On Wednesday, the 22d of October the king of France commanded the government-palace and the castle of Rouen to be besieged at the same time. Eight hundred lances, with the archers, were ordered on this service, who made deep trenches round the palace, as well in the town as in the fields. Bombards and cannon were pointed against the gates that opened to the country and town. All these preparations greatly dismayed the duke of Somerset. Having considered that there was very little provision or stores within the palace, and a great many men, and that there was not a possibility of his being relieved, he requested, on the 28th of the same month, that the king would permit him to speak with him, which the king kindly granted. The duke left the palace accompanied by about forty of his principal knights and esquires: he was dressed in a long robe of blue figured velvet, lined with sables, having on his head a crimson-velvet bonnet, trimmed also with sables. The king's heralds escorted him through the tower to the sallyport leading to St Catherine's, where he was met by the count de Clermont, eldest son to the duke of Bourbon, and other knights and esquires, who conducted him to St Catherine's where the king received him very kindly, in an apartment most richly decorated.
The king had with him, at this audience, the king of Sicily, the counts of Maine, of Dunois, of Nevers, of Clermont, of St Pol, of Castres, of Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and so many great lords and knights that it would be tiresome to name them all. When the duke had saluted the king, he requested that his majesty would be pleased to grant to him, and the English in the palace and castle, the same capitulation he had granted to the town.
The king replied aloud, and in handsome terms, that the same capitulation had been granted them at the conference at St Ouen, but that neither himself nor his countrymen, like ill-advised persons, would accept of it: his request was therefore so unreasonable that he could not grant it. The duke then took his leave of the king and returned, with those who had accompanied him, to the palace, escorted, for his security, by the counts of Clermont, of Eu, and of Castres.
The king ordered the count de Dunois to push forward his approaches to the palace with the greatest vigour, on the side toward the country as well as on that toward the town. The lieutenant-general obeyed this order with so much activity, valour and prudence, that the English were completely blockaded in both the castle and the palace.
The English now demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and a truce was concluded between them. The bailiff of Evreux, the marshal de la Fayette, and others of the king's council were called in to the conference, when the truce was prolonged from day to day, for the space of twelve days, because the English would not leave the lord Talbot as an hostage for the performance of the treaty. After many discussions, it was at length agreed that the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of the king of England, his lady, children, and all the English within the palace and castle should depart in safety with their effects whithersoever they pleased, leaving behind the prisoners and heavy artillery. They were bound to pay the king of France the sum of fifty thousand crowns within the twelvemonth, and to those who had concluded this treaty six thousand. They also promised faithfully to pay every thing they owed to the innkeepers, townsmen, tradesmen and others of Rouen.
The duke of Somerset and his companions were besides bounden to deliver up the castle of Arques, the town of Caudebec, the castle of Tancarville, and L'isle-bonne, the towns of Honfleur and Monstierville, to the king of France, or to such commissioners as he should appoint to receive them. For the fulfilment of these engagements, the duke of Somerset gave written promises, and also left, as hostages for their performance, lord Talbot, the sons of lord Abergavenny, of lord Roos, and of the duchess of Somerset, of the earl of Ormond in Ireland, and two other english noblemen.
On the conclusion of this treaty, the duke of Somerset and the English departed from the palace on the 4th day of November, and went strait to the town of Harfleur,—some by water, others by land. The hostages remained under the care of the king's commissaries in Rouen. The duke of Somerset, before his departure, had directed sir Thomas Hou and Fulk Hou[57] to restore to the king of France the places mentioned in the treaty; which was done, excepting Honfleur,—for the governor, called master Thomas Courson, refused to surrender it,—and the lord Talbot, therefore, remained prisoner to the king. On Monday, the 10th of November, the eve of the feast of St Martin, the count de Dunois and the bailiff of Rouen had the king's banner displayed from the castle, palace, and walls of the city, by one of the king's heralds, and in the presence of the principal inhabitants.
FOOTNOTES:
[56] Arques,—two leagues from Dieppe.
[57] Sir Thomas Hou, &c. Q. Howe? Berry changes the names into Heu and Heston. See Hollingshed, &c.