A.D. 1408. mentioned, who were coming in the rear to attack them, but the said commons would not suffer any to mount on horseback, but spoke reproachful words to him, accounting him a traitor. The Lord of Peruel peacefully enduring their roughness and rude folly, quickly ordered his army into a square, but in front it was in a triangle, that is to say, in three horns. Afterwards he ordered. to the rear to right and left of the said army his waggons and carts well posted in good order, so that their horses were in the rear at one side and within were their archers and cross bowmen, whose shooting was of little value, except the two hundred English archers, whom they placed in the most suitable position. Then the said Lord of Peruel, accompanied by his son the bishop, and by some of his company, who most excelled in arms, like a good leader, placed himself in the front before the line of battle. On Sunday then, about one o'clock in the afternoon, the two dukes marching against the Liegeois, encouraged their men, each in his place, very amiably, praying them to attack vigorously and boldly and combat by firm and stable courage this foolish nation, rebels against their lord, who trusted in their great numbers and the multitude of their community, affirming that if they did so, without doubt or chance, they would have the victory, and would carry away lasting honour from this fight, for it was commonly said that in multitude lieth confusion. After these things and others like them represented and spoken by the two dukes, each to his troop, they retired to their appointed places near their banners; and there carried the standard of the Duke of Burgundy, Sir Jacques de Courtiamble, who, in coming towards him, fell on his knees, at which many were greatly displeased, fearing that this was a sign of some ill to come, but he was soon raised up by the help of those who were around him keeping guard over the banner, and very prudently bore and con

ducted himself that day this said knight, a native A.D. 1408. of the country of Burgundy; and the banner of Duke. William was that day carried in this affair by a gentle knight named Sir Ostes d'Estancines, who also quitted himself well and honourably. Thus then the two armies met, and the battle began, very fierce, horrible, and dreadful, which lasted the space of an hour or thereabouts, blows being exchanged on both sides. At the coming together of the two hosts there was great slaughter of men, and great shouting and noise might be heard, for each side cried at the beginning his war-cry; the Burgundians cried, "Our Lady, Burgundy!" and the Liegeois cried, "Saint Lambert, Peruel!" but whilst they were fighting, the company of horse detailed, as I have said before, by order of the dukes, as they had been commanded and enjoined, directly they saw the battle joined, came on in great haste with lances couched, to strike the rear of the Liegeois; these, by reason of the encumbrance of waggons and carts, could with great difficulty break through them, but at length by their force, vigour, and valour, they effected an entrance and with great goodwill began to separate, divide, strike down, and slay; and whilst they were deeply engaged in doing this some of them lifting up their eyes saw full six thousand Liegeois separate from the main body, who, with the banners and ensigns of their trades, were flying quickly towards a country town, distant about half a league from the battle, and the said Burgundian horsemen started in pursuit, leaving the work they had a little before begun. These fugitives they overtook, immediately attacking and running through them not once only, but many times, striking them down and slaying them horribly without mercy or pity. And there were such great groanings of the fallen and wounded that to relate would be a long business; but to make it short they were all at once thrown into

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A D. 1408. such disorder and discomfiture that they only sought flight to escape, some to the woods and others to divers places, where they could hide themselves. Thus then this unfortunate company being thus discomfited by the horsemen, as has been said, they returned again to the main body to aid their men who were fighting with marvellous valour and power, for truly the Liegeois defended themselves and attacked very vigorously, and truth to say, the fight was very doubtful, for by the space of full an hour one could not judge or know to which God would give the victory. Very horrible it was to hear the cries and lamentations of the dying; each on all sides cried out his war cry to get assistance, for there was none that was not in fear of death. So it may well be believed that if the company of horse had not so soon returned, the force of the two dukes would have been in great peril; but these horsemen, crying, "Our Lady, Burgundy!", fell again upon the rear of the Liegeois and so behaved that in a short time they took away from them the hope of victory, yet, notwithstanding this, they defended themselves very fiercely and with great courage, resisting to the best of their power, though in the end they were obliged to take to flight, whereupon commenced such great slaughter that it was a pity to see it, the blood from which went running in great brooks from the slain and from the wounded, who moaned piteously, for at this time none was taken to ransom or at mercy, so furious were the Burgundians and so hasty to win the day, and the Liegeois, thus overpowered, fell in great crowds one upon another, so that very quickly, without recovering in any way, they turned in full rout, falling by hundreds and thousands dead and wounded in great confusion and destruction.

At this same hour close to the banner of the Duke of Burgundy, where the greatest weight of the battle was, fell dead the Lord of Peruel leading the enemy

and his two sons; likewise fell the Damoiseau of Salines A.D. 1408. who bore the standard of Saint Lambert, eldest son of the Count of Salines, who fought very fiercely, also Sir John Chollet and many other knights and esquires to the number of five hundred or more, with the English archers, and fully twenty-eight thousand men of the said commons who were all slain together and heheaded on the field. Sir Bauduin de Morgardin to save his life surrendered to the Duke of Burgundy, who gave him to a knight of Picardy called Sir Victart de Bours.

Certainly, as I have found by inquiry of those who were actually present at the fight, the Duke of Burgundy was one of the most valiant knights of either party, and without fail, if I wished to relate at length the valiant deeds that were done, and by whom, both on the one side and on the other, I should too greatly lengthen my subject, so I leave the result to the judgment of all hearts who know about such enterprises. After this great victory the two dukes gave thanks and praises to the Creator, for they had lost but few of their men, perhaps about five to six hundred men, amongst whom there ended their lives, John de La Chapelle, Knight, Sir Florimont de Brimeu ; John de Latremouille who had been knighted that day, Hugotin de Nauton, John de Chevene, Viscount of Brunequet, a native of Acquitaine, Danel de La Poulle a native of Hainault, Rolland de La Motte, and others to the number of from a hundred to six score lances, and the rest were varlets and men serving for pay. Just as the dukes held the victorious field, there issued from Tongres about two thousand men thinking to aid these people, who when they saw the battle had ended in their rout, retreated towards their town, and of these the mounted Burgundians, who perceived and pursued them, slew several. These things being finished the dukes, earls, and barons caused their tents

A.D. 1408. to be pitched quite close to the place where the battle had taken place, and there they remained three days and three nights. From this place the French ambassadors above mentioned, after taking leave of the Duke of Burgundy, departed, and moving thence as directly as they could, took the road to Paris, where they found King Charles and his council; but before the departure of the said ambassadors the duke by one of his knights had already sent to his good friends of France the news of his victory, at which his ill-wishers were not very joyful, but sad and thoughtful, but on the other hand, those of his party were greatly rejoiced thereat. Before the said dukes departed from the country of Liege, they placed all the towns and fortresses in subjection to their bishop, Sir John of Bavaria, who directly after the battle came to thank them for the succour and aid which they had given him, and so he was entirely replaced in possession of the whole country. Now I will leave off speaking to you. of this matter, to return to my principal subject.

Of the great council which the King of France held at Paris, to take advice how the Duke of Burgundy should be proceeded against, touching the death of the Duke of Orleans. CHAPTER XXII.

DURING the expedition which Duke John made to Liege, as I have said, there assembled at Paris at the king's command, a great number of lords, such as Louis King of Sicily, Charles King of Navarre, the Duke of Brittany, the Duke of Bourbon, with many other notable persons who were for the most part favourable to the Duchess of Orleans and her children; and there was much discourse there in deliberating as to how the king should bear himself and would have to conduct himself against the duke, the principal