CHAPTER XXVII   THE SIEGE OF ROUEN

Although Henry V had left the shores of France without having concluded a treaty with his defeated foes, hostilities were practically suspended for a space of nearly two years. But in 1416 the King entered into an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, who, since the fatal field of Agincourt, had become paramount in France.

With this powerful ally Henry's chances of securing the French crown were greatly increased, and in the month of July, 1417, he again prepared to invade Normandy.

After two years of ease following the strenuous life in the field, Geoffrey longed for the opportunity of buckling on his armour and again seeking his fortune in the land of the Fleur de Lys, and great was his delight when orders were received for the army to assemble at Southampton.

As in the glorious expedition of 1415 Geoffrey went in attendance upon Sir Thomas Carberry, but with this difference: he was now the senior squire, a lad of fifteen, Walter Talbot by name, having recently been taken into the Constable of Portchester's service as junior squire.

This time the star and mullet of the Lysles was also in evidence, but without the waving black line, for Sir Oliver Lysle was now present in person to lead the men of Warblington. With him went Oswald Steyning, and though in separate companies the two comrades had ample opportunities of enjoying each other's companionship.

Arnold Gripwell, also, had joined the army assembled at Southampton. Sinewy as of yore the gaunt old man-at-arms looked no older than he did on the day when he watched in vain for his master's return in the Grâce à Dieu, though in truth his strength was slowly failing.

On the 1st day of August, 1417, the English army landed on the shores of Normandy, and the march of the invaders became a veritable pageant of martial triumph. The royal castle of Touques fell after a short siege, and disheartened by the success of their foes and torn by internal dissensions, the French seemed to have given up all hope of holding the Duchy of Normandy. Damvilliers, Harcourt, Eu, Evreux, opened their gates without resistance, and after a stubborn yet ineffectual defence Caen was taken by escalade on the last day of August.

Shortly after this success the Duke of Brittany deserted the cause of Charles of Valois, and swearing fealty to Henry, joined his forces to those of the invader, with the result that the town and castle of Falaise—so closely associated with William the Conqueror—surrendered on the second day of January, 1417. This was the last of Henry's successes in that year. [1]

1.  It must be borne in mind that at this period the New year was reckoned from the 1st of March, and not from the 1st of January. This peculiarity has given rise to many apparently conflicting dates in mediæval history.

Spring was well advanced ere the King left his quarters at Bayeux and marched up the left bank of the Seine. Once again he had set himself a formidable task—this time the taking of Rouen, the capital of Normandy.

The city was of immense strength, occupying a splendid natural position on the north or right bank of the Seine. Lofty walls, powerfully mounted with bombards and mangonels, completely encircled the town, the battlements being pierced by six gates on the landward side, in addition to the two water-gates that abutted on the spacious quays, where ships of considerable burthen could moor after ascending the river from the sea.

Its garrison consisted of twenty-five thousand men trained to the use of arms, while the numbers of the ordinary inhabitants were largely increased by the influx of crowds of terrified country-folk who had sought a doubtful security behind the walls of the town.

The presence of the host of non-combatants was a source of weakness to the besieged, since they had to be fed and could do little service in return, while the time of year was too early for the rich harvest to be gathered and stored within the town.

Having seized and garrisoned the Pont de l'Arche, to three leagues above Rouen, the King was able to cut off all communications betwixt the city and Paris. He thereupon proceeded to erect six strong forts, one opposite each of the land-gates, connecting them by a "curtain" or line of trenches strengthened with earthworks and palisades.

The river, too, was obstructed both above and below the town, by spiked booms and sunken barges, while in addition to a fleet of English vessels that had ascended the Seine and kept guard below the city, a number of large galleys were, by dint of much manual labour, dragged overland for a distance of nearly a league, and launched once more above the town.

Having completed his circumvallation of Rouen the King, unwilling to risk a general assault, ordered a strict blockade to be maintained, and in a very short time the besiegers settled down to their task, their works assuming the appearance of a town enveloping a town. The strictest discipline was maintained: even the wild Welsh levies and the still more untrained Irish irregular cavalry were kept under perfect control, the punishment of death being inflicted upon all found guilty of plundering, and even on those who straggled beyond the lines.

On the other hand, every day found the position of the besieged becoming more and more desperate; and it was not long ere famine began to stalk through the congested streets of Rouen.

Thereupon the governor of the town resolved upon a desperate and pitiless expedient. Gathering together nearly fifteen thousand of the non-belligerents, he ordered them to leave the city.

As the last of the multitude issued from beneath the battlements the gates were shut. Thinking that they would be granted safe conduct through the English lines the miserable wretches advanced, forgetting their plight in their expectations of being able to find food in the open country beyond the entrenchments that encircled the town.

But to their consternation Henry refused to allow any of the refugees to pass. Probably he thought that by so doing the Governor of Rouen would be compelled to re-admit them, and thus hasten the fall of the city through famine. On the other hand the Governor was of opinion that Henry would relent and allow the non-combatants to pass.

Neither King nor Governor would give way, and in consequence the fifteen thousand helpless wretches were cooped up betwixt two fires, subsisting on roots, and on the very scanty supplies with which the English soldiers, at great risk, secretly supplied them, in spite of the King's orders.

Some succeeded in stealing through the invaders' lines. Hundreds fell by the hands of their own countrymen in attempting to force their way back into the town, while, save for a very few, the rest perished miserably of hunger.

Henry's action can only be described as barbarous. Coupled with the massacre of prisoners at Agincourt it forms a blot upon his reputation, and in this case there was no such imperative necessity—those non-combatants could have done him no harm.

Fortunately the Hampshire Companies were posted on the riverside, and in consequence Geoffrey and his companions were spared the horrors of the scenes that followed, though they heard with feelings of shame, and compassion of the barbarity practised upon the luckless folk.

Slowly the siege wore on. No attempt was made to sally from the city, nor was there any on the part of the Dauphin to relieve the capital of Normandy, and thus the blockade, though rigidly enforced, became so tedious and irksome to the besiegers that they longed for something to occur that might rouse them into activity.

One day in September, Sir Oliver Lysle and Sir Thomas Carberry had ridden to another part of the English lines to confer with Sir Brocas Scorton concerning the providing of a fresh supply of hurdles for the entrenchments.

On this occasion neither knight saw fit to take his squire with him, and in consequence Geoffrey, Oswald, and young Walter Talbot, together with five or six other squires were holding a feast in one of the rooms of Sir Oliver's quarters; it being the anniversary of Oswald's birthday.

In the midst of the festivities a mounted messenger pulled up at the door, and knocking with the hilt of his dagger, demanded to be shown into Sir Oliver's presence.

"He is not here," replied Oswald. "He hath gone to the lodging of Sir Brocas Scorton."

"Then bear this letter to Sir Oliver, young sir. Methinks thy revelries are apt to be rudely disturbed," replied the horseman, whom Geoffrey recognized as one of the King's own heralds. "But I must away, since I have three cartels to deliver within an hour."

Evidently the missive was one of the greatest importance; and consumed with impatience Geoffrey and Oswald made ready to ride across to the lodgings of the brave old Yorkshire knight, Sir Brocas Scorton.

"By St. Wilfred of Ripon, thou art most fortunate," exclaimed Sir Brocas, as Sir Oliver read the King's order and passed it to the other two knights.

"To our trusty and well-beloved Oliver Lysle, knight, Lord of the Castle of Warblington, in the county of Southampton, and at present serving with our forces before Rouen. Greeting.

"Whereas it hath come to our knowledge that our rebellious subject Denis, Lord of Malevereux, hath caused us much trouble by his ill-conduct; it is our pleasure that thou shouldst proceed to the before-mentioned Castle of Malevereux with such forces as thou mayst deem necessary and carry it by assault and hang the said Sir Denis upon the battlements of his castle.

"(Signed) Henricus Quintus, Rex.

"Ang: et Franc."

"I' faith, 'tis plain enough," remarked Sir Thomas Carberry. "Oliver, my right trusty friend and companion-in-arms, I pray thee that I may have a share in this business, though, be it understood, I do not aspire to any honour that might detract from thine advancement."

"I accept the offer of thy services, Thomas," replied Sir Oliver. "Betwixt us we can muster eighty lances and four score and ten archers. If we are not able to bring this recreant to boot may I never see Warblington again. But there is no time to be lost; the King's orders must be obeyed with promptitude, so, Sir Brocas, this matter concerning the hurdles must needs stand over a while."

"May ye both be here to attend to it this day week," answered the Yorkshire knight. "So fare ye well."

Ere sunset the two Hampshire knights with their squires and followers, nearly two hundred strong, were well on their way towards the gloomy Castle of Malevereux.