CHAP. XLV.
SOME OF THE GARRISONS OF THE COUNT DE ST POL ROB THE KING OF FRANCE'S SERVANTS AS THEY WERE CONDUCTING WARLIKE STORES FROM THE CITY OF TOURNAY.—THE REPARATION THE COUNT DE SAINT POL MAKES FOR THIS CONDUCT.
During the stay the king of France made in Champagne, he had ordered some of his most confidential servants to go to the town of Tournay, and to Flanders, to purchase artillery and warlike stores, which they were to convey to Paris, to be ready in case they should be wanted. Those whom he had intrusted with this commission executed it faithfully; and having laden carts and waggons with the artillery and stores, conducted them without any hindrance through the territories of the duke of Burgundy, from the city of Tournay, until they came to a town called Ribemont[84], where they were stopped by the garrison in that place for the count de St Pol.
The chiefs of the garrison were John lord of Thorante, Guyot de Bethune, Hoste de Neufville, with several others, as well men at arms as archers. They robbed these servants of the king of France, carrying into the town of Ribemont the contents of the carts and waggons, which they there divided among themselves and wasted; but the whole of this conduct was without the knowledge or consent of the count de St Pol, who was much displeased thereat.
When intelligence of this robbery came to the king of France, he was very indignant, and swore that he would have ample amends for it; and that he would wage war on the count de St Pol, unless he made full restitution for the things stolen, and did homage to him for the lands he held within his realm.
During the king's residence in the town of Bar-sur-Aube, gentlemen came daily to offer their services to him,—and having staid there some time, he departed, through Châlons and Rheims, to the city of Laon. Wherever he passed, he was received most honourably, and in the manner in which obedient subjects usually show to their sovereign lord.
From Laon he dispatched the greater part of his captains with their men,—namely, La Hire, Anthony de Chabannes, Joachim Rohault,—to make war on the towns and castles dependant on the count de St Pol. The count had heard of this plan, and consequently had reinforced his different places as strongly as he could, and had retired to the castle of Guise, in Tierrache, to be ready to succour such as might stand most in need of it.
It happened, that those of the garrison of Ribemont, whom I have before named, on hearing of the near approach of the king's army, were so much frightened, from dread of the French, that they suddenly left the town in the utmost disorder, and without waiting for each other, abandoning the command of it and the castle to the common people. This caused great confusion; and they mostly withdrew to Guise and other fortified places of the count, who was much enraged at their cowardice, more especially with those to whom he had intrusted its defence.
On this same day, or on the morrow, the French came before Ribemont, to whom, in the name of king Charles, was the town surrendered, and admittance given them. They found it full of wealth, and helped themselves to it at their pleasure; and Joachim Rohault entered with the rest, as governor of the place.
Shortly after, the French advanced to the town of Marle[85], which they surrounded on all sides with their whole force. The governor in the town for the count de St Pol was a gentleman diligent and expert in war, called George de Croix, having with him sixty combatants, including those of the town. He was regularly and often summoned to surrender the place to the king of France; but he always replied, that without the knowledge and consent of the count de St Pol, he would not yield it up.