There was now in and about Mezieres a larger and better appointed army than had ever been in France; for the large towns under the dependance of the duke sent thither archers and cross-bowmen,--and there repaired thither several knights and esquires of those countries that had been redeemed from the crown of France, and other warriors who had not been of the late expedition, and even some who had been in the late quarrels of the king's party against the count de Charolois. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 48: Conflans--is on the Seine, six leagues from Paris.] [Footnote 49: Villiers-le-bel. Q. Villiers-le-basele? in the Isle of France, near Paris.] [Footnote 50: Mezieres, on the Meuse,--a strong city in Champagne, five leagues from Charleville.] CHAP. XLVIII. THE ENTRY OF THE DUKE OF BERRY INTO ROUEN.--THE KING OF FRANCE GOES INTO NORMANDY AND RETAKES POSSESSION OF THAT DUCHY.--HE CAUSES SOME OF THE LORDS OF THAT COUNTRY, WHO HAD SUPPORTED HIS BROTHER, TO BE EXECUTED AND DROWNED. When the confederated princes had separated at Conflans, Charles the new duke of Normandy, accompanied by the duke of Brittany, the count de Dunois, and other lords, set out to visit his duchy of Normandy, and went first to Mont St Catherine, above Rouen; for the whole of the country, as has been said, had submitted to his obedience. He was advised to make his public entry into Rouen on the feast of St Catherine,--and the inhabitants had made great preparations for his reception. The duke of Brittany, however, for some private reasons, had the entry deferred, which much displeased the inhabitants of that town; and finding that the duke had not given any orders for so doing, they assembled in arms, and went to their new duke in a numerous body, to request that he would instantly make his entry into their town. The count de Harcourt, then his principal adviser and favourite, urged him to comply with their request without farther delay; which he assented to, whether the duke of Brittany would or not, and followed the townsmen into Rouen, where he was grandly feasted, to the great vexation of the duke of Brittany, who could not at that time prevent it,--for he had not then his men at arms with him, and was forced to dissemble. He was so much enraged that he departed for Brittany with those he had with him; and, on going away, they carried off the bedding and sheets of the good people where they had been lodged, as if they had been in an enemy's country. They seized also some of the towns in Normandy, wherein the duke left a party of his men to guard them,--and among others, he took possession of the town and castle of Caen, where he placed a larger force to guard and defend the castle.