CHAP. LXII.
THE BURGUNDIANS AND THE DAUPHINOIS DRAW UP IN BATTLE ARRAY AGAINST EACH OTHER ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST.—THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOWED.
THE BURGUNDIANS AND THE DAUPHINOIS DRAW UP IN BATTLE ARRAY AGAINST EACH OTHER ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST.—THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOWED.
OnSaturday, the 31st of August, the two armies kept advancing with much courage, and halted about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at three bow-shots distance from each other.
During this short halt, many new knights were hastily created on both sides. In the number was the duke of Burgundy, by the hand of sir John de Luxembourg, when the duke did the same to Philip de Saveuses; and there were knighted of his party Collart de Commines, John d'Estenu, John de Robais, Andrew and John Villain, Philebert Andrenet, Daviod de Poix, Guerrard d'Acties, the lord de Moyencourt, Le Moyne de Renty, Colinet de Brimeu, Jacques Pot, Louis de Saint-Saulieu, Guillain de Halluin, Derre de Cauroy and others.
On the part of the Dauphinois were, in like manner, created knights, Gilles de Gamaches, Regnault de Fontaines, Colinet de Villequier, the Marquis de Serre, John Rogan, John d'Espaigny, Corbeau de Rieux, and Sarrasin de Beaufort.
When this ceremony was over, the duke sent the banner of Philip de Saveuses, with six score combatants, under the command of sir Mauroy de Saint-Leger and the bastard de Roussy, across the plain to fall on the flank of the Dauphinois. Both armies were eager for the combat; and these last advanced with a great noise, and fell on the division of the duke with all the strength of their horses' speed. The Burgundians received them well; and at this onset there was a grand clattering of arms, and horses thrown to the ground in a most horrible manner on each side. Both parties now began to wound and kill, and the affair became very murderous; but during this first shock of arms one half of the duke's forces were panic-struck and fled to Abbeville, where being refused admittance they galloped on for Picquigny.
The duke's banner was carried away withthem; for, in the alarm, the varlet who had usually borne it forgot to give it to some other person, and in his flight had thrown it on the ground, where it was found, and raised by a gentleman called John de Rosimbos, who rallied about it many of the runaways, who had until that day been reputed men of courage and expert in arms. They had, however, deserted the duke of Burgundy, their lord, in this danger, and were, ever after, greatly blamed for their conduct.
Some pretended to excuse themselves by saying, that seeing the banner, they thought the duke was with it. It was also declared, on the authority of Flanders king at arms, that to his knowledge the duke was either killed or made prisoner, which made matters worse; for those who were most frightened continued their flight across the Somme at Picquigny, to their homes, whence they did not return.
Some of the dauphin's forces, perceiving them running away from the duke's army set out on a pursuit after them, namely, John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel, with about six score combatants, andkilled and took a good many of them. They imagined they had gained the day, and that the Burgundians were totally defeated; but in this they were mistaken, for the duke, with about five hundred combatants of the highest nobility and most able in arms, fought with determined resolution, insomuch that they overpowered the Dauphinois, and remained masters of the field of battle.
According to the report of each party, the duke behaved with the utmost coolness and courage; but he had some narrow escapes, for at the onset he was hit by two lances, one of which pierced through the front of his war saddle and grazed the armour of his right side: he was also grappled with by a very strong man, who attempted to unhorse him; but his courser, being high mettled and stout, bore him out of this danger. He therefore fought manfully, and took with his own hands two men at arms, as he was chacing the enemy along the river side. Those nearest his person in this conflict were the lord de Longueval and Guy de Rely, and some of his attendants, who, though few in number, supported him ably.
It was some time before his own men knew where he was, as they missed his banner; and when John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel returned from their pursuit of the burgundian runaways, expecting to find their companions victorious and on the field of battle, they were confounded with disappointment on seeing the contrary, and instantly fled toward St Valery, and with them the lord de Moüy, others made for d'Araines.
The duke of Burgundy, on coming back to the field of battle, collected his men, and caused the bodies of those to be carried off who had fallen in the engagement, particularly that of the lord de Viefville. Although all the nobles and great lords who had remained with the duke of Burgundy behaved most gallantly, I must especially notice the conduct of John Villain, who had that day been made a knight. He was a nobleman from Flanders, very tall and of great bodily strength, and was mounted on a good horse, holding a battle-axe in both hands. Thus he pushed into the thickest part of the battle, and, throwing the bridle on his horse's neck, gavesuch blows on all sides with his battle-axe that whoever was struck was instantly unhorsed and wounded past recovery.
In this way he met Poton de Saintrailles, who, after the battle was over, declared the wonders he did, and that he got out of his reach as fast as he could.
When the duke had collected his men, and had caused the dead to be inspected and stripped, he returned to Abbeville, where he was joyously received, with those of the Dauphinois who had been made prisoners,—namely, the lord de Conflans, Louis d'Offemont, sir Gilles de Gamaches, his brother Louis, sir Louis de Thiembronne, Poton de Saintrailles, the marquis de Serre, his brother de Saint-Saulieu, Sir Regnault de Fontaines, Sauvage de la Riviere, John de Proisy, governor of Guise, sir Raoul de Gaucourt, sir John de Rogan, Bernard de St Martin, John de Joigny, the lord de Mommor, John de Verselles, le bourg de la Hire, Yvon de Puys, John de Sommam, Hervé Dourdis, and others, to the amount of one hundred and six score.
There were left dead on the field, ofboth parties, from four to five hundred men; but it was thought only from twenty to thirty were Burgundians, and chiefly belonging to the lord de Viefville and John lord of Mailly. Those of note slain of the Dauphinois were sir Peter d'Argensy lord of Ivry, Charles de Saint-Saulieu, Galhaut d'Aarsy, Thibaut de Gerincourt, sir Corbeau de Rieux, sir Sarrasin de Beaufort, Robinet de Verseilles, Guillaume du Pont, the bastard de Moy, and many other gentlemen, to the above amount.
The prisoners made and carried off by the Dauphinois were sir Colart de Commines, sir Guillain de Halluyn, the lord de Sailly en Hernaise, Lamon de Lannoy, and some others. In this engagement, sir John de Luxembourg, from his too great eagerness at the onset, was made prisoner by a man at arms called le Mouse, and carried away to some distance, but he was rescued by a party of his own and the duke's men. He was, however, very badly wounded on the face and across his nose. In like manner was the lord de Humbercourt taken, wounded and rescued.
On the arrival of the duke of Burgundyat Abbeville, he went to the church of our Lady to offer up his prayers and thanksgivings for his great success, and thence to his lodgings at the hôtel of the Crown. His people, many of whom had been wounded in the battle, quartered themselves in the town as well as they could.
The duke now first heard that great part of his force had deserted him and fled to Picquigny, which surprised and angered him greatly, and not without cause. He would never afterward admit any of those runaways to his presence, and dismissed all of them who had been of his household: very few men of rank, however, of the latter description, had fled.
When he had remained three days in Abbeville to refresh and recover his men, and had resolved in council not to lay siege again to St Riquier, on account of the present state of his army, and for other reasons, he departed, and, passing by St Riquier, fixed his quarters at Auxi. Sir John de Luxembourg was carried thither in a litter on account of the severity of his wounds. On the morrow he advancedto Hesdin, where he made some stay; and, having ordered different garrisons to oppose that of St Riquier, he disbanded the greater part of his army. By his moderation in their ransoms, he gained over all the captains of the Dauphinois who had been made prisoners, and sent them to his castle of Lille, where they remained a considerable time.
Thenceforward this engagement was called the rencounter at Mons in Vimeu, and was not deemed a battle, because the two parties met accidentally in the manner you have heard, and without any banner displayed.
Among the principal persons who had fled, were the lord de Cohen governor of Abbeville, who was not yet recovered from the wound he had received, of which mention has been made, and which prevented him from putting on his helmet: he had been advised, on leaving Abbeville, not to engage in combat; and he was held excused on account of his wound. The others were the before named John de Rosimbos, and the whole of those attached to the duke's banner.