CHAP. XXIV.
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE BESIEGES GISORS, AND TAKES IT.—THE SIEGE OF SAINT MARTIN LE GAILLART,—AND OTHER MATTERS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH.
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE BESIEGES GISORS, AND TAKES IT.—THE SIEGE OF SAINT MARTIN LE GAILLART,—AND OTHER MATTERS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH.
Shortlyafter, the king of England caused the town of Gisors to be besieged by his brother the duke of Clarence, in which as governors were Lyonnet de Bournouville and Daviod de Gouy. When the siege hadlasted for three weeks, the town, being in want of provisions, surrendered to the duke of Clarence, on condition that the garrison should march away with all their baggage, and that the inhabitants should place themselves under the obedience of the king of England, and take the oaths of fidelity to him. The garrison departed, and joined the lord de l'Isle-Adam at Beauvais.
The English who had gained Gisors, within a few days, laid siege to St Martin le Gaillart, in which place were Regnault de Fontaines, sir Karados de Quesnes, and some others, who had always been attached to the party of the dauphin and the duke of Orleans: a valiant captain, named sir Philip Les, was the governor.
Sir Karados left the town one night very secretly, and went to the lord de Gamaches in Compiegne, who at that time was its governor, and earnestly entreated him to assemble a body of men to raise the siege of Saint Martin. The lord de Gamaches collected a large force in as short a time as he could, and summoned the brothers Anthony and Hugh de Beaussault, and many other gentlemen, partisans of thedauphin, as well as of the duke of Burgundy, so that they amounted to near sixteen hundred combatants. With this army he marched for St Martin, and about sun rise came near to the place, when, drawing up his men in battle-array, he detached four hundred of them to attack and win the barriers which the English had erected.
About sixty English were on guard at these barriers, and defended them manfully; but they were defeated, and put to death, except a few who saved themselves by flight. The lord de Gamaches, at the head of his army, now attacked the town, but the greater part of the English had retired with their horses within a large church, and fought valiantly. The lord de Gamaches, apprehensive that the enemy might be soon reinforced, as the English were spread over the country, set fire to the castle, and carried the garrison safely away.
On this occasion, Anthony de Beaussault, Gilles de Rouvroy, and some others, were created knights.
Within eight days after the earl of Huntingdon, governor of Gournay in Normandy, assembled about two thousand Englishfrom the troops on the borders, and led them to a considerable village named Poix, where they quartered themselves and did much damage. Thence they marched to Bretueil, to make a grand attack on the abbey; and because some of their men were killed, they set fire to the town, which was very strongly built, and retreated toward Clermont. They won the tower of Vendueil, and burnt it; and after destroying the country with fire and sword, they marched back to Gournay, carrying with them many prisoners and much plunder.
On the other hand, sir Philip Les, before mentioned, had fixed his quarters at Eu and Monchaulx, and made excursions from Abbeville to Pont de Remy, over the whole of Vimeu, so that the country was greatly desolated. Sir James de Harcourt, who resided at Crotoy, and Hector de Saveuses, with the garrison of Pont de Remy, put a check to these excursions as much as in them lay; as did also sir Louis de Thiembronne and those with him in garrison at Gamaches.