The duchy of Normandy[105], is in length six days journey, and four wide, containing six bishopricks and one archbishopric, and one hundred towns and castles, not including those which have been destroyed by the fortune of war. The king ordered six hundred lances, with a proper proportion of archers, to remain in the duchy for its defence, and sent the remainder into Guienne. He then set out for Tours, where he arrived in the month of September, and there resolved in council that a general thanksgiving, with processions, should take place in all the churches throughout the realm on the 14th day of the ensuing October, and every year afterwards on the 12th day of August, for the happy success of his arms, and the expulsion of his ancient enemies the English from his duchy of Normandy. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 103: Rais. Q. Retz?] [Footnote 104: Thomas Gouvel. Q.] [Footnote 105: Normandy,--is bounded on the east by Picardy and the Isle of France,--on the south, by Maine and Perche,--on the west, by the ocean,--on the north, by the Channel, which separates it from England. It contains seven dioceses, or bishopricks,--Rouen, Bayeux, Avranches, Evreux, Sées, Lisieux, and Coutances,--in which are computed 4189 parishes, and 80 abbies, &c.--_Gazetteer._] CHAP. XXIII. THE AUTHOR PARTICULARISES THE VALOUR OF SEVERAL OF THE NOBLES IN THE CONQUEST OF NORMANDY.--THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS THE COUNT DE PENTHIEVRE, AS HIS LIEUTENANT, INTO GUIENNE. Were I to attempt particularising every valiant man, and his gallant deeds, on the reconquering of the duchy of Normandy, it would tire my reader's patience; but still I must mention some of the most renowned, for the benefit of those who, in future times, may peruse this account of the reduction of that duchy. In the first place, the king of France had placed his army on a most excellent establishment,--and, as it was a novelty, it is worth describing. He had supplied all the men at arms and archers with good and secure habiliments,--namely, the men at arms with cuirasses, greaves, salades[106], and swords mounted with silver, as well as the lances which their pages bore; each man at arms had three horses, for himself, his page, and his varlet,--which last was armed with a light helmet, a brigandine[107], jacket or haubergeon[108], battle-axe or guisarme. Every man at arms had attached to him two archers on horseback, dressed in brigandines, greaves and salades; the greater part of which were ornamented with silver; or wanting these, they had strong leathern jackets and haubergeons. The soldiers, when on service, were always paid monthly, and under such strict discipline that none dared to seize any thing unpaid for,--nor to make prisoners, or ransom man or beast unless they belonged to the English or to their friends. It was lawful to make plunder of whatever was their property, but not otherwise.