The French were served with lances by an expert and active man at arms called Alardin de Mousay, and most of the Burgundians by sir John de Luxembourg. Each day the duke came to the seat prepared for him grandly attended by his chivalry, and nobly dressed.
When this tournament was over, and the French had been well entertained, and presented with handsome gifts by the duke, they departed from the town of Arras for Compiègne, very disconsolate that they had been so unsuccessful. They left the two wounded knights behind, to be attended by the duke's surgeons, who in the end cured them.
In these days, the French on the borders of Beauvoisis, on the river Oise, made daily excursions against those of the Burgundy-party, who returned the compliment, although a truce had been sworn to last until the ensuing Easter; and these continual excursions caused the villages and country to be nearly deserted.
Duke Philip of Burgundy summoned a large body of men at arms to meet him at Peronne, where he and his duchess solemnised the feast of Easter. This done, he marched them to Mondidier, where he remained some days.
During these tribulations, the town and castle of Melun surrendered to king Charles. It had been given in charge to the lord de Humieres, who had appointed some of his brothers to defend it with a certain number of men at arms, but the inhabitants rose against them and drove them out of the town. King Charles and his party were much rejoiced at this event, because they could, by means of its bridge, cross the Seine when they pleased, and it was beside the strongest place in all that part of the country.
CHAP. LXXXIII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY QUARTERS HIS ARMY AT GOURNAY SUR ARONDE.