CHAP. XXI.
THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO CAEN, AND IS NOBLY RECEIVED THERE.—THE ENGLISH SURRENDER FALAISE[99].—POTON DE SAINTRAILLES IS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF IT.—DOMFRONT[100] IS REDUCED TO THE KING'S OBEDIENCE.
On the 6th day of July, the king of France left the abbey of Dardenne, to make his entry into Caen, attended by all his nobles who had been at the siege, magnificently dressed, excepting his lieutenant-general and the marshal de Jalognes, who were already in the town. He was preceded by his two hundred archers, heralds and trumpets,—and when he was near the gates, the count de Dunois came out to meet him, followed by crowds of the townsmen: after making their obeisances, they most humbly presented the keys of the place to the king, who, graciously received them. Then came the clergy in procession, as is usual in such cases. After which, the king entered the gates, four of the principal inhabitants holding a canopy over his head,—and thus the king rode through streets hung with tapestry, and in some places covered over, canopy-like, amidst the shouts of the people, unto the great church of St Peter, where he dismounted at the porch, to offer up his thanksgivings. He thence went to his lodgings, at the house of one of the burghers of the town, and remained there some days to settle with his lieutenant-general and ministers the future government and police of the place.
The lord de Croy, sir John de Croy his brother, and the lord d'Arsy, came to the king while at Caen, on an embassy from the duke of Burgundy, to treat of a marriage with one of the king's daughters and the lord Charles, son to the duke, and on other weighty matters with which they were charged.
On this same 6th of July, the town of Falaise was besieged by Poton de Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry. He was joined on the Monday by Master John Bureau, treasurer of France, with the franc archers, to serve the artillery, of which he was grand master. When the English heard of his approach, they sallied out and sharply attacked him; but he defended himself and his artillery well until the lord de Saintrailles came to his assistance,—and the English were repulsed to the gates.
The king left Caen to attend this siege, and halted at an abbey called St Andrew's, within a league of Falaise. The king of Sicily, the duke of Calabria, the counts of Maine, of St Pol, of Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and others, were with him. The town was now surrounded on all sides; but as the king had a greater body of chivalry than necessary for the gaining such a place, the counts of Richemont and of Clermont were ordered to besiege Cherbourg.
The garrison in Falaise consisted of fifteen hundred English, the very best of that nation that now remained in Normandy, under the command of two english gentlemen, named Andrew Troslet[101] and Thomas Cathon[102], lieutenants to the governor the lord Talbot. When they saw the multitude of men at arms, archers, and cross-bowmen, that were drawn up before them, they demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, who, by the king's orders, sent them passports, that they might explain what they required. They met on the 10th, and asked to capitulate, which the king granted; when they appointed the 22nd day of July to surrender the place, unless they should, before that day, receive reinforcements to enable them to offer battle,—and on condition that the lord Talbot, who was their governor for the king of England, and who at that moment was the king of France's prisoner in the castle of Dreux, should be set at liberty, on making certain promises to the king of France.
A truce was now proclaimed, to last from the 10th to the 22nd, and twelve hostages were delivered for its observance. The English were to march away with arms and baggage, in safety, for England, in case they should not be relieved on the day appointed. As no succours came to them they departed, according to the tenour of the capitulation, and delivered up the town and castle to the king, who made governor thereof Poton de Saintrailles, his master of the horse and bailiff of Berry.
On the 24th of July, after the reduction of Falaise, the lord Charles de Culant, grand master of the household, the lord de Blainville, the lord John Bureau, treasurer of France, who always had the command of the artillery, with fifteen hundred franc archers, marched to lay siege to the town and castle of Domfront. The english garrison amounted to seven or eight hundred; but when they heard of the great body of chivalry and archers that were then in Normandy, they surrendered the place on the 2d day of August, on condition that they might depart in safety, with arms and baggage, for England, as, I have already recounted, many of their countrymen had before done from different towns and castles.