THE DUKE OF YORK, GOVERNOR OF NORMANDY FOR THE KING OF ENGLAND MARCHES AN ARMY TO PONTOISE, TO FORCE THE KING OF FRANCE TO RAISE THE SIEGE.
THE duke of York, commander in chief and lieutenant-general for king Henry in the marches of France and Normandy, had assembled from six to seven thousand combatants,—among whom were the lord Scales, the lord Talbot, sir Richard Woodville, who had married the duchess of Bedford, sister to Louis de Luxembourg count of St Pol, and many other captains, then at Rouen, but whose names I have not been told. There were likewise collected a large train of carts and horses, laden with artillery and provision, together with a great number of live cattle.
The duke of York began his march about the middle of July, and in a few days, came near to Pontoise, the lord Talbot commanding the vanguard of three thousand men. The duke fixed his quarters at Cheuery[94], half a league from Pontoise; and the van were lodged at Hetonville[95] where they remained for three days and reinforced and revictualled Pontoise most abundantly.
When this was done, the duke sent to tell the king, that he was come to offer him and his army combat, if he would give him an opportunity. But the king was not inclined to comply; for his council had repeated the advice they had given on other occasions, that he would act imprudently to risk his army and person against men of such low degree,—adding, that the battles that had formerly taken place with the English during his reign had cost him too dearly, and that it was more advisable to let them for this time run their career and guard the fords of the river, for that the English could not long remain where they were without danger from want of provisions for so large a force.
This resolution was adopted,—and many captains, with their men, were detached along the river Oise, even farther than Beaumont[96] and the king and the rest of his army remained in their quarters.
The English, finding they would not hazard a battle, resolved, if possible, to cross the Oise and advance into the isle of France, and even attack the king's quarters. They decamped therefore on the fourth day from their arrival, and marched in a body to Chanville-haut-Vergier[97]; but as they heard that all the passes on the river were guarded, they determined to execute their plan by night, and they had with them on carts small boats of leather and wood, with cords and other necessaries. They ordered a large detachment to advance to Beaumont, under pretence of their crossing the river and to make a prodigious noise, that the guards at the other passes might be, drawn off to resist their attempt at Beaumont, while the remainder of the army should proceed silently along the river to find out a proper place to cross.
A place was found according to their wish, opposite to the abbey of Beaumont, whence the guards had gone; for all the soldiers near were attracted by the noise at Beaumont, as it had been planned by the English, who, when they saw numbers had been collected, pretended to make an attempt to force a passage, which was quite impracticable should any tolerable defence be made.
The other party of English now launched a boat into the river, and with difficulty three or four passed over, when, having fastened two strong cords to each bank with staves of wood between them, from forty to fifty crossed by this means, and instantly fortified themselves with sharpened palisades, as was their usual custom.
Now, consider the extreme danger the first party that crossed would have been in had only ten Frenchmen staid to guard this pass, who would easily have defended it against the whole power of the duke of York; and this may serve for an example to those who are intrusted with similar commands, never to place any guards but such as they know may be depended on, and such as will have a proper regard to their own honour,—for by neglect the greatest misfortunes may happen.
Shortly after, the men of Floquet, who had had this part of the river in charge, returning from Beaumont, whither they had gone on hearing the shoutings of the English, noticed them crossing the river, and instantly gave the alarm, along the banks, as far as Beaumont, where the greater part of their captains were quartered. They lost no time in mounting their horses, and hastened to where the English were, intending to combat them; but it was lost labour, for they were too numerous, although some skirmishing passed between them.
In these skirmishes, a very valiant man was slain, called William du Châtel, nephew to sir Tanneguy du Châtel, and with him two or three more.
On this bridge of cords the English conveyed over their baggage, carts and stores; and when the French saw that they could not prevent them, they retreated to Pontoise, to inform the king of what had passed, who was greatly displeased at the intelligence. Some of his council, being fearful of the event turning out more disastrous and to their greater shame, had all the artillery and stores moved into the large blockhouse of St Martin, and made every preparation for immediately decamping with the whole army, should it become necessary.
The English, having passed the Oise at their ease, lodged that night on the spot, and there created some new knights,—such as the two brothers of lord Stafford, one of whom styled himself count d'Eu[98]. On the morrow, they dislodged, and marched in handsome order toward Pontoise, and were quartered in two villages. The king, on receiving intelligence of the approach of the English, was advised to remove his quarters from Maubuisson, and march his whole army to Poissy[99], with the reserve of those in the great blockhouse, to the amount of two or three thousand combatants, under the command of the lord de Coetivy, admiral of France. He had also with him La Hire, Joachim Rohault, John d'Estouteville and his brother Robinet, sir Robert de Bethune lord of Moreul in Brie, the lord de Châtillon, the lord de Moyencourt, Regnault de Longueval, the lord de la Roche-Guyon, the lord de Moy in the Beauvoisis, and other gentlemen of renown.
Those who had been sent from Tournay remained there likewise, and great plenty of provision and stores of all sorts had been carried thither. The king, on his departure, had promised to relieve them so soon as possible. With regard to the bulwark at the end of the bridge, the French had abandoned it.
The duke of York continued his march to Maubuisson, but arrived after the king's departure. He found great abundance of provision and other things, which the merchants had not had time to remove. The duke fixed his quarters there, and lord Talbot at a town a league distant, on the Oise, between the towns of Pontoise and Conflans. They remained there for three days, and went into Pontoise by the bridge which the garrison had repaired, as well as the bulwark that had been abandoned, without any opposition whatever from the French; and those of the town went in and out at their pleasure, without hinderance.
The French in the blockhouse were every day expecting and hoping for an attack, as they were determined to defend themselves well; but the English had no thoughts of risking the attempt, considering that their affairs were growing worse, and that they could not foresee the end of them. The enemy, however, threatened to attack them, but offered to let them march away in safety, with part of their baggage,—which, like men of sense, they ought gladly to have accepted of, since their king had abandoned them in such danger. But they had no such inclination, and replied, that they would not accept of terms, as they were not afraid of their attempts. While this kind of parley was going forward, several skirmishes took place, but more between the archers than with any others.
On the fourth day, the duke of York dislodged from Maubuisson, and marched to the quarters of Talbot, who had made a bridge over the Oise with cords and hurdles, on which full fifty cars and carts crossed that river. On this same day, Poton de Saintrailles had left Poissy, accompanied by a numerous escort, with provisions to revictual the blockhouse of St Martin. He was followed by the constable, the count de St Pol, and other captains, to support him, should there be occasion. Having learnt that the English had recrossed the river, they sent orders to Poton to hasten his return,—but he sent back the messenger, to tell them to cross the river at Meulan, and return to Poissy on the other side, which they did.
The duke of York, having recrossed the Oise, advanced his whole army in battle-array before Poissy, wherein were the king of France, the dauphin, and the greater part of his nobles and captains. A very great skirmish took place, in which two of the archers of the constable, and one belonging to the count de St Pol, were made prisoners.
The duke thence marched to Tourtie sur Seine, and on the morrow returned to Mantes,—and the king went to Poissy and Conflans with a part of his army. The constable, the count de St Pol, and others, passed through St Cloud to Paris, where they staid two days, and then retired with their men at arms into the isle of France, where different towns were delivered up to them for the quarters of their men, each according to his rank.
The king afterwards went, with his attendant lords, to St Denis, and remained there until the middle of August, when he returned to Conflans, and caused a bridge to be constructed over the Seine to an island in that river, and another bridge thence to the main land, with a strong blockhouse, and ditches round at that end, wherein he posted a body of troops. In the mean while, lord Talbot plundered the convent of Poissy, and carried away the effects of the nuns to Mantes.
Shortly after, the town of Pontoise was again revictualled, for the fourth time; and the men of the duke of York remained there in the room of the lord Talbot's, which vexed the king greatly,—for he saw but little hope of his accomplishing his enterprise. He thought, however, that should he depart without having gained Pontoise, after lying before it so long, and at such a prodigious expense, he would be disgraced, and the people would cry out against him and his ministers, more especially the Parisians, who had advanced large sums of money for this purpose.
He was likewise informed that the nobles of his realm, and even the princes of his blood, were much dissatisfied with his government, and that there was to be a meeting of them, which could not be meant for his welfare: he had, therefore, enough to think on. Nevertheless, he determined, with his most faithful advisers, to return to Maubuisson and prosecute the siege, which he did on the twelfth day from the time he had quitted it, and quartered his troops in their former situations.
Soon after his return, a grand skirmish took place with the constable's division, between Maubuisson and Pontoise, in which Claude de Hangest, lord of Ardilliers, was killed by a cannon-shot. Various and frequent skirmishes passed between the French and English,—but it would be tiresome to enter into a detail of each: in one of them, the lord Charles d'Anjou was wounded by an arrow. Very little worth noticing took place in the main business of the siege.
The count de St Pol's men having been much harrassed, and having expended large sums of money, were desirous of returning home, and entreated of him permission so to do: upon this, he took leave of the king and the dauphin, who, on his going away, made him handsome presents, and returned him their thanks for the services he had done them.
The count de St Pol marched with his men from before Pontoise, to cross the river Oise at Pont St Maixence. At the entrance of the bridge, the captain of the fort came out to meet the count,—when, sharp words arising between them, the count would have seized the captain, had he not made haste to retire within his fort, whence he instantly discharged the cannon and cross-bows on him and his men. The horse of sir Ferry de Mailly was killed under him by a shot, and another man at arms had his arm broken. The count retreated with his army and crossed the Oise at Compiégne, and thence returned to his own country. The garrison of the bridge before mentioned followed a party of the count's men who were marching toward Mondidier, overtook and pillaged them.
On the same day, the count de Vaudemont marched his men from before Pontoise, as did several other great lords, and left the king in the state you have heard, to his no small displeasure, although he did not suffer it to appear, for he could not help it; and he was forced to bear all things patiently which God was pleased to send him. He daily employed his cannon and other engines against the walls and gates of the town, and also against the church of our lady, without, the walls, but possessed by the English, and held by them for a long time.
The walls of this church were so battered that, on the 16th day of September, the king resolved in council to storm it, which took place on a Saturday, and all within were put to the sword or made prisoners. This church was very high, and so near to the town that from the top could be seen almost every thing the English were doing,—and they could be thence annoyed with small cannons, culverines, and even cross-bows.
The church being won, it was ordered, that on the ensuing Tuesday, a general storm should be made on the town, to see if they could not conquer it. This was executed; and on the Tuesday, the king and his lords, having well armed their men, urged them on with shouting, 'St Denis! Town won!' A large party having forced an entrance, the townsmen fled to the churches and other strong places; but about five hundred of the English were soon put to the sword, and the remainder, to the amount of four hundred, made prisoners. Among the slain was an English knight called sir Nicholas Burdet,—but the governor of the town was taken prisoner. Only forty, or thereabout, were killed on the king's side at the attack, or died afterward of their wounds. Many new knights were made on the occasion: among whom were the brothers, John and Robert d'Estouteville, Regnault de Longueval, le bon Roly, and others.
With regard to the person who first mounted the tower du Frice[100], he was much praised by all for his valour, and was ennobled, himself and his successors, by the king, who also gave him large estates to support his rank. The king entered the town with those who had stormed it, and, on its being gained, issued his orders that no harm should be done to the inhabitants who had retired into the churches, excepting such as had borne arms. On his arrival with his banner in front of the great church, an Englishman issued forth and surrendered himself to him. He was mercifully received, and not only delivered without ransom, but the king made him handsome presents. He entered the church, and devoutly offered up his prayers and thanksgivings at the great altar, to God his Creator, for the good success he had experienced.
The French sought day and night after the English who had hidden themselves, and put them to death or made them prisoners. Thus did Charles VII. king of France, reconquer his town of Pontoise by a most gallant attack, notwithstanding the many and severe skirmishes that took place before it. In respect to the nobles, as well knights as esquires, and other captains, who were there in great numbers, very many behaved themselves valiantly and prudently,—but I was told that sir Charles de Bosqueaux was much praised by all.