Froissart Book 2: 1340-1342

116. When this victory, as has been said above, had come to the English king, he remained all that night, which was the vigil of Saint John the Baptist, upon the sea in his ships before Sluys, amid great noise and tumult of trumpets, nakers, and all manner of minstrelsy. And there came to see him the men of Flanders, who had been informed of his arrival. Then the king asked the burgesses of Bruges for news of Jacob van Artevelde; and they answered that he was at a summons of the Count of Hainault against the Duke of Normandy, with more than sixty thousand Flemings. These words were very pleasing to the English king. When it came to the next day, the feast of Saint John, the king and all his people landed and took the shore. And the king went on foot, with a great company of his chivalry, and so in this manner went in pilgrimage to Our Lady of Ardenbourg. There the king heard mass and dined, and afterwards mounted again; and that same day, toward evening, he came to Ghent, where my lady the queen, his wife, was, and who received him with great joy. And all the king’s people and all their harness came thither afterwards, little by little.

Quant ceste victore, ensi que dessus est dit, fu avenue au roy englès, il demora toute celle nuit, qui fu la vigile Saint Jehan Baptiste, sus mer en ses naves devant l'Escluse, en grant bruit et en grant noise de trompes et de nakaires et de toutes manières de menestraudies. Et là le vinrent veoir chil de Flandres, qui estoient enfourmé de se venue. Si demanda li dis rois nouvelles as bourgois de Bruges, de Jakemon d'Artevelle; et cil respondirent qu'il estoit à une semonse dou conte de Haynau contre le duch de Normendie, à plus de soixante mille Flamens. Ces parolles furent assés plaisans au roy englès. Quant ce vint à l'endemain, le jour Saint Jehan, li rois et toutes ses gens prisent port et terre. Et se mist li rois tout à piet, et grant fuison de se chevalerie; et s'en vinrent en cel estat en pelerinage à Nostre Dame d'Ardenbourch. Là oy messe li rois et disna, et puis monta; et vint celi jour, sus le soir, à Gand, où ma dame la royne sa femme estoit, qui le rechut à grant joie. Et toutes les gens le roy et tous leurs harnois vinrent celle part depuis petit à petit.

[100] These tidings, which were not at all pleasing to the Flemings, spread throughout Flanders. The country was greatly stirred and troubled as a result. The complaints reached Jacob van Artevelde, who was residing in Ghent. Whereupon Artevelde became deeply angered and declared—swearing it—that this outrage would be avenged in the land of Tournai. He then issued his summons throughout the region and ordered that all should depart and assemble with him, on a set date that he appointed, before the city of Tournai. He also wrote to the Count of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolk, who were garrisoned in the town of Ypres, instructing them to march that way. And to show more plainly that the affair was his own and that it concerned him personally, he departed from Ghent in great array and made his way to a certain crossing between the town of Oudenaarde and Tournai, at the place called the Pont de Fier, and encamped there, awaiting the aforementioned English earls and also those from the Franc of Bruges.

[110] Ces nouvelles, qui ne furent mies trop plaisans pour les Flamens, s'espandirent parmi Flandres. Si en fu durement li pays esmeus et tourblés. Et en vinrent les complaintes à Jakemon d'Artevelle qui se tenoit à Gand. Pour quoi li dis d'Artevelles fu durement courouciés, et dist et jura que ceste fourfaiture seroit amendée ou pays de Tournesis. Si fist son mandement par tout, et commanda parmi les bonnes villes de Flandres que tout vuidassent et fuissent, à un certain jour qu'il y assigna, avoecques lui, devant le cité de Tournay; et escrisi au conte de Sallebrin et au conte de Sufforch, qui se tenoient en garnison en le ville de Ippre, qu'il se traissent de celle part. Et encores pour mieus moustrer que la besongne estoit sienne et qu'elle li touchoit, il se parti de Gand moult estoffeement, et s'en vint entre le ville d'Audenarde et de Tournay, sus un certain pas que on dist au Pont de Fier; et se loga là, attendans les dessus dis contes d'Engleterre et ossi chiaus dou Franch de Bruges.

[101] Now the two English earls were riding along with their company, guided by Sir Wafflart de la Croix, who had long waged war against the people of Lille, and was still doing so whenever he could. He had stayed that season in Ypres in order to better harass them, and had taken on the task of leading the English safely, since he knew all the roads and hidden paths. And indeed he would have brought them through without harm, had the people of Lille not recently dug a large new trench outside their town, one that was not usually there. When Sir Wafflart had brought them as far as that and saw that their way had been cut off, he was taken aback and said to the English earls: “My lords, we cannot possibly continue along this road without putting ourselves in great danger from the men of Lille. Therefore, I advise we turn back and take another route.” Then the English lords replied: “Sir Wafflart, we shall not turn off our path on account of the men of Lille. Ride on ahead, for we have assured d'Artevelde that we will arrive today, no matter the hour, where he is.” So the English pressed on without hesitation. And when Sir Wafflart saw that this was certain, and that he would not be listened to nor believed, he made his position entirely clear and said: “Good sirs, it is true that you have taken me as your guide and conductor on this journey, and that I have remained with you all this winter in Ypres, and I hold your company in high regard. But if it happens that the people of Lille come out or set upon us, do not rely on me to stay, I shall save myself as quickly as I can. For if I were captured or taken by any twist of fate, it would be on my own head, and I prize my own life more than your company.

[101] Or chevauçoient adonc cil doi conte englès et leur route, sus le guiement monsigneur Wafflart de le Crois, qui un grant temps avoit guerriiet chiaus de Lille, et encores guerrioit, quant il pooit; et s'estoit tenus celle saison à Ippre, pour yaulz mieus guerriier, et se faisoit fors que d'yaus mener sans peril, car il savoit toutes les adrèces et les torses voies. Et encores en fust il bien venus à chief, se cil de Lille n'euissent fait au dehors de leur ville un grant trencheis nouvellement, qui n'estoit mies acoustumés d'estre. Et quant cilz messires Wafflars les eut amenés jusques à là, et il vei que on leur avoit copet le voie, si fu tous esbahis et dist as contes d'Engleterre: "Mi signeur, nous ne poons nullement passer le chemin que nous alons, sans nous mettre en grant dangier et ou peril de chiaus de Lille. Pour quoi, je conseille que nous retournons et prendons ailleurs nostre chemin." Adonc respondirent li baron d'Engleterre: "Messire Wafflart, jà n'avenra que nous issons de nostre chemin pour chiaus de Lille. Chevauciés toutdis avant, car nous avons acertefiiet d'Artevelle que nous serons ce jour, à quèle heure que soit, là où il est." Lors chevaucièrent li Englès sans nul esmay. Et quant messires Wafflars vei que c'estoit acertes, et que il ne pooit estre creus ne oys, si fist son marchiet tout avant et dist: "Biau signeur, voirs est que pour gide et conduiseur en ce voiage vous m'avés pris, et que tout cel yvier je me sui tenus avoecques vous en Ippre, et me loe de vostre compagnie et de vous grandement. Mais toutes fois, se il avient que cil de Lille sallent ne issent hors contre nous ne sur nous, n'aiiés nulle fiance que je les doie attendre, mès me sauverai au plus tost que je porai. Car se j'estoie pris ne arrestés par aucun kas de fortune, ce seroit sus ma tieste que j'ai plus chier que vostre compagnie."

[101] Then the knights began to laugh and said to Sir Wafflart that they considered him well excused. All happened just as he had foreseen—for they had taken no precaution, and so stumbled straight into the ambush, which was large and well-manned, full of soldiers and crossbowmen, who at once cried out: “Halt, halt—you shall not pass here without our leave!” Thereupon they began shooting and hurling missiles at the English and their company. And as soon as Sir Wafflart saw what was happening, he had no desire to ride any farther. He turned about as quickly as he could, pushed his way out of the melee, and escaped, he was not taken that time. But the two English lords Sir William of Montagu, Earl of Salisbury, and the Earl of Suffolk fell into the hands of their enemies and were captured more thoroughly than if it had been by open battle. For they had been ambushed in a narrow lane, hemmed in on all sides by hedges, brambles, and ditches, so tightly that they could neither turn back, climb out, nor reach open ground. Still, when they saw what misfortune had befallen them, they dismounted and fought on foot, defending themselves as best they could, and they wounded and injured a fair number of the townsfolk. But in the end their defence came to nothing, for fresh troops kept arriving and pressing upon them. There they were captured and taken for ransom by force, along with a young squire from Limousin, a nephew of Pope Clement, named Raymond who, after he had been given safe conduct as a prisoner, was killed out of greed for his fine armor. This act greatly angered many worthy men.

[101] Adonc commenchièrent li chevalier à rire, et disent à monsigneur Wafflart qu'il le tenoient bien pour escuset. Tout ensi qu'il l'imagina en avint, car il ne se donnèrent de garde; si se boutèrent en l'embusce, qui estoit grande et forte, et bien pourveue de gens d'armes et d'arbalestriers, qui les escriièrent tantost: "Avant, avant, par chi ne poés vous passer sans no congiet." Lors commencièrent il à traire et à lancier sus les Englès et leur route. Et si tretost que messires Waufflars en vei la manière, il n'eut cure de chevaucier plus avant, mès retourna au plus tost qu'il peut, et se bouta hors de le presse et se sauva, et ne fu mies pris à celle fois. Et li doi signeur d'Engleterre, messires Guillaumes de Montagut, contes de Sallebrin, et li contes de Sufforch escheirent en le main de leurs ennemis, et furent mieulz pris c'à le roit, car il furent embuschiet en un chemin estroit, entre haies et espines et fossés à tous lés, si fort et par tel manière qu'il ne se pooient ravoir ne retourner, ne monter, ne prendre les camps. Toutes fois, quant il veirent le mesaventure, il descendirent tout à piet et se deffendirent ce qu'il peurent, et en navrèrent et mehagnièrent assés de chiaus de le ville. Mais finablement leur deffense ne vali noient, car gens d'armes frès et nouviaus croissoient toutdis sus yaus. Là furent il pris et rançonné de force, et uns escuiers jones, de Limozin, neveus dou pape Clement, qui s'appelloit Raymons; mais depuis qu'il fu creantés prisons, fu il occis pour le couvoitise de ses belles armeures, dont moult de bonnes gens en furent courouciet.

112. When the Count of Hainaut saw that his council was wavering, and that they were not at all agreed on crossing the river Escaut and fighting the French, he was deeply angered. So one day he called his uncle, Sir John of Hainaut, and said to him: “Dear uncle, mount your horse and ride along this river, and call upon any man of honor in the French host, whoever he may be, and tell him on my behalf that I will provide a bridge for them to cross, provided we have three days' truce together only, in which to build it — and that I wish to fight them, no matter what.” The Lord of Beaumont, seeing his nephew in such strong desire to fight his enemies, gladly agreed and said he would go and carry the message. So he returned to his lodging and made himself ready, quickly and properly, with only two other knights: the Lord of Fagnuelles and Sir Florence of Biaurieu, and with his pennon before him, mounted on fine warhorses, and they rode thus along the bank of the Escaut.

112. Quant li contes de Haynau vey son conseil variier, et qu'il n'estoient mies bien d'acort de passer le rivière d'Escaut, et de combatre les François, si en fu durement courouciés. Si appella un jour son oncle, monsigneur Jehan de Haynau, et li dist: "Biaus oncles, montés à cheval, et chevaucherés selonch ceste rivière, et appellerés qui que soit homme d'onneur en l'ost françoise, et dirés de par moy que je leur liverai pont pour passer, mès que nous aions trois jours de respit ensamble tant seulement pour le faire, et que je les voel combatre, comment que soit." Li sires de Byaumont, qui veoit son neveut en grant desir de combatre ses ennemis, li acorda volentiers, et dist qu'il iroit et feroit le message. Si vint à son logeis et s'apparilla bien et frichement, lui troisime de chevaliers tant seulement, li sires de Fagnuelles et messires Florens de Biaurieu, et son pennon devant lui, montés sus bons coursiers, et chevaucièrent ensi sus le rivage d'Escaut.

114. When the King of England and his marshals had wisely and skillfully arranged their battle lines and ships, they had the sails raised and angled to catch the wind, coming from the quarter on the right, so as to gain the advantage of the sun, which was in their faces as they advanced. They realized and observed that this could harm them greatly, so they altered course slightly and maneuvered until the sun was where they wanted it. The Normans, seeing them turn about, were greatly surprised and wondered why they did so, saying: ‘They hesitate and retreat, for they are not men enough to fight us.' Among them, the Normans clearly saw by the banners that the King of England was personally present, which pleased them greatly, for they dearly desired to face him in battle. They put their ships in good order, for they were experienced seamen and strong fighters. They placed Christophe, the large ship they had captured from the English earlier that year, at the front, filled with a great number of Genoese crossbowmen to defend it, shoot, and skirmish with the English. Then they formed up, to the sound of many trumpets and horns and various other instruments, and advanced to confront their enemies.

114. Quant li rois d'Engleterre et si mareschal eurent ordené leurs batailles et leurs navies bellement et sagement, il fisent tendre et traire les voiles contremont, et vinrent au vent, de quartier, sus destre, pour avoir l'avantage dou soleil, qui en venant lor estoit ou visage. Si s'avisèrent et regardèrent que ce les pooit trop nuire, et detriièrent un petit, et tourniièrent tant qu'i(l) l'eurent à leur volenté. Li Normant, qui les veoient tourniier, s'esmervilloient trop pour quoi il le faisoient et disoient: "Il ressongnent et reculent, car il ne sont pas gens pour combatre à nous." Bien veoient entre yaus li Normant, par les banières, que li rois d'Engleterre y estoit personelment; si en estoient moult joiant, car trop le desiroient à combatre. Si misent leurs vaissiaus en bon estat, car il estoient sage de mer et bon combatant. Et ordonnèrent Christofle, le grant vaissiel que conquis avoient sus les Englès en celle meisme anée, tout devant, et grant fuison d'arbalestriers geneuois dedens, pour le garder et traire et escarmucier as Englès. Et puis s'arroutèrent, à grant fuison de trompes et de trompètes et de pluiseurs aultres instrumens, et s'en vinrent requerre leurs ennemis.

[114] There began a hard and fierce battle on all sides. Archers and crossbowmen began shooting at one another from a distance with intensity and force, while the men-at-arms came closer and engaged in hand-to-hand combat fiercely and boldly. To better reach one another, they had large hooks and iron grapnels attached to chains, which they hurled into the enemy ships and fastened them together, so they could better board and fight more closely and ferociously. There was a very hard and violent battle, with many feats of arms performed, many grapples, many captures and rescues. There, Christophe, that great ship, was at last recaptured by the English early in the fight, and all who had guarded and defended it were killed or perished. Then there was great shouting and uproar; the English pressed forward strongly and quickly manned Christophe, that fine and great vessel, with their best archers, whom they sent to the fore to fight the Genoese.

[114] Là se commença bataille dure et forte, de tous costés. Et arcier et arbalestrier commencièrent à traire l'un contre l'autre diversement et roidement, et gens d'armes à approcier et à combatre main à main asprement et hardiement. Et par quoi il peuissent mieus avenir li un à l'autre, il avoient grans cros et havés de fier tenans à chainnes; si les jettoient ens ès nefs li un de l'autre, et les atachoient ensamble, à fin qu'il se peuissent mieulz aherdre et plus fierement combatre. Là eut une très dure et forte bataille, et mainte apertise d'armes faite, mainte luite, mainte prise et mainte rescousse. Là fu Christofles, cilz grans vaissiaus, auques de commencement reconquis des Englès, et tout chil mort et peri qui le gardoient et deffendoient. Et adonc y eut grant huée et grant noise; et approcièrent durement li Englès et pourveirent incontinent Christofle, ce biel et grant vaissiel, de purs arciers qu'il fisent passer tout devant et combatre as Geneuois.

[117] At that time, there reigned a king in Sicily named Robert, who was reputed to be a very great astronomer. He strongly advised the king of France and his council, as much as he could, not to engage in battle with the English king, for the said English king was destined to be too fortunate in all his undertakings. King Robert would have gladly seen the above-mentioned kings come to terms and put an end to their war, for he loved the crown of France so dearly that he would scarcely endure to see its desolation. At that time, the said King Robert had come to Avignon to visit Pope Clement and the College of Cardinals. He had explained to them the dangers that might arise in France because of the war between the two kings. Moreover, he had begged and entreated them to make every effort to bring peace between them, since he saw they were so stirred to a great war with no one attempting to prevent it. To this, Pope Clement VI and the cardinals responded directly and said that they would willingly attend to it—provided that both kings were willing to listen.

[117] En ce temps, regnoit uns rois en Sesille, qui s'appelloit Robers, qui avoit le fame et le renommée de estre très grans astro(no)miens, et deffendoit, ce qu'il pooit, au roy de France et à son conseil que point ne se combatesist au roy englès, car li dis rois englès devoit estre trop fortunés en toutes ses besongnes. Et euist volentiers veu li dis rois Robers que on euist les dessus dis rois mis à acord et à fin de leur guerre, car il amoit tant la couronne de France que à envis veist se desolation. Si estoit li dessus dis rois en ce temps venus en Avignon devers le pape Clement et le Collège, et leur avoit remoustré les perilz qui pooient estre en France, par le fait des guerres des deux rois, et encores avoech ce priiet et requis qu'il se volsissent ensonniier d'yaus apaisenter, pour tant qu'il les veoit si esmeus en grant guerre où nulz n'aloit au devant. De quoi li papes Clemens VIe et li cardinal l'en avoient respondu tout à point et dit qu'il y entenderoient volentiers, mès que li doi roy en volsissent oïr.

[129] The men of Valenciennes, who had been summoned by the Count, their lord, to be on a certain day before the town of Saint-Amand, while he would approach from the other side, arrived, as they had been commanded, in very good order. They numbered some twelve thousand fighting men. As soon as they reached Saint-Amand, they set up camp and arranged themselves properly. Then they held council to launch an assault. They had all their crossbowmen armed and advanced toward the bridge over the Scarpe. There began a harsh, fierce, and perilous assault, with many wounded and injured on both sides. The attack lasted the entire day, but the men of Valenciennes could gain no ground. Many of their own were killed or wounded. Those defending the town, mercenaries and common soldiers, mocked them, saying, 'Go drink your good ale, go on!' in scornful reproach. When evening came, the men of Valenciennes, exhausted, withdrew. They were greatly astonished not to have heard any word from the Count, their lord. So they decided to break camp and return to Valenciennes. That very evening, they packed everything up and withdrew to their city.

The next morning, after the men of Valenciennes had withdrawn, the Count of Hainaut departed from the siege of Tournai, as previously mentioned, with a great company of men-at-arms, bearing banners and pennons. He marched toward Saint-Amand, approaching from the side of Mortagne. As soon as they arrived, they launched an assault. The attack was fierce and intense. The Hainaut forces, upon arrival, quickly captured the outer defenses and advanced as far as the gate that opened toward Mortagne. At the forefront of the assault were the Count of Hainaut himself and his uncle, the Lord of Beaumont. They fought with great courage, sparing neither themselves nor their efforts. But misfortune nearly befell them for both were struck so hard by two stones hurled from above that their helmets were crushed and their heads left stunned and dazed.

'Sire, sire, at this point here, we will never take them for the gate is strong and the passage narrow; it would cost too many of your men to conquer it. But have large timbers brought, shaped like battering rams, and strike them against the abbey walls. We assure you that with force, openings will be made in several places. And once we are inside the abbey, the town is ours, for there is no separation between the town and the abbey.' So the said Count ordered that it be done as was wisely advised to him, so that the town might be taken more quickly. Large oak beams were sought out, and they were promptly shaped and sharpened at the front. Groups of twenty or thirty men would gather around one battering ram, then charge and hurl it with great momentum against the wall. They struck so many times and with such strength that they broke through the abbey wall, making breaches in several places. They entered freely, crossed a small river that ran there, and advanced without resistance to a square in front of the monastery, where a market for various goods was held.

And there was the seneschal of Carcassonne, in good order, with his banner before him, which was gules with a chief argent, bearing two half-kestrels in the chief, and bordered with an azure indented border. Around him had gathered several companions from his region, who bravely confronted the Hainuyers and fought valiantly, as best they could. But their defence was in vain, for too many Hainuyers came upon them with overwhelming numbers. And I tell you again, so none may forget: among the first to enter the abbey was a monk named Dom Froissart. This man performed wonders. He stood at a breach in the wall and, in front of it, struck down and wounded more than eighteen men. No one dared pass through the opening he guarded. But in the end, he had to retreat, for the Hainuyers were entering the abbey from multiple breaches in the wall. So the said monk escaped as best he could, and made his way to Mortagne.

[129] Cil de Valenchiènes, qui avoient estet mandé dou conte leur signeur qu'il fuissent à un certain jour devant le ville de Saint Amand, et il seroit à l'autre lés, vinrent, ensi que commandé leur fu, en très bon couvenant, et estoient bien douze mille combatans. Sitost qu'il furent venu devant Saint Amant, il s'i logièrent et misent en bonne ordenance, et puis eurent conseil d'aler assallir. Si fisent armer tous leurs arbalestriers, et puis traire vers le pont de Scarp. Là commença li assaus durs et fiers et perilleus durement, et en y eut pluiseurs bleciés et navrés, d'un lés et d'aultre. Et dura cilz assaulz tout le jour, que onques cil de Valenciennes n'i peurent riens fourfaire; mais en y eut des mors et des navrés grant fuison des leurs. Et leur disoient li saudoiier et li bidau qui laiens estoient, par manière de reproce: "Alés boire vostre goudale, alés!" Quant ce vint au soir, cil de Valenciènes se retraisent tout lasset, et furent moult esmervilliet de ce qu'il n'avoient oy nulle nouvelle dou conte leur signeur; si eurent avis qu'il se deslogeroient et retourroient viers Valenciennes; si fisent tout tourser, et se retraiirent, che meisme soir, en leur ville.

A l'endemain au matin que cil de Valenciènes se furent retret, li contes de Haynau se parti dou siège de Tournay, si com dessus est dit, à grant compagnie de gens d'armes, de banières et de pennons, et s'en vint devant Saint Amand, au lés par devers Mortagne. Si tost qu'il furent venu, il se traisent à l'assaut, et là eut moult fort assaut et moult dur. Et gaegnièrent li Haynuier, de venue, les premières bailles, et vinrent jusques à le porte qui oevre devers Mortagne. Là estoient tout premier et devant à l'assaut li contes de Haynau et li sires de Byaumont ses oncles, et assalloient de grant corage et sans yaus espargnier; de quoi il leur en fu priès mesavenu, car il furent tout doi si dur rencontré de deux pières jettées d'amont qu'il en eurent leurs bachinés effondrés et les tiestes toutes estonnées.

Adonc fu là qui dist: "Sire, sire, à cel endroit chi ne les arions nous jamès, car la porte est forte et la voie estroite; si cousteroit trop des vostres au conquerre. Mais faites aporter des grans mairiens, ouvrés à manière de pillos, et hurter as murs de l'abbeye; nous vous certefions que de force on le pertuisera en pluiseurs lieus. Et se nous sommes en l'abbeye, la ville est nostre, car il n'i a nul entredeus entre (la ville [350]) et l'abbeye." Dont commanda li dis contes que on fesist ensi que pour le mieulz on li consilloit, et pour le plus tost prendre. Si quist on grans baus de chesnes, et puis furent tantost ouvré et aguisié devant; et si s'acompagnoient à un pillot yaus vint ou yaus trente, et s'escueilloient et puis boutoient de grant randon contre le mur; et tant boutèrent et si vertueusement qu'il pertuisièrent le mur de l'abbeye et rompirent en pluiseurs lieus, et entrèrent ens abandonneement, et passèrent une petite rivière qui là est, et s'en vinrent sans contredit jusques à une place, qui est devant le moustier, où li marchiés est de pluiseurs coses.

Et là estoit li dis seneschaus de Carcassonne en bon couvenant, sa banière devant lui, qui estoit de geules à un chief d'argent, à deux demi kievirons ou chief, et estoit à une bordure d'asur endentée. Là dalés lui s'estoient recueilliet pluiseur compagnon de son pays, qui assés hardiement rechurent les Haynuiers, et se combatirent vaillamment, tant qu'il peurent. Mès leur deffense ne leur valli noient, car Haynuier y sourvinrent à trop grant fuison. Et vous di encores, pour tout ramentevoir, à entrer de premiers dedens l'abbeye, il y avoit un monne que on appelloit dan Froissart. Chilz y fist merveilles, et en occist que mehagna, au devant d'un pertuis où il se tenoit, plus de dix huit; et n'osoit nulz entrer par le lieu qu'il gardoit. Mais finablement il le couvint partir, que Haynuier entroient en l'abbeye, et avoient pertuisiet le mur en pluiseurs lieus. Si se sauva li dis monnes, au mieus qu'il peut, et fist tant qu'il vint à Mortagne.