eads with the metropolitan clergy, and
the registers of the Church contained a host of documents entitled _Peace
made between us and the burghers of Noyon._ But no reconciliation was
lasting; the truce was soon broken, either by the clergy or by the
citizens, who were the more touchy in that they had less security for
their persons and their property. The new bishop thought that the
establishment of a commune sworn to by both the rival parties might
become a sort of compact of alliance between them, and he set about
realizing this noble idea before the word commune had served at Noyon as
the rallying cry of popular insurrection. Of his own mere motion he
convoked in assembly all the inhabitants of the town, clergy, knights,
traders, and craftsmen. He presented them with a charter which
constituted the body of burghers an association forever under magistrates
called jury-men, like those of Cambrai. 'Whosoever,' said the charter,
'shall desire to enter this commune shall not be able to be received as a
member of it by a single individual, but only in the presence of the
jurymen. The sum of money he shall then give shall be employed for the
benefit of the town, and not for the private advantage of any one
whatsoever. If the commune be outraged, all those who have sworn to it
shall be bound to march to its defence, and none shall be empowered to
remain at home unless he be infirm or sick, or so poor that he must needs
be himself the watcher of his own wife and children lying sick. If any
one have wounded or slain any one on the territory of the commune, the
jurymen shall take vengeance therefor.'"

The other articles guarantee to the members of the commune of Noyon the
complete ownership of their property, and the right of not being handed
over to justice save before their own municipal magistrates. The bishop
first swore to this charter, and the inhabitants of every condition took
the same oath after him. In virtue of his pontifical authority he
pronounced the anathema, and all the curses of the Old and New Testament,
against whoever should in time to come dare to dissolve the commune or
infringe its regulations. Furthermore, in order to give this new pact a
stronger warranty, Baudri requested the hing of France. Louis the Fat,
to corroborate it, as they used to say at the time, by his approbation
and by the great seal of the crown. The king consented to this request
of the bishop, and that was all the part take