d anything to
the king about this rough disposition on the part of Duke Charles; they
both in their own personal interest desired the interview, and did not
care to bring to light anything that might be an obstacle to it. Louis
persisted in his desire, and sent to ask the duke for a letter of
safe-conduct. Charles wrote with his own hand, on the 8th of October,
1468, as follows:--

"My lord, if it is your pleasure to come to this town of Peronne for
to see us, I swear to you and promise you, by my faith and on my
honor, that you may come, remain, sojourn, and go back safely to the
places of Chauny and Noy on, at your pleasure, as many times as it
may please you, freely and frankly, without any hinderance to you or
to any of your folks from me or others in any case whatever and
whatsoever may happen."

[Illustration: Charles the Rash----203]

When this letter arrived at Noyon, extreme surprise and alarm were
displayed about Louis; the interview appeared to be a mad idea; the
vicegerent (vidam) of Amiens came hurrying up with a countryman who
declared on his life that mylord of Burgundy wished for it only to make
an attempt upon the king's person; the king's greatest enemies, it was
said, were already, or soon would be, with the duke; and the captains
vehemently reiterated their objections. But Louis held to his purpose,
and started for Noyon on the 2d of October, taking with him the
constable, the cardinal, his confessor, and, for all his escort,
fourscore of his faithful Scots, and sixty men-at-arms. This knowing
gossip, as his contemporaries called him, had fits of rashness and
audacious vanity.

Duke Charles went to meet him outside the town. They embraced one
another, and returned on foot to Peronne, chatting familiarly, and the
king with his hand resting on the duke's shoulder, in token of amity.
Louis had quarters at the house of the chamberlain of the town; the
castle of Peronne being, it was said, in too bad a state, and too ill
furnished, for his reception. On the very day that the king entered
Peronne, the duke's army, commanded by the Marshal of Burgundy, arrived
from the opposite side, and encamped beneath the walls. Several former
servants of the king, now not on good terms with him, accompanied the
Burgundian army. "As soon as the king was apprised of the arrival of
these folks," says Commynes, "he had a great fright, and sent to beg of
the Duke of Burgundy th