ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE ENGLISH, MANY FRENCHMEN VISIT THE FIELD OF BATTLE TO SEEK THEIR FRIENDS, WHOM THEY BURY,—AND OTHER MATTERS.

When the king of England had on this Saturday begun his march toward Calais, many of the French returned to the field of battle, where the bodies had been turned over more than once, some to seek for their lords, and carry them to their own countries for burial,—others to pillage what the English had left. King Henry's army had only taken gold, silver, rich dresses, helmets, and what was of value; for which reason, the greater part of the armour was untouched and on the dead bodies; but it did not long remain thus, for it was very soon stripped off, and even the shirts, and all other parts of their dress were carried away by the peasants of the adjoining villages.

The bodies were left exposed as naked as when they came into the world. On the Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the corpses of many princes were well washed and raised, namely, the dukes of Brabant, Bar and AlenÇon, the counts de Nevers, de Blaumont, de Vaudemont, de Faulquemberge the lord de Dampierre, admiral, sir Charles d'Albreth, constable, and buried in the church of the Friars Minors at Hesdin. Others were carried by their servants, some to their own countries, and others to different churches. All who were recognised were taken away, and buried in the churches of their manors.

When Philippe count de Charolois heard of the unfortunate and melancholy disaster of the French, he was in great grief, more especially for the death of his two uncles, the duke of Brabant and count de Nevers. Moved by compassion, he caused all that had remained exposed on the field of battle to be interred, and commissioned the abbot de Roussianville and the bailiff of Aire to have it done. They measured out a square of twenty-five yards, wherein were dug three trenches twelve feet wide in which were buried, by an account kept, five thousand eight hundred men. It was not known how many had been carried away by their friends, nor what number of the wounded had died in hospitals, towns, villages, and even in the adjacent woods; but, as I have before said, it must have been very great.

This square was consecrated as a burying ground by the bishop of Guines, at the command and as procurator of Louis de Luxembourg, bishop of Therounne. It was surrounded by a strong hedge of thorns, to prevent wolves or dogs from entering it, and tearing up and devouring the bodies.

In consequence of this sad event, some learned clerks of the realm made the following verses:

'A chief by dolorous mischance oppress'd,
A prince who rules by arbitrary will,
A royal house by discord sore distress'd,
A council, prejudic'd and partial still,
Subjects by prodigality brought low,
Will fill the land with beggars, well we trow.
Nobles made noble in dame Nature's spite
While humble commoners forego their right
And the harsh yoke of proud oppression feel:
Thus, while the people mourn, the public woe
Will fill the land with beggars, well we trow.
Ah feeble woe! whose impotent commands
Thy very vassals boldly dare despise:
Ah helpless monarch! whose enervate hands
And wavering counsels dare no high emprize:
Thy hapless reign will cause our tears to flow,
And fill the land with beggars, well we trow[44].'

I shall here add the names of such principal persons as escaped death or imprisonment in consequence of this battle.

First, the count de Dampmartin, lord de la Riviere, sir Clugnet de Brabant, styling himself admiral of France, sir Louis Bourdon, sir Galiot de Gaules, sir John d'Engennes.