t, as a matter of fact, they seemed willing to
make any accommodation for the sake of being permitted to remain.
"Better any fate at home than to live like wild beasts with the
recollection that we had once been men."

To make a long story short, Onofrio again endeavoured to rouse the
bishop to a sense of his duty. Again he tried to make terms for the
exiles and to re-establish a tenable condition. It was useless. Louis
of Bourbon refused to approach nearer to Liege than Tongres, and
declined to meet the advances of his despairing subjects. It was just
at this moment that fresh emissaries arrived from Louis, despatched,
as already stated, _before_ Charles had consented to prolong the
truce.

Excited by their presence the Liegeois once more roused themselves to
action. A force of two thousand was gathered at Liege, and advanced by
night upon Tongres--also without walls--surrounded the house where lay
their bishop, and forced him to return to Liege. Violence there was
and loss of life, but, as a matter of fact, the mob respected the
person of their bishop and of Humbercourt the chief Burgundian
official. This event happened on October 9th, the very day that Louis
rode recklessly into Peronne.

On Wednesday, October 11th, the news of the fray reached Peronne,
but news greatly exaggerated by rumour. Bishop, papal legate, and
Burgundian lieutenant all had been ruthlessly murdered in the very
presence of Louis's own envoys, who had aided and abetted the hideous
crime! To follow the story of an eyewitness:[11]

"Some said that everyone was dead, others asserted the contrary,
for such advertisments are never reported after one sort. At
length others came who had seen certain canons slain and supposed
the bishop[12] to be of the number, as well as the said seigneur
de Humbercourt and all the rest. Further, they said that they had
seen the king's ambassadors in the attacking company and mentioned
them by name. All this was repeated to the duke, who forthwith
believed it and fell into an extreme fury, saying that the king
had come thither to abuse him, and gave commands to shut the gates
of the castle and of the town, alleging a poor enough excuse,
namely, that he did this on account of the disappearance of a
little casket containing some good rings and money.

"The king finding himself confined in the castle, a small one at
that, and having seen a force of archers stan