It happened, that those of the garrison of Ribemont, whom I have before named, on hearing of the near approach of the king's army, were so much frightened, from dread of the French, that they suddenly left the town in the utmost disorder, and without waiting for each other, abandoning the command of it and the castle to the common people. This caused great confusion; and they mostly withdrew to Guise and other fortified places of the count, who was much enraged at their cowardice, more especially with those to whom he had intrusted its defence. On this same day, or on the morrow, the French came before Ribemont, to whom, in the name of king Charles, was the town surrendered, and admittance given them. They found it full of wealth, and helped themselves to it at their pleasure; and Joachim Rohault entered with the rest, as governor of the place. Shortly after, the French advanced to the town of Marle[85], which they surrounded on all sides with their whole force. The governor in the town for the count de St Pol was a gentleman diligent and expert in war, called George de Croix, having with him sixty combatants, including those of the town. He was regularly and often summoned to surrender the place to the king of France; but he always replied, that without the knowledge and consent of the count de St Pol, he would not yield it up. The besiegers, in consequence, sent on their heavy artillery, and pointed many cannon against the walls and gates, which damaged them so much that they intended very soon to storm it. In the mean time, the count de St Pol, considering that it would be impossible for him to hold out against the power of France, especially as he had been told that he must not look for aid from the duke of Burgundy, began to turn his thoughts to the best means of appeasing the king, particularly as the principal gentlemen about him advised him, by all means, to negotiate a peace and remain in the quiet possession of his estates. The countess-dowager, his mother, first opened the business, with others of his friends, who had a little before gone to wait on the king at Laon.--The count went also thither himself, and was graciously received by the king and the dauphin, and by the lords of the court. He shortly after requested and obtained from the king a suspension of arms between the army before Marle and the garrison, until a fixed day, when a treaty should be opened to accommodate the business.