ers. The standards
of monseigneur the marshal and monsgn. de Renty who had been
stationed together in the faubourgs, were the first within the
said city which contained at that moment sixteen to eighteen
thousand combatants, who were surprised when they saw their walls
scaled.

"In a moment we entered crying 'Burgundy' and 'city gained.' Ever
so many of their people were slain and drowned in their flight. We
flew to reach the market-place and the church of St. Lambert where
a number of prisoners were taken and thrown into the water. Our
ensign stood in the midst of the fray on the market-place, in the
hopes that they would rally for a combat but they rallied only
to flee. While we held our position on the square several were
created knights.... All the churches--more than four hundred--were
pillaged and plundered. It is rumoured that they will be burnt
together with the rest of the city. Piteous it is to see what ill
is wrought.... [The king] stayed in the city with Monseigneur two
or three days. Then he departed, it is said for Brussels to await
my said lord. It is a great thing to have seen the puissance of my
master, _which is great enough to defeat an emperor_. I believe
the Burgundians will shortly return to Burgundy.

"I paid my respects to my said lord, who received me very well. At
present I am listed[16] among those whose term is almost expired
and I am ready to follow him wherever he wishes until my service
is out, which will be soon. I would have written before had I had
any one to send it by. Pray write me about yourself by the first
comer. Praying our Lord, beloved sister, to keep you. Written in
Liege, November 8, 1468.

"JEHAN DE MAZILLES."

This sober letter and other accounts by reliable witnesses agree as to
the terrible havoc wrought in the city by the assault on October 30th
and by determined and systematic measures of destruction, both during
Charles's ten days' sojourn for the express purpose of completing the
punishment and after his departure. Yet the result assuredly fell
short of the intention. The destruction was not complete as was that
of Dinant. Vitality remained, apart from the ecclesiastical nucleus
intentionally preserved by the duke.

Having watched the tongues of flame lap the unfortunate city, Charles
turned with his army towards Franchimont, that rugged hill country