cient enemies. The procession, consisting of from twelve to fourteen thousand children, attended by their masters and tutors, set out from the church of St Innocent, where they were assembled, each with a wax taper, or other light, in his hand. The chaplains of the church were in the center, bearing the relics of Saint Innocent, and the procession extended from this church to that of our Lady, and was a fine sight to see, and did great honour to the bishop. On its arrival at the church of Nôtre Dame, a solemn mass was sung, and the bishop preached a sermon, taking for his text the second verse of the eighth Psalm,- Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.' When, the service was over, they returned two and, two as they had come, conveying back the relics to the church of Saint Innocent, -and thence each child went to its school.

About this period, the duke of Suffolk quitted a strong castle into which he had retired for fear of the English, who would have put him to death, and embarked for

foreign countries; but he was met at sea by the partisans of the duke of Somerset, who laid hands on him and cut off his head, which they sent, with the body, to their friends in London, who hung up the quarters at the different gates. *

The French, without loss of time, after their late victory, marched to besiege the town of Vire, in which was a garrison of three or four stout english combatants: their captain was sir Henry Norbury, then a prisoner, in consequence of the defeat at Fourmigny. The siege did not last long be fore the commandant capitulated to surrender, on being allowed to march away in safety with the garrison and baggage to Ca en. The french army was now divided: one part, under the count de Clermont, marched toward Bayeux,-and the other, with the constable, returned to the duke of Brittany, to lay siege to Avranches†.

See the english historians for a more correct account of the end of the duke of Suffolk.

+ Avranches,

a bishoprick in Normandy, 75

leagues from Paris, 50 from Rouen.

CHAP. XIX.

THE DUKE OF BRITTANY BESIEGES AVRANCHES, WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE.

IT

SURRENDERS TO HIM. HE TAKES TOMBELAINE*. BAYEUX IS WON.

THE

CONSTABLE GAINS BRICQUEBEC†, - VALOGNES, ST SAUVEUR LE VICOMTES,

OTHER INCIDENTS.

WHEN the duke of Brittany's army was returned to him, and had taken some rest, he mustered his men, and without delay began his march, well attended by artillery, to besiege the town of Avranches, which was garrisoned by four or five hundred English under the command of a captain called Lampet||. The duke display

* Tombelaine, -a small island, or rock, on the coast of Normandy, between Avranches and St Malo.

+ Bricquebec. Probably Bricquebosq, a village in Normandy, near Valognes.

‡ Valognes,

and Carentan.

a large town between Cherbourg

§ St Sauveur le Vicomte, near Valognes,
- Lampet. Q. Lambert?

ed great ability and courage in forming the siege, during which many skirmishes took place between the parties.

This siege lasted three weeks, when the walls were so battered that the captain and garrison were reduced to surrender ; but although they proposed different terms of capitulation, they could only obtain permission to march away in safety, but without arms or baggage; so that, when the place was given up, they departed with staves in their hands. On the reduction of Avranches, the duke of Brittany advanced with his army to Tombelaine, which is impregnable, so long as provision and stores last; for it is seated on a rock in the sea, near to St Michael's Mount. There was in it an english garrison of from four score to one hundred men,--but they no sooner perceived the great force that was brought against them than they capitulated to surrender the place, on being permitted to march to Cherbourg in safety with their baggage and effects.

On the 16th day of May, the king of France ordered the counts de Dunois, de Nevers, d'Eu, and several other knights

and esquires, to lay siege to Bayeux. In consequence, they encamped near to the town, and pushed forward the siege with such vigour, by mines and battering cannon, that many breaches were made in the wall, wide enough to be stormed; but the commanders were averse to this, to avoid the effusion of blood and the numberless other evils that would ensue. However, notwithstanding this laudable resolution, the ardour and avarice of soldiers to become rich induced part of the army, without orders, to storm the town twice in the same day, when many gallant deeds were done on both sides, and several were killed by arrow and culverine shots. The French were forced to retreat without success, for the storm had been only made on one side : had this measure been carried on under the direction of their officers, it must undoubtedly have succeeded,

Matago, the governor of Bayeux, surprised at the valour he had seen displayed by the French at this attack, for they had slain some of the stoutest of the English, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois for its surrender; but after many parleys,