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Night causing them to cease, the English encamped themselves along the margin of the said river, and the French were encamped in the neighbourhood of Mont-piloer.

The following morning the king diligently commanded that his forces should be marshalled in battle array, the which he formed into three divisions; the first being the avant-guard, formed of the greatest number of men, the charge of which was given to the duke of Alençon and the count of Vendosme; of the second, which was in the middle, had the command René, then duke de Bar and of Lorraine, and after king of Sicily and duke of Anjou; and of the third, wherein were many lords and valiant men at arms, and which served as the arrière-guard, he willed himself to command; having with him the duke de Bourbon, and the lord de la Trimouille, with a great number of knights and esquires. Of the wings, consisting of three corps, the marshals of Saint Severe and of Rays took the charge, to the which were added many knights, esquires, and men at war, of all estates. And beyond these bodies was reserved in order to skirmish, reinforce, and assist the other divisions, being duly arranged, another battle of very valiant lords, captains, and other men at war, whereof were leaders, and had the charge, the Pucelle, the Bastard of Orleans, the count d'Alebret, and La Hire. And in respect to all the archers, the order of them was appointed to the lord de

Graville, and a knight of Limozin, called Messire John Faucot. The which corps thus arranged, the king several times proceeded a sufficient length of way from the three divisions towards the army of the English, of the which the duke of Bedford was chief, having in his company the Bastard of Saint Pole, with numerous Picards and Burgundians, and many other knights, esquires, and men at war, being ranged in order of battle near unto a village, and having at their back a great pool of water. The which, notwithstanding, had never ceased during the night, neither discontinued still to fortify themselves with great diligence, as well with palisades and stakes as with fosses. Wherefore, when the king, with the advice of all the princes of his blood, being there present, and other lords, knights, esquires, captains, and very valiant men at arms, had come to the determination to combat the English and their allies, if they would range themselves and were to be found on equal ground; was advertised by many brave captains, and personages conversant with arms, the manner in which they held themselves, how they were encamped on a spot strong by nature, and had fortified themselves, and still continued so to do, with fosses and palisades ; he perceived right well that there was no appearance of being able to attack nor combat them, without too great danger unto his people. But notwithstanding this, he caused his forces to approach

within a distance of two cross-bow shots of the English, and caused it to be signified unto them, that he was ready to give them battle if they would come forth from their park. The which they would not do, and in consequence of this there took place many smart and marvellous skirmishes. For many valiant Frenchmen went frequently on foot as well as on horseback, even unto the English fortification, in order to move them to sally forth. So that a great number of them issued from thence at sundry times, and drove back the French. The which being reinforced and succoured by many of theirs, chased the English in turn; who again, aided by others of their people, came forth anew, charging upon the French, and caused them to fall back, until new succours arriving from their great order of battle which came and joined them, by whose force and valour they once more regained the ground of their enemies. And thus passed this day without ceasing until near the hour of sunset. To these sallies and skirmishes, so frequently renewed, must needs go the lord de la Trimouille, the which being mounted upon a very gallant courser, and grandly caparisoned, holding his lance in the rest, pricked his horse with his spurs, which by accident fell to the ground and threw him off in the midst of his enemies; by the which, he was in great danger of being killed or taken prisoner; but to assist and cause him to mount was great diligence used.

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Wherefore he was with much difficulty reseated, for at that hour there was a very hot skirmish. So, about the setting of the sun, many Frenchmen joined together and came very valiantly to present themselves close to the fortification of the English; and there fought with them, and skirmished hand to hand for a long space of time, until several of them, as well on foot as on horseback, issued forth in great power from their park, and so caused them to fall back. Against the which, in like manner, advanced from the main body of the king's army, a great number of very valiant lords, knights, esquires, and other men at arms, and mingled with their own people against the English. And upon this occasion was enacted the hottest and the most dangerous skirmish of the whole day; and so nearly mingled they together, that the dust rose in such thickness amongst them, that they could neither know nor discern the which were the French, and the which English and in so much so, that however the two conflicts were near the one unto the other, yet could they not discern one another. This last skirmish continued until dark night, when the French were forced to go their ways from the English; of whom, both upon the one part and on the other, there were, on this day, many killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The English retired and lodged altogether within their park and fortifications, as they had done on the night before. And the Frenchmen

assembled, went and lodged at half a league from them, nigh unto the Mont-piloer, as they had done upon the preceding night. And when the following morning dawned, the English began their march and went to Paris, and the king with his army returned to Crespy in Vallois.

The ensuing night, the king lodged in Crespy, and the day after went to Compiegne, at the which place he was greatly and honourably received by those of the city, who had recently placed themselves under his dominion. Wherefore he nominated his own officers, and in particular placed as captain a very valiant gentleman of the province of Picardy, called Guillaume de Flavy, who was descended of a noble house. And unto this city of Compiegne did those of Beauvais and of Senlis send fealty unto the king, the which departed from Compiegne towards the end of the month of August, and proceeded to Senlis; and when it was made known unto the duke of Bedford, he marched forth from Paris with a great power of men at war. And doubting that the king would wish to turn and reconquer Normandy, he marched thither, and left his people in divers places holding for the English, and stored them with provisions and artillery; leaving at Paris Messire Loys de Luxembourg, bishop of Therouenne, calling himself chancellor of France for king Henry, and with him Messire John

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