AFTER THE TREATY OF CONFLANS BETWEEN THE KING AND PRINCES, PROVISIONS ARE BROUGHT TO THE CONFEDERATE ARMY FROM PARIS, ON PAYMENT BEING MADE FOR THEM.—THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, ON MUSTERING HIS TROOPS, DECLARES HIMSELF VASSAL TO THE KING.—HE DOES HOMAGE FOR WHAT HE HOLDS UNDER THE CROWN OF FRANCE.—THE DUKE OF BERRY AND THE OTHERS DO THEIR HOMAGE.—PEACE IS PROCLAIMED.—OTHER EVENTS.
The king ordered proclamation to be made for every one to carry provisions to the camps of the Burgundians and Bretons,—which being done, several merchants of Paris went thither with quantities of all sorts, which were eagerly bought up by the army, more especially bread and wine; for the men were almost starved, as their long lank cheeks, hanging down through misery, showed, and that they could not have borne it longer. The greater part were without hose or shoes, and were covered with filth.
Among those who came to obtain food were several Lifre-lofres,[86] Calabrians and Swiss, so famished that they seized cheeses and devoured them unpared, and then drank marvellous draughts of wine in handsome earthen cups. The Lord knows how joyful they were; but they had not these things scotfree, for each paid his share handsomely. Many things happened this day, which I pass over for brevity; but every one must admire the inestimable resources of Paris, for the confederated army before that town was estimated at full one hundred thousand horse, and those within Paris at three times the number,—yet they were all supplied with provisions for a long time from thence, and without any rise in price. On the departure of the burgundian army, the prices of provision were more moderate than they had ever been.
The king went to visit the count de Charolois at Conflans, with so very small an escort that those who wished him well thought it simply done: the Picards and others of their party, even made a mockery of it, and, in their provincial dialect, cried out, 'Eh! do you see your king, who is talking with our lord de Charolois? they have been more than two hours together; and by our faith, if we wished it, we have him now under our thumb.'
On Friday, the 4th of October, the king gave orders for the Burgundians to be admitted into Paris by the gate of St Antoine, and so many entered that several excesses were committed by them, which would not have been suffered had it been known that the king would have been angry with them. However, one Burgundian insisted on passing the gate of St Antoine against the will of the porters, and in spite of one of the company of the bastard du Maine, who guarded the wicket. The Burgundian, in his passion, drew a dagger and stabbed the archer in the belly as he was half opening the wicket: he was immediately seized, and severely beaten and wounded: many would have killed him, but they were prevented; and the affair was made known to the king, who ordered him to be carried to the count de Charolois, for him to do proper justice on him. The count, on hearing the evidence, instantly sentenced him to be hanged on the gallows at Charenton.
This night, the king ordered fires to be lighted in all the open squares; and he gave orders for the watch to be increased, and to be under arms, having an able commander, who was to inquire of all passengers who they were, whence they came, and whither they were going. This day was an eclipse of the moon.
On Sunday, many lords from the camp came to Paris, and supped with the king, at the house of sir John L'Huillier, town-clerk: several ladies and damsels, with others of the nobility, were present. On this day, the captain Salazart, with twenty men of his company, sallied out into the plain, by the bastile of St Antoine, because that gate had been shut by the king's orders, that no one might thence leave the town; but for the admittance of the Burgundians it was to be opened for ten at a time, and on their return ten others were allowed to enter, after which the drawbridge was raised.
Salazart's twenty men at arms were dressed in jackets of blue camlet, with large white crosses for their badge: they had handsome chains of gold round their necks, with bonnets of black velvet on their heads, having large tufts of golden thread from Cyprus hanging down. The housings of their horses were covered with bells of silver. To distinguish Salazart from his men, he was mounted on a beautiful courser, with housings covered over with plates of silver: under each hung a large bell of silver gilt. In front of this company rode the trumpet of Salazart mounted on a grey horse; and as the troop advanced along the side of the walls, from the gate of St Antoine to the tower de Billy, the trumpeter's horse fell so heavily with him that he broke the trumpeter's neck.