During the time the duke of Normandy lay in Cambray, the bishop and the inhabitants of that place informed him, that the Hainaulters had taken by assault the strong castle of Thin; that they entreated him, out of love and honour, and by his regard to the country, that he would use his endevours to regain it, as the garrison there was a great annoyance to the neighborhood. The duke then sent a fresh summons to his army, and got together a number of lords and men at arms, who were in Artois and Vermandois, and who had been with him on his former excursion. He set out from Cambray with all his host, and took his quarters before Thin upon the river Scheld, in those fine meadows nearly opposite to Ostrevant, ordering many large engines to be brought from Cambray and Douay. Among these were six of an immense size, which the duke had pointed against the fortress, and which flung huge stones into it day and night, beating down the roofs and the tops of the towers; so that it was not safe to remain in the chambers, and the people were obliged to take refuge in the vaults.
This attack was severely felt by those within, and none ever suffered more for their honour than this garrison. The captains, upon whom fell all the weight and trouble, were sir Richard Limousin, an Englishman, and two esquires of Hainault, John and Thierry, brothers to sir Walter Manny1. They encouraged their companions, by saying, "Gallant gentlemen, the earl of Hainault will surely come in a few days, and attack the French, to deliver us honourably out of our danger, and will give us the warmest thanks for having so boldly defended ourselves." The besiegers by their engines flung dead horses and other carrion into the castle, to poison the garrison by their smell; and this distressed it more than anything else, for the air was as hot as the middle of summer: they therefore having considered their situation, and that they could not long hold out, from the horrible stench, proposed a treaty for a truce to last fifteen days, during which time they would let sir John of Hainault, who was regent and governor of the country, be informed of their distress, and, if they were not then relieved, they would surrender the place. This treaty was accepted, which gave great comfort to those within the castle. The garrison sent off an esquire, named Estralart de Sommain, according to the terms of the treaty, who came to Mons, in Hainault, where he found the lord of Beaumont, who had intelligence from his nephew, the earl of Hainault, that he was returning to his own country, after having been in Germany, where he had made alliances with the Emperor and other lords of the empire, who were friendly to the king of England.
The lord of Beaumont assured the squire Estralart de Sommain, that the garrison of Thin should be very shortly relieved, but that his nephew must first return. Before this truce expired, the earl arrived in Hainault, which caused great joy to the inhabitants, as he had been impatiently wished for. The lord of Beaumont related to him all that had passed since his departure, and with what a powerful army the duke of Normandy had invaded his territories, burning and destroying all his villages and lands, as far as Valenciennes, except the fortresses. The earl answered, that he would have ample amends, and the kingdom of France was sufficiently extensive, to make him full satisfaction for all their ill deeds; but, first of all, he was anxious to get towards Thin-l'Evêque, to the relief of those good men, who had so loyally and honourably defended it; he issued therefore his commissions, and sent letters of entreaty to his good friend Jacob van Artaveld, in Flanders, to the duke of Gueldres and Juliers, and others in Germany, and went himself to Valenciennes with a large body of men at arms, knights, and esquires of his own country. His forces increased every day; and he set off with a grand array of tents, pavilions and other ordinances and provisions, and encamped at Nans, upon the fine meadows along the banks of the Scheld.
Of the lords of Hainault, there were, sir John of Hainault, the lord of Aughien, the lord of Verchin, the seneschal of Hainault, the lord of Antoing, the lord of Barbenson, the lord of Lens, sir william de Bailleul, the lord of Havereth, governor of Mons, the lord of Montegny, the lord of Barbais, sir Thierry de Walcourt, marshal of Hainault, the lords of Almede and Gommegines, the lord of Briseul, the lord of Rosin, the lord of Trasegmes, the lord of Lalain, the lords of Martin, Sars, Vargny, Beaurieu, and many others, who encamped themselves near to the earl, their lord. Soon after the earl of Namur arrived, handsomely attended by two hundred lances, and posted himself upon the river Scheld, and then the duke of Gueldres, the earl of Mons, the lord of Fauquemont, sir Arnold of Bacqueghen, and many other lords and men at arms from Germany and Westphalia, who encamped themselves upon the river Scheld near each other, and opposite to the French. They were plentifully supplied with provisions from Hainault, and from the adjacent countries.
When all these lords had encamped themselves upon the Scheld between Nans and Illois, as we have just related, the duke of Normandy, who was on the opposite bank, sent to inform the king of France, his father, that the army of the earl was increasing every day. The king, who was at that time in Peronne, in the Vermandois, where he had been for six weeks with a great many nobles, issued out his special orders for raising a great body of men, and sent upwards of twelve hundred good lances to the army of his son, and soon after followed himself as a simple soldier, for he could not enter the empire with the command of an army, without breaking his oath, which made him act thus. The duke was appointed chief of this enterprise; nevertheless nothing was done without the approbation of the king. When the garrison of Thin-l'Evêque saw the earl of Hainault arrive with so powerful an army, they were, as may be thought, mightily rejoiced. The fourth day after they had been there, those of Valenciennes came with a handsome body of men, led by John Boissy, who at that time was provost of the town. They were immediately ordered out to skirmish with the French upon the Scheld, to examine their forces, and to show themselves to the garrison. Many different skirmishes passed between each army, in which numbers were killed or wounded. Sir Richard Limousin and his companions in Thin-l'Evêque, perceiving them warmly engaged, quitted the castle, and embarked upon the Scheld in boats, which had been prepared for them, and passed over to the opposite shore; they were carried to the earl of Hainault, who received them most joyfully and honourably, for the good services they had done him; and for their sufferings in the castle. While these two armies were camped upon the Scheld, the French on the side of France, and the Hainaulters near their own country, the foragers of each side scoured the country; but they never met, for the river was between them: the French, however, burnt all that part of Ostrevant which had escaped before, as did those of Hainault that of Cambray.
Jacob van Arteveld came to the assistance of the earl of Hainault, according to his request, with upwards of sixty thousand Flemings, all well armed, and posted himself strongly opposite the French. Immediately after their arrival, the earl sent his heralds to his cousin the duke of Normandy, to say he was ready for battle, and that it would be a very great shame, if such fine armies should separate without an engagement. The duke gave the herald for answer, that he would summon his council, and consider it. This council lasted so long, that the herald returned without any answer. Three days afterwards the earl sent again to the duke, to know positively what his intentions and those of his army were. The duke replied that he had not yet finally determined upon fighting, and could not therefore fix a day, adding, moreover, that the earl was too hasty. When this was told to the earl, he looked upon it only as an excuse for delay; he therefore sent for all the commanders of his army, explained to them his intentions and wishes, and also the answers he had received, and desired to have their opinions on the subject. They looked at each other: at last the duke of Brabant, who was the principal commander, spoke for all, and said, that he objected to throwing a bridge over the Scheld and fighting the French; for, to his certain knowledge, the king of England would soon pass the sea, in order to besiege Tournay; and he had promised him, upon his faith and love, to give him every aid and assistance in that enterprise. "Now," added he, "if we fight the French, and should be unfortunate, he cannot have that succor he expects from us; and, should it be otherwise, he will not give us much thanks; it is therefore my opinion that, as he is the chief of the war, we should never engage with the forces of France, but when the king of England is present. Now when we shall be before Tournay, and he there with us, it would give me much uneasiness, that the French king and his army should depart without a battle; I therefore advise, dear son, that you decamp from this place, where you stay at very heavy expense, and that all should return homewards, for within ten days we shall hear from the king of England."
The greater part of the lords agreed to this option. But the earl of Hainault was much dissatisfied, and thought his honour would suffer, should the French retire without an action. He begged and entreated of them, and of all the barons in general, that they would not leave him, but consent to his wishes. After this the council broke up, and each returned to his quarters. Those from Brussels and Louvain would very cheerfully returned home, for they were so worn down with fatigue, they could scarce support themselves; and they frequently complained to their captains, that they remained at great expense and did nothing. When the earl found the council differed in opinion, and were not unanimous to cross the Scheld and fight the French, he called his uncle to him, and said, "Dear uncle, will you take a ride along the river side, and call to you some man of honour from the French army, and tell him from me, that I will throw a bridge over the river; that I am willing and eager to fight at all events; but I ask a truce for three days to build it."
The lord of Beaumont, seeing the eagerness of his nephew, complied with this request, went home to prepare himself, and rode along the banks of the Scheld, accompanied with two other knights, the lord of Fagnoelez, and sir Florens de Beaurieu, with his pennon alone borne before him. Perceiving on the opposite bank a knight from Normandy, whom he knew by his arms; he called to him - "My lord of Maubuisson, My lord of Maubuisson, I wish to speak to you." The knight, who knew him, stopped his horse, and asked what were his commands, "I shall beg of you," said the lord of Beaumont "to have the kindness to go to the king of France and his council, and say, that the earl of Hainault has sent me to ask for a truce for the time necessary to throw a bridge over this river, in order that our armies may pass, You will bring me here the answer, and I will wait for you." "By my faith, that I will cheerfully do." said the knight: when, sticking his spurs into his horse, he galloped up to the king's tent, where the duke of Normandy and a great many of the nobility were. He related his message, and shortly had this answer: - "My lord of Maubuisson, you will tell him who sent you hither, that it is our intention to keep the earl of Hainault in the same state in which he is at present; And we will make him mortgage his lands; for he shall be attacked on all sides, and, whenever we please, we will enter so far into his country, that we shall burn the whole of it." The lord of Maubuisson brought back this answer, word for word, to the lord of Beaumont, who was waiting for him on the bank. He thanked him for the trouble he had given him, and returned to the earl of Hainault, who he found playing at chess with the earl of Namur. As soon as he saw his uncle, he rose up, and asked what news he had brought him. "Sir," said sir John, "from what I see, the king of France takes much pleasure in making you keep such forces at so great an expense, and declares he wil make you mortgage all your lands; and whenever it is his pleasure, not yours, he will fight with you." The earl was much angered at this, and swore it should be otherwise.
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