the cardinal of Santa Croce, having placed the holy sacrament on an altar and a cross of gold on a cushion, made the duke of Burgundy swear thereon, that he would never more call to his remembrance the death of his late father, and that he would evermore maintain peace with king Charles of France, his sovereign lord, and his allies. After which, the duke of Bourbon and the constable of France, touching the cross with their hands, begged pardon, in the king's name, of the duke of Burgundy for the death of his said father, who gave them his pardon for the love of God. Then the two cardinals, having laid their hands on the duke, absolved him from the oath he had made to the English. In like manner were absolved many great lords of his party, who, with others of the duke's alliance, swore to be on friendship with king Charles and with his allies. In the number was the lord de Launoy, who said aloud, "Here I am who have heretofore taken oaths for the preservation of peace five times during this war, not one of which has been observed,—but I now make promise to God, that this shall be kept on my part, and that I will not in any degree infringe it."

CHAPTER CLXXXVIII.--THE ENGLISH LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF ST. DENIS, WHICH IN THE END SURRENDERS TO THEM BY CAPITULATION.

DURING the time the English and their allies were in the Isle de France, they besieged the town of St. Denis with a very powerful force. The principal commanders of this enterprise were the marshal de l'Isle-Adam, the lords Talbot, Willoughby, and Scales. George de Richammes, Waleran de Moreul, sir John bastard of St. Pol, his brother Louis de Luxembourg, sir Ferry de Mailly, Robert de Neufville, the bastard de Thian a French knight, the Arragonian, with other notable and expert men-at-arms of France and England, having under them about six hundred combatants. They carried on their attacks with great diligence, and pointed many cannons against the walls and gates to batter them down. They were frequently visited by Louis de Luxembourg, bishop of Therouenne, chancellor of France for king Henry, and governor of Paris and the surrounding country, who was their chief adviser, and urged them on to the completion of the business.

Within the town, on the part of the king of France, were the marshal de Rieux, sir John Foucault, sir Louis de Vaucourt, sir Regnault de Saint Jean, Artus de la Tour, and many more valiant men-at-arms, together with six hundred combatants. On the approach of their enemies, they made every preparation for resistance; and the greater part lodged themselves on the walls, where they remained day and night, to be always ready for their defence. The walls and gates, however, were greatly damaged by the cannon of the English in so many places that their captains resolved to make several attacks on the town at the same time, with the hope of gaining it by storm. In consequence, having armed their men, they formed several divisions, and marched, with scaling ladders and other warlike instruments, to the ditches, which were filled with water. These the men-at-arms crossed, though the water was up to their necks, and, carrying their ladders with them, placed them against the walls, which they ascended without sign of fear. The besieged seeing this, and considering that if the place were taken by storm, they should not only lose the town but their lives also, began to prepare for a vigorous defence.

The marshal de Rieux had posted on different parts of the ramparts detachments under captains, with orders not to quit their posts whatever they might see or hear,—and he had a body of men-at-arms ready to succour such places as should be distressed. The attack was very fierce and, bloody, and lasted for two hours, when many gallant acts were done on both sides. The new knights created on this occasion were Louis de Luxembourg, bastard of St. Pol, who behaved excellently well, Jean de Humieres, Robert de Neufville, and some others. When the assailants had had about four score men, or more, slain in the ditches and under the walls, they perceived they could not carry their point without too serious a loss, and their captains sounded a retreat, carrying off their dead and wounded. The besieged suffered also greatly, and were much alarmed lest the enemy, by continuing the attack, should constrain them more. They nevertheless, in hopes of succour from the constable of France, who was attending the convention at Arras, with many of his officers, repaired the

walls and gates, that had been broken, and prepared to defend themselves as well as circumstances would permit.

The constable, on the conclusion of the peace at Arras, departed thence, accompanied by numbers of the nobility, and went to Senlis. He was anxious to collect a sufficient force to raise the siege of St. Denis; but when he examined his powers, he found that he was unable to do so. The marshal de Rieux, therefore, knowing that the constable was unable to afford him relief, entered into negotiations with the English that he and his captains would surrender the place, on having their lives and fortunes spared, and would also give up the prisoners they had made, among whom was the new knight sir Jean de Humieres. This offer was acceded to,-and the French marched off, escorted by about sixteen hundred cavalry. The English army likewise broke up, and returned to different towns under their obedience, leaving behind such of their captains and men as had been killed in St. Denis. Among the first were sir Louis de Vaucourt, sir Regnault de St. Jean, Artus de la Tour, one called Josselin, and others, whose deaths caused great grief. The town of St. Denis was now under the government of king Henry.

Shortly after this event, the Picards, who had been informed of the peace concluded between the duke of Burgundy and king Charles, took leave of the English captains as soon as they could, and returned without loss to their own country. At the same time, the French took by storm the bridge of Meulan, and put to death about twenty English who guarded it. This success much vexed the Parisians, because it cut off the communication with Normandy, and would prevent them from receiving hence any provisions.

CHAPTER CLXXXIX.—ISABELLA, QUEEN OF FRANCE, DIES IN THE CITY OF PARIS.

In the month of September of this year, Isabella, queen of France, and mother to king Charles, then on the throne, was taken grievously ill at her apartments in the king's hôtel of St. Pol. She had for some time lived in great poverty, owing to the distresses and troubles of the war,-and her disorder increased so much that it caused her death. She was buried in the church of St. Denis, but not with the solemnity and state usual at the funerals of queens of France. When the duke of Burgundy heard of her decease, he had a grand and solemn service performed for her in the church of St. Waast, at Arras, which he personally attended, dressed in mourning. The duke was supported by the count d'Estampes, the count de Vendôme, the heir of Cleves, and many other ecclesiastical and secular lords in mourning. The service was performed by the bishop of Arras.

CHAPTER CXC.

LEAVE

THE CARDINALS AND THE AMBASSADORS FROM THE COUNCIL,
ARRAS. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY APPOINTS DIFFERENT OFFICERS TO THE TOWNS
AND FORTRESSES THAT HAD BEEN CONCEDED TO HIM BY THE PEACE.

Soon after peace had been proclaimed in Arras, the cardinals, and those who had accompanied them, departed thence, after having been most honourably entertained by duke Philip. In like manner did all those who had come thither as ambassadors from the holy council and from king Charles. The duke now, while in Arras, appointed many new officers to the towns and castles on the river Somme, and to those within Picardy which had long appertained to the crown of France, but had been yielded to him by king Charles, according to the articles of the treaty lately concluded. Prior to this peace, Arras was in the hands of king Henry; but now the duke appointed other officers, displacing those of king Henry at his pleasure, laying hands on all the public money, nominating new receivers, and causing the inhabitants to swear allegiance to him.

The English officers were much surprised at these proceedings of the duke; for it was through his means that king Henry had obtained possession of the town, and he had lately acknowledged him for his legal and sovereign lord. Seeing that they could no way prevent it, they suffered patiently all that was done. Among others, master Robert le Jeune, who

had for a long time been bailiff of Amiens, and had ruled with a high hand all Picardy in favour of the English, and had even been their counsel at the convention of Arras, and their chief adviser, finding that the tide was now turning against them (through means procured by money) managed so well that he continued in favour with the duke of Burgundy, who made him governor of Arras in the room of sir David de Brimeu, who had held that appointment. Thus in a few days was a total change made in the public affairs of France and England, and just contrary to what had before been.

CHAPTER CXCI. IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE PEACE OF ARRAS, THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS SOME OF HIS COUNCIL AND HERALDS TO THE KING OF ENGLAND, TO REMONSTRATE AND EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OF THE PEACE HE HAD CONCLUDED WITH THE KING OF FRANCE.

On the conclusion of the peace at Arras, the duke of Burgundy sent his king-at-arms of the order of the Golden Fleece, with another of his heralds, called Franchecomté, to England with letters from the duke to king Henry. These letters contained strong remonstrances to induce the king and his council to conclude a peace with the king of France,—and were also explanatory of the causes which had induced the duke, by the exhortations of the legates from the holy see and from the council of Basil, in conjunction with the three estates of his dominions, to make a peace with king Charles his sovereign lord, and to renounce the alliance he had formerly concluded with the late king Henry of England. They were accompanied by a mendicant friar, a doctor of divinity, who had been charged by the two cardinal-legates to remonstrate publicly with the king of England and his council on the infinite cruelty of prolonging so bloody a war, which laid waste Christendom, and to harangue on the blessings that would ensue, if a lasting peace could be concluded between the two kings.

They all three travelled together as far as Calais, and crossed the sea to Dover; but there they received orders from king Henry, forbidding them to proceed further. Their letters were demanded, given up, and carried to the king at London,—and soon after they were conducted thither. They were met on the road by a herald and a secretary to the lord treasurer, who escorted them to their lodgings in London, at the house of a shoemaker, where they remained, and only went to hear mass, under the care of some heralds and pursuivants-at-arms, who visited them often; for they were forbidden to stir out of their lodgings without a licence or permission. They were, therefore, very much alarmed lest they might personally suffer for the disagreeable news they had brought.

Notwithstanding the mendicant friar and the two heralds had made many requests to those who attended on them, that they might be permitted to address the king and council on the subjects they had been charged with by the two cardinals and their lord, they never could obtain an audience. The lord treasurer of England, however, to whom the letters from the duke of Burgundy had been given, assembled, in the presence of the king, the cardinal of Winchester, the duke of Gloucester, with many other princes and prelates, members of the council, so that the meeting was numerously attended, and laid before them the letters which the duke of Burgundy had written to the king and his council,—but their address and superscription were not in the style he was wont to use. In this he simply styled him king of England-high and mighty prince-his very dear lord and cousin; but forbore to acknowledge him as his sovereign lord, as he heretofore always had done in the numerous letters he had sent him.

All persons were very much surprised on hearing them read; and even the young king Henry was so much hurt at their contents, that his eyes were filled with tears, which ran down his cheeks. He said to some of the privy counsellors nearest to him, that he plainly perceived since the duke of Burgundy had acted thus disloyally toward him, and was reconciled to his enemy king Charles, that his dominions in France would fare the worse for it. The cardinal of Winchester and the duke of Gloucester abruptly left the council much confused and vexed, as did several others, without coming to any determination. They collected

in small knots, and abused each other as well as the duke of Burgundy and the leading members of his council. This news was soon made public throughout London, and no one who was well bred was sparing of the grossest abuse against the duke of Burgundy and his country. Many of the common people collected together, and went to different parts of the town to search for Flemings, Dutchmen, Brabanters, Picards, Hainaulters, and other foreigners, to use them ill, who were unsuspicious of deserving it. Several were seized in the heat of their rage and murdered; but shortly after king Henry put an end to this tumult, and the ringleaders were delivered up to justice.

Some days after, the king and his council assembled to consider on the answers they should send to the duke of Burgundy's letters, when their opinions were divided: some would have war declared instantly against the duke, while others would have him regularly summoned, by letter or otherwise, to answer for his conduct. While this was under discussion, news was brought to the king, that in consequence of the pacification between the duke and king Charles, the duke was to have given up to him the towns, lordships, castles, and forts, of St. Quentin, Corbie, Amiens, St. Riquier, Abbeville, Dourlens, and Montreiul, which had been in the possession and under the obedience of king Henry, who had received their oaths of fidelity, and had appointed officers for their government. This intelligence made bad worse, and the council determined not to send any answer. Upon which, the lord treasurer went to the three messengers at their lodgings, and told the heralds, Toison and Franchecomté, that the king, with the princes of his blood and his council, had seen and examined the letters they had brought,-and that they had been equally surprised at their contents as at the conduct of the duke, for which, if it pleased God, the king would provide a remedy. The messengers were very anxious to have an answer in writing, but could not obtain one, although they frequently made this request. They were told they might return to their own country, and finding they could not do more, re-crossed the sea, and reported verbally to their lord the duke everything that had passed. The mendicant doctor went to those who had sent him, without having had an opportunity of employing his talents. The messengers were very much afraid they should have been ill treated, for on their journey home, they heard in several places their lord much and loudly abused by the common people, who did not receive them with that civility they used formerly to do.

CHAPTER CXCII.-THE POPULACE OF AMIENS RISE AGAINST THE LEVYING OF SOME TAXES WHICH WERE INTENDED TO BE LAID ON THEM.

AT this period, the inhabitants of Amiens deputed an advocate, called master Tristan de Fontaines, to the duke of Burgundy, to endeavour to obtain the remission of a sum of money which the town owed to the duke, or to some of his partisans, but he was unsuccessful. King Charles and the duke issued new ordinances, ordering that the taxes and subsidies which that place had before paid should be continued on the same footing as formerly. Master Tristan, on his return to Amiens, had these ordinances proclaimed at the usual places, -when a large body of butchers and others of the populace, being discontented thereat, suddenly collected together, with arms and staves according to their condition.

They went thus armed to their mayor, and plainly told him, that they were determined not to pay these taxes, for he well knew that good king Charles would not that they should pay more than other towns under his obedience. The mayor, seeing their rude and bold behaviour, assented to all they said, appeasing them by gentle words; and as they were the masters, he agreed to go with them wherever they pleased through the town. They made captain over them one Honoré Cokin, and went first to the house of master Tristan, with the intent to put him to death; but he, having had from his friends intelligence of this, had escaped. They broke, however, many doors and windows in search of him, and thence went to the house of one called Pierre le Clerc, provost of the Beauvoisis, who, during the time that master Robert le Jeune was bailiff of Amiens, had enjoyed great power, committed many extortions, and ill-treated several of the inhabitants of that place and the country about, which had caused him to be much hated. They sought him everywhere, but in vain.

-for, having heard of the tumult, he had hidden himself. They demolished his house and furniture, and drank in one night eighteen pipes of wine which he had in his cellars. They also made his nephew their prisoner, and confined him in the belfry.

They committed numerous disorders in the town; and went in large bodies to the houses of the rich, who were forced to give them great sums of money, but more particularly meat and wine. Pierre le Clerc was all this time hidden in the hen-roost belonging to a poor man; but he was discovered to the mob, who went in great solemnity to seek him, and confined him in the town prison, whence they soon after dragged him to the market-place and cut his throat: his nephew suffered the like death. There was not a man now in Amiens who dared to oppose their will and pleasure.

News of these proceedings were carried to the duke of Burgundy, who sent to Amiens John de Brimeu, the new bailiff, and shortly after the lord de Saveuses, who had been lately appointed the governor, with orders to inquire into and correct these abuses. They were followed by the count d'Estampes, with many knights, esquires, and cross-bows; and again the lord de Croy was sent thither with a large force: he also carried with him the archers of the duke's household. Forces from different parts drew towards Amiens, and all the principal lords of Picardy, under pretence of besieging the castle of Bonnes, whither had retreated a body of pillagers.

Honoré Cokin did not securely rely upon his companions, and was doubtful if they would not play him false, notwithstanding that they had been with the count d'Estampes, the governor, and bailiff, to excuse themselves and him for what had passed. They had received courteous answers, and promises, that if they would behave well for the future, they should obtain their pardon. The lords having deliberated on the business, and taken possession of the belfry, with a sufficient guard, (who were to ring the alarm-bell on the first sign of tumult, when all the commonalty were to assemble and join them) advanced to the market-place, having sent detachments to various parts of the town well armed, to prevent any disorders in future. The lord de Saveuses and the bailiff were then ordered to scour the streets with the troops, and to arrest all who refused to retire to their homes. When these regulations had been made, the count d'Estampes, attended by many noble lords and knights, remained in the market-place, which was filled with multitudes of people, and caused a new ordinance to be proclaimed in the names of king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, ordering the late subsidies and taxes to be continued, and, at the same time, pardoning all past offences, with the reserve of some few of the ringleaders, who would be named and punished.

When this proclamation was made, Perrinet Chalons, one of the principal rioters, was present, and, hearing its contents, took to his heels, but orders were instantly given to seize him. He was pursued into the church of Saint Germain, and found kneeling beside a priest saying mass; but, notwithstanding this, he was taken and carried to the belfry. On the other hand, Honoré Cokin, knowing of this meeting, had armed himself, with some of his associates, to attend it; but he was met by the governor and the bailiff, who instantly arrested him and sent him also to the belfry. Twenty or thirty other rebels were made prisoners, in different parts of the town; and this same day Honoré with seven others, his companions, had their heads cut off with a cooper's adze. Perrinet Chalons and two others were hanged and quartered on a gibbet: one was drowned, and about fifty banished the town. There were, afterward, several executed, for the same cause, at different times; and among them a celebrated pillager, who had been very active in his occupation. These executions brought the inhabitants of Amiens under the most perfect obedience.