e a
pretty show on his little pony, and there were many declarations of
devotion to his cause as he was put forward to excite sympathy. For
three weeks, the town held out in his name. The resistance to the
Burgundian troops was sturdy. When the gates gave way before their
attacks the burghers defended the broken walls. Six hundred English
archers were repulsed from an assault with such sudden energy that
they left their banners sticking in the very breaches they thought
they had won, fine prizes for the triumphant citizens. But the game
was unequal, and the combatants, convinced that discretion was the
better part of valour, at last accepted the Duke of Cleves as a
mediator with their would-be sovereign.

On July 19th, a long civic procession headed by the burgomasters,
wearing neither hats nor shoes, marched to the Duke of Burgundy with a
prayer for pardon on their lips. The leaders of the opposition to his
accession were delivered over to the mercy of the victor. The garrison
were accorded their lives and a tax was imposed on the city to
indemnify the duke for his needless trouble, and Guelders was added
_de facto_ to the list of Burgundian ducal titles. In the various
state papers presently issued by the new ruler, the mention of the
circumstance of his accession to the sovereignty was simple and
straightforward, as in a certain document appointing Olivier de la
Marche to be treasurer. The patent bears the date of August 18th and
was one of the earliest issued by Charles in this new capacity.

"As by the death of the late Messire Arnold, in his life Duke of
Guelderland, these counties and duchy have lapsed to me, and by
the same token the offices of the land have escheated to our
disposition, and among others the office of master of the moneys
of those countships ... using the rights, etc., escheated to me,
and in consideration of the good and agreeable services already
rendered and continually rendered by our knight, etc., Olivier de
la Marche, having full confidence in his sense, loyalty, probity,
and good diligence--for these causes and others we entrust the
office of master and overseer of moneys of the land of Guelders
to him, with all the rights, duties, and privileges thereto
pertaining. In testimony of this we have set our seal to these
papers. Done in our city of Nimwegen, August 18, 1473. Thus signed
by M. le duc."

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