The other division was under the command of the count de Dunois, lieutenant-general, having with him the counts de Clermont and de Nevers, with four thousand veteran soldiers. On leaving Louviers, they marched to lay siege to the castle of Chambrais[19] on the 18th of September, of which an Englishman, called William Crinton[20], was governor, and had under him two hundred men for its defence. After seven days siege, it surrendered on capitulation with the count de Clermont,—and thus was it restored to the obedience of the king of France.
Without losing time, the lieutenant-general marched his army before the castle of Harcourt, which is handsome and strong. It was governed by sir Richard Frongueval[21], an Englishman, having under him about eight score of his countrymen. The siege lasted about fifteen days, with daily skirmishes with the garrison. Great advances were made, in which a very valiant man at arms from the garrison of Louviers was killed by a cannon-shot,—and an Englishman lost his life by the shot of a culverine, on the portal of the lower court.
A mutiny now took place in the garrison, when the governor was disgraced, and hung by his feet under the gate,—when the French, taking advantage of it, played their cannon so well that they greatly damaged the walls of the lower court. The English, fearful of consequences, entered into a capitulation to surrender, if they should not, on the ensuing Friday, be in force to meet them in the field, and gave hostages for the performance. When the day arrived, not receiving any succours, they yielded up the place.
While these armies were thus employed, the english garrison of the town and castle of Essay[22] made an excursion to fish a pond at some distance,—which coming to the knowledge of the duke d'Alençon, he instantly ordered his men to mount, and marched, as secretly as he could, to cut off their retreat. He succeeded in making the whole prisoners, and, carrying them to Essay, forced them to deliver up the town and castle, on pain of losing their heads.
The french garrison in Dieppe, knowing that there was but a small garrison in Fecamp, which is a sea-port, marched thither secretly, and won it by storm.
Shortly after, arrived a vessel from England, having on board ninety-seven soldiers to garrison the abbey, supposing it still to belong to king Henry, whom the French suffered to land without opposition, but instantly afterwards took them all prisoners.
FOOTNOTES:
[17] Nicorps,—a village in Normandy, diocese and election of Coutances.
[18] Adam Illeton. Q. Elton, or Hilson?
[19] Chambrais,—a market-town in Normandy, 13 leagues from Evreux.