During the truce, the english garrisons of Mantes, Verneuil, and Laigny had gone on the high roads between Orleans and Paris, and had robbed and murdered all passengers and merchants that fell in their way. In like manner did the English of Neufchâtel, Gournay, and Gerberoy, on the roads between Paris, Abbeville, and Amiens: they also made inroads over the country, seizing all they could lay hands on, and murdering gentlemen in their beds, who had sworn allegiance to the king of France; such as the lord de Maillebois, the lord de St Remy, Olivier de Noirequerque, and several more.
On the other hand, such tradesmen and labouring farmers as had, on the faith of the truce, returned to their occupations, houses, and villages, were continually harrassed and put to death by the English, who called them false Armagnac-traitors.
These were the fine exploits of the English during the existence of the truce. They were called Vizards, from wearing masks and frightful disguises over their other clothes, when they went on any such expeditions, to prevent them being discovered.
To put an end to all these deceitful proceedings of the English, the king of France assembled a large body of men at arms, as did the duke of Brittany, on their frontiers. The garrison of Fougeres made a sally on these last,—but they were repulsed so valiantly that they lost upwards of six score in killed and taken.
At this time a miller in the town of Varneuil[1] was beaten by an Englishman going the rounds. In revenge, he went to the bailiff of Evreux, and promised, on certain conditions, to admit him and his men into the town. In consequence of this, sir Pierre de Brésé, seneschal of Poitou, the said bailiff of Evreux, Jacques de Clermont and others, collected their men with all haste, and appeared before the walls of Verneuil by break of day on the 29th day of July.
The miller was on guard this night, and dismissed the watch sooner than usual because it was Sunday, that they might attend mass and then breakfast. The French, by the aid of the miller, fixed their ladders to his mill, and, by this means, entered the town without any one knowing, or even suspecting it. Six score English were in garrison, some of whom were killed or made prisoners, and the rest fled in haste to the castle.
On the morrow, the miller drew off most part of the water from the ditches of the castle, which was then vigorously attacked and defended,—but at last it was taken by storm. Many gallant deeds were done, particularly by the seneschal, who acquired greater renown than any other, although all fought well, for they had not any heavy artillery,—and numbers of the English were killed, wounded, and taken. The remainder took shelter in the tour grise, which was impregnable so long as provisions did not fail, being very thick and high, and detached from the castle, surrounded with ditches full of water. Notwithstanding its strength, the French attacked it on all sides,—and while they were thus engaged, the count de Dunois arrived with the lord de Culant and many other knights and esquires. The first had been lately appointed lieutenant-general of the armies of the king of France,—and the lord de Culant had been made grand master of the household.
Having had information that lord Talbot was on his march to relieve his countrymen in the tower, and was arrived at Breteuil[2], they soon departed, leaving sir Florent Dilliers, who remained to manage the siege, with about eight hundred combatants.
The count de Dunois kept advancing until he met lord Talbot near to Harcourt[3], who, when he perceived the French, fortified himself so strongly, with stakes and the baggage-carts which carried his stores, that they could no way injure him. At nightfall, he retreated in haste to Harcourt. All the ensuing day the French were drawn up in battle-array in the expectation of an engagement, but Talbot would not quit the town.
The following knights were this day created: the lord de Herbault, sir John de Bar lord of Baugey, and John Daulon, equerry of the king's stables; and the French, finding that Talbot would not come out of Harcourt, withdrew that evening to Evreux.