Burgundians. They continued their pursuit as far as the bridge of Verberie over the Sambre, near to Beaumont, when they came up with the baggage, and killed or made prisoners several of the escort: among the last was Veau de Bar, bailiff of Auxois. They still pursued the Burgundians until they came near to Nôtre Dame de Halle, but they had then secured themselves within the suburbs of Brussels. Finding that all hopes of overtaking them were vain, the french knights retreated through Hainault, plundered many of its inhabitants, who little suspected it, and arrived at Guise in Tierrache, where they met the king and his whole army, who had returned thither to combat his enemies.

Duke William count of Hainault was highly displeased with this expedition, because his country had been overrun and pillaged. Soon after, the king marched back to St Quentin, and the Burgundians, who were before Oudenarde, went to Douay, where they met the duke of Burgundy, who received them as cordially as if they had been his brethren. The lady of Hainault, his sister, came thither also, who had endea

voured, as has been said, with all her power, to conclude a peace between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy, but hitherto she had been unsuccessful.

The king and the princes advanced from St Quentin to Peronne,-and his majesty was lodged in the castle. He devoutly celebrated the feast of St Peter and St Paul, in the church of St Quentin; and on the morrow of this feast the countess of Hainault returned, with her brother the duke of Brabant, to renew her propositions for peace. They were royally and magnificently entertained, after which the king inquired the cause of their coming. On the following Sunday, the first day of July, the duke of Guienne gave the lady and her brother a magnificent dinner, when they were solemnly feasted.

This countess was also accompanied by some of the chief citizens of the Quatre Mestiers, as deputies from the three estates of Flanders to the king who graciously received them, and, on their departure, properly distributed among them presents, of one hundred marcs of silver in gilt plate, which pleased them mightily.

But neither the lady nor her brother, the duke of Brabant, could at this time obtain peace for the duke of Burgundy; on which account, they returned to him at Douay dejected and sorrowful. The duke hearing of their ill success, concluded bargains with his captains for their support of him against all his enemies, excepting the persons of the king of France and the duke of Acquitaine. After this, the duke departed into his country of Flanders.

CHAP. VII.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY PLACES GARRISONS IN DIFFERENT TOWNS AND CASTLES. -THE KING OF FRANCE MARCHES HIS ARMY FROM PERONNE TO BESIEGE BAPAUME*.

SUCH was the state of affairs on the departure of the duke of Burgundy, with the greater part of the Burgundians under the

* Bapaume, a strong town in Artois, eleven leagues from Amiens.

command of sir Gaultier de Ruppes and others, from Douay. Sir John de Luxembourg, then a young knight, was intrusted with the government of Arras; but there were appointed, as his advisers, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouveir, lieutenant governor of Arras, the lord de Noyelle, surnamed Le Blanc Chevalier, Allain de Vendosine, with a body of troops to the number of six hundred men at arms and as many archers.

Those from Burgundy were commanded by the lord de Montagu, captain in chief, the lord de Vienne, the borgne de Toulongeon knight, sir William de Champ-divers, the bastard of Granson, to the amount of six hundred men at arms. The lord de Beauford à la barbe was commander of the commonalty; and in all the other towns were appointed able men, according to the good pleasure of the duke of Burgundy.

These warriors made frequent excursions on the lands of such as were attached to the Orleans party; and one day sir John de Luxembourg, with a large detachment, advanced to the town of Hamme on the Somme, belonging to the duke of Orleans,

which was pillaged and robbed of every thing portable that it contained; and many of the adjacent villages shared the same fate, from the aforesaid cause. In like manner, Hector de Saveuses, Philippe de Saveuses his brother, Louis de Wargis, and some other captains, crossed the river Somme at Hauges, near to Pecquigny, and thence advanced to the town of Blangy, near Monchiaux, belonging to the count d'Eu, which was filled with much wealth. This was soon plundered by the Burgundians, who carried away men and all portable effects, and returned with them into Artois. Such expeditions did the duke of Burgundy's partisans often make, to the sore distress of the poor inhabitants.

On the 9th day of July, the king and the princes left Peronne, on a pilgrimage to our Lady of Cuerlu, and proceeding thence, fixed their quarters on the banks of a river, very near to Miraumont*. On the Thursday following, he came before Bapaume, a town belonging to the duke of Burgundy; and at this place the count d'Auxerre was

* Miraumont, a village in Picardy, election of Peronne.