Henry VI – Part One
Verneuil
For three months Duke John had been besieging a castle at Ivy. The Scots left Tours on 4 August, with the intention of linking up with the French army and then raising the siege. However, before they arrived Ivy had surrendered. The Scots wanted to go into battle but the French commanders had not forgotten Agincourt, so they were reluctant to risk being defeated.
Therefore, they decided to move all the forces to Verneuil. The town was taken by trickery. After hearing that Verneuil was under the control of the French, Duke John and his Anglo-Burgundian army made haste to get there.
Battle of Verneuil begins
Illumination from La Cronique du temps de Tres Chistien Roy Charles
The Franco-Scottish army was supplemented by Milanese and Spanish mercenaries. The Duke of Aumale had overall command but co-ordinated direction of the different groups proved to be impossible. The two armies came together on a plain about one mile north of Verneuil. Neither side wanted to launch the first attack and the stalemate lasted until 4 o’clock, when Duke John ordered his men to move forward.
Duke John’s army numbered about 8,000 men and that of the French and their allies around 15,000. After a short and inconclusive exchange of arrows between the Scots and the English there was a charge of 2,000 Milanese mounted men-at-arms, which broke the English front line in a number of places and then routed the English baggage train. Some of the English panicked and left the field of battle. News of an English defeat speedily spread from Verneuil to the surrounding area. Despite this severe setback, Duke John managed to rally what was left of his army.