The duke took leave of the king, said business required his presence in
Flanders, and went off as fast as he could.

When it was known that he had gone, there was a feeling of regret and
disquietude amongst the sensible and sober burgesses at Paris. What they
wanted was peace; and in order to have it the adherence of the Duke of
Burgundy was indispensable. Whilst he was present, there might be hope
of winning him or forcing him over to it; but, whilst he was absent,
headstrong as he was known to be, a renewal of war was the most probable
contingency. And this result appeared certain when it was seen how the
princes hostile to the Duke of Burgundy, above all, Duke Charles of
Orleans, the Count of Armagnac and their partisans hastened back to
Paris, and resumed their ascendency with the king and in his council.
The _dauphin_, Louis Duke of Aquitaine, united himself by the ties of
close friendship with the Duke of Orleans, and prevailed upon him to give
up the mourning he had worn since his father's murder; the two princes
appeared everywhere dressed alike; the scarf of Armagnac re-placed that
of Burgundy; the feelings of the populace changed as the fashion of the
court; and when children sang in the streets the song but lately in
vogue, "Burgundy's duke, God give thee joy!" they were struck and hurled
to the ground. Facts were before long in accordance with appearances.
After a few pretences of arrangement the Duke of Burgundy took up arms
and marched on Paris. Charles VI., on his side, annulled, in the
presence of Parliament, all acts adverse to the Duke of Orleans and his
adherents; and the king, the queen, and the _dauphin_ bound themselves by
oath not to treat with the duke of Burgundy until they had destroyed his
power. At the end of March, 1414, the king's army was set in motion;
Compiegne, Soissons, and Bapaume, which held out for the Duke of
Burgundy, were successively taken by assault or surrendered; the royal
troops treated the people as vanquished rebels; and the four great