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The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 09 [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. 09 [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

Name: The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 09 [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
Author: Monstrelet, Enguerrand de

Monstrelet, Enguerrand de

Europe -- History -- 476-1492 -- Sources; France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453

On the 16th day of May, the king of France ordered the counts de
Dunois, de Nevers, d'Eu, and several other knights and esquires, to
lay siege to Bayeux. In consequence, they encamped near to the town,
and pushed forward the siege with such vigour, by mines and battering
cannon, that many breaches were made in the wall, wide enough to be
stormed; but the commanders were averse to this, to avoid the effusion
of blood and the numberless other evils that would ensue. However,
notwithstanding this laudable resolution, the ardour and avarice of
soldiers to become rich induced part of the army, without orders, to
storm the town twice in the same day, when many gallant deeds were done
on both sides, and several were killed by arrow and culverine shots.
The French were forced to retreat without success, for the storm had
been only made on one side: had this measure been carried on under the
direction of their officers, it must undoubtedly have succeeded.

Matago, the governor of Bayeux, surprised at the valour he had seen
displayed by the French at this attack, for they had slain some of the
stoutest of the English, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois for
its surrender; but after many parleys, he could only obtain permission
for his men to march away without arms or baggage and with staves in
their hands. Thus marched away, by the castle-gate for Cherbourg, all
the English, to the amount of nine hundred, esteemed the most valiant
of their party; but in honour of nobility, horses were given to carry
their damsels and gentle ladies,--and carts were also supplied to
convey the most respectable of the women who followed their husbands.
It was a pitiful sight thus to see from three to four hundred women,
(without including children, who were very numerous,) some carrying
their infants in cradles on their heads, others swinging them round
their necks or in rolls of cloth round their bodies and in a variety of
other ways.

On the restoration of Bayeux to the obedience of the king of France,
the count de Dunois appointed a captain, and other officers, to
govern the city, and then crossed the Orne[91], with the count de
Clermont,--and there cantoned the army, to live on the country until
the arrival of the count de Richemont, constable of France. He had left
all his artillery at Bayeux to be ready for laying siege to Caen.

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