At that time, the lord d'Albreth, constable of France, the marshal Boucicaut, the count de Vendôme grand master of the household, the lord de Dampierre, calling himself admiral of France, the duke d'Alençon, the count de Richemont, with a numerous and gallant chivalry, were in Abbeville. On hearing of the line of march which the king of England was pursuing, they departed thence and went to Corbie and Peronne, with their army near at hand, but dispersed over the country to guard all the fords of the river Somme against the English. The king of England marched from Hangest to Ponthieu[33], passing by Amiens, and fixed his quarters at Boves, then at Herbonnieres, Vauville[34], Bainviller, the French marching on the opposite bank of the Somme.
At length the English crossed that river on the morrow of St Luke's day, by the ford between Betencourt and Voyenne[35], which had not been staked by those of St Quentin as they had been ordered by the king of France. The english army were quartered at Monchy la Gache[36], near the river of Miraumont; and the lords of France, with their forces, retired to Bapaume and the adjacent parts.
[Footnote 29: Hollingshed says, that the king appointed the duke of Exeter governor of Harfleur, and sir John Fastolfe lieutenant-governor,--and that the duke of Clarence had leave to return to England on account of the epidemical disorder that was so fatal to the army before Harfleur.]
[Footnote 30: Fauville,--a market-town of Normandy, in the country of Caux, four leagues from Fécamp.]
[Footnote 31: Pont de Remy,--a village in Picardy, election of Abbeville.]
[Footnote 32: Hangest sur Somme,--a small town in Picardy, diocese of Amiens.]
[Footnote 33: Ponthieu,--a village near Amiens.]
[Footnote 34: Vauville,--a village near Peronne.]
[Footnote 35: Villages between Hamme and St Quentin.]
[Footnote 36: Monchy la Gache,--a small town near Hamme.]
THE KING OF FRANCE AND SEVERAL OF THE PRINCES OF THE BLOOD ROYAL HOLD A COUNCIL AT ROUEN, AND RESOLVE ON FIGHTING THE ENGLISH.
While these things were passing, the king of France and the duke of Acquitaine came to Rouen, and on the 30th day of October a council was held to consider how they should best act, in regard to opposing the king of England. There were present at this council the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry and Brittany, the count de Ponthieu, youngest son to the king of France, the chancellors of France and of Acquitaine, with other able advisers, to the amount of thirty-five persons.