THE KING APPOINTS THE COUNT DE DUNOIS HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL IN GUIENNE, WHO BESIEGES MONT-GUYON.—IT SURRENDERS TO HIM.—HE LAYS SIEGE TO TOWN OF BLAYE, WHICH IS TAKEN BY STORM.—THE CASTLE CAPITULATES.
In the month of May, of the year 1451, according to the Chronicles of St Denis, during the king's residence at Tours, he appointed the count de Dunois and de Longueville, who had come thither for that purpose, his lieutenant-general in Guienne, to reduce that duchy to his obedience. Early in May, the king had issued his summons to several knights and esquires, that they might prepare themselves for accompanying the count on this expedition.
The lieutenant-general left Tours with a noble company, and marched to lay siege to a castle called Mont-Guyon, where he was joined by the count d'Angoulême, legitimate brother to the duke of Orleans, master John Bureau, treasurer of France, Pierre de Louvain, and others, to the amount of four hundred spears, with archers and guisarmes, and four thousand franc archers, who instantly commenced the siege, without waiting for the other great barons who were to come thither. This siege lasted eight days; but the governor for the English, Regnault de St Jean, esquire, and attached to the captal de Buch, and a few men at arms, seeing the inutility of defence, against such an army, entered into a capitulation, by which the place was yielded up to the king of France.
On the 16th day of May, after the reduction of Mont-Guyon, the lieutenant-general laid siege to one of the gates of Blaye[118]. He was there joined by sir Pierre de Beauveau lord of la Bessiere, lieutenant to the count du Maine and captain of his men at arms, and by sir Geoffry de St Belin, having in their company about eight score spears, guisarmes and archers. Thither came also sir James de Chabannes, grand master of the household, and Joachim Rohault, who posted themselves opposite the castle, and took their quarters at the hospital: they had with them two hundred lances and archers, and two thousand franc archers. At the same time, a large fleet arrived under the command of sir John le Boucher, general of France, in which were numbers of men at arms and archers, with great stores of provision for the supply of the besieging army. This fleet, as it came near to Blaye, found anchored in the port five large vessels well armed, which had arrived from Bordeaux with stores for the relief of those in the town of Blaye. An engagement took place, when the French fought valiantly, and killed so many of the enemy that they were forced to weigh anchor and fly to Bordeaux, whither they were chaced into the harbour. The french fleet then returned to Blaye, where they anchored before the port, to prevent any supplies from being thrown into the town.
Thus was Blaye besieged on all sides, by land and water; and as this was completed, the count de Penthievre arrived, with one hundred lances and three hundred cross-bows, and was quartered near to the count de Dunois. Many gallant deeds were done, and deep trenches and mines made,—and the walls were so much battered, by heavy cannon and bombards, that there were breaches in several places. The most valiant warriors on the part of the king of England, in Guyenne, were then in the town; but a little before sunset, on the 28th day of May, at the hour of sounding to mount the guard, some franc archers of the company of John de Meauze, called the lord of Maugouverne, captain of the franc archers of Touraine, mounted the walls of the town, and a storm regularly followed,—when the place was won, and the English lost, in killed and prisoners, full two hundred men.
The mayor of Bordeaux, together with the lord de l'Esparre, the lord de Montferrant, and others—in all, about two hundred—hastily retreated into the castle; but, consulting together, they thought further resistance would be vain against such members, without hope of being succoured, and surrendered the castle on capitulation.
Instantly on the reduction of the castle of Blaye, the count de Dunois marched his forces to besiege the town and castle of Le Bourg[119]. The siege did not, however, continue more than five or six days; for the garrison, observing the preparations for such large batteries of cannon and bombards, and the great strength of the besiegers, offered to surrender on being allowed to march away in safety with arms and baggage. There were from four to five hundred combatants in the place, under the command of sir Beraud de Montferrant, who departed with them for Bordeaux; and sir James de Chabannes, grand master of the household, remained governor of it for the king of France.
In this same month of May, the count d'Albreth, with his two sons the lords of Tartas and of Orval, three hundred lances and two thousand cross-bows, laid siege to Dax[120], on the side toward Bordeaux, and at the end of the bridge over the Adour. About ten or twelve hours after the siege had commenced, the count de Foix came thither, attended by the viscount de Lautrec his legitimate brother, sir Bernard de Béarn his natural brother, the barons of Nouailles, of Lausun, of Rez, of Couraze, sir Martin Gratian captain of the Spaniards, Robin Petit-Lot captain of the Scots, and many other knights and esquires; in the whole, amounting to five hundred lances and archers, and two thousand cross-bows. They besieged the town on the side of Navarre and Béarn, and several gallant actions were performed on both sides. The besieged kept up a stout resistance, until they heard that those in Bordeaux had intentions of treating with the lieutenant-general or his commissioners; and a promise was made them, at the request of the count de Foix that they should be comprehended in whatever treaty the Bordelois should conclude. Dax was thus delivered up to the king of France,—and the counts de Foix and d'Albreth, with four barons of Béarn, were appointed for the defence of the town and castle.
In the same month, siege was laid to Castillon[121], in Perigord, by the count de Penthievre, the lord de Jalognes marshal of France, and master John Bureau treasurer of France.
At this time, St Emilion[122], surrendered,—for the garrison saw resistance would be vain,—and it was placed under the guard of the count de Penthievre.