Some of the townsmen, who had begun this riot, had retreated into a kind of fortified house, wherein they were besieged, and at length taken, when the riot ceased. This happened on the 22d day of January, in the year 1465.
The count de Charolois, on leaving St Tron, went strait to Brussels, where he was received by the duke his father with as much joy as ever father received a son. When they had remained some days together, the count set out on a pilgrimage to Boulogne, which he had vowed to perform on foot; and on his return to Brussels, he went to Ghent, Bruges and Saint Omer,—and in all of these towns he was received with the greatest honours. While he was at St Omer, the count de Nevers came to him, and asked his pardon for whatever he might have done to offend him, which was fully granted; and they remained together some time, when the count de Nevers was so much restored to the count's good graces that, on his departure, the count de Charolois wrote to the officers of the different towns he was to pass through, to show him the same honours and attention as if he had come himself in person,—and this was done in all the towns he came to.
From St Omer, the count de Charolois went to Boulogne, and thence to Rue, to Abbeville, to Amiens, to Corbie and to Peronne,—in all which places he was most honourably received, although several of these towns were dissatisfied that they no longer belonged to the king of France.—During the stay he made at Peronne, he was informed that the king was raising a greater army than he had ever done, and that it was marvellous the quantity of artillery he had cast: he had even taken the bells from some steeples to have them cast into serpentines and other artillery. At the same time, the king was writing the most affectionate letters to the count, as to his dearest friend; but the count did not put too much confidence in these appearances, always suspecting the changeful temper of the king. In consequence, he had it proclaimed through his father's dominions, that every one that had been accustomed to bear arms should be ready to join the king on the 15th day of June, in Normandy, to oppose the landing of the English, who would then attempt it with a considerable army.
This was the report the king had caused to be spread over the realm, and that the English were making great preparations to invade the duchy of Normandy the ensuing summer, although he knew to the contrary; but his projects were pointed at other objects than what was generally imagined. He had sent the bastard of Bourbon to England some time before, and, by means of a large sum of money given to the English, had obtained a truce between the two nations for twelve months.
The count, nevertheless, had a conference with the English at St Omer, whither he sent his bastard-brother of Burgundy, as his representative, to meet the earl of Warwick and other lords from England, to obtain the alliance of the king of England and the english nation, should the king of France make war upon him, as, from his preparations, was too apparent.
[A.D. 1466.]
THE LIEGEOIS IN DINANT BREAK THE PEACE, AND RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—DINANT IS BESIEGED AND BATTERED WITH CANNON.
Between Easter and the middle of August, in this year, so many marriages took place in the county of Artois, and the adjoining countries, that the like was not heard of in the memory of man.