On the 11th of October, in this year the church and town of Encre[23] were almost entirely destroyed by fire in less than half an hour, which was a sad misfortune to the poor inhabitants. Between September and the 1st of November, marvellous signs were seen in the air like to lighted torches, four fathoms long and a foot thick, where they remained fixed for half a quarter of an hour,--and they were thus seen at two different times. Some said they had observed in the night the appearance of battles in the air, and had heard great noises and reports. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 22: St Claude, or St Oyen,--a city in Franche-comté: it owes its origin to a celebrated abbey, founded in the fifth century, so called after St Claude archbishop of Besançon.] [Footnote 23: Encre. Q. Ancre or Abbert? a town in Picardy, seven leagues from Peronne.] CHAP. XV. THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS WAITS ON THE KING OF FRANCE AT TOURS, WHERE HE IS MAGNIFICENTLY ENTERTAINED.--HE LOSES HIMSELF WHILE AT THE CHASE.--HE RETURNS TO ARTOIS THROUGH NORMANDY, OF WHICH THE KING HAD MADE HIM HIS LIEUTENANT. After the count de Charolois had performed his pilgrimage to Saint Claude, he took the road to Tours, where king Louis resided at that time. The count was accompanied by a number of great lords and nobles, and about three hundred and fifty horsemen. When the king knew that he was near to Tours, he sent out to meet him the greatest lords of his household, who gave him a joyful reception, and, by the king's commands, led him to dismount at the palace, where he was met by the king and received most honourably by him and his whole court. The king took him for his amusement to all the handsome places around,--and he was grandly feasted at each of them. The king one day took him to hunt a red deer, which showed much sport, but ran so long, the count pursuing him, that when night came, he knew not where he was, and had but four other persons with him. They, however, proceeded, although it was dark night, until they stumbled on a good inn, wherein they were lodged. The king, on his return from the chase, not hearing any thing of the count, no one being able to give him the least intelligence what was become of him, was exceedingly vexed and alarmed, and instantly dispatched people to all the adjacent villages, and had lighted torches fixed to the church steeples, that, should the count see them, he might find his road back again to Tours: those who were sent into the forests carried lighted brands or torches.