all his nobles of Artois and Picardy at Arras.

On his appearing among them, he first

apo

logised for having made them wait, saying that he had been at Paris in obedience to the commands of the duke of Acquitaine, and again caused to be read the letters which he had received from him. He added, that he had left large bodies of his men at arms in the towns of Compiegne and Soissons; at the request of the inhabitants; for they had learnt that the king, by the advice of his present ministers, was raising a large force to reconquer these towns.

He then asked the nobles, whether he might depend on their support. They replied, that they would cheerfully serve him against all his enemies, saving the king of France and his children. This they all promised excepting the lord de Ront, who declared that he would serve him even against the king of France.

At this period, there raged an epidemical disorder throughout France and other countries: it affected the head, and very many died of it, both old and young. It was called the Coqueluche.

CHAP. III.

A GRAND COUNCIL HELD, IN THE KING'S NAME, AT PARIS.

On the 2d day of March, in this year, was held a grand council, at the hôtel of St Pol, in the presence of the queen and the duke of Acquitaine, (because the king was not then in perfect health,) of many princes and prelates beside the ordinary members of the council. The chancellor of France harangued for a considerable time on the behaviour of the duke of Burgundy, and how he had conducted himself toward the king and the princes of the blood at many and divers times, since the death of Louis duke of Orleans: that lately, in defiance of the commands of the king and the duke of Acquitaine, he had marched a powerful force of men at arms and archers, with displayed banners, to the very walls of Paris, committing at the same time irreparable da mages to the kingdom: he had likewise placed garrisons in the towns of Compiegne and Soissons, who daily made open war on

the subjects of the king, in like manner as our ancient enemies of England would have done: that since he had thus notoriously broken the peace that had been agreed to at Auxerre, and confirmed at Pontoise, the chancellor earnestly demanded those present, on their allegiance, to declare what measures the king and the duke of Acquitaine should pursue against the duke of Burgundy.

This council consisted of the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry, Orleans, Bourbon and Bar, the counts d'Alençon, de Vertús, de Richemont, d'Eu, de Dampmartin, d'Armagnac, de Vendôme, de Marle and de Touraine; the lord d'Albreth, constable of France, the archbishop of Sens, and many other prelates, with a considerable number of notable barons, knights and esquires of the royal council. When they had for some time deliberated on the chancellor's demand, they replied, by the mouth of the archbishop of Sens, that the king might legally and honourably wage war on the duke of Burgundy, considering the manner in which he had conducted and continued to conduct himself with regard to him.

It was then resolved, that the king

should raise a large army, and march in person against the duke and his adherents, to subjugate them, and reduce their country to obedience. The queen, the duke of Acquitaine, all the princes, and the whole council, then engaged, and solemnly swore, on their faith and loyalty, that they would never pay attention to any letters or embassy from the said duke, until he and his allies should be destroyed, or at least humbled and reduced to obedience.

When the council broke up, clerks were employed to write letters, which were dispatched to divers countries, and throughout France; and the king at this time raised a larger army than he had done during his whole reign,-insomuch, that in a very short time, by the activity of the said princes, and by the king's summons, a very great multitude of men at arms were collected round Paris, and in the parts adjacent in the isle of France. Some of the captains were dispatched with a large body of men toward the town of Compiegne, which, as I have before said, was garrisoned by the duke of Burgundy, namely, the lord Charles d'Albreth, constable of France, sir Hector, C 2

bastard of Bourbon, Remonnet de la Guerre, the lord de Gaucourt and several others,— who, on their forming the siege, had many and severe skirmishes with those of the town, as they made frequent sallies night and day, and at the beginning did them much damage.

They were, however, often driven back by the besiegers into the town, which was under the government of sir Hugh de Launay, the lord de Saint Legier, and his son, the lord Mauroy, Hector Philippe, le bon de Savouses, the lord de Sorres, knights, Louvelet de Malinghen, and many other notable men at arms, by orders of the duke of Burgundy. These captains, to prevent the besiegers from quartering themselves at their ease, were diligent in harrassing them, and burnt all the suburbs, with many handsome buildings, as well houses as churches. The besiegers, on their side, were not idle: they threw two bridges over the river Oise, to succour each other should there be occasion, and pointed against the walls and gates two large engines, which annoyed them much.

The king of France on the Saturday