The grand master of the king's household, sir Guichard Daulphin, and the master of the cross-bows of France, and sir John de Châlon[6], were sent by the king's orders, with ten thousand horse, to lay siege to St Fargeau in the Nivernois, which belonged to John son to the duke of Bar. While there, they were in daily expectation of a battle, but in vain: however, when they had remained ten or twelve days, with the loss of many men in killed and wounded, the town surrendered, and was by them regarrisoned in the king's name.
With similar success did the lord de St George and the nobles of Burgundy make war on the count d'Armagnac, in Gascony. Sir Elyon de Jacques-Ville was stationed at Estampes, and made daily conquests from the Orleans-party, who at this period were very unfortunate, for war was carried on against them on all sides.
To provide a remedy, and to enable themselves to make head against their adversaries, they sent a solemn embassy to Henry king of England, and to his children, to solicit succours of men and money. The ambassadors, by means of their credential letters and other papers which they brought from these lords of France, treated with king Henry so that he consented to send to the dukes of Berry, Orleans, and their party, eight thousand combatants, under the command of his second son, the duke of Clarence.
For the confirmation of this, he granted to the ambassadors letters under his great seal, which they carried back to the dukes of Berry, Orleans, Bourbon, and the count d'Alençon and others, whom they found at Bourges waiting their return. They were much rejoiced on seeing the great seal of the king of England; for they expected to have immediate need of his assistance, as they had information that the duke of Burgundy was intending to lead the king in person to subdue and conquer them.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Guy de Nesle, vol. ii. p. 228.
[4] Renty was the name of a considerable family in Artois. I can find nothing about any of the others.
[5] Humbert, natural son of Amadeus VII. and brother of Amadeus VIII. counts of Savoy.
[6] John de Châlon, second son to Louis I. count of Auxerre, and brother to Louis II.