THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY HOLDS A GRAND CONFERENCE WITH HIS NOBLES IN ARRAS, WHO PROMISE TO SERVE HIM AGAINST ALL HIS ENEMIES.

The duke of Burgundy daily received intelligence that the king and the duke of Acquitaine were completely turned against him, through the means of those who then governed. In consequence, he assembled all his nobles of Artois and Picardy at Arras. On his appearing among them, he first apologised for having made them wait, saying that he had been at Paris in obedience to the commands of the duke of Acquitaine, and again caused to be read the letters which he had received from him. He added, that he had left large bodies of his men at arms in the towns of Compiegne and Soissons, at the request of the inhabitants; for they had learnt that the king, by the advice of his present ministers, was raising a large force to reconquer these towns.

He then asked the nobles, whether he might depend on their support. They replied, that they would cheerfully serve him against all his enemies, saving the king of France and his children. This they all promised excepting the lord de Ront, who declared that he would serve him even against the king of France.

At this period, there raged an epidemical disorder throughout France and other countries: it affected the head, and very many died of it, both old and young. It was called the Coqueluche.