upon many other vessels endeavoured to disengage themselves and to make sail.[1] Some took refuge in Honfleur, but at least two of the carracks ran ashore and foundered in their efforts to escape. Three carracks,[2] with one hulk and four ballingers,[3] seem to have been taken; fifteen hundred Frenchmen were killed,[4] and about four hundred were made prisoners. The total loss of the victors did not exceed one hundred men,[5] and among them there was apparently no person of note; but of the French, Jean de Braquemout, son of the Admiral of France, was killed, and the Bastard of Bourbon was taken.[6]
This battle of Harfleur seems to have been fought in the narrow channel immediately opposite the town and north of the Amfar bank. Such wind as there was probably blew from the north, thus enabling both fleets to manœuvre, and favouring the escape of the remnant of the enemy into Honfleur. The employment of lances, arrows, darts, stones, and masses of iron and lead is mentioned; but there is no allusion to the use of guns, which were nevertheless then quite common. There is little doubt that the French were outnumbered, and that the English were, as Des Ursins says, in fine order and condition.[7]
After the action it fell calm, and the galleys which had escaped ventured out of port, and harassed the fleet as it was in the act of landing provisions and stores; but the English manned their boats and drove the enemy back to Honfleur. Attacks of this sort were made on several days, the French employing "wildfire" (Greek fire) in their efforts to burn the English ships, but no harm was done. After relieving the town, the Duke of Bedford re-embarked, and returned to England with his prizes.[8]
King Henry received the news of the victory as he was returning from a visit to some ships that were building, probably at Rye; and he conveyed it to his guest, the emperor, at Canterbury, where a Te Deum was consequently sung. The emperor then crossed from
- ↑ Elmham, 80, 81. The battle is described in 'The Libel of English Policie.'
- ↑ These were re-named Marie of Hampton, Marie of Sandwich, and George, and were added to the navy.
- ↑ Of these vessels, taken and added to the navy, were those subsequently called the Katrine Breton, and the Grande Marie.
- ↑ Otterbourne, by pretty obvious error, says 15,000.
- ↑ Anon. Chron. in Add. MSS. 1776, f. 67b.
- ↑ St. Remy, 103.
- ↑ Des Ursins, 334.
- ↑ Anon. Chron. in Add. MSS. 1776, f. 68; Elmham, 83.
