Toward the end of November, the duke of Alençon laid siege to his town and castle of Bellême, then occupied by the English contrary to his will. He had with him about three hundred lances, knights and esquires, and a body of archers, without including the peasantry from the countries of Maine and Vendôme, who were estimated at three thousand fighting men. After several skirmishes and sallies, the English, finding all resistance vain, entered on a treaty with the duke, and engaged to surrender the town and castle on the 20th day of December, unless their friends should appear on that day in sufficient force to give the duke battle and conquer him. The duke, therefore, intrenched his army on the plain to wait the arrival of the English, who were on their march to relieve the place. Two thousand of them had advanced to Torigny[61], and, on their departure, had set it on fire, and proceeded to Thury[62], where they received certain intelligence of the exact strength of the duke's army, and in consequence marched back again. On the 20th day of December, the duke of Alençon and the lord de Saintrailles drew their army up in battle-array, and waited thus until the hour for the appearance of the enemy was passed. The captain of the english garrison in Bellême, called Matago[63], having about two hundred combatants with him, then surrendered the place, and marched away in safety with their effects, according to the terms of the capitulation, whither they pleased. About Christmas-day, the english garrison in Vire[64], to the number of twelve score, marched out to seek adventures, but were met by a party of the constable's men in garrison at Gourey[65], near to the Croix de Vamoux, under the command of sir Geoffry de Couvran, Joachim Rouhault, and others, when a very sharp engagement took place,--but the English were discomfited, so many being killed or taken that few escaped. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 60: Bellême,--a town in Perche, 10 leagues from Alençon.] [Footnote 61: Torigny,--a small town in Normandy.] [Footnote 62: Thury,--a small town in Normandy.] [Footnote 63: Matago. Q. Matthew Gough?] [Footnote 64: Vire,--on the river Vire in Normandy, diocese of Bayeux, generality of Caen.] [Footnote 65: Gourey. Q. if not Gournetz, a village in Normandy.] CHAP. XVI. THE KING OF FRANCE LEAVES ROUEN.--HE SENDS HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TO BESIEGE HARFLEUR, WHICH SURRENDERS ON CAPITULATION.--THE FAIR AGNES IS TAKEN ILL.--HER DEATH, AND HER LAST TESTAMENT. The king of France, having settled the government of Rouen to his satisfaction, marched thence clothed in a brigandine, having over it a jacket of gold tissue, accompanied by the king of Sicily, and the other princes of his blood, magnificently dressed, more especially the count de St Pol, whose horse's forehead-piece was valued at thirty thousand francs.