About St John Baptist's day following, the English besieged Crotoy by sea and land, under the command of sir Raoul le Bouteiller, who having posted his men very advantageously, had his camp strongly fortified. Sir James de Harcourt prepared for an obstinate defence, and pointed many cannon and other warlike engines to annoy the enemy, and to prevent their nearer approach. The country people round were very much rejoiced at this siege. CHAP. XI. KING CHARLES OF FRANCE HAS THE TOWN OF CREVANT BESIEGED BY THE CONSTABLE OF SCOTLAND AND THE COUNT DE VENTADOUR. In the beginning of the month of July, king Charles ordered a large body of forces to cross the Loire and besiege the town of Crevant, which was of the burgundian party. The chief of this expedition was the constable of Scotland who had under him many great lords and expert captains: and they vigorously assaulted the town by their engines of war. As neither the English nor Burgundians seemed to attend to this siege, the duchess-dowager of Burgundy sent in haste to the nobles of that country, to require, in the name of her son the duke, that they would assemble their men, and march to the relief of Crevant. The lord de Toulongeon, marshal of Burgundy, in consequence, assembled his men, and, with the united forces of the other lords, advanced to Auxerre to join the earl of Salisbury, the earl of Suffolk, the lord Willoughby, and other English lords, whom the duke of Bedford had sent thither to the amount of four thousand combatants, all picked men and tried in arms. To do these English honour, the count de Joigny, the borgne de Toulongeon, the lord du Vergy, sir John and sir William de Vienne, sir Regnier Pot, the lord de Rochefort, and many more notable lords, went out of Auxerre, to meet them on their march. On their meeting, very great and mutual respects were shewn on both sides; and they rode together in handsome array into the town, where the earl of Salisbury was lodged in the bishop's palace. When they had somewhat refreshed themselves with meat and drink, the English and Burgundians assembled in the cathedral, and there entered into such resolutions as you shall hear. This united force began their march toward Crevant; and when within a long quarter of a league from the town they dismounted. It was at the time very sultry; and they suffered much thus marching on foot, by the weight of their armour and from the extreme heat of the sun. This day were knighted William de Vienne, son to the lord de St George, John lord of Auxi, Philip lord de Trenont and Coppin de la Viefville. The regulations that had been made by the chiefs of the English and Burgundians, when in the cathedral of Auxerre, were as follow: First, that on the morrow, Friday, they would march away at ten o'clock in the morning, to fix their quarters near to Crevant.