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Medieval History Database - Article : Army of the Earl of Suffolk In Normandy Spring 1430

Article : Army of the Earl of Suffolk In Normandy Spring 1430


MHDB Article ID: AOTEOSINS143020201023
MHDB Article date: 23 October 2020
MHDB Article Author(s): Staff

The Army of the Earl of Suffolk In Normandy, Spring 1430

Following the famous English defeats in central France in 1429 and subsequent truce, the Earl of Suffolk was re-assigned to fighting "brigands" (believed to be what we now would call "guerilla" forces) in Normandy beginning in March of 1430.
His army began with 2 Knights-Bachelor, 98 men-at-arms, and 320 archers as of 15 March 1430, and was tasked by the Duke of Bedford (the English regent in France) with patrolling the baillages of Caen and Contentin in Normandy until 1 June 1430.

Among the records for this small army are the following selection:

Initial inspection of entire army on 15 March 1430, with the individual sub-units listed:

# CommanderMen-at-armsProjectile TroopsOther / Unspecified TroopsNotes
1William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk36 mounted114 mounted archersNPThe Earl of Suffolk had previously been captured by Joan of Arc's army at the siege of Jargeau.
2Edward Weure, Knight, Commander of Saint-Lo10 mounted30 mounted archersNPThe archers are specified as native English bowmen.
3Raoul Tesson, Knight4 mounted15 mounted archersNPThe bowmen are specified as archers or crossbowmen
4William Fortescue, Knight3 mounted12 mountedNPThe twelve long-range troops are described as hommes de trait
5John Fawke, Knight3 mounted12 mountedNPThe long-range troops are described as archiers ou hommes de trait
6Robert de Freville, Knight, Lord of Pirou2 mounted9 mountedNPThe long-range troops are described as hommes de trait
7Guillaume des Moulins, Knight1 mounted6 mountedNPThe long-range troops are described as hommes de trait
8Henry Standish, Squire, Commander of Exmes19 mounted80 mounted archersNPThe long-range troops are described as archers.
9Edmund Charles, Squire9 mounted30 mounted archersNPThe long-range troops are described as archers.
10Jean d'Argouges, Squire1 mounted6 mountedNPThe long-range troops are described as hommes de trait
11William of Clamorgan, Squire1 mounted6 mountedNPThe long-range troops are described as hommes de trait
12Edmund Charles, Squire4 mounted16 mounted archersNPThe long-range troops are described as mounted archers.
13William Fortescue, Knight3 mounted12 mounted archersNPAll of these are mounted troops.
14Robert de Freville, Squire, Lord of Pirou1 mounted1 archer mountedNPArcher described as "archier".

Unit inspection (listing each individual soldier) of Edmond Charles' unit in Suffolk's army, on 3 April 1430 at Saint-Lo:

# NameTypeNotesComments
1Edmund Charles 03-04-1430man-at-armsNPNP
2Guillaume Vaulx 03-04-1430man-at-armsNPNP
3John George 03-04-1430man-at-armsNP"Johan Georges"
4Guillaume Cambernon 03-04-1430man-at-armsNPNP
5Jean Guybon 03-04-1430man-at-armsNPNP
6William Gotbed 03-04-1430archerNP"Guillaume Gotebed archiers a cheval"
7Nicholas Hale 03-04-1430archerNP"archiers a cheval"
8William Herton 03-04-1430archerNP"Guillaume Herton archiers a cheval"
9Robert Cusiner 03-04-1430archerNP"archiers a cheval"
10John Black 03-04-1430archerNP"Johan Blak archiers a cheval"
11Perrin Jourdan 03-04-1430archerNP"archiers a cheval"
12Robert Dowlfield 03-04-1430archerNP"Robert Dowlfeld archiers a cheval"
13Robin Tyrel 03-04-1430archerNP"archiers a cheval"
14John Volmar 03-04-1430archerNP"Johan Vulmare archiers a cheval"
15Thomas Green 03-04-1430archerNP"Thomas Grene archiers a cheval"
16Walter John 03-04-1430archerNP"Waulter Johan archiers a cheval"
17Richard Hicks 03-04-1430archerNP"Richard Hykys archiers a cheval"
18Robert Othkwold 03-04-1430archerNP"Robert Othkwold archiers a cheval"
19Schmücken Speick 03-04-1430archerNP"Smukyn Speik archiers a cheval"
20Thomas Hue 03-04-1430archerNP"Thomas Hue archiers a cheval"
21Colin Perrier 03-04-1430archerNP"Colin Perier archiers a cheval"
22Thienot Guyays 03-04-1430archerNP"Thienot Guyays archiers a cheval"

Unit inspection (listing each individual soldier) of William Fortescue's contingent in Suffolk's army, on 3 April 1430.

# NameTypeNotesComments
1William Fortescue 03-04-1430Man-at-armsNP
2Thomas du Bosc 03-04-1430Man-at-armsNP"lance"
3Jean Martin 03-04-1430Man-at-armsNP"lance Jehan Martyn (John Martin?)"
4Guillaume Vauquelin 03-04-1430Man-at-armsIt notes "Without leg armor"."lance Guillaume Vauquelin sans hernois de jambe"
5John Neil 03-04-1430archerNP"Jehan Neel (John Neil?) archiers a cheval"
6Colin Josset the elder 03-04-1430archerNP"Colin Josset l'Aisne archiers a cheval"
7Guillaume Poisson 03-04-1430archerNP"Guillaume Poisson (William Fish?) archiers a cheval"
8Colin Josset the younger 03-04-1430archerNP"Colin Josset le Jeune archiers a cheval"
9Simon Poulet 03-04-1430archerNP"Simon Poulet archiers a cheval"
10Jean de Beuseville 03-04-1430archerNP"Jehan de Beuseville archiers a cheval"
11Jean le Noir 03-04-1430archerNP"Jehan le Noir archiers a cheval"
12Jean Regnault 03-04-1430archerNP"Jehan Regnault archiers a cheval"
13Thomas Parker 03-04-1430archerNP" archiers a cheval"
14Perrin Blessot 03-04-1430archerNP" archiers a cheval"
15John Morton 03-04-1430archerNP"Johan Moureton archiers a cheval"
16John Pillet 03-04-1430archerNP"Johan Pilet archiers a cheval"
17Noël Lemperière 03-04-1430archerNP" archiers a cheval"

Payment for Robert de Freville's unit in Suffolk's army, on 15 May 1430.

# RecipientRecipient2PayerPaymentGoods-ServicesNotes
1Robert de Freville, Squire, Lord of PirouNPEnglish Royal Government19 l 15 s 10 d TMilitary service under the Earl of Suffolk for a month beginning 1 May 1430Unit had been inspected 10 May 1430. Archer described as "archier".

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