After the count d'Eu had subjected Harfleur, and other places in the country of Caux, to his will, and strongly garrisoned them, he departed for Brussels, to visit his brother-in-law the duke of Burgundy, who feasted him grandly, and presented him with very rich gifts. On leaving the duke, he went by short days journeys to Noyon, where he was congratulated on his liberty by the inhabitants. They made heavy complaints to him of certain pillagers that held some castles in their neighbourhood, and who daily committed on them great damages, advancing even to their gates, seizing and carrying away all they could lay hands on, calling themselves at one time partisans of the king of France; at others, of sir John de Luxembourg.
In the number, was one named Jean de L'Isle, who, with his brother, had under their command more than thirty companions, and had taken possession of an old castle called Bretigny, which they had repaired and fortified, with the intent of waging war against the whole country. Part of them wore the red cross, pretending to be English.
The count d'Eu, on hearing this, collected a number of men at arms to provide a remedy for it, and ordered thither the count d'Estampes, his nephew, with a party of his men. They marched to the castle of Bretigny, the fortifications of which were incomplete; and it was likewise badly provided with stores, artillery and provision; so that it was very soon forced to surrender to the will of the count d'Eu. He sent Jean de l'Isle and his brother to Noyon, where they were soon after beheaded, and about twenty of the others were hanged.
For these executions, sir John de Luxembourg conceived a great hatred to the count d'Eu, and to those who had been parties in the expedition. A few days afterward, in consequence thereof, while the count d'Eu was at Chargny-sur-Oise, sir John ordered an ambuscade to be formed on the road leading thence to Noyon, to attack the count on his return thither; but he, having received information of the plan, took another road, so that the ambuscade failed of the intended effect: a violent quarrel, however, ensued ever after between them.
CHAP. XXIII.
LA HIRE, BLANCHEFORT, AND OTHERS OF KING CHARLES'S CAPTAINS MAKE EXCURSIONS INTO GERMANY.
At this same period, several of king Charles's captains, such as La Hire, Blanchefort, Boussac, Anthony de Chabannes, Chappelle, Pierre Regnault, and others, to the amount of six thousand horse, marched from the frontiers of Bar and Lorraine toward Germany, and even advanced as far as the city of Basil, wherein the council was sitting. They gave it to be understood by some, that they were sent thither with the consent of pope Eugenius, in defence of his rights, and to lay waste the country with fire and sword.
They then directed their march to the country of Aussois[21], and toward Franckfort, taking and ransoming many small castles and large monasteries. While they were thus employed in wasting the country, the Germans assembled in great bodies to oppose and repulse them. They first ordered the farmers and peasants to retire into the strong castles and great towns with their corn and provisions,—and then made war on the French whenever they could do it advantageously, or when they went out to forage in small parties. In this manner they destroyed numbers, and always refused to accept a challenge for a general battle, although required by the French to name a day for a combat.