At this period died Flocquet, one of the king's commanders, valiant and subtile in war. By his subtilty he won Pont de l'Arche from the English, and was the first cause of the total loss of Normandy to the English. At this time also died master Nicholas Raullin, at Autun in Burgundy. He had first been an advocate in the parliament, then chancellor to duke Philip, whom he governed very wisely in many difficult affairs during the whole time he held this office, and was a great favourite with the duke; but while he managed his lord's business so well, he was not neglectful of his own,--for he acquired, during his service, upwards of forty thousand francs of landed revenue and many lordships,--so that his sons were rich and great lords, and his daughters married very nobly. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 24: The title of the Pragmatic Sanction was given to an assembly of the French clergy at Bourges, called by Charles VII. where in the presence of the princes of the blood, and of the chief nobility of the kingdom the canons of the council of Basil were examined and being found, for the most part, to be very wise and just, and perfectly calculated to extinguish the capital grievances that had been so long complained of, they were compiled into a law for the benefit of the gallican church. The power of nominating to ecclesiastical dignities was taken from the see of Rome; and those branches of the papal prerogatives which were not abolished were so curtailed as to be less injurious to the people and detrimental to the monarchy.] CHAP. XVI. DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY DANGEROUSLY ILL, BUT RECOVERS.--OTHER MATTERS WHICH HAPPENED AT THIS PERIOD. About Candlemas, in this year 1461, the duke of Burgundy was taken so dangerously ill, in the city of Brussels, that the physicians despaired of his life; and the duke, in consequence, sent in haste to his son, then at Quesnoy, who instantly came to him. The count de Charolois, seeing the duke in so great danger, issued orders throughout his father's dominions for the priests and monks of all churches and abbeys to offer up ardent and devout prayers to God, that he would be pleased to restore his father to health. Processions were, therefore, made, and prayers offered up with so much affection that God, full of pity and mercy, restored the duke to health,--for he was beloved by his subjects as much as prince ever was.