This edict was solemnly proclaimed in Amiens the 12th day of September and thence sent to all the provosts within the bailiwick of Amiens, to be proclaimed by them throughout their provostships. The provosts of Beauquesnes, of Montrieul of St Riquier, and of Dourleans, through fear of the duke of Burgundy, dared only to proclaim it once, and in their own courts, when few people were present. Soon after, Remonnet de la Guerre was ordered by the king and constable to Noyon and Nesles, to aid sir Thomas de Lersies, bailiff of the Vermandois, in defending the country against the Burgundians. War was now openly declared between the contending factions in that and divers other places of the realm. In truth wherever any of the king's officers could lay hands on the partisans of the duke of Burgundy, none escaped, whether nobles or not, from being sentenced to death; and more especially all who fell into the hands of the governor of Noyon and the parts adjacent were put to death without mercy,--insomuch that many trees near to that town were marvellously laden with such fruits. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 48: Pont-Avaire. Q. if we should not read Pont-St. Maixence, for the other is not in any map or gazetteer.] [Footnote 49: La Chappelle,--a village close to Paris.] [Footnote 50: Champlost,--a town in Champagne, election of St Florentin.] [Footnote 51: Chablis,--diocese of Langres, famous for its wines.] CHAP. XLIII. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY INCREASES HIS MEN AT ARMS.--THE MARRIAGE OF THE LORD DE LA TRIMOUILLE.--THE DUKE OF CLARENCE EMBARKS A LARGE ARMY FOR HARFLEUR. The duke of Burgundy, when he heard of this edict, so prejudicial and disgraceful to himself and his friends, was more than ever indignant and irritated against those who governed the king. He very much increased the number of his men at arms, and even consented to their quartering themselves on his own territories in the Cambresis, Tierrache, Vermandois, Santerre, and the whole country from the Somme to the sea-coast, toward Montrieul and Crotoy. Justice was now no longer attended to or maintained in those parts; and the powerful nobles cruelly treated churchmen and the poorer ranks. With regard to the provosts, and others of the king's officers of justice, few, if any of them, dared to do their duty. The tradesmen could not venture abroad with their goods out of the fortified towns without paying tribute for passports, under risk of being robbed and murdered. At this time the widowed duchess of Berry espoused the lord de la Trimouille, who was not beloved by the duke of Burgundy; and because this duchess was in her own right countess of the Boulonois, the duke sent the lord de Fosseux, then governor of Artois, to take possession of the town of Boulogne. This was done, but the lord de Moruel remained governor of it in the king's name, against the English.