He ordered his infantry to descend into the ditches: and the attack commenced at ten o'clock, which was very severe and murderous, and lasted four or five hours. The Parisians had with them Louis de Luxembourg, the bishop of Therouenne king Henry's chancellor and other notable knights, whom the duke of Burgundy had sent thither, such as the lord de Crequi, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Simon de Lalain, Valeran de Bournouville, and other able men, with four hundred combatants. They made a vigorous defence, having posted a sufficient force at the weakest parts before the attack began. Many of the French were driven back into the ditches, and numbers were killed and wounded by the cannon and culverines from the ramparts. Among the last was the Maid, who was very dangerously hurt; she remained the whole of the day behind a small hillock until vespers, when Guichard de Thiembronne came to seek her. A great many of the besieged suffered also. At length the french captains, seeing the danger of their men, and that it was impossible to gain the town by force against so obstinate a defence, and that the inhabitants seemed determined to continue it, without any disagreement among themselves, sounded the retreat. They carried off the dead and wounded, and returned to their former quarters. On the morrow, king Charles, very melancholy at the loss of his men, went to Senlis, to have the wounded attended to and cured. The Parisians were more unanimous than ever, and mutually promised each other to oppose, until death, king Charles, who wanted to destroy them all. Perhaps, knowing how much they had misbehaved by forcing him to quit Paris, and by putting to death some of his most faithful servants they were afraid of meeting with their deserts. CHAP. LXXII. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AMBASSADORS TO AMIENS, TO KEEP UP HIS INTEREST WITH THE INHABITANTS. In these days, the duke sent, as ambassadors, to Amiens, the bishops of Noyon, of Arras, the vidame of Amiens and others to remind the mayor and townsmen of the good affection which he and his predecessors had ever shewn them; and to say, that if there was any thing he or his friends could do for them, they were at their commands; requesting them, in return, to persevere in their attachment to his interests, like good friends and neighbours. The townsmen of Amiens, seeing themselves thus honoured and courted by such ambassadors from so mighty a prince were in the highest spirits, and said among themselves, that it would be well to put their town under his protection, on his abolishing all taxes. They replied to the ambassadors, that they would shortly send commissioners, to the duke to declare their intentions. They did send commissioners, in conjunction with deputies from Abbeville, Montrieul, St Riquier, Dourlens and others, who were instructed to demand an abolition of taxes. This was not granted by the duke; but he promised them his support and assistance to obtain their demand from king Henry.