Calais, the Great battle, Game 4

GAME IV — “THE BATTLE ON THE GUÎNES FRONTIER”

Narrative

French forces gather near Guînes hoping to isolate Calais before Henry V’s return.

The English ride out to break the threat.

This is the final battle of my campaign.

Table

• 6' x 4'
• A wide battlefield.

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Terrain Layout

English Side

• Defensive streams
• Marshy flank
• Low hill with city walls

French Side

• Open fields for cavalry
• Orchard lanes
• Stream crossings

Getting ready!

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Forces

English

Richard Earl of Warwick, Captain of Calais

Captain Sir Thomas Neville of Blackmere, cousin to the Earl

• Retinue men-at-arms, dismounted
• Longbowmen

French.

French Commander, Marshal Enguerrand de Vervins Marshal of the Northern Marches,

Compte Jean de Créquy

The Iron Hawk of Saint-Omer

Dame Isabel de la Croix, Crossbow Captain Vintenar

+5, command points 1 command 

range 6”

Gautier Sieur de Bournonville

The Butcher of Sanghen

Mayor Étienne de Malrecourt town crossbow guilds.  

Captain Gaston de Varennes

• Men-at-arms
• Mounted knights
• Crossbowmen
• Militia infantry
• Raiders from Saint-Omer

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Campaign Advantages

Each prior victory grants one advantage:

Advantage	Benefit
Captured dispatches	Choose battlefield edge. ENGLISH
Local guides	Free pregame move. ENGLISH
Ransom money	Extra unit. None
Village loyalty	One reroll per turn.  None
Fear reputation	Enemy morale penalty.  FRENCH
Captured captain	Opponent loses command point. None

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FINAL TWIST — “THE SAILS OFF CALAIS”

At midpoint of battle roll a D6:

D6	Event
1–2	French reinforcements arrive
3–4	Heavy rain reduces archery
5	English ships visible offshore — morale boost
6	False alarm, no effect

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The Game

The French appear in force.

And it's the Marshal with his key henchmen.

Supported by some peasant levies to bolster numbers.

The English depoly among hedgerows.  Sir Thomas Neville takes a higher area over the stream.

And that is a strong position.  The Earl is badly outnumbered.

The French move forwards

And the peasants rush out to try to outflank the English hedgerows

The Longbows cut down a foot Men at Arms unit, shaking it.

And opposite the Earl the same thing happens.

The Earl is in a desperate position.

But the French lose men to those longbows, and begin to burn through their favours.

So the Marshal tries foot men at Arms into the gap.

A brave effort.

On the French left the foot man at Arms begin to lose to those longbows.

The longbows show no mercy to the advancing peasants either.  But another favour is burned.

Sir Thomas charges on the French left and drives them back.

But the French fight back.

Sir Thomas is left alone before the crossbows having driven the French Men at Arms off.

The French mounted charge the gap.  They burn the last favour and still lose three men.

The routed French men at Arms on the left quit.

Sir Thomas falls.

The spearmen charge those pesky peasants and drive them off.

The longbows break the surviving crossbows although it all seems a blur.  The French withdraw.

The French are battered, over 50% losses.  They break.  A Win for the Earl

Some art celebrating the battle

The Death of Sir Thomas Neville, from. The National Gallery.

The French Men at Arms attack the Earl

The Earl holds the gap.

CAMPAIGN ENDING

English Victory

Calais remains secure and Henry’s supply line survives.

The Captain rewards loyal men with:

• coin,
• land,
• and captured armour.