Quotation from: A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 3

Written by: Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot


Duke Charles went to meet him outside the town. They embraced one
another, and returned on foot to Peronne, chatting familiarly, and the
king with his hand resting on the duke's shoulder, in token of amity.
Louis had quarters at the house of the chamberlain of the town; the
castle of Peronne being, it was said, in too bad a state, and too ill
furnished, for his reception. On the very day that the king entered
Peronne, the duke's army, commanded by the Marshal of Burgundy, arrived
from the opposite side, and encamped beneath the walls. Several former
servants of the king, now not on good terms with him, accompanied the
Burgundian army. "As soon as the king was apprised of the arrival of
these folks," says Commynes, "he had a great fright, and sent to beg of
the Duke of Burgundy that he might be lodged at the castle, seeing that
all those who had come were evil disposed towards him. The duke was very
much rejoiced thereat, had him lodged there, and stoutly assured him that
he had no cause for doubt." Next day parleys began between the
councillors of the two princes. They did not appear much disposed to
come to an understanding, and a little sourness of spirit was beginning
to show itself on both sides, when there came news which excited a grand
commotion. "King Louis, on coming to Peronne, had not considered," says
Commynes, "that he had sent two ambassadors to the folks of Liege to
excite them against the duke. Nevertheless, the said ambassadors had
advanced matters so well that they had already made a great mass (of
rebels). The Liegese came and took by surprise the town of Tongres,
wherein were the Bishop of Liege and the Lord of Humbercourt, whom they
took also, slaying, moreover, some servants of the said bishop." The
fugitives who reported this news at Peronne made the matter a great deal
worse than it was; they had no doubt, they said, but that the bishop and
Sire d'Humbercourt had also been murdered; and Charles had no more doubt
about it than they. His fury was extreme; he strode to and fro,
everywhere relating the news from Liege. "So the king," said he, "came
here only to deceive me; it is he who, by his ambassadors, excited these
bad folks of Liege; but, by St. George, they shall be severely punished
for it, and he, himself, shall have cause to repent." He gave immediate
orders to have the gates of the town and of the castle closed and guarded
by the archers; but being a little troubled, nevertheless, as to the
effect which would be produced by this order, he gave as his reason for
it that he was quite determined to have recovered a box full of gold and
jewels which had been stolen from him. "I verily believe," says
Commynes, "that if just then the duke had found those whom he addressed
ready to encourage him, or advise him to do the king a bad turn, he would
have done it; but at that time I was still with the said duke; I served
him as chamberlain, and I slept in his room when I pleased, for such was
the usage of that house. With me was there none at this speech of the
duke's, save two grooms of the chamber, one called Charles de Visen, a
native of Dijon, an honest man, and one who had great credit with his
master; and we exasperated nought, but assuaged according to our power."

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