rd; he was only waiting
for the letters which the duke was writing to Brittany. The chancellor
of Burgundy and some of the wiser councillors besought the duke to
reflect.

The king had come to Peronne on the faith of his safe-conduct; it would
be an eternal dishonor for the house of Burgundy if he broke his word to
his sovereign lord; and the conditions which the king was prepared to
grant would put an end, with advantage to Burgundy, to serious and
difficult business. The duke gave heed to these honest and prudent
counsels; the news from Liege turned out to be less serious than the
first rumors had represented; the bishop and Sire d'Humbercourt had been
set at liberty. Charles retired to his chamber; and there, without
thinking of undressing, he walked to and fro with long strides, threw
himself upon his bed, got up again, and soliloquized out loud, addressing
himself occasionally to Commynes, who lay close by him. Towards morning,
though he still showed signs of irritation, his language was less
threatening. "He has promised me," said he, "to come with me to
reinstate the Bishop of Liege, who is my brother-in-law, and a relation
of his also; he shall certainly come; I shall not scruple to hold him to
his word that he gave me;" and he at once sent Sires de Crequi, de
Charni, and de la Roche to tell the king that he was about to come and
swear peace with him. Commynes had only just time to tell Louis in what
frame of mind the duke was, and in what danger he would place himself, if
he hesitated either to swear peace or to march against the Liegese.

As soon as it was broad day, the duke entered the apartment of the castle
where the king was a prisoner. His look was courteous, but his voice
trembled with choler; his words were short and bitter, his manner was
threatening. A little troubled at his aspect, Louis said, "Brother, I am
safe, am I not, in your house and your country?" "Yes, sir," answered
the duke, "so safe that if I saw an arrow from a bow coming towards you I
would throw myself in the way to protect you. But will you not be
pleased to swear the treaty just as it is written?" "Yes," said the
king, "and I thank you for your good will." "And will you not be pleased
to come with me to Liege, to help me punish the treason committed against
me by these Lidgese, all through you and your journey hither? The bishop
is your near relative, of the house of Bourbon." "Yes, Padues-Dieu,"
replied Louis, "and