peace, as it was drawn up in writing and ingrossed. Some, would have kept him prisoner as he was, without further ceremony. Others were for sending with all speed for the Duke of Normandy, and clapping up such a peace as should be for the advantage of all the princes of France: those who proposed this, advised that the king should be restrained, and guards set upon him; because a great prince is never, or with great caution, to be delivered, after so great an affront. This opinion was so near prevailing, that I saw a person booted and ready to depart, having already several packets directed for the Duke of Normandy, and attending only the duke's; and yet it was not followed at last. The king caused overtures to be made, and offered the Duke of Bourbon, the Cardinal Eis brother, the Constable, and several others, as hostages, upon condition, that, after the peace was concluded, he might return to Champeigne, and that then he would either cause the Liegeois to make sufficient reparation, or declare himself against them. Those whom the king had proposed for his hostages, proffered them

selves very earnestly, at least in public; I know not whether they said as much in private, I doubt not: and if I may speak my thoughts, I believe, had the king left them there, they had never returned."

"The third night after this had happened, the duke pulled not off his clothes; only he threw himself twice or thrice upon the bed, and then up again and walked, as his custom was, when any thing troubled him. I lay that night in his chamber, and walked with him several times. The next morning he was in a greater passion than ever; threatened exceedingly; and ready to put some great thing in execution: but he recollected himself, and it came to this,-that if the king would swear to the peace, and go along with him to Liege, and assist him to revenge the injuries which they had done him, and the Bishop of Liege, his kinsman, he would be contented. Having resolved upon this, he went immediately to the king's chamber, to give him an account of it himself. The king had some friend or other who had given him notice before, and assured him no hurt would befall

him, if he consented to these points; but if he refused, he would run himself into so great danger, that nothing could be greater.".

"When the duke came into his presence, his voice trembled, so much was he moved, and so ready again to be angry: he made a low reverence with his body, but his gesture and words were sharp; demanding of the king, if he would sign the peace as it was agreed and ingrossed, and swear to it when he had done. The king replied he would; and, indeed, there was nothing added to what had been accorded in the treaty at Paris, as to the Duke of Burgundy's interest, or the Duke of Normandy's, but to his own very much; for it was agreed that he should renounce the dutchy of Normandy, and have Champagne, , and Brię, and some other places adjacent, as an equivalent. Then the duke asked him, if he would go along with him to Liege, to revenge the treachery they had practised by his means, and by means of that interview? Then he reminded him of the nearness of blood betwixt the king and the Bishop of Liege, for he was of the House of Bourbon. The king

go

answered, that when the peace was sworn, (which he desired exceedingly,) he would with him to Liege, and carry with him as many or as few forces as he pleased. The duke was much pleased with this answer; and immediately the articles being produced, and the true cross, which Charleman was wont to use, (called the Cross of Victory,) taken out of the king's cabinet, the peace was sworn, to the great joy of all people; and all the bells in the town were too little to express it. The Duke of Burgundy writ the news immediately into Brittaine; and with it sent a duplicate of the articles, that they might see he had not deserted them, nor disengaged himself from their alliance: and, indeed, Duke Charles, the king's brother, had a good bargain, in respect of what he had made for himself, in the late treaty in Brittaine; by which there was nothing left him but a bare pension. Afterwards, the king did me the honour to tell me that I had done him some service in that pacification.”— "The peace being concluded, the king and the duke departed the next morning for Cam

bray, and from thence towards the country of Liege."*

The anachronism in the death of the Bishop of Liege (which did not happen till nine years after the visit of Louis to Peronne) had been "better honoured in the breach than in the observance;" for poor amends are made to the reader for leading him from facts, by disgusting him with appalling scenes of ideal horrors. Some shew of reason, indeed, presents itself, for the author's converting the sensual prelate, destitute (according to Comines) of all moral discernment, into an amiable and high-minded character; and representing William de la Marck as a ferocious barbarian, instead of "a fine gentleman, and brave soldier;" because the effect of contrast is, by these means, greatly heightened, and a far deeper interest given to the situations and circumstances narrated, than would otherwise have been the case. De Comines' account of the bishop's destruction is short and simple. "This bishop," says he, "took into his councils Mons. William de la Marck, a fine *Philip de Comines, 95, 101, 109, et infra.