The count, much astonished, replied, 'Fair cousin, what do you mean? I am the king's man, as you know, and have never acted to his prejudice.' However, in spite of his protestations and claims of kindred, or any other excuses, he was detained a prisoner and placed by sir James under a secure guard. On the morrow, after sir James had seized on all the moveables within the castle, and appointed a part of his men for its defence, he departed, and carried the count with him to the castle of Crotoy.
Sir James, by these means, got from the count a beautiful chesnut horse, with a short tail, which was afterward famous as a war-horse. After that day, the count remained prisoner to his cousin; but he was frequently transported from one castle to another, and it was commonly reported that he was thus kept prisoner with the consent of his son, John de Harcourt, count of Aumale.
CHAP. III.
THE CITY OF PARIS IS TAKEN BY THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—THE PARISIANS TURN TO HIS PARTY.—THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOW.
You have already heard how the Parisians were much discontented with the count d'Armagnac and others of the king's ministers, because they would not accept of the treaty of peace that had been made with the duke of Burgundy. They were much afraid of this duke and his army, and saw clearly that if he was not reconciled to the king and the dauphin, they must remain in their present uncomfortable state for a long time. Numbers of them were strongly attached to him, and wished him to have the government of the kingdom,—but in fact they knew not how to accomplish it, for they were very narrowly watched, and dared not hold any meetings to communicate together, because the ministry had always ready a body of men at arms to punish them on the slightest appearance of rebellion.
Notwithstanding this, some daring youths of the commonalty, who had formerly been punished for their demerits, adventured to have a conference with the lord de l'Isle-Adam at Pontoise, where he was in garrison. These youths were six or seven in number; and the principal were Perrinet le Clerc, son to John le Clerc, Ferron, John Thiebert, son to Michael Thiebert butcher, Perron Bourdechon.
The lord de l'Isle-Adam concluded a treaty with them, that he would assemble as great a number of men at arms as he could, and, on the 29th day of May ensuing, would march them to the gate of St Germain des Pres at Paris, which they engaged to have opened to him. On this, they separated; and the lord de l'Isle-Adam collected, as privately as he could, about eight hundred men at arms, among whom were le veau de Bar bailiff of Auxois, the lord de Chastellus, the lord de Chevreuse, Ferry de Mailly, Louis de Varigines, Lionnet de Bournouville, Daviod de Guoy and others. These the lord de l'Isle-Adam led to the appointed rendezvous on the day fixed on, where he found Perrinet le Clerc, who had stolen from behind his father's pillow the keys of the gate of St Germain, to whom they had been intrusted, and the aforesaid youths.
The gate was opened according to their promise, and some of the Parisians came out to speak with the lord de l'Isle-Adam and the others: they assured them that they might enter the town in security, and that they would conduct them whithersoever they pleased.
Upon their report, the burgundian lords and their men armed ready for battle, entered the town on horseback. It might be about two hours after midnight; and Perrinet le Clerc, seeing them within the town, locked the gate and flung the keys over the wall.
They began their march in silence toward the Chatelet, where they met about four hundred of the Parisians ready armed to join them: they then, with one accord, resolved to make attacks on the houses of the different ministers of the king, and ordered two parties to parade the streets, shouting, 'that all who wished for peace must unite with them in arms.'