Having in the preceding chapters enlarged upon the dangers which occur in treaties, and the necessity that princes should prudently, and with circumspection, make choice of such persons as are fit to be employed in the negotiation of such important affairs, especially if they have the worst of the game; I shall now give an account of what it was that induced me to insist upon them so long. Whilst these treaties were managed by way of meetings and conferences, and liberty allowed to converse freely one with another, instead of treating of a general peace, it was proposed privately by some persons, that the duchy of Normandy should be put into the hands of the king’s only brother, the Duke of Berry, out of which he should take an equivalent for his patrimony, and deliver up Berry to the king[143]; and so cunningly was this bargain transacted, that the widow of the Grand Seneschal of Normandy[144], with some of her relations and servants who were about her, received John, Duke of Bourbon, into the Castle of Rouen[145], from whence he entered into the town, and the town quickly consented to the change (being desirous to have a prince who would keep his residence in that province), and most of the towns and places in Normandy followed the example[146]; for the Normans have always thought, and do still think it reasonable, that so great a duchy as theirs is, should have a duke constantly resident among them; and, to speak truth, it is very considerable in respect of the vast sums of money which are raised in it, for I myself have known it pay 950,000 francs in one year, and some say more. As soon as the town of Rouen had revolted, all the inhabitants swore to the Duke of Bourbon to be true and faithful to the Duke of Berry; except the bailiff named Houaste[147] (who had served the king as his valet de chambre when he was in Flanders, and had been in great favour with him), and one Monsieur William Piquart[148] (afterwards General of Normandy); and also he that is at present Grand Seneschal of Normandy[149] would not take the oath, but returned to the king, contrary to the persuasion of his mother, who, as is said before, had the greatest hand in the revolt.