AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND BURGUNDY, MEET AT CALAIS TO TREAT OF A GENERAL PEACE. In these days, several ambassadors of note were sent by king Charles to St Omer to treat of a peace with the English, who were to come to that town according to their promise of last year. The principal of these were the archbishop of Rheims and of Narbonne, and the count de Dunois bastard of Orleans. On their arrival at St Omer, they were grandly feasted by the duke of Burgundy, and soon after heard that the duke of Orleans was come to Calais, being brought thither by the English: on which they sent to Calais, to know at what place it would be agreeable to them to hold their convention. The answer returned was, that the English would not quit Calais with the duke of Orleans,--but that, if the french ambassadors would come thither, they would be ready to enter upon the business. Having considered the proposal, the archbishop of Rheims, the count de Dunois, and others, went thither under passports, together with the lord de Crevecœur and the envoys from the duke of Burgundy. On their arrival at Calais, the count de Dunois was conducted to the duke of Orleans his brother who received him with much joy,--and most courteously thanked him for the attentions he had paid to his property during the time of his imprisonment. After this, the parties met on business several times,--and divers proposals were made respecting the deliverance of the duke of Orleans, and for a general peace; but as they could not agree as to several articles, they appointed another meeting, before which each was to inform his sovereign of the grounds they had laid for a negotiation to establish peace between the two kingdoms. The French and Burgundians returned to St Omer, and, shortly after, the duke of Orleans was carried back to England. CHAP. XLI. THE BARROIS AND LORRAINERS OVERRUN THE COUNTY OF VAUDEMONT, WHERE THEY COMMIT GREAT WASTE AND DESTRUCTION. While these things were passing, the Barrois and Lorrainers collected a large force, together with some Frenchmen, and marched for the county of Vaudemont, where they carried destruction with fire and sword, committing sacrilege on many churches and doing inestimable mischiefs. The count de Vaudemont, to avenge himself, not having sufficient forces of his own, sent to demand succour from the duke of Burgundy, and from his son-in-law the lord de Croy, and to beg of them not to delay sending him reinforcements of men at arms. In consequence, sir John de Croy was dispatched to him, accompanied by sir Simon de Lalain, the lords de Launoy and de Maingoual, nephews to the lord de Croy, sir John bastard de Reuly[74], sir Anthony de Wissoch, and other nobles, with a body of one thousand combatants, who fixed their rendezvous at Aubanton[75], and thence marched toward the duchy of Bar, for the Barrois had evacuated the county of Vaudemont.