CHAP. LVI.
SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT BEGINS A WAR ON THE VASSALS AND COUNTRIES OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—THE INCONVENIENCES THAT ARISE FROM THIS CONDUCT.
SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT BEGINS A WAR ON THE VASSALS AND COUNTRIES OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—THE INCONVENIENCES THAT ARISE FROM THIS CONDUCT.
Aboutthis time, sir James de Harcourt, who resided at Crotoy, whence, as has been said, he made war on the English, abstained from having any communication with the duke of Burgundy, or with those of his party: he even seized in the port of Estaples a vessel laden with corn, that belonged to sir Hemon de Bouberch, who was attached to the duke of Burgundy. Because he refused to restore it, on being summoned, a sudden war broke out between them, very prejudicial to the whole country of Ponthieu and the adjoining parts.
Sir Hemon, in revenge, went and made his complaints to sir William Balledo, lieutenant of Calais, who instantly collected soldiers from the county of Guines, and from his garrison, and carried them by sea to Crotoy,—when, having burnt all thevessels and boats in the harbour, he returned to Calais.
In return for this enterprise, sir James forced an entrance into many of the towns of sir Hemon, which he completely plundered, and carried away the pillage to his garrisons of Noyelle and Crotoy.
Shortly after, sir Hemon did the same to the towns of sir James de Harcourt, and the war was carried on with such bitterness that the whole of that country suffered greatly; for sir James, to strengthen himself, obtained reinforcements of men at arms from Compiègne and elsewhere. He also formed an alliance with many of the nobles of Vimeu and Ponthieu, with the lord de Rambures, Louis de Vaucourt, le bon de Saveuses, Perceval de Houdent, Pierre Quieret, governor of D'araines, and with many others.
Sir James, by this means, gained possession of several towns and castles, such as the town of St Riquier, the castle of la Ferté, and of Drugy, the island and castle of Pont de Remy, the fortresses of D'araines, Diaucourt, and Moreul: on the side of the country toward St Valery, Rambures, Gamaches,and some others, into which, by the exertions of sir James, parties of the Dauphinois gained admittance, who began to make open war on the duke of Burgundy and his adherents, to the ruin of the country. The town of St Riquier, however, did not submit to sir James, until the king Henry had crossed from England to France, as you shall hear.