CHAP. XVIII.
THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AT PROVINS.—OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE TO WHAT PASSED ON THE FRONTIERS.
THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AT PROVINS.—OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE TO WHAT PASSED ON THE FRONTIERS.
Whilethe king of France and the duke of Burgundy resided at Provins, an embassy, consisting of the earls of Warwick and Kent, was sent to them by the king of England. They were escorted by a party of Burgundians, but, on the road, were attacked, close to Chammes in Brie, by Tanneguy du Châtel and the Dauphinois,—who at first succeeded in gaining some of the horses and baggage of the ambassadors, but in the end were defeated, leaving upwards of forty men at arms dead on the field. The remainder, with Tanneguy, retreated to Meaux.
After the English had conferred with the duke of Burgundy and the king's ministers at Provins, they returned to the king of England at Rouen.
To afford satisfaction to the Parisians, Philip count de St Pol, nephew to the duke of Burgundy, and about fifteen years of age, was sent thither, and appointed king's lieutenant thereof: he was accompanied by master Eustace de Lactre, chancellor of France, who was to reside in Paris, and direct every measure as well respecting justice as war.
Le veau de Bar, bailiff of Auxois, was deprived of the provostship of Paris, and sir Giles de Clamessy nominated in his room.
At this period, Hector de Saveuses collected a great body of men at arms at Pont de Remy, whom he marched against the castle of Monchaulx, in the county of Eu, held by the English. On their approach, the garrison made a vigorous sally, and a severe skirmish ensued, in which the governor made Hector prisoner, and carried him off some distance; but he was rescued by his men, who killed about adozen of the English, and took a gentleman of arms called Jovancherum. After this, they all returned to Pont de Remy.
In like manner, sir Louis Burnel, his brother Guichard, Guavain and Jean de Hersellames, with several other gentlemen who were in the town of Gamaches, kept up a sharp warfare against the English, often killing them, or making prisoners, and plundering all they met. They also sorely harrassed the towns and peasants who had turned to the enemy.
On the other hand, sir John de Luxembourg was hard pressed on the frontiers to resist the enterprises that were daily made on him by La Hire, Poton de Santrailles, and other captains of the dauphin's party. He was also charged with the defence of the fortresses toward Roye and Mondidier, against those of Compiegne, which obliged him to keep up a very large force of men at arms in those countries.