About this time, the bishop of Paris, at the request of the university, sent to the duke of Burgundy, to know whether he would avow those arguments which master John Petit had advanced by his desire against the late duke of Orleans. The duke, in reply, told the messengers, that he would neither avow nor support the said master John, saving his just rights. On this answer being carried to Paris, it was ordered by the bishop and the inquisitor of the faith, that the aforesaid arguments should be condemned, and publicly burnt in the presence of the clergy, and of whoever else might choose to witness it. When this was done, it was proposed that the bones of the said master John Petit should be sought for in the town of Hêdin, where he had died,--for it was intended to burn them in the same place where his arguments had been burnt,--but in the end nothing more was done. CHAP. II. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY HOLDS A GRAND CONFERENCE WITH HIS NOBLES IN ARRAS, WHO PROMISE TO SERVE HIM AGAINST ALL HIS ENEMIES. The duke of Burgundy daily received intelligence that the king and the duke of Acquitaine were completely turned against him, through the means of those who then governed. In consequence, he assembled all his nobles of Artois and Picardy at Arras. On his appearing among them, he first apologised for having made them wait, saying that he had been at Paris in obedience to the commands of the duke of Acquitaine, and again caused to be read the letters which he had received from him. He added, that he had left large bodies of his men at arms in the towns of Compiegne and Soissons, at the request of the inhabitants; for they had learnt that the king, by the advice of his present ministers, was raising a large force to reconquer these towns. He then asked the nobles, whether he might depend on their support. They replied, that they would cheerfully serve him against all his enemies, saving the king of France and his children. This they all promised excepting the lord de Ront, who declared that he would serve him even against the king of France. At this period, there raged an epidemical disorder throughout France and other countries: it affected the head, and very many died of it, both old and young. It was called the Coqueluche. CHAP. III. A GRAND COUNCIL HELD, IN THE KING'S NAME, AT PARIS.