place, in one of which the English gained from the French twenty boats laden with provision; and in another quarter a blockhouse, under the command of the lord de Moy, was abandoned.
The English attacked and took one of the blockhouses, on the island opposite to the market-place, in which from a hundred to six score French were slain, and the rest made prisoners. After various attempts, finding the French unwilling to combat them, and that it was impossible to hurt them in their present situation, they made preparations to return to Normandy the same way they had come, after having revictualled their countrymen in the castle of the market-place.
When they were departed, the constable renewed his attacks on the market-place with greater vigour, and with so many engines that after three weeks sir William Chamberlain capitulated to surrender the place, on having the lives and fortunes of the garrison spared. When this treaty was concluded, the English marched to Rouen, under passports; but on their arrival, their commander was much reproached for his surrender of Meaux which was so well provided with stores and provision, and was one of the strongest places of France: he was committed to prison in the castle of Rouen,—but, after some time, he found means of excusing himself to the lords of his party, who set him at liberty.
At this period, a gentleman named Jean de la Fange attached to the constable, was beheaded and quartered, on being convicted of holding communications with the English, to the prejudice of the king of France and his realm. A sergeant of the Châtelet was also quartered with this Jean de la Fange.