CHAP. XXIX.
THE MEN OF GHENT BESIEGE OUDENARDE.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AN ARMY AGAINST THEM.—THE PICARDS CONQUER THE PONT D'ESPIERES FROM THE GHENT MEN, AND KILL MANY OF THEM.
On the 14th day of April, after Easter, the ghent men took the field in great numbers, followed by a large train of artillery and provision-carts, to lay siege to Oudenarde, which was but five leagues from Ghent. On their appearance, sir Simon de Lalain issued out, and a skirmish took place; but he was forced to return to the town by reason of the very great numbers of ghent men, who attacked him on all sides,—and in his retreat, he burnt the suburbs on that quarter. The ghent army blockaded the place so closely that nothing could enter it by land, or by the river Scheld that ran through it.
The noble duke of Burgundy, when told of this siege, was greatly vexed, considering that the ghent men had so lately sent to solicit pardon for their offences. He consequently issued a special summons throughout Picardy and Hainault,—and in obedience thereto, John count d'Estampes, his cousin-german and at that time governor of Picardy, assembled the gentlemen of that country, and with a numerous body, marched toward Oudenarde by the road of the Pont d'Espieres. Near to this bridge was a small castle, called Helchin, occupied by the ghent men under a captain, a peasant called Beuterman, which means one who sells butter. They having fortified the bridge, the Picards declined attempting to pass it, on account of the numbers of the enemy; but a company of Picards found means to cross the river at a place named Waterbos, and fell on the rear of those who guarded the bridge, at the same time that the other body of Picards made an attack on the bridge. The ghent men, finding themselves attacked in front and rear, retreated into a church hard by. The Picards crossed the bridge, and pursued them to the church,—when the ghent men, in their defence, killed three archers, and wounded several more. This so enraged the count d'Estampes that he set fire to the church, and forced the ghent men to sally forth,—but they were all put to death: none escaped save their captain, Beuterman, who had fled, by another road, to Ghent. Ninety remained dead on the spot for three days before they were buried!
While this was passing, the duke of Burgundy advanced toward Ghent, and fixed his quarters at Grammont, a small town five leagues distant. He was there joined by the count de St Pol, his two brothers Thibaut and James, Adolphus of Cleves, nephew to the duke Cornille, the bastard of Burgundy and sir John de Croy, all grandly attended, and with a very numerous body of men at arms and archers.