When the 17th of October was come, the duke of Burgundy, sir John de Luxembourg, with numbers of other lords and captains, together with the deputations from the principal towns, assembled in Arras. They were very affectionately addressed by the dean of Liege, by orders of the duke, and particularly those lords and captains who had served his late father, and requested that in like manner they would serve him in an expedition which he proposed shortly to undertake for the good of the king and kingdom. The deputies from the towns were also required to support his party, and to afford him every aid and assistance, should there be occasion. To these requests all present unanimously assented. CHAP. XXXI. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ORDERS A FUNERAL SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED IN THE CHURCH OF ST VAAST, AT ARRAS, FOR DUKE JOHN HIS LATE FATHER.--OTHER MATTERS. On the 13th day of this same month of October, the duke of Burgundy had a solemn service celebrated in the church of St Vaast, in Arras, for the salvation of the soul of duke John his father. There were present at it the bishops of Amiens, of Cambray, of Terouenne, of Tournay, and of Arras,--many abbots from Flanders, Artois and the adjacent countries,--and there were in the whole twenty-four crosiers. The chief mourner, the duke of Burgundy, was supported by sir John de Luxembourg and sir James de Harcourt. The bishop of Amiens said mass,--during which friar Pierre Floure, doctor in divinity and of the order of preaching friars, delivered the sermon. He was also inquisitor of the faith in the province of Rheims; and he exhorted the duke most strongly in his discourse not to take vengeance into his own hands for the death of his father, but to apply to the laws for reparation of the crime,--and should the laws be insufficient, he should afford them every assistance, and not think of executing justice himself, for that belonged to God alone. Many of the nobles present were not very well pleased with the preacher for his sermon. Some days after this service, sir John de Saulx, knight, doctor of laws, and chancellor to duke John, sir Andrieu de Valines, master John d'Orle, advocate in the parliament, John de Caumesnil, with others of the principal citizens of Paris, sent by the count de St Pol and the Parisians, arrived at Arras, and waited on the duke of Burgundy, to know what his future intentions and plans might be. When they had been well entertained by the duke and his ministers, they were told, that within a few days the duke would form an alliance with the king of England, by the consent of the king of France; and that when this was done, he would, with his whole force, seek for reparation and vengeance on the cruel murderers of his father.