CHAP. XXXVI.
SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG MAKES AN EXCURSION WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE TOWARD ALIBAUDIERES AND THE EVENT THEREOF.
SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG MAKES AN EXCURSION WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE TOWARD ALIBAUDIERES AND THE EVENT THEREOF.
Aboutten days before Easter, sir John de Luxembourg was sent with five hundred combatants to attack a fortress called Alibaudieres, adjoining the Vermandois, six leagues from Troyes, in which was a garrison of the Dauphinois, that much harrassed Champagne. When sir John was arrived near to the place, he left the greater part of his men in ambuscade, and advanced with the rest to skirmish at the barriers.
The garrison gallantly sallied out on foot to meet him, and a sharp skirmish began, during which sir John fell from his horse, by reason of the girth breaking, but was soon raised up again by his men, and instantly most courageously, and in a violent passion, attacked the Dauphinois lance in hand: they were fewer in number than the assailants, and therefore retreated in disorder, and closed their bulwark.
Sir John, on this, sent for the remainder of his force, whom he had placed in ambush, and they made so grand an attack on the bulwark, that it was taken by storm, and set on fire,—but in this action many were killed and wounded. Sir John then returned with his men to duke Philip of Burgundy in Troyes, at which place great preparations were making for the reception of king Henry of England, who was shortly expected there to confirm the articles of the peace, and solemnise his marriage with the lady Catherine of France.
While these things were passing, the dauphin and his council were at Bourges in Berry. He was exceedingly uneasy when he heard of the alliance that had been concluded with England, and anxious to form plans of resistance against the king of England and the duke of Burgundy, knowing that unless he could effectually oppose them, he was in great peril of losing the kingdom and his expectations of succeeding to the crown of France. He was not therefore negligent to provide against the danger, and established garrisons in all the principal places on the frontiers toward his adversaries,and appointed to the command of them the most loyal of his party. He placed as governor at Melun the lord de Barbasan, with a large force; at Montereau, the lord de Guitry: sir Robert de Loire at Montargis; the bastard de Vaurus and Pierron de Lupel at Meaux in Brie; the lord de Gamaches at Compiegne, and so on at other towns and forts. He assembled a large body of men at arms to be alway near his person, and ready for any event that might happen to him.