mpeding each
other in their efforts to escape, trampled down by the heavy horses
of the men-at-arms, and hewn down by their swords and battle-axes,
the insurgents fell in vast numbers. Multitudes succeeded in escaping
through the gates into the fields; but here they were followed by the
knights and their retainers, who continued charging among them and
slaying till utter weariness compelled them to cease from the pursuit
and return to Meaux. Not less than seven thousand of the insurgents
had been slain by the four knights and fifty men, for ten had been left
behind to guard the gates of the market-place.

History has no record of so vast a slaughter by so small a body of men.
This terrific punishment put a summary end to the Jacquerie. Already
in other parts several bodies had been defeated, and their principal
leader, Caillet, with three thousand of his followers, slain near
Clermont. But the defeat at Meaux was the crushing blow which put an end
to the insurrection.

On their return to the town the knights executed a number of the
burghers who had joined the peasants, and the greater part of the town
was burned to the ground as a punishment for having opened the gates to
the peasants and united with them.

The knights and ladies then started for Paris. On nearing the city they
found that it was threatened by the forces of the Dauphin. Marcel had
strongly fortified the town, and with his ally, the infamous King of
Navarre, bade defiance to the royal power. However, the excesses of the
demagogue had aroused against him the feeling of all the better class
of the inhabitants. The King of Navarre, who was ready at all times to
break his oath and betray his companions, marched his army out of
the town and took up a position outside the walls. He then secretly
negotiated peace with the Duke of Normandy, by which he agreed to yield
to their fate Marcel and twelve of the most obnoxious burghers, while
at the same time he persuaded Marcel that he was still attached to
his interest. Marcel, however, was able to bid higher than the Duke of
Normandy, and he entered into a new treaty with the treacherous king, by
which he stipulated to deliver the city into his hands during the night.
Everyone within the walls, except the partisans of Marcel, upon whose
doors a mark was to be placed, were to be put to death indiscriminately,
and the King of Navarre was to be proclaimed King of France.

Fortunately Pepin des Essarts and John