The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III. — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III.
David Hume · en
Pembroke was so much strengthened by these accessions, that he ventured
to invest Mount Sorel; though, upon the approach of the count of Perche
with the French army, he desisted from his enterprise, and raised the
siege.[*] The count, elated with this success, marched to Lincoln; and
being admitted into the town, he began to attack the castle, which he
soon reduced to extremity. The protector summoned all his forces from
every quarter, in order to relieve a place of such importance; and he
appeared so much superior to the French, that they shut themselves up
within the city, and resolved to act upon the defensive.[**] But the
garrison of the castle, having received a strong reënforcement, made a
vigorous sally upon the besiegers; while the English army, by concert,
assaulted them in the same instant from without, mounted the walls by
scalade, and bearing down all resistance, entered the city sword in
hand. Lincoln was delivered over to be pillaged; the French army was
totally routed; the count de Perche, with only two persons more,
was killed, but many of the chief commanders, and about four hundred
knights, were made prisoners by the English.[***] So little blood was
shed in this important action, which decided the fate of one of the
most powerful kingdoms in Europe; and such wretched soldiers were those
ancient barons, who yet were unacquainted with every thing but arms!
* M. Paris, p. 203
** Chron. Dunst vol. i. p. 81.
*** M. Paris, p. 204, 205.
**** Chron. de Mailr. p. 195.
Prince Lewis was informed of this fatal event while employed in the
siege of Dover, which was still valiantly defended against him by Hubert
de Burgh. He immediately retreated to London, the centre and life of his
party; and he there received intelligence of a new disaster, which
put an end to all his hopes. A French fleet, bringing over a strong,
reënforcement, had appeared on the coast of Kent; where they were
attacked by the English under the command of Philip d’Albiney, and were
routed with considerable loss. D’Albiney employed a stratagem against
them, which is said to have contributed to the victory: having gained
the wind of the French, he came down upon them with violence; and
throwing in their faces a great quantity of quick lime, which he
purposely carried on board, he so blinded them, that they were disabled
from defending themselves.[*]