Within a few days after this, when the two counts were at Guise, news was brought them, that the lord de Penesach, governor of Laon, had made an excursion, with four or five hundred combatants from different garrisons into the country of Marle, and had nearly taken Vervins, the hereditary inheritance of Joan de Bar, sir John's daughter-in-law, and had set fire to the suburbs of Marle.
Sir John was much troubled on receiving this intelligence, and instantly mounted his horse, together with the count de St Pol, sir Simon de Lalain, and those of his household. He sent in haste for reinforcements from all his garrisons that were near, and sir Simon ordered his men, who were quartered in a village hard by, to follow without delay; so that he had very soon upwards of three hundred fighting men, whom he boldly marched to meet the enemy.
He overtook them on their retreat at Disy, not far from Laon; and although they were very superior in numbers, he no sooner saw them than without waiting for the whole of his men to come up, he most gallantly charged them, and did wonders by his personal courage. The French took to flight, even under the eyes of their commander, excepting a few, who were defeated, and the most part put to death, to the number of eight score. The principals were, Gaillart de Lille, Anthony de Bellegarde, de Mony, le borgne de Vy, Henry Quenof from Brabant, and others, to the number aforestated. From sixty to eighty were made prisoners, the greater part of whom were on the morrow hanged; among them was one named Rousselet, provost of Laon. A gentleman of arms, called L'Archenciel was taken in the engagement, but given up to sir Simon de Lalain, whose life he had formerly saved at St Vincent, as has been related.
In return, sir Simon was desirous of saving his; but he could not succeed, for sir John de Luxembourg caused him to be put to death, which angered greatly sir Simon, but he could not remedy himself. The French were pursued as far as Laon, and many killed and taken. On this day, the young count de St Pol was entered a warrior,—for his uncle made him slay several, in which he took much delight. After the defeat, they all returned to Guise in high spirits on account of their happy success.
LA HIRE AND OTHER FRENCH CAPTAINS OVERRUN ARTOIS AND CAMBRESIS.
In the month of September, of this year, La Hire, with others of king Charles's captains, such as Anthony de Chabannes, Blanchefort, Charles de Flavy, Regnault de Longueval, and full fifteen hundred combatants, whom they had assembled in Beauvais, crossed the Somme at Cappy into Artois, and made a number of peasants prisoners, who were unsuspicious of such an inroad, and returned with them and their plunder to Beauvais, where they were all quartered. They also made great seizures of men and cattle in the Cambresis, by whose ransoms they acquired large sums of money.
They again took the field, but after some little time they divided; and Anthony de Chabannes with Blanchefort and their men went toward Cambray, and, passing by it, they took the straight road to Haspres, as a free fair had been held the preceding day at the town of Ivoy; and because the townsmen would not compound according to their pleasure, they burnt most part of the town and the church.