THE EARL OF SOMERSET BESIEGES HARFLEUR WITH A POWERFUL ARMY OF ENGLISH.
ABOUT the end of April, in this year, six thousand english combatants were assembled near to Rouen, under the command of the earls of Somerset, of Dorset[60], and of Falconbridge, they having with them the lord Talbot, sir Francis the Arragonian, Matago, Jacquemin, Vacquier, Thomas Heniton, the bailiff of Rouen, and some other captains, who marched thence, and besieged Harfleur by sea and land.
The governor for the king of France was John d'Estouteville, having with him his brother Robert and others, to the amount of four hundred fighting men, who, with the townsmen and sailors, made every preparation to receive their adversaries with courage. They strengthened every weak part of the fortifications, and made some sallies, in which they took prisoners, or slew several of their adversaries.
The besiegers on their side, were not idle in securing their camp with deep ditches all round, and with strong hedges, to prevent any surprise, leaving, at proper intervals, openings for their own convenience to sally forth. They pointed bombards, and other destructive engines, against the gates of Harfleur, which harrassed the town much, and for so long a time that the inhabitants suffered greatly. They were also oppressed by a famine, caused from a want of all necessaries. They sent several messengers to king Charles to state their situation and solicit succour, which he promised to send: but, from the many weighty affairs on his hands, he was unable to do it so soon as they required.
However, at the end of about four months that this siege had lasted, and when the countess of Somerset and other ladies and damsels were come thither to see the conclusion of it, the count d'Eu was ordered to march, with the promised succour, to the relief of the town. He had with him the count de Dunois bastard of Orleans, the bastard de Bourbon, the lord de Gaucourt, La Hire, sir Giles de St Simon, the lord de Penerach, Pierre de Broussac, and other experienced captains, with about four thousand combatants.
John d'Estouteville had in the town about four hundred fighting men, whose captains were John de Bressay, sir James de Hincourt, Hector de Fol, Guillot de Las and John Gentil. The succours sent him were all picked men: they marched through the country near Paris, then suddenly turned toward Amiens and Corbie, where they crossed the river Somme, and thence through Ponthieu, came to Abbeville, where they held a council on their future proceedings. As they marched through Picardy, they were joined by all the vassals of the lords d'Auxi and de Humieres, John d'Ailly lord of Araines, Guillaume le Jeune lord of Cousay[61], and many other gentlemen.
When they had fully deliberated in a general council how they should act, they caused thirty carts to be laden with artillery, provision and warlike stores, and then left Abbeville in handsome array, and marched to Eu[62]. The bastard of Bourbon and La Hire commanded the vanguard. From Eu they marched to quarter the greater part of their force at Le Bourg-d'Un[63],—and the count was lodged at St Aubin en Caux[64]; but this same day, about vespers, the lord de Gaucourt, having remained behind, was made prisoner by about eighteen English, who had watched his steps, and carried him off to the castle of Neufchâtel[65] de Hincourt He afterwards regained his liberty, on paying a large sum of money for his ransom.
The count d'Eu had intelligence while at St Aubin, that the English had taken master John de la Motte, whom he had sent to inform the garrison of Harfleur of the relief he was bringing them; and this very day, the English sent pursuivants to say, that they would advance to combat the French before they proceeded further,—which, however, they did not do. On this account, the French advanced their whole force to Fauville en Caux[66], two leagues nearer their adversaries. On the morrow, at day-break, they marched to Montivilliers[67], which was under their obedience, and there learnt for certain that the English had not broken up their siege.
This day the count d'Eu went to reconnoitre the enemy, escorted by about one hundred chosen horsemen mounted on the flower of their cavalry, when some sharp skirmishing took place between them and a party of English. On his return, he called a council of his ablest captains, to consider how they should act,—and they lamented the loss of the lord de Gaucourt, who, from his great experience in such matters, would have ably advised them. It was resolved in this council, that the count should embark with a certain number of combatants, and attack the enemy on the side of Caux; that the bastard of Orleans should do so, with another detachment, on the opposite side; and that the Picards should advance on foot, with pontoons to throw over the ditches which the english had made round their camp; and that all these operations should commence as nearly as possible at the same instant of time. La Hire and the rest of the captains were to remain on horseback with their men, ready to succour those that might stand in need of support.
When these orders had been given, every one made his preparations for executing them on the ensuing day. The attack first commenced on the quarters of the lord Talbot, and was very sharp, lasting for more than half an hour; but the assailants, though they fought valiantly, made little impression, from the superior resistance of the English, and because their pontoons were too short for them to cross the ditches. On the other hand, the enemy was advantageously posted,—and their archers, who were very numerous, shot so well and briskly that they wounded and killed great numbers with their arrows. Among the slain were two valiant knights, sir John de Chailly, lord of Chambois, and sir Harpin de Richames, governor of Rue[68], and a few more.
At this attack, some new french knights were made,—such as John d'Ailly, Guillaume le Jeune, and others. While this was going forward, the English to the amount of five hundred, charged the infantry, but were soon repulsed by the cavalry, with the loss of forty or fifty slain. The garrison now made a sally on the guard before the gate, and killed about thirty.
The count d'Eu made a fruitless attempt with his men on the side near the sea, for the English had so strongly fortified every point where he could land that it was labour in vain; and after losing some of their vessels, which had grounded, they retreated to Montivilliers. The infantry likewise retreated thither, finding that they could not gain any advantage.
The French remained eight days at Montivilliers, in great want of provisions for themselves and their horses, waiting to see if they could any way afford assistance to the besieged,—and during this time many skirmishes took place. The count d'Eu sent proposals to the earl of Somerset, to decide the raising of the siege on a personal combat with him, or of one hundred men against a hundred Englishmen; but neither was accepted, because the earl knew full well that the garrison and inhabitants were so much distressed by famine that they must, within a few days, surrender at discretion. The earl and the other captains considered also the very great expence their king had been at for this siege, and, when so near gaining their object, would not put the risk of losing it to the chance of a battle, at the request of their adversaries.
The French then, from their great want of victual, and from the superior numbers of the English, seeing the impossibility of relieving the town, concluded unanimously to return whence they had come as speedily as they could. They were forced to this from want of food for themselves and their horses, which was not to be had for any consideration; but, before their departure, they requested a passport from the enemy for the lord de Rambures, which was granted.
The lord de Rambures then went to the english camp to treat for the surrender of Harfleur,—and the French and Picards, in the mean time, retreated to Abbeville. On their march, they were met by certain messengers from the duke of Burgundy, to forbid them entering his territories, by reason of the great damages they had done when passing through them before, threatening that if they should set foot in them he would drive them back by force.
They promised not to touch the duke's lands,—but a few broke their word, and entered Ponthieu, drawing toward Amiens, and committed great damages; but the counts d'Estampes and de St Pol, having collected a large force of men at arms, attacked and repulsed them.
Some skirmishes took place on each side; but at length, for certain considerations, they promised to withdraw from the duke's territories and make for Santois, and for the lands of sir John de Luxembourg, threatening to carry thither fire and sword. Sir John was, however, so well provided with troops to resist them that they were happy to pass quietly through his possessions,—for the count de St Pol was hard on their rear, with a very numerous body of men, ready to succour his uncle should there be any need of it. They advanced into Champagne, doing great waste to all the poor people whose countries they passed through, and who were unable to oppose them.
The lord de Rambures concluded a treaty with the earl of Somerset and the other english captains for the surrender of Harfleur, that the inhabitants might depart in safety, each with a white staff in his hand. In like manner was Montivilliers reduced, for it was forced to surrender from want of provisions.