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I.

CHAP. judgment on his brother, appointed the earl of Dorset his proxy. By this court both were condemned:26 and after a fruitless appeal by the earl of Cambridge to the mercy of his royal relative, were executed. Though the earl of March sat among the judges at the trial, he soon afterwards received from Henry a general pardon for all treasons and offences: whence it has been inferred by some writers that he was privy to the conspiracy, and had secured the royal favour by betraying his accomplices. But the inference is not warranted by the practice of the age. Such pardons were frequently solicited by the most innocent, as a measure of precaution to defeat the malice, and prevent the accusations, of their enemies." 27

He lands in Normandy. Aug. 13.

Henry's impatience had hastened the trial and execution of the conspirators. As soon as the wind would permit, he left Southampton; and after a rapid voyage entered the mouth of the Aug. 14. Seine with a fleet of fifteen hundred sail, carrying six thousand men at arms and twenty-four thousand archers. Three days were consumed in landing the men, stores, and provisions: and Aug. 17. immediately Harfleur, a strong fortress on the right bank of the river, was invested by land

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26 Rot. Parl. iv. 64-67, Rym. ix. 303. It is indeed true that the earl of Cambridge in his written confession charges the earl of March with having assented to the plan: but the charge was certainly disbelieved. He sate as a judge. Rot. Parl. iv. 66.

I.

Sept. 26,

and blockaded by water. The knights in garri- CHAP. son, confident in their valour and numbers, repeatedly assailed the intrenchments of the beseigers but successive defeats taught them to confine themselves within the walls: their defences were in a short time shattered or demolished by the artillery: and in the fifth week they submitted to an unconditional surrender. The men at arms were dismissed in their doub- Reduces Harfleur. lets, after taking an oath to yield themselves prisoners within a fixed time to the governor of Calais the inhabitants, men, women, and children, were banished from their homes for ever, carrying with them a portion of their clothes, and five pennies each to procure subsistence: and the riches of the town, with the arms and horses of the garrison, were faithfully distributed among the conquerors, according to their terms of service. Harfleur in the estimation of Henry had already become a second Calais : but its reduction had been purchased with the sacrifice of many officers and men, who perished not only from the casualties of the siege, but from the ravages of a dysentery caused by the dampness of the place, the immaturity of the fruits, and the exhalations of the putrid remains of animals slaughtered for the use of the camp. When the sick and wounded had been sent to England, and a competent garrison had been selected for the defence of the place, the army was reduced to one half of its former number:

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CHAP.
I.

Crosses the

Somme,

Oct. 6

a force evidently too inconsiderable to attempt

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any expedition of importance. But the king's honour was now at stake: and, to brave the enemy, he took the bold and chivalrous resolution of marching to Calais through the hostile provinces of Normandy, Picardy and Artois. It was in vain that the uselessness of so hazardous an expedition was represented by the majority of the council: the objections of prudence were opposed by the fear of incurring the imputation of cowardice: and every voice was silent, as soon as the king had declared, that he would never shun the men, who had unjustly seized his inheritance.

The army proceeded in three grand divisions, attended by two detachments, which alternately served as wings in the field, and as van and rear guards on the march.29 At every step they were closely watched by strong bodies of the enemy, who, while they avoided an engagement, cut off the stragglers, and laid waste the country. The progress of the English was slow. Often they were compelled to pass the day without food and it was with difficulty that they could extort a scanty subsistence from the fears of the inhabitants in the villages, where they rested during the night. As they crossed the river

28 Tit. Liv. 9-11. Wals. 390, 391. Elm. 40-49. Monstrel. i. 223, 224. 226.

23 Livius observes on this arrangement, that it was the custom of the English, p. 12. Elmham also says, ut Moris est, p. 51.

I.

Bresle, they were attacked by the garrison of Eu CHAP. with loud shouts and amazing impetuosity:30 but they received the assailants with coolness; and after a sharp contest drove them back to the walls. At length, the van guard reached Oct. 12. Blanchetaque on the Somme. Henry had expected to force the passage like his grandfather Edward III.: but the enemy had profited by experience, and had intersected the ford with lines of palisades, behind which were posted strong bodies of archers and men at arms. The king now became sensible of his danger. He hastily retraced his steps to Arrames: and avoiding Abbeville, where D'Albret, the constable of France, had fixed his head quarters, proceeded along the left bank of the river to Bailleul. The enemy from the opposite side observed all his Oct. 13. motions and as he advanced, he found every bridge broken down, and every ford protected by troops and fortifications. Each day added to his disappointments: and his followers began to abandon themselves to despair, when fortunately a ford was discovered near Bethencourt, which Oct. 19. had been neglected by the militia of St. Quintin's. The English hastened to establish themselves at Monchy la Gauche, on the right bank: and the constable, mortified at their success, retired on the road to Calais as far as Bapaume

30 Clamore et impetu maximo............cantu terrifico, impetuque .maximo, ut moris est Gallis. Tit. Liv. p. 13.

CHAP.
I.

Messages between the armies.

Oct. 20.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

and St. Pol, ordering at the same time the numerous reinforcements, which he expected, to quicken their march to his assistance.31

It had long been the policy of the French commanders to decline an engagement with the English, unless they possessed a decided superiority in numbers or strength of position. On the present occasion the expediency of offering battle was debated in a military council, held at Rouen in presence of Charles: and the question was decided in the affirmative by a majority of five-and-thirty voices to five. As soon as the constable had received his orders, he communicated their purport to Henry by three heralds, who were introduced to him by the duke of York, and delivered their message on their knees. The king answered with apparent indifference, that the will of God would be done. They enquired by what road he intended to March. "By that which leads straight to Ca"lais," was his reply:" and if my enemies at

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tempt to intercept me, it will be at their peril. "I shall not seek them: but I will not move a "step quicker or slower to avoid them. I could

however have wished that they had adopted "other counsels, instead of determining to shed "the blood of christians." It is probable that the last words alluded to a private challenge which the king had sent to the dauphin, and

31 Monstrel. i. 226.

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