CHAP. LIV.
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE IS DEFEATED BY THE DAUPHINOIS NEAR TO BAUGEY.—IN THIS ENGAGEMENT, GREAT NUMBERS OF THE NOBLES AND GENTLEMEN OF EACH PARTY ARE SLAIN.
The duke of Clarence, who had been appointed governor-general of all Normandy on the departure of his brother king Henry for England, marched his army, on Easter-eve, toward the country of Anjou, to combat a large body of the Dauphinois under the command of the earl of Buchan, constable to the dauphin, the lord de la Fayette and several others. It happened, that on this day, the duke heard that his enemies were near him at a town called Baugey in Anjou; on which, being very renowned in arms, he instantly advanced thither a part of his force, particularly almost all his captains, when a very severe and bloody conflict ensued. The body of his army followed with much difficulty at a distance on account of a dangerous river they had to ford.
On the other hand, the Dauphinois, who had been advertised of their approach, fought so manfully that in the end they obtained the victory over the English. The duke of Clarence, the earl of Kyme, the lord Roos, marshal of England, and in general the flower of his chivalry and esquiredom were left dead on the field, with two or three thousand common men. The earls of Somerset and of Huntingdon, the count du Perche, with two hundred others, were made prisoners.
The Dauphinois lost from a thousand to eleven hundred men: in the number were a gallant knight called Charles le Bouteiller, sir John Yvorin, Garin des Fontaines, sir John de Passavant, sir John de Bulle, sir John Totavant, with other persons of note, amounting in the whole to the number before specified. From that time forward, the affair of this day was called the battle of Baugey.
The English were much cast down at this defeat, and particularly lamented the death of the duke of Clarence, who was much beloved by them for his valour and prudence. They, however, under the command of the earl of Salisbury, recovered the body of the duke, which was carried to Rouen, and thence transported to England, where it was buried with great solemnity.[7]