CHAP. VI.
THE KING OF FRANCE COMES TO THE TOWN OF EVREUX, WHERE HE IS HANDSOMELY RECEIVED, AND GOES THENCE TO LOUVIERS.—THE CASTLE OF ANJOU SUBMITS TO THE KING.—GOURNAY SURRENDERS ALSO.—JOHN HOWEL YIELDS UP THE CASTLE OF LA ROCHE-GUYON TO ITS LORD, AND TURNS TO THE FRENCH.
About the end of August, the king departed from Verneuil, and made his entry into the city of Evreux with great pomp. He was sumptuously received by the inhabitants, who went out in procession to meet him, made bonfires, sang carols, and hung all the streets with tapestry through which he passed. He slept one night only in Evreux, and on the morrow went to Louviers, where he was equally well received. He was accompanied by the count du Maine, brother to the king of Sicily and the queen of France, the count de Clermont, eldest son to the duke of Bourbon, the viscount de Longmaigne, eldest son to the count d'Armagnac, the count de Castres, son to the count de la Marche, the youngest son of the house of Albreth, John lord of Lorraine, many other great lords and barons, and knights and esquires without number.
The king had two hundred lances for his body-guard, and his usual archers, without including four armies he had in the field,—namely, the army of the duke of Brittany, another under the command of the count de Dunois lieutenant-general, the army of the counts d'Eu and de St Pol, and that of the duke d'Alençon. The king was very active in supplying these armies with every thing they might want, as well with money as bombards, artillery, and all kinds of stores; and couriers were constantly passing and repassing between him and them, to convey orders and intelligence.
During this time, William de Chance, governor of Pontoise, marched a body of men before the castle of Anjou, and summoned Portugal, the governor, to surrender it to the king of France. Portugal, hearing how the whole country, with its towns and castles, was submitting daily to king Charles, and knowing the impossibility of any effectual resistance, capitulated for its surrender,—when de Chance was appointed, by the king of France, the governor.
Sir Louis de Luxembourg, count de St Pol, marched, on a Sunday, from Vernon, to lay siege to Gournay. On his march, he was met by some of the townsmen, who came to make an offer to yield up the place, which was under the guard of William Harper, lieutenant to William Coram, an Englishman. The lieutenant, fearful of the event of a siege, and knowing also how the tide of war was turned,—and that all the towns and castles were surrendering to the French,—having also in mind that prudent maxim, 'Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum,'—went out with one of the inhabitants, called Raoullet Pailleavoine, and some others, to the count de St Pol, on his arrival before the place, and confirmed the treaty that had been made at Longueville.
It was articled that the town and castle should be surrendered to the count de St Pol, notwithstanding that the lord de Moy and William de Chance, ignorant of the count's enterprise, had attempted to take it by storm, and had opened batteries against its walls. The moment they were informed of the count's intentions, they abandoned their enterprise,—and the king of France gave it to the count, with all its dependances, for his life. He appointed, therefore, as governor of the castle and town, sir George de Croix, lord of Blainsel.
While this treaty was carrying on, the count d'Eu remained at Andeli sur Seine[13], and thence went to quarter himself and his forces at Pont Saint Pierre[14], where he staid three days, when he crossed the Seine to besiege Harcourt[15].
On Monday, the 29th of August, all the lords who had been at the surrender of Vernon joined the king at Louviers, to arrange their plans for further conquests. During their assembly, the lord de Jalognes, marshal of France, and the lord of Roche-Guyon, marched a large body of men at arms to conquer the castle of La Roche-Guyon[16]. To effect this, they detached about thirty men by water, well supplied with cannon and ammunition, who approached the place as if intending to besiege it, making as much noise as though they had been two hundred, and remained before it for three days, constantly skirmishing with the garrison; but although this garrison did not consist of more than sixteen men, the French gained no advantage over them.
On Thursday the 3d of September, the lords de Jalognes and de la Roche-Guyon appeared before it with their forces; and when John Howel, the english governor, saw so numerous a body that it would be vain for him to oppose it, at the same time fearing the event of a siege, and considering the right the king had to reconquer his kingdom, entered into a treaty with these lords conditionally to surrender the castle, unless he should be relieved by the king of England or his lieutenant in Normandy, within fifteen days; and that he and his men should have free liberty to march away with their baggage whither they pleased.
Intelligence of this was sent to the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of Normandy, in Rouen, who tampered with the messenger to introduce four and twenty English into the castle, and put Howel to death. On his return, he attempted to gain over some of the garrison to his purpose, of admitting the twenty-four Englishmen to execute his damnable design; but knowledge of this plan coming secretly to the ears of Howel, he sent in haste for the lord de la Roche-Guyon, who had withdrawn himself and his forces until the fifteenth day should arrive, to whom he surrendered the place. The garrison marched away, under passports, with their effects; but Howel was so indignant at the plot formed against his life that he became a Frenchman, and took the oaths of allegiance, on condition that he should enjoy the landed property of his wife, who was a native of France,—and the lord de la Roche-Guyon continued him in the government of his castle.