CHAP. XXXIII.
THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS BEGIN TO FORM ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE ENGLISH—THE SIEGE OF FONTAINES-LAVAGAM.—OTHER MATTERS.
THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS BEGIN TO FORM ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE ENGLISH—THE SIEGE OF FONTAINES-LAVAGAM.—OTHER MATTERS.
Aboutthis time, those attached to the party of the king of France and the duke ofBurgundy, began to open an intercourse in trade, and to form acquaintance with the English on the borders of Normandy, for peace was now established between them. At this period also, the earl of Huntingdon and sir John de Cornwall, with three thousand combatants, besieged the castle of Fontaines-Lavagam, which, during the war, had held out for the Orleans party, and had never been conquered. The garrison had, for a long time, grievously oppressed the country of Beauvoisis, the borders of Normandy, and the districts about Amiens.
At the end of about three weeks siege, this castle was surrendered, on condition that the lives and fortunes of the besieged should be spared, and that they should march away in safety. When the place was evacuated, the fortifications were completely destroyed.
On the other hand, the castle of Muyn submitted to the obedience of the vidame of Amiens on the 19th day of January, by means of some intelligence he had with those within it. This, as well as Fontaines-Lavagam, had been of great annoyance tothe surrounding countries. A Norman gentleman, called Bigas, was made prisoner there, and also the lady of the place, wife to sir Collart de Calleville, with some others,—and much wealth was found therein.
About this time, the duke of Burgundy prepared to march with his whole power to king Charles at Troyes in Champagne. He issued a strict summons throughout his dominions for all who had been accustomed to bear arms to make ready to attend him on this journey. From Ghent, where he resided, he came with his lady the duchess to Arras, and appointed master John de Torsy, bishop of Tournay, his chancellor.
He there assembled, by virtue of his summons, a very large body of men at arms; and on the Saturday after the Epiphany, the truces between the kings of France and of England were proclaimed in all the countries under the subjection of the king and the duke of Burgundy from Paris to Boulogne sur mer, and to Troyes in Champagne: they were to last until the middle of March following, or until a final peace should be concluded between the two kings.
During this time, the English, in great force, under the command of the earl of Huntingdon and sir John de Cornwall, marched to the castle of Clermont, which they valiantly attacked, but it was as vigorously defended. The English, having had many killed and wounded, set fire to and burnt the village of St Andrieu, wherein were several handsome mansions, and substantial houses. They then overran the whole county of Clermont, and gained much plunder, with which they returned to the duchy of Normandy.