next Friday morning to present himself before the Gate St. Jacques, and he, Laillier, would let him into Paris, if the Constable would previously promise that all which he had done against the King should be forgiven. The Constable, who had provided himself with 'letters of indemnity,' gave him the assurance required. In this, and in every step of the great enterprise, Richmond showed his admirable tact and forethought.

He next selected sixty lances on whom he could depend, and set off to join Dunois and a noble captain named L'Isle Adam, who offered to assist with four hundred picked archers. All was carefully arranged; every man knew what was to be his duty and his station. The four hundred crossed the Seine, and formed an ambuscade without the walls. The mounted lances followed in the evening, and remained on the alert all night. At sunrise on Friday, the 13th of April, the Constable and his party came within a mile of Paris. Here he received information that his enterprise was discovered; but this did not prevent his following it up, and hastening to join the ambuscade. Some of the horsemen then drew near the strangely named Porte d'Enfer. A man on the ramparts called out to them, 'Not here; go to the Gate St. Jacques; this will not be opened.' They advanced to the gate as directed.

'Who goes there?' demanded the watch.

It is the Constable.'

The watch, no doubt, was Michael Laillier, as he begged to have a renewal of the promise of pardon. Richmond

again satisfied him. Much caution was now observed. The wicket, or small door at the side of the great gates, was opened; the Constable and his party passed in. Instantly they tore away the iron bars, threw open the great gates, and the mounted cavaliers rushed in, exclaiming as they did so: 'Peace! Peace! Live King Charles and the Duke of Burgundy!' The revolt became general, all ranks flew to arms, and the white cross of France and that of St. Andrew- insignia long adverse-were now united against the red cross and the St. George of England.1

Lord Willoughby, then in command in Paris, the Bishop of Terouenne, and the Provost Morhier, were suddenly called to action. As speedily as they could, they got together some men, and proved neither wanting in courage nor energy to preserve the city. The chains were placed across the streets, the tocsin sounded, and the cry, 'To arms, the French are upon us!' was heard in every quarter. The Lieutenant of the Provost, Jean L'Archer, 'one of the most cruel of Christians,' as he is styled by the old chronicler, went towards the Gate of St. Martin, crying 'St. George! St. George! the French are upon us: you are all dead men!'

Four or five thousand had now passed within the walls, some by the gates; others, mounting the ramparts by ladders, had turned their own cannon upon Lord Willoughby and his troops, saluting them with a shower

'H. Martin, vol. vii. p. 348; Monstrelet, vol. vii. p. 327.

1

THE SURRENDER OF PARIS.

293

of balls. They made a hasty retreat, and as they passed along received upon their heads from the windows-the women helping with all their might-stones, sticks, brooms, tables, chairs, or whatever first came to hand. The onset had been so rapid, that the Constable, who was at the Gate St. Jacques, found the victory gained before he could fancy the strife was well begun. The fact was, that the eagerness of the Parisians was so great to shake off the English yoke, that a vast number opened their doors to welcome the French as deliverers.

The bourgeois journalist is warm in his expressions of delight on the occasion. He says: 'Soon after came the Constable and the other lords, quite gently, as if all their lives they had never passed out of Paris. This was a miracle, for two hours before their entrance their intention was to put us all to the sword if we opposed them. But many of the people of Paris were very good Christians, and had gone into the churches; and truly now it appeared that Monsieur Saint Denis had been an advocate for the city for, when the French entered therein, they were moved to joy and tears, and Monsieur the Constable said, "My good citizens, King Charles thanks you a hundred thousand times, and I on his part, that you have so gently rendered up the lady city of his kingdom. If any one, of whatever condition he may be, has done amiss towards the King, let him know that he is fully pardoned."'

Lord Willoughby and his English, who had taken shelter in the Bastille, demanded terms of capitulation; they were

granted. Richmond, whose patriotic spirit always preferred the public to his private interests, imposed on them a heavy ransom, and applied the money to carrying on the war. The captives vacated the Bastille on the 17th of April. The Parisians crowded the ramparts to see them go, 'and for certain,' says the bourgeois chronicler, 'there never was people so mocked and hooted as they were, more especially the man who was the most culpable in oppressing the poor common people. Everybody hooted and cried "The Fox" (au renard) after the Bishop of Terounne, the Chancellor.'1

1 Journal de Paris, pp. 166 and 167.

Submission of Paris-revives Memory of the Maid's great Deedsthe false Joan of Arc-Charles detects her Imposture-Charles heads his Troops and takes Montereau-Louis fights by his Father's Side-Charles enters Paris in Triumph-departs for the South-the Skinners-their Violence-Richmond treated with Ingratitude-Paris suffering from Sickness and Famine-Charles and his Constable go to Bourges-summon a Council-Proceedings-Pragmatic Sanction-Richmond's great Reform of the Army-Louis troublesome-discontented Nobles join himrebellious Movement suppressed-Alexander de Bourbon punished for his Crimes.

HE submission of Paris, and the expulsion of those who had so long tyrannized over the city, were celebrated by two grand clerical processions of thankfulness to God; and the public functionaries marched in their robes, bearing wax tapers, to join the solemn services of the Church. These events recalled to the minds of the most serious the prophetic words of the martyred Jeanne, that the English should be driven from the land, and at no distant period their exodus would be complete.

The memory of Jeanne's great deeds could now be commented upon without fear, and a report speedily grew