[A.D.1421.]CHAP. LV.
THE DAUPHINOIS ADVANCE TO ALENÇON: THE ENGLISH MARCH THITHER ALSO.—THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF ALENÇON,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
THE DAUPHINOIS ADVANCE TO ALENÇON: THE ENGLISH MARCH THITHER ALSO.—THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF ALENÇON,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
Atthe beginning of this year, after the death of the duke of Clarence, the Dauphinois, elated with their victory at Baugey, assembled a large force to besiege Alençon, and in fact lodged themselves very near to the walls, combating the garrison with all their might.
The English, notwithstanding their grief at their late loss, detached parties from their different garrisons in Normandy, under the command of the earl of Salisbury, to Alençon, to offer battle to the enemy, and force them to raise the siege. But the Dauphinois having had, as before, intelligence of their motions, drew up in battle-array before their quarters, with every appearance of courage. When the Englishperceived how numerous they were, they retreated to the abbey of Bec, but not without losing, in killed and taken, from two to three hundred men, for they were pursued as far as the abbey. The Dauphinois, however, finding they could not gain Alençon without great loss of men, marched away, leaving every thing behind them, and returned to Anjou and Dreux.
In these days, a marriage was concluded between the duke of Alençon and the only daughter of the duke of Orleans, a prisoner in England. It was celebrated at the town of Blois, and had been chiefly brought about by the dauphin, to whom she was niece, and the duke of Brittany, uncle to the duke of Alençon.
When news of the death of the duke of Clarence reached king Henry in England, he was greatly troubled thereat, as well as at the loss of his other nobles and men, and hastened his preparations to return with an army to France, to take vengeance on the Dauphinois, who had thus grieved him at heart.