Volume 1

The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet / containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy; of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English; their expulsion thence; and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries ... Beginning at the year MCCCC, where that of Sir John Froissart finishes, and ending at the year MCCCCLXVII, and continued by others [J. du Clercq? and P. Desrey] to the year MDXVI. Translated by Thomas Johnes.

  • Monstrelet, Enguerrand de, approximately 1390-1453.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet / containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy; of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English; their expulsion thence; and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries ... Beginning at the year MCCCC, where that of Sir John Froissart finishes, and ending at the year MCCCCLXVII, and continued by others [J. du Clercq? and P. Desrey] to the year MDXVI. Translated by Thomas Johnes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    680/690 (page 636)
    CHAPTER CLXX. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OP BURGUNDY RETURN FROM THAT COUNTRY TO FLANDERS AND ARTOIS. [a. d. 1435.] At tlie beginning of this year, when the duke of Burgundy had with much labour freed his country from enemies, and concluded a peace between himself and the duke of Bourbon, he made preparations for his and the duchess’s return from Burgundy to his territories of Flanders and Artois, that he might be ready to meet the ambassadors from the king of France at the convention at Arras. This convention was appointed to assemble on the second day of July, in the city of Arras. The duke left Dijon with his whole army, having appointed sir John de Yergy governor of Burgundy, and advanced toward Euchoire* where lie was met by a thousand Picards, whom he had ordered thither to accompany him on his return. They were under the com- mand of sir John de Croy, bailiff of Hainault, the lord de Saveuses, sir James de Brimeu, John de Brimeu, and other lords. Thence the duke marched towards Paris, crossing the river Seine at Montereau-faut-Yonne : he was joyfully received by the Parisians, who made very rich presents to him and to his duchess. Having staid there some days, he continued his march slowly to Arras, and dismissed all his men-at-arms so soon as he had crossed the Somme. He wTent soon after to visit his countries of Flanders and Brabant, where he consulted with his ministers on convoking all the nobles and gentlemen of those districts to the convention at Arras. He then sent an embassy to England, to inform the king and hi3 council of this convention, and that it was purposely to treat of a general peace between France and England. The principal persons of this embassy were sir Hugh de Launoy, the lord de Crevecoeur, and master Quentin Mainart, provost of St. Omer. The king of England and his ministers gave them a handsome reception; and they were told that the king would send ambassadors to the convention. On receiving this answer, they returned to their lord the duke of Burgundy. CHAPTER CLXXI. THE FRENCH GAIN THE TOWN OF RUE FROM THE ENGLISH. In the beginning of the month of May, sir John de Bressay, lieutenant to the marshal de Rieux, Bertrand Martel, William Braquemont, the lord de Longueval, Charles de Marets, and others of king Charles’s party, assembled a body of well-tried men-at-arms, amounting to about three hundred. They crossed the Somme during the night at Blanchetaque, and advanced to the town of Rue, which they entered by scalado, and gained complete possession without meeting with much resistance. The noise they made awakened the garrison; and seven or eight Englishmen retreated to a bulwark which they defended for some time ; but in the end it was taken by storm, and part of the defenders were put to death; the rest saved their lives on paying a large ransom. Many of the inhabitants were made prisoners, and others escaped over the walls. The town was completely plundered ; and the countries of Ponthieu, Artois, Boulogne, and others in that neighbourhood, were in great alarms, when they learnt that the enemy was so near them, and so well supplied with all sorts of stores and provision. These alarms were well founded, for shortly after having increased their numbers, they overran all thoso parts, committing infinite mischiefs by fire and sword. They even one day made an excursion towards Boulogne, so far as Samer-au-bois, when they took many prisoners and great numbers of horses and cattle. On their return they burnt the town of Estaples, wherein were many handsome houses ; and continued these excursions from Rue, doing every sort of mischief to the farmers of those countries. However, in one of the expeditions near to Montreuil, sir John de Bressay, Harpin, and de Richammes, were made prisoners; and at another time were taken the little Blanchefort, and one of the bastards de Reully; and on these accounts the country suffered the more. * Euchoire. Q.—Not in Martinicre.