CHAP. XXXI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ESTABLISHES GARRISONS ROUND GHENT.—HE MAKES SEVERAL INROADS INTO THE COUNTRY OF WAES[139].
The siege of Oudenarde being raised, the duke of Burgundy, nobly attended, went to Dendermonde,—the count d'Estampes remained in Oudenarde,—the count de St Pol was sent to Alost, and the marshal of Burgundy, with some picardy gentlemen, to Courtray. Shortly after, the count d'Estampes sallied out of Oudenarde, with the intent of advancing to Ghent; and passing by the castle of Gave, he attacked it, but was forced to retire, as it was too strong, and the garrison outnumbered his force. He then continued his march toward Ghent, where a sharp skirmish took effect, but without much loss on either side—the ghent men re-entered the town—except, indeed, that sir John de Miraumont was struck so severely with a cross-bow bolt that he died of it soon after: the Picards marched back to Oudenarde.
The count de St Pol, on another day, advanced from Alost to before the walls of Ghent, and gallantly repulsed those who sallied out against him; and this he did repeatedly. The count d'Estampes returned thither also, and not only repulsed them back into Ghent but slew upwards of forty: he lost, however, seven of his archers.
Between Ghent and Antwerp lies a fertile country, called the country of Waes: it is very strong from its bogs and ditches, and has several rich towns and villages dependant on Ghent, and would not own any other superior lord than the municipality of Ghent. During the different wars that had taken place, this country had never been overrun or pillaged, and therefore was plentifully supplied with all things. The ghent men had likewise strongly fortified it with ditches and bulwarks, so that it was of difficult entrance, more especially as those of Ghent were very assiduous in guarding it.
The duke, being anxious to possess this country, had a strong bridge thrown over the Scheld, before Dendermonde; and when it was finished, a valiant knight called sir James de Lalain, with leave of the duke, was the first who passed over, accompanied by the archers of the duke's body-guard and a few men at arms. This was on the 18th day of May; and he had not advanced far when he was met by a large body of ghent men, who instantly attacked and surrounded him on all sides. He behaved himself most valorously: no knight could have done better: but sir John bastard of Renty, captain of these archers, did not do the same,—for he let fall the duke's banner which he bore, and saved himself as fast as his horse could carry him. In this encounter, seven or eight archers were slain, three of whom were of the duke's guard. The horse of a gallant young knight, sir Philip de Lalain, was killed under him in a bog, while he defended himself like a wild boar at bay: had it not been for the exertions of his brother sir James, who dashed into the midst of those that held him in such peril, he could not have escaped alive; but sir James, by his valour, remounted his brother in spite of them, and having collected around him the few men he had, he marched off, himself closing their rear, to withstand all attempts of the enemy to hurt them. The archers who had remained with him, throwing off their jackets, made such excellent use of their bows that they forced the ghent men to retreat to a respectable distance,—and sir James carried his men and archers safely back to Dendermonde.
In another quarter, the count de St Pol, accompanied by his two brothers, Adolphus of Cleves, the bastard de Cornille, and many men at arms and archers, with those from Dendermonde, under the command of John de Croy, set off to enter the country of Waes. They gained two bulwarks which the ghent men occupied at Overmeer, a large village in that country, after a sharp attack, when the ghent men fled, as many as could save themselves, to Ghent. The duke's army then advanced to Lokeren, another large village, in which were three thousand men, who had promised assistance to those at Overmeer, and were preparing to march thither when it was too late.
The ghent men, seeing their enemies coming, advanced boldly to meet them; but before they were approached near enough for battle, the count de St Pol, who led the van, made some new knights, namely, Adolphus of Cleves, Thibault lord de Fiennes, brother to the count, Cornille bastard of Burgundy, at that time governor of Luxembourg, a prudent and valiant youth, universally beloved by all who knew him, and a few more. The count marched the van on the flank of the ghent men, while they continued to advance in front against the body under the command of sir John de Croy, who pushed forward to meet them: they were so roughly attacked on two sides that they were almost all slain or made prisoners. In this engagement, four or five of the duke's body-archers did wonders in arms, more especially Hoste le Sur and le Martre. This army now returned to their quarters.