[Footnote 2: Monstrelet mentions in the preceding chapter, that the king of France made his public entry into Compiegne on the 8th day of May.] CHAP. VI. THE KING, AFTER THE CAPTURE OF SOISSONS, MARCHES TO ST QUENTIN, AND THENCE TO PERONNE, TO FACILITATE HIS ENTRANCE INTO ARTOIS. Having done these things at Soissons, the king departed, and went to the town of Laon, where he was magnificently and joyfully received by the clergy, burghers and inhabitants of that town. Shortly after his arrival, Philip count de Nevers, baron de Donsy of the royal lineage, and brother to the duke of Burgundy, came thither under the protection of a passport from the king, and was lodged by the royal harbingers, in the abbey of Saint Martin des Premonstrés. He had been informed by some of his friends, that the king intended to send into his county of Rethel a large force to seize his person; and for this reason he had come to Laon to surrender into the king's hand the lordships and estates he possessed in France, and to solicit mercy and pardon for all his offences, promising henceforward not to assist his brother, the duke of Burgundy, openly or secretly, in this quarrel against the king his sovereign lord. What he requested was granted; and the lord de Lor with others of his vassals were given as hostages for the faithful observance of these promises. He then departed, with the king's leave, to Mezieres on the Meuse. While the king remained at Laon, he ordered fresh proclamations to be made throughout his realm, to obtain the aid of his knights and others who were accustomed to bear arms for him. On the 10th day of June he marched to Tierrache, thence to Ribermont and to St Quentin; at which place, the countess of Hainault, sister to the duke of Burgundy, came to him, with a noble attendance of two hundred horsemen, to endeavour to make peace between the king and the duke of Acquitaine and the duke of Burgundy. But when the king heard what terms she had to propose, there was an end of the business; and, seeing no prospect of success, she took leave of the king, and left Saint Quentin, and went to the duke of Bourbon and Charles d'Albreth, constable of France, the commanders of the rear division of the army. Four of the king's knights escorted her until she met two hundred burgundian men at arms. This body of troops was under the command of sir Gaultier de Ruppes, the lords de Montagu and de Toulongeon, Sir Guillaume de Champ-divers, le Veau de Bar, bailiff of Auxois[3], and others, quartered at Marle[4], who were on their road towards Hainault.