The king of England was much displeased at the breaking off the conference, as it prevented him from gaining his ends, and was very indignant against the duke of Burgundy, whom he considered as the cause of it, he being the principal leader of the government. The last day they were together, seeing that his demands would not be complied with as to his marriage with the lady Catherine, he said to the duke of Burgundy, 'Fair cousin, we wish you to know that we will have the daughter of your king, and all that we have asked, or we will drive him and you out of his kingdom.' The duke replied, 'Sire, you are pleased to say so; but before you can drive my lord and me out of his kingdom, I make no doubt but that you will be heartily tired.'
Many more words passed, which would be too tedious to report; and, taking leave of each other, they separated, and went different ways.
Within a few days, sir John de Luxembourg came to Pontoise with a large body of men at arms, which he had assembled from Picardy by orders of the duke of Burgundy, to escort him to Melun, where he was to meet the dauphin; for the ambassadors from each had advanced their treaty so far, that they had fixed on a place and day for their principals to meet and conclude it. In compliance with the above, the dauphin had departed from Tours, and was come to Melun, by Montargis, with a large force of men at arms.
In like manner, the duke of Burgundy had left Pontoise, attended by his nephew, the young count de St Pol, sir John de Luxembourg, many great lords, and a numerous body of men at arms, and went to Corbeil. The lady of Giac, who had been the chief manager to bring about this reconciliation, was also in company with the duke.
On the morrow, the 11th day of July, the two parties took the field with their whole force, and met about a league from Melun, near to Pouilly le Fort. When they were about two bow-shots distant from each other, they halted their men, and, attended by about ten persons each, whom they had selected, they rode forward between the two battalions, and dismounted. On the duke of Burgundy's approaching the dauphin, he inclined his body most humbly several times; and the dauphin doing the same, took the hand of the duke, who was on his knees, and kissed it, and wished to make him rise, but he would not, saying, 'My lord, I know how I ought to demean myself when speaking to you;' but the dauphin, in the mean while, raised him up, and pardoned him for any offences he might have committed against him, adding, 'Fair cousin, should there be any articles in the treaty that has been drawn up between us that you dislike, we will that it be altered; and henceforth doubt not but that our wishes shall be ever the same as yours.'
In short after much conversation between these princes and their attendants, they swore to preserve for ever a peace between them; on which the two battalions, joining together, shouted for joy, and cursed all who should ever again bear arms in so damnable a quarrel. When they had remained some time together, mutually shewing each other the greatest affection, the dauphin mounted his horse, the duke of Burgundy holding the stirrup, notwithstanding the dauphin frequently requested him to desist. The duke then mounted, and, having rode a short way together, they took an affectionate leave, and separated: the dauphin went to Tours, and the duke to Corbeil.
Here follows a copy of the treaty that was concluded between them.
'Charles son to the king of France, dauphin of Vienne, duke of Berry and of Tours, count de Poitiers, and John duke of Burgundy, count of Flanders and Artois, palatine of Burgundy, lord of Salines and of Mechlin, to all who these presents shall see or hear of, greeting. Since by the unfortunate divisions that have for some time reigned within this kingdom several hatreds and suspicions have arisen within the hearts of ourselves, our vassals and our subjects, against each other, the which effectually put a stop to any concord or unanimous effort for the reformation of abuses that have crept into the government, or to resist the damnable enterprises of our ancient enemies the English, who under the shadow, and by means of these divisions, have been hardy enough to advance into the middle of the kingdom, and in fact have conquered, and do now occupy a great part of the dominions of our lord the king, and may do still greater mischiefs, should public affairs remain as they are at this moment.
'We make known, therefore, that considering what infinite evils might result from these divisions unless put an end to, even to the total perdition of the kingdom, which, though severe to all, would fall most heavy on us, who are bounden by every tie to provide a remedy against so great a misfortune.
'In consequence, we have entered into terms of pacification, and are now assembled with the unanimous intent of concluding a peace,—first in honour of God, and for the love of peace, to which every good Catholic ought to incline, and to relieve the poor people who have suffered many grievous oppressions from these said divisions.