Jean V de Harcourt 1325-1356

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. The king of Navarre, who possessed within the duchy of Normandy many castles and very large lordships, had been appointed there by John, king of France, as his lieutenant in that duchy, acting on behalf of the king and of his firstborn son, the duke of Normandy, who was also then dauphin of Vienne. When the said king of Navarre had entertained this firstborn son during his visit to Normandy, the prince afterwards invited the king of Navarre, the count of Harcourt [aged 31], and several other lords and knights of those regions to dine with him in the castle of the city of Rouen, speaking to them peacefully and with feigned friendship. On a Tuesday, the day after the feast of St Ambrose, in the aforesaid year, while those invited guests were reclining together at table in the castle, the said king John of France suddenly and unexpectedly entered the hall armed, accompanied by a large number of armed men. Immediately he personally arrested the king of Navarre, placing a club upon his head, and caused the count of Harcourt and five other knights who were dining there to be arrested as well. He sent the king of Navarre to Paris, where he was to remain imprisoned in the castle. He also sent to Paris one of the five arrested knights, who had killed Charles of Spain, the chief counsellor of King John, acting on the orders of the king of Navarre in Normandy at a place called L'Aigle; and there he caused him to be put cruelly to death. But the count of Harcourt and four other knights, who had been arrested as mentioned, were taken outside the city of Rouen toward the gallows used for thieves. As they were being led there, the count begged the king to explain why he and his companions should die, and asked that he might be allowed a priest to confess his sins. The king refused both requests: he would give no reason for their death, nor allow them to have a priest. Instead he ordered them to make their confessions publicly before the people. Thus, without any confession except to God alone, he caused them to be cruelly and inhumanly beheaded by his attendants [on 5th April 1356], because of which he lost the loyalty of many men's hearts. When these events were quickly reported to Philip, brother of the king of Navarre, he at once fortified and strongly guarded all the castles of the king of Navarre in Normandy. He also immediately sent two knights and two squires to England to inform the king of England of what had happened, imploring his aid and declaring that if the king of England would personally come into Normandy with his forces, or send sufficient assistance, then Philip and all those who adhered to him would submit themselves and their possessions to him and hold with him.

Rex Navarriæ, habens infra ducatum Normanniæ multa castra et dominia valde magna, factus est ibidem per regem Franciæ Johannem, in ipso ducatu, ipsius regis et filii sui primogeniti, ducis Normanniæ, tunc etiam dolphini de Vienna, locum tenens; et, cum idem rex Navarriæ eundem primogenitum venientem in Normanniam convivasset, dictus primogenitus præfatum regem Navarrie comitemque de Harecourt ac plures alios dominos militesque de partibus illis ad convivandum eosdem apud se in castro civitatis Rothomagensis, pacifice eis loquens, in dolo simulata amicitia, invitavit. Et quodam die Martis, in crastino festi sancti Ambrosii, anno Domini supradicto, dictis invitatis simul ad mensam in dicto castro discumbentibus, præfatus rex Francie Johannes armatus, cum aliis armatis in multitudine numerosa subito et inopinate venit et intravit domum, ubi erant sedentes; ac statim in persona propria dictum regem Navarriæ arestavit, ponendo quandam clavam super caput ejus, dictumque comitem de Harecourt et quinque alios milites de dictis simul discumbentibus fecit per alium arestari. Ac ille præfatum regem Navarriæ Parisius misit, ibidem in castro sub carcerali custodia remansurum. Misitque etiam Parisius unum de dictis quinque militibus arestatis qui dominum Carolum de Spayne, principalem consiliarium dicti regis Franciæ Johannis, de præcepto dicti regis Navarriæ occiderat in Normannia, apud villam vocatam Egle; et eundem poni fecit ibidem crudeliter morti diræ Dictum vero comitem de Harecourt et iiijor alios milites, ut præmittitur, arestatos duci fecit coram se extra dictam civitatem Rothomagensem versus furcas latronum; et, dum ducerentur, dictus comes supplicavit eidem regi quod dignaretur sibi causam exponere quare ipse et socii sui cum ipso ducti mori deberent, et quod posset habere sacerdotem ad confitendum sibi peccata sua. Tunc idem rex nullam causam mortis ipsorum dicere voluit nec permittere quod sacerdotem haberent, sed præcepit quod coram toto populo suas emitterent confessiones. Sicque ipsos non confessos, nisi soli Deo, fecit crudeliter et inhumaniter per suos satellites decollari; propter quæ corda virorum perdidit valde multa. Quibus enim gestis ad notitiam domini Philippi, fratris domini regis Navarriæ, festinanter perlatis, idem dominus Philippus omnia castra dicti regis Navarriæ in Normannia fecit muniri et fortiter custodiri; duosque milites et duos domicellos misit protinus in Angliam, ad exponendum præmissa domino regi Angliæ, ipsiusque auxilium implorando, et intimandum eidem quod, si in Normanniam cum sua potentia personaliter venire vellet, vel competentem potentiam in auxilium ipsius domini Philippi et aliorum dominorum sibi adhærentium mittere vellet, idem dominus Philippus et omnes sibi adhærentes se et sua sibi redderent et cum ipso tenerent.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. After this, the Lord Duke of Lancaster,¹ having been appointed Captain of Brittany, sailed to Northern France and landed near the coast at Hogue. Around the feast of Saint Barnabas the Apostle [11th June], he rode out with Philip, the brother of the King of Navarre, who had invited the Duke to support him. In that same year, the King of France, having grown suspicious of the King of Navarre [aged 23],² the Lord of Harcourt, and certain other nobles of the realm, invited them to a feast. There, he imprisoned the said King and had the other nobles killed. He proclaimed that the Lord of Harcourt had been justly executed by the axe, or as some said, while wearing the "sack of France" [i.e. a symbol of disgrace]. But in truth, he had not been guilty, and had been treated as a rebel unjustly. Thus, the King of Navarre, held on the island of Cotentin [Normandy], with the help of the Duke of Lancaster, stocked the region with supplies and reinforced it with troops both English and Navarrese, fortifying it against the tyranny of the French.

Post hecdominmus dux Lancastrie, ordinatus captaneus Brittanie, navigio Neustriam profectus, apud Hoggis litora mactus, circa festum sancti Barnabe apostoli equitavit com Philippo germano regis Navarre, qui ipsum ducem in sui auxilium invitavit. Isto nempe anno coronatus Francorum habens suspectos regem Navarrorum et dominum de Harecourt et quosdam alios mobiles de regno, ipsis comviviem invitatis, predictum regem incarceravit et alios nobiles trucidavit, profitendo domino de Harecourt securi feriendo aut, mt dicitur, saccum induto Francie, non tenuit, set rebellis exstitit injuste. Taliter prefato rege in insula de Constantin et Normannia; que cum auxilio ducis Lancastrie sufficienter victualiavit, hominibus tam Anglicis quam sue nacionis referta contra Francorum tirannidem inforciavit.

Note 1. The duke landed at La Hougue on the 18th June 1356. His raid through Normandy extended from the 22nd June to the 13th July.

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury

Knighton 2611 [a poetic reference to Île-de-France], and he captured it by assault on the same day. Then he attacked the castle the same day until nightfall, and on the second and third day until the third hour [around 9 a.m.], and then they surrendered. For he had a powerful and well-equipped siege engine, with which he performed wonders in breaking down the walls of castles.

Froissart 367

Note 2. Charles of Navarre and Jean V, comte de Harcourt, were arrested by the king in person at Rouen, when dining at the table of his son Charles, duke of Normandy, and Harcourt was instantly executed; 5th April 1356.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 1. When they were at Arras together with the other lords of France, one may well know that there was great power and a great assembly of good men-at-arms; that is to say: the lords of France, the King¹; Sir John, his eldest son, then Duke of Normandy², the young King David of Scotland, the King of Navarre³, Sir Louis of Clermont, Duke of Burgundy⁴, Sir Charles, Count of Alençon⁵, the Duke of Brittany, the Duke of Athens⁶, the Count of Blois, the Count of Flanders⁷, the Count of Armagnac⁸, the Count of Harcourt⁹, the Viscount of Thouars¹⁰, the Viscount of Ventadour¹¹, the noble prelate the Bishop of Beauvais¹², the Lord of Noyers¹³, and a great many other high knights, barons, and bannerets whom I cannot name.

Quant ilz furent à Arras avecques les aultres seigneurs de France, chascun peut sçavoir que grand puissance y avoit et grande assemblée de bonnes gens d'armes; c'est assavoir: les seigneurs de France, le roy, messire Jehan, son aisné filz, adoncques duc de Normendye; et sy y estoit le jœune roy David d'Escoce, le roy de Navarre, messire Loys de Clermont, duc de Bourgongne, messire Charles, conte d'Alenchon, le duc de Bretaigne, le duc d'Atheynes, le conte de Bloys, le conte de Flandres, le conte d'Armignack, le conte de Harecourt, le visconte de Thouart, le visconte de Vantadour, le gentil prelat l'evesque de Beauvaiz, le sire de Noyers et grand foison d'aultres haults chevaliers, barons, bannerès que je ne sçay nommer.

Note 1. In the army assembled at Bouvines, Philip VI commanded a 'battle' in which were Agot des Baux, Miles de Noyers, Butler of France, Louis of Savoy, lord of Vaud, Amé de Poitiers, and others, all with numerous companies.

1. Dans l'armée qui fut réunie à Bouvines, Philippe VI commaudait une «bataille» dans laquelle étaient Agot des Baux, Miles de Noyers, bouteiller de France, Louis de Savoie, seigneur de Vaud, Amé de Poitiers, etc., tous avec une nombreuse compagnie. (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9239, fol. 247 r^o à 249 v^o.)

Note 2. Jean, Duke of Normandy, who was the king’s lieutenant, commanded a corps of the army in which were Gautier, Duke of Athens; Louis de Poitiers, Count of Valentinois; Jean, Count of Saarbrücken; Jean de Châlon, lord of Arlay; Pons de Mortagne, Viscount of Aunay; and Édouard, lord of Beaujeu.

2. Jean, duc de Normandie, qui fut lieutenant du roi, commandait un corps d'armée dans lequel figuraient Gautier, duc d'Athènes, Lonis de Poitiers, comte de Valentinois, Jean, comte de Sarrebrück, Jean de Chälon, sire d'Arlay, Pons de Mortagne, vicomte d'Aunay, Édouard, seigneur de Beaujeu. (Ibid fol. 223 v^o à 227 r^o.)

Note 3. The muster of the men-at-arms of the 'battle' of Philip, King of Navarre, was held before Jean, called Desramé de Beaumont, and Pierre de Sacquainville, knights and marshals of that division. The men enrolled in this muster served until 27th September, for varying lengths of time beginning in the month of May.

3. La montre des hommes d'armes de «la bataille» de Philippe, roi de Navarre, fut faite devant Jean, dit Desramé de Beaumont, et Pierre de Sacquainville, chevaliers, maréchaux de cette bataille. Les hommes inscrits dans cette montre servirent jusqu'au 27 septembre, pendant un nombre de jours plus ou moins grand, à partir du mois de mai. (Ibid fol. 227 à 231.)

Note 4. The men-at-arms of the company of Odo, Duke of Burgundy, Count of Artois, served 'on the frontiers and in the host, both before the coming of my lord the Duke of Normandy, lieutenant of our lord the king, and after', from 16th April to 27th September 1340.

4. Les gens d'armes de la compagnie d'Eudes, duc de Bourgogne, comte d'Artois, servirent «sur les frontieres et en lost, tant avant la venue monseigneur le duc de Normandie, lieutenant du roy nostre sire, comme après,» du 16 avril au 27 septembre 1340, (Ibid fol. 214.)

Note 5. The muster of the men-at-arms of the 'battle' of the Count of Alençon [Charles II Count Alençon] was held before Hervieu Le Cok, knight and marshal of the said division, and Robert de Saint-Cler, his companion. Most of the men enrolled in this muster served until 26th or 27th September, for varying lengths of time beginning in the month of May.

5. La montre des gens d'armes de «la bataille» du comte d'Alençon fut faite par-devant Hervieu Le Cok, chevalier, maréchal de ladite bataille, et Robert de Saint-Cler son compagnon. La plupart des hommes inscrits dans cette montre servirent jusqu'au 26 ou au 27 septembre, pendant un nombre de jours plus ou moins considérable, à partir du mois de mai. (Ibid fol. 231 v^o à 241.)

Note 6. Walter, Duke of Athens, was, from 24th April to 7th June, captain 'in the parts of Thiérache,' and from 7th June until 27th September he was placed under the command of the Duke of Normandy.

6. Gautier, duc d'Athènes, fut, du 24 avril au 7 juin, capitaine «es parties de Theraische» et, à partir du 7 juin jusqu'au 27 septembre, il fut placé sous le commandement du duc de Normandie. (Bibl, nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9239, fol. 223 vw)

Note 7. The corps of troops assembled by Louis, Count of Flanders, served from 26th March to 27th September 1340, 'both before the coming of my lord the Duke of Normandy, lieutenant of our lord the king, to Aire and to Bapaume, in the defense of the frontiers of Flanders, and after the arrival of the said lord duke at the sieges before Escaudœuvres and Thun-l’Évêque, and in the host of the said lord at Bouvines'.

7. Le corps d'armée réuni par Louis, comte de Flandre, ser. vit du 26 mars au 27 septembre 1340, «tant avant la venue de monseigneur le duc de Normandie, lieutenant du roy nostre sire, à Aire et à Rappaumes, en la garde des frontieres de Flandres, comme après la venue dudit monseigneur le duc es sièges devant Escaudeuvre, de Thun l'Evesque, et en l'ost dudit seigneur à Bouvines.» (Ibid fol. 191.)

Note 8. John, Count of Armagnac, who was at the head of a corps of troops, began his service on 16th June with 4 other bannerets, 21 bachelor knights, 1 squire-banneret, 83 squires mounted at full pay, 16 squires mounted at lesser pay, and 6 minstrels. His marshal and steward, Guibelin Jourdain, began his service on 1st June. They remained until 27th September.

8. Jean, comte d'Armagnac, qui était à la tête d'un corps d'armée, commença son service le 16 juin avec 4 autres bannerets, 21 bacheliers, 1 écuyer banneret, 83 écuyers montés au prix, 16 écuyers montés à moins de prix et 6 ménestrels. Son maréchal et maître d'hôtel, Guibelin Jourdain, commença son service le 1^er juin. Ils restèrent jusqu'au 27 septembre. (Ibid fol. 241 à 243 v^o.)

Note 9. Jean, Count of Harcourt, a banneret knight, served from 18th May, with 4 bachelor knights and 32 squires, in the company of the Count of Alençon.

9. Jean, comte d'Harcourt, chevalier banneret, servit, avec 4 chevaliers bacheliers et 32 écuyers, à partir du 18 mai, en la compagnie du comte d'Alençon. (Ibid fol. 231 v^o.)

Note 10. Louis, Viscount of Thouars, a banneret knight, served with 3 bachelor knights and 11 squires from 19th May to 1st June in the 'battle' of the King of Navarre. Then, from 1st June to 26th September, he passed, together with Miles de Thouars, into the 'battle' of the Count of Alençon. He then had with him a larger number of knights and squires.

10. Louis, vicomte de Thouars, chevalier banneret, servit, avec 3 bacheliers et II écuyers, du 19 mai au 1^er juin, dans «la bataille» du roi de Navarre, puis, du 1^er juin au 26 septembre, il passa, en même temps que Miles de Thouars, dans «la bataille» du comte d'Alençon. Il eut alors avec lui un plus grand nombre de chevaliers et d'écuyers. (Ibid fol. 227 ve et 233 r^o.)

Note 11. Bernard, Viscount of Ventadour, a banneret knight, served in the corps of the Count of Alençon from 6th June to 26th September. (Ibid fol. 233v.)

11. Bernard, vicomte de Ventadour, chevalier banneret, servit, dans le corps d'armée du comte d'Alençon, du 6 juin au 26 septembre.

Note 12. The Bishop of Beauvais at that time was Jean I de Marigny, who occupied the episcopal see from January 1313 until 1347.

12. L'évêque de Beauvais était alors Jean I' de Marigny, qui occupa le siège épiscopal de janvier 1313 à 1347.

Note 13. Miles de Noyers, Butler of France, served with a numerous company in the 'battle' of the king.

13. Miles de Noyers, bouteiller de France, servit, avec une nombreuse compagnie, dans «la bataille» du roi. (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9239, fol. 248.)