THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES AN ATTACK ON THE CITY OF PARIS.
During king Charles's stay at Compiègne, news was brought him that the regent-duke of Bedford had marched with his whole army to Normandy, to combat the constable near to Evreux, where he was despoiling the country. The king did not leave Compiègne for ten or twelve days, when he marched for Senlis appointing sir William de Flavy the governor. Senlis surrendered on capitulation to the king, who fixed his quarters in the town, and distributed his army in the country about it.
Many towns and villages now submitted to the king's obedience, namely, Creil, Beauvais, Choisy, le Pont de St Maixence, Gournay sur l'Aronde, Remy la Neuville en Hez, Moignay, Chantilly, Saintry and others.
The lords de Montmorency and de Moy took the oaths of allegiance to him; and in truth, had he marched his army to St Quentin, Corbie, Amiens, Abbeville, and to other strong towns and castles the majority of the inhabitants were ready to acknowledge him for their lord, and desired nothing more earnestly than to do him homage, and open their gates.
He was, however, advised not to advance so far on the territories of the duke of Burgundy, as well from there being a considerable force of men at arms as because he was in the expectation that an amicable treaty would be concluded between them.
After king Charles had halted some days in Senlis, he dislodged and marched to St Denis, which he found almost abandoned, for the richer inhabitants had gone to Paris. He quartered his men at Aubervilliers, Montmartre, and in the villages round Paris. The Maid Joan was with him, and in high reputation, and daily pressed the king and princes to make an attack on Paris.
It was at length determined that on Monday, the 12th day of the month, the city should be stormed, and, in consequence, every preparation was made for it.
On that day, the king drew up his army in battle-array between Montmartre and Paris: his princes, lords and the Maid were with him: the van division was very strong; and thus, with displayed banner, he marched to the gate of St Honoré, carrying thither scaling ladders, fascines, and all things necessary for the assault.