KING CHARLES OF FRANCE ORDERS HIS CAPTAINS TO RECONQUER SOME TOWNS AND CASTLES FROM THE ENGLISH.—HE MARCHES IN PERSON AGAINST MONTEREAU-FAUT-YONNE, AND RECAPTURES IT.
IN these days, king Charles sent orders to his nobles and captains, scattered throughout the realm, to meet him, on an appointed day, at Gien sur Loire, as he was resolved to regain some of the towns and castles the English held near to Montargis and in the Gâtinois.
The king was met at Gien by the constable of France, sir Jacques d'Anjou, the count de Perdiac, the count de Vendôme, the bastard of Orleans and others. It was there determined in council, that the constable and the count de Perdiac should advance to Château Landon[7] with their men, and besiege it. This was instantly executed, and the place surrounded on all sides, to the great alarm of the English garrison. They were so far inland that they had little hopes of being relieved, and were beside badly provided with provision and stores: notwithstanding, they made show as if they meant to defend themselves to the last.
When the constable summoned them to surrender on having their lives spared, they made answer, that they were not so advised, and that it would cost him dear before such an event happened. However, on the third day, they were so courageously attacked that the place was taken by storm, when the greater part of those within were hanged, especially such as were natives of France: the rest had their liberties, on paying ransoms.
When this business was finished, the two lords marched their army to besiege Nemours; which held out for about twelve days, when it surrendered, on the inhabitants and garrison having their lives and effects spared, and being allowed to march off to Montereau.
While these things were passing, sir Gascon de Logus, bailiff of Bourges, in Berry, in company with other captains, laid siege to the town and castle of Terny, held by the English, which, after a few days, surrendered, on the garrison having their lives and fortunes spared. When they marched away, sir Gascon, mounted on a spirited courser, escorted them part of the road; but, on spurring him, the horse turned short round, and the knight fell with such force that he was killed on the spot,—and Poton de Saintrailles was, by the king, appointed bailiff of Bourges in his stead.
Shortly after, the king, with his company, went from Gien to Sens in Burgundy, and thence to Braye-sur-Seine. From this place, he sent the lord de Gaucourt, sir Denis de Sailly, Poton de Saintrailles, Boussac, the bastard de Beaumanoir, with other captains, and about sixteen hundred fighting men, to Montereau-faut-Yonne. They posted themselves on an eminence opposite the castle, on the side toward Brie, and raised there a large blockhouse, which they fortified as strongly as they could, placing therein a numerous garrison.
The constable, the count de Perdiac, the bastard of Orleans, sir James de Chabannes, with their men, advanced on the side toward the Gâtinois, and took up their quarters near to the town. After them came the lord de Valogne, sir Anselm de la Tour bailiff of Vitry, Regnault Guillaume bailiff of Montargis, who posted themselves on the island, between the two rivers, so that the place was surrounded on all sides by the army of the king of France; and they pointed so many cannons against the walls that they were soon greatly damaged.
The commander in chief, within the town and castle, for the king of England, was sir Thomas Gerard, having under him Mondo de Montferrant, Mondo de Lausay, and other valiant captains, together with three or four hundred combatants, who made as vigorous a resistance against their enemies as their circumstances would permit. They had great hopes of succour from the english commanders in Normandy, according to their promises.
The king of France now arrived at Montereau from Bray-sur-Seine, grandly accompanied, and was lodged in the blockhouse before mentioned. He had with him six or seven thousand, well tried and well equipped, fighting men. On his arrival, the greatest exertions were made to approach the town,—and the cannons, and other engines, were continually in action; the king even did not spare himself in the labours of this siege.
At the end of six weeks, or thereabouts, from the commencement of the siege, the town was won by storm, with little loss to the assailants. With regard to the besieged, from twenty to thirty were killed, and as many made prisoners, the greater part of whom were hanged. The king, on making his entry, strictly forbade any mischief being done to the persons of the inhabitants, men, women or children, who had retired within churches or monasteries; but as for their effects they were plundered, as is usual when any place is taken by storm.
Many new knights were made at the storming, namely, the young count de Tancarville, son to sir James de Harcourt, Robert de Bethune lord de Moreul, and others.
The king and most of the princes were lodged in the town; and, about fifteen days afterward, those in the castle surrendered to the king, on having their lives and fortunes spared. The bastard of Orleans was then appointed governor, who regarrisoned it with his own men.
When this business was settled, the king and dauphin, with great part of the princes, went to Melun. The men at arms separated, in companies, to divers places, but most of them went to Paris.