The cold and frost were so violent, that the greatest part of the duke’s detachment was forced to march on foot into the country of Franchemont, which has no walled towns, but consists wholly in villages. The duke lay still five or six days in a little village called Polleur[266] (which stands in a small valley); he divided his forces into two bodies for the speedier destruction of the country: his orders were to burn all the houses, break down all their iron mills (which were the greatest part of their livelihood), and search about among the woods for such of the poor people as had with their goods run thither to hide themselves, of whom many were killed, and made prisoners; and the soldiers got good store of plunder. In this march I saw incredible effects of the severity of the cold: one gentleman lost the use of his foot, and never recovered it again. A page had two of his fingers drop off with extremity of cold. I saw a woman and her new-born child starved to death with it. For three days together the duke’s attendants could get no wine but what they cut out with a hatchet; for it was frozen in the pipes, and the ice being thick and entire, they were forced to cut it out in pieces, which they carried away in their hats and baskets as they thought fit. I could tell other strange stories of this nature, which would be tedious to write; but we, in short, were starved out of that country, and forced (after we had been there eight days) to march back with all expedition to Namur, and from thence into Brabant[267], where the duke was received with joy. CH. XV.—Of the King of France’s Subtilty, by which he prevailed with his Brother Duke Charles, to accept of the Duchy of Guienne, in lieu of Brie and Champagne, and contrary to the Duke of Burgundy’s Intention.—1468-69. The king, having taken his leave of the Duke of Burgundy, returned with great joy into his own kingdom, not in the least complaining of his usage either at Peronne or Liege, but bearing all things patiently, at least, in appearance; yet, for all that, great wars arose afterwards between them, but not presently, nor was that the cause which I mentioned before (though it might have contributed towards it); for the conditions of peace were much the same as if the king had freely signed it at Paris. But, by the advice of his officers, the Duke of Burgundy was encouraged to extend the bounds of his dominions, and great artifice was used to have it done secretly—of which I shall speak in due time.