On the sixth day of August, in this year, the king of France advanced toward Amboise, to cross the river Loire, and march his army into Normandy to support the besiegers of Verneuil. The count de Dunois and his company remained two days in Evreux.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Verneuil,—a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux.
[2] Breteuil,—a town in Normandy, near Conches.
[3] Harcourt,—a town in Normandy, election of Conches, ten leagues from Rouen.
CHAP. II.
THE COUNT DE ST POL APPEARS BEFORE NOGENT, WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM.—THE CAPTURE OF POINT-AUDEMER.
On Friday, the 8th day of August, in this year, the count de St Pol, with about four hundred[4] horse, came before the castle of Nogent, of whom twenty or thirty of the most valiant of the van, at the first shock, forced their way into the lower court, and gained the barriers. Fearing the cannon of the English, they instantly retreated, to wait for their companions,—but not before the portcullis had been rapidly let down, and inclosed two of their number, who were made prisoners. On the approach of the main army, the place was courageously attacked on the side toward the fields, when many were killed and wounded on each side. The governor for king Henry was called Jean le Fevre, born near to Louviers, who had with him about thirty companions in arms.
On the Saturday, the place surrendered between eleven and twelve o'clock, on condition that the garrison should march away in safety unarmed, except the governor, who was to wear his sword. They deposited all their effects in the church of St Peter, whence they afterward came to seek and carry them away whither they pleased. The conquerors, perceiving on the Sunday that the place was not tenable, decamped, but not before they had set fire to it, and burnt it to the ground.
The same Friday, the count de Dunois marched from Evreux with a large company of knights and esquires, and two thousand five hundred combatants. Two days after, the counts d'Eu and de St Pol, the lords de Saveuses, de Roye, de Moy, de Rambures, and others, to the number of three hundred lances, and from fourteen to fifteen hundred archers, passed Pont de l'Arche, and continued their march until they formed a junction, on the 12th before Pont Audemer, with the count de Dunois and his army. The count de Dunois was posted on the side toward Rouen, and the counts d'Eu and de St Pol nearer to Honfleur, on the other side of the river Rille, which runs by the town,—and each lord drew up his men to the attack of the place.