Lacy's war

In July 1296 the French army under Robert of Artois laid siege to Bourg. Along with Blaye, this was one of just two remaining English strongholds in northern Gascony. If it fell, Blaye would soon follow, and half the duchy would be lost.

One of the hazards of campaigning in Aquitaine, especially in high summer, was the prevalence of heat and subsequent disease. Artois himself was not a well man. His household accounts show frequent payments for medicines from April to July, used for himself and members of his household. These include syrups, potions, cordials and electuaries, probably used to treat fever and dysentery. While he lay siege to Bourg, supplies of rose-water, pomegranates, camomile and other herbs were bought specifically for Artois at Bordeaux and Bergerac, and then carried to the French camp.

Rather than sweat and poo himself to death, Artois handed over command of the siege to the Sire de Sully, a French knight, and went off to recover elsewhere. He continued to be treated with an increasingly bizzare set of medicines, including crystallized rose petals and violets, Damascus rose-water and fifty pomegranates. To keep his spirits up, the count was entertained by a fool and a female dwarf. The mind boggles.

Meanwhile the French continued to bombard the town. It seemed Bourg must fall, but then cometh the hour, cometh the man. The man was Sir Simon Montague, a knight of Somerset. Simon, described as ‘miles strenuus et cordatus’ - a valiant and prudent knight - grabbed a supply ship, sailed it down the Gironde and smashed through the French blockade to bring vital provisions to Bourg.

Seeing this, the Sire de Sully gave up and withdrew. Edward I sent a letter contragulating the garrison on their successful defence, and fresh supplies of corn, hay, beans, bacon and other victuals were rushed over from England to stock the town.