The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 02 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countriesMonstrelet, Enguerrand de
History
The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 02 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries
Monstrelet, Enguerrand de
Europe -- History -- 476-1492 -- Sources; France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453
This party of the Liegeois being either killed, dispersed, or taken
prisoners, the horsemen returned to their main body, gallantly fighting
the enemy, who, it must be said, defended themselves courageously. In
truth, the event of this battle was some time doubtful,--for, during
one half hour, it could not be known which side would be victorious.
The noise of their war-cries was frightful:--the Burgundians and
Hainaulters shouted under their banners, ‘Our Lady for Burgundy! Our
Lady for Hainault!’ and the Liegeois, in their turn, shouted, ‘St
Lambert for Pier-Yves!’
The men of Liege would perhaps have conquered, if this detachment on
horseback, when returned from the defeat of the runaways, had not again
fallen on their rear, and behaved so marvellously well that those who
opposed them were pierced through, and all attempts to check them were
vain. A great slaughter was made by them in a short time, for none were
admitted to ransom; and by their vigour whole ranks fell one over the
other, for now all the weight and power of the infantry were brought
against them.
The defeat once begun, there were such heaps of dead and wounded that
it was melancholy to behold, for they were thicker in many places than
stooks of corn in harvest. This ought not to occasion surprise; for
when the common people are assembled, badly armed, and puffed up with
their extravagant desires, although they be in great numbers, yet shall
they hardly be able to resist an army composed of noblemen well tried
in arms, even when God shall permit it so to be. At this period of
the battle, and near to the banner of the duke of Burgundy, where the
conflict was the strongest, fell the lord de Pierre-Yves and his two
sons,--namely, the one who had been elected bishop of Liege and his
brother: they were instantly put to death.
The heir of Salmes[6], who bore the standard of St Lambert, namely,
the eldest son to the count de Salmes[6], who was in the army of the
two dukes; sir John Collet, and many other knights and esquires to
the amount of upwards of five hundred; all the english archers, and
about twenty-eight thousand of the commonalty, were left dead on the
field,--and more perished by arrow-shots than by any other weapon.
Sir Baldwin de Montgardin, knight, to save his life, surrendered
himself to the duke of Burgundy:--he was led out of the engagement, and
afterward given by the duke to sir Wicart de Bours.
I have no need to particularise the great courage and coolness of the
duke of Burgundy, nor how he galloped to different parts of the army,
exhorting them to act well,--nor how, until the end of the battle,
he most gallantly behaved himself,--for in truth, his conduct was
such that he was praised and spoken of by all knights and others;
and although he was frequently covered with arrows and other missile
weapons, he did not on that day lose one drop of blood.
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