Philip count de Charolois was at Ghent when he was informed of the cruel death of his father, and was so sorely afflicted by it that it was some days before his ministers could comfort him. When his countess, the lady Michelle de France, sister to the dauphin, heard of it, she was greatly troubled, fearful that her lord would, on this account, be estranged from her, and hold her less in his affections; but this did not happen, for within a short time, by the exhortations and remonstrances of his ministers, he was no way displeased with her, and shewed her as much kindness as before. He soon afterward held a council with the principal persons of Ghent, Bruges and Ypres, and then took possession of the country of Flanders, without paying any attention to his liege lord. He departed thence for Mechlin, where he had a conference with the duke of Brabant his cousin, John of Bavaria his uncle, and his aunt the countess of Hainault, on several matters; and from Mechlin he went to Lille. From this day he styled himself duke of Burgundy, and in his letters assumed all the titles of the late duke John his father. While he was at Lille, many great lords came thither to offer their services to him, as they had been the dependants of his father, some of whom he retained in his household, and promised the others great advantages hereafter. Master Philip de Morvillers, first president of the parliament of Paris, came also, with many notable persons; and in concert with them, and with his own ministers, the duke resolved to write letters to the different towns attached to the king's and his party, setting forth, that as they had been the friends and supporters of his father, he hoped they would in like manner be his. He added, that he would very shortly request a truce from the English; and desired them to send him a deputation to Arras on the 17th day of October, with sufficient powers to agree to whatever terms might be demanded from them by him. The duke of Burgundy did not delay to send ambassadors to the king of England at Rouen, to endeavour to obtain a truce for a certain space of time, for all the countries under the dependance of the king of France and himself. The ambassadors were the bishop of Arras, the lord de Toulongeon, sir Guillaume de Champdivers, sir Guillebert de Launoy and some others; and they obtained the requested truce, hoping also to proceed further with the English. During this time the Dauphinois, quartered at or near Compiegne, recommenced a sharp warfare against such of the Burgundians as were near to them. In another part of the country, La Hire and Ponton de Santrailles, with a large force, took the town of Crespy, in the Laonnois, and the castle of Clarcy; by which conquests, the town of Laon and the countries of the Laonnois and Vermandois were kept under great subjection.