On this day, the following were made knights: the count de Castres, son to the count de la Marche,—Godfrey de Boulogne, son to the count de Boulogne and Auvergne,—the lord de Vauvert, son to the count de Villars, the lord de St Severe, the lord de Chalençon, and several more. The French only lost this day, by death, eight persons at the most!
The army now marched to lay siege to the town and castle of Vire. After their departure, a dispute arose among the captains, to whom the honour of the day was due: some said to the constable, as being, from his office, lieutenant-general for the king in all parts of the realm; but others claimed it for the count de Clermont, he having been specially ordered on this service,—and a special order ought to supersede a general one. It came to such a length that it was referred to the king, who decided in favour of the count de Clermont, although it was through the constable's able support that he had gained the victory.
News of this success was soon spread all over the kingdom of France; and coming to the ears of master William Charrier, bishop of Paris, he immediately ordered a procession to be made to the church of Nôtre Dame of all children, as well male as female, that were at school, from the age of seven to eleven years, to return thanks to God for the signal victory the most Christian king had obtained over his ancient enemies. The procession, consisting of from twelve to fourteen thousand children, attended by their masters and tutors, set out from the church of St Innocent, where they were assembled, each with a wax taper, or other light, in his hand. The chaplains of the church were in the center, bearing the relics of Saint Innocent,—and the procession extended from this church to that of our Lady, and was a fine sight to see, and did great honour to the bishop. On its arrival at the church of Nôtre Dame, a solemn mass was sung, and the bishop preached a sermon, taking for his text the second verse of the eighth Psalm,—'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.' When the service was over, they returned two and two as they had come, conveying back the relics to the church of Saint Innocent,—and thence each child went to its school.
About this period, the duke of Suffolk quitted a strong castle into which he had retired for fear of the English, who would have put him to death, and embarked for foreign countries; but he was met at sea by the partisans of the duke of Somerset, who laid hands on him and cut off his head, which they sent, with the body, to their friends in London, who hung up the quarters at the different gates.[84]
The French, without loss of time, after their late victory, marched to besiege the town of Vire, in which was a garrison of three or four stout english combatants: their captain was sir Henry Norbury, then a prisoner, in consequence of the defeat at Fourmigny. The siege did not last long before the commandant capitulated to surrender, on being allowed to march away in safety with the garrison and baggage to Caen. The french army was now divided: one part, under the count de Clermont, marched toward Bayeux,—and the other, with the constable, returned to the duke of Brittany, to lay siege to Avranches[85].
FOOTNOTES:
[79] St Clement,—a village near to Bayeux.
[80] Trevieres,—-a market-town near Bayeux.
[81] Anthony. He is called Thomas before.
[82] Norbery. Before Morbery. Probably Norbury.