massacres and abominations,
resentment against which caused the Armagnacs to be cursed throughout
l'Ile de France, and which made it so hard for the lawful King to
recover his town of Paris. The royal Council thought the time had come
to put an end to these things. It was of opinion that Charles of
Valois would the more easily reconquer his inheritance if, while
manifesting his power, he showed himself lenient and exercised royal
clemency, as in arms and yet pursuing peace, he continued his march to
Reims.[1379]

[Footnote 1377: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 90. _Chronique
de la Pucelle_, p. 313. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 149. Monstrelet, vol.
iv, p. 336. Gilles de Roye, in _Collection des chroniques belges_, pp.
206, 207. Chardon, _Histoire de la ville d'Auxerre_, vol. ii, p. 260.]

[Footnote 1378: "_De laquelle chose furent bien mal coutans aucuns
seigneurs et cappitaines d'icellui ost et en parloient bien fort._"
Jean Chartier, vol. i, p. 91.]

[Footnote 1379: In the following manner this march is described by a
contemporary: "On the said day (29th of June, 1429), after much
discussion, the King set out and took his way for to go straight to
the city of Troye in Champaigne, and, as he passed, all the fortresses
on the one hand and the other, rendered him allegiance." Perceval de
Cagny, p. 157.]

After having spent three days under the walls of the town, the army
being refreshed, crossed the Yonne and came to the town of
Saint-Florentin, which straightway submitted to the King.[1380] On the
4th of July, they reached the village of Saint-Phal, four hours'
journey from Troyes.[1381]

[Footnote 1380: Jean Chartier, vol. i, p. 91.]

[Footnote 1381: J. Rogier, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 287. Monstrelet,
vol. iv, p. 336. _Journal du siege_, p. 109. _Chronique de la
Pucelle_, p. 314. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 91. _Trial_,
vol. v, pp. 264-265.]

In this strong town there was a garrison of between five and six
hundred men at the most.[1382] A bailie, Messire Jean de Dinteville,
two captains, the Sires de Rochefort and de Plancy, commanded in the
town for King Henry and for the Duke of Burgundy.[1383] Troyes was a
manufacturing town; the source of its wealth was the cloth
manufacture. True, this industry had long been declining through
competition and the removal of markets; its ruin was being
precipitated by the general poverty and the insecurity of the roads.
Nevertheless the cloth workers' guild mai