THE FAIR OF LINCOLN (1217).
Source.—Annals of Dunstable, pp. 49-50. (Annales Monastici, vol. iii.—Rolls Series.)
Meanwhile the Earl of Chester laid siege to the Castle of Mount Sorel with the King's army; but the Barons, who had been delaying in London, set out with the Count of Perche, the Marshal of France, and a thousand men, granted to them by Louis, and proceeded innocently enough as far as Dunstable, but thereafter devastated everything, sparing not even widows and churches. They forced the Earl to raise the siege of the above-mentioned castle, and then, after changing its garrison, and renewing its stock of provisions, they continued on their way to Lincoln, where, joining Gilbert de Gaunt and other Barons there present, they besieged the Castle of Lincoln, which was gallantly defended by a noble lady, Nicola by name. But some days afterwards, the legate, with William Marshal and the Bishops, Earls, and other partisans of the King, wearing white crosses on the breasts of their tunics reached Newark in pursuit; the legate advanced no further, but delegated to the Bishop of Winchester his duties of absolving the loyal subjects of the King from their sins, and of encouraging them to make a bold stand. When the King's party approached Lincoln from the west, the Barons who were within drew up their line of battle and placed their scaling-ladders outside the city on the west side; but when they perceived the Royalists coming on with a powerful force, they adopted some coward's base counsel, and began to retreat within the city, being pursued by the royal army up to the gate and walls which give on the north. A brave knight, Fawkes de Breauté, who had been admitted by a guard into the castle through the postern gate, assaulted the Barons in the rear; whereupon they, seeing themselves attacked from both sides, left the walls, and descending towards Wigford, turned their weapons against Fawkes. But Simon de Peschi, with Henry Braybrook and eighty thousand Frenchmen, fled, and proceeded to London by way of Lynn and St. Edmunds.
Meanwhile the royal troops entered the city from every side, and, coming up with the Count of Perche defending himself gallantly in a churchyard, killed him, having first put his horse to death. Then the citizens, seized with panic, took to flight and perished in great numbers in the rivers. All the Barons were taken prisoners, one after another, and the city was given over to plunder, the victors even despoiling the churches, heedless of the divine favours bestowed on them. Many foot soldiers, also—Frenchmen especially—were seized here and there as they fled towards London and put to death by the peasants. Those who were taken became the prisoners of their captors; of these, all, except a few who delayed paying any penalty until peace was signed, ransomed themselves. Louis, when he heard what had happened to his men at Lincoln, burned his huts and gave up the siege (of Dover); then he came to London, and sent to France for reinforcements.
THE BATTLE OF SANDWICH (1217).
Source.—Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre, pp. 200-202. (Société de l'Histoire de France.)
On S. Bartholomew's Day there set out from Calais my Lady Blanche's folk; and they went sailing towards the mouth of the Thames. Twenty-four ships had she begged, both great and small; of the ten great ones, all of which were fully manned, four were filled with knights, and six with sergeants; in the other smaller ships were the armour and the stores. Into Eustace the Monk's vessel entered Robert de Courtenay, and Eustace the Monk with him, and Raoul de la Tournelle, the good knight, who afterwards was killed in the service of God before the city of Toulouse, and William des Barres, the young son of William des Barres, the good knight and the well-disposed, and Neville de Canle, the son of the Bailiff of Arras, and other knights, so that their number was thirty-six in all. In the second of the ships filled with knights was Michus de Harnes, and in the third the Castellan of St. Omer; the fourth was that of the Mayor of Brittany, and into it many knights entered. The six ships for the sergeants were well manned and fit for battle. When they came nigh unto the Isle of Thanet, the Royalists who were assembled at Sandwich saw them, and entering straightway into eighteen great ships which they had ready, and several boats, came against them. Hubert de Burgh himself put out to sea, and Richard, the King's son, and several other knights; but the Earl of Warrenne did not embark; nevertheless, he kept watch over one ship of knights and men-at-arms, in which was his standard. The English so sailed as to attack the French rear. The ship wherein were the men of the Earl Marshal attacked firstly Eustace the Monk's ship, where was Robert de Courtenay, and very stoutly they fought. So fierce was the contest that four other ships came to aid the Earl's men; then was Eustace the Monk's vessel surrounded on all sides. Boldly the English assailed them, casting stones and lime, so that they blinded them all. So severely they attacked that they took them by force. Then there was captured Robert de Courtenay, who was uncle of the Queen.... William des Barres was taken with him, and Raoul de la Tournelle, and Neville d'Arras, and all the knights who were in that vessel. Eustace the Monk had his head cut off by one of the sailors called Stephen Trabe, who had long held him in great hate. None of the other great ships were taken, for they saved themselves by flight; but many of the smaller vessels were destroyed and great slaughter made of them who were captured. What more need I say? Great discomfiture the French had; long were they chased by the English, who then retired to Sandwich with their booty, which was very great. The knights were thrown into deep prisons, and Eustace the Monk's head was fixed on a lance, and carried in procession to Canterbury and through the countryside. This battle took place on Thursday, S. Bartholomew's Day, and the news was brought to London on the Saturday, very late in the evening, to Louis, who was exceeding wroth thereat, as was but natural.
WHY LOUIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN ENGLAND.
Source.—The Canon of Barnwell's Continuation of Hoveden, p. 239. (Rolls Series.)