effect that she would go with him if he would come to fetch her. On the
night of November 1, 1417, the Duke of Burgundy hurriedly raised the
siege of Corbeil, advanced with a body of troops to a position within two
leagues from Tours, and sent the queen notice that he was awaiting her.
Isabel ordered her three custodians to go with her to mass at the Convent
of Marmoutier, outside the city. Scarcely was she within the church when
a Burgundian captain, Hector de Saveuse, presented himself with sixty men
at the door. "Look to your safety, madame," said her custodians to
Isabel; "here is a large company of Burgundians or English." "Keep close
to me," replied the queen. Hector de Saveuse at that moment entered and
saluted the queen on behalf of the Duke of Burgundy. "Where is he?"
asked the queen. "He will not be long coming." Isabel ordered the
captain to arrest her three custodians; and two hours afterwards Duke
John arrived with his men-at-arms. "My dearest cousin," said the queen
to him, "I ought to love you above every man in the realm; you have left
all at my bidding, and are come to deliver me from prison. Be assured
that I will never fail you. I quite see that you have always been
devoted to my lord, his family, the realm, and the common-weal." The
duke carried the queen off to Chartres; and as soon as she was settled
there, on the 12th of November, 1417, she wrote to the good towns of the
kingdom,

"We, Isabel, by the grace of God Queen of France, having, by reason of my
lord the king's seclusion, the government and administration of this
realm, by irrevocable grant made to us by the said my lord the king and
his council, are come to Chartres in company with our cousin, the Duke of
Burgundy, in order to advise and ordain whatsoever is necessary to
preserve and recover the supremacy of my lord the king, on advice taken
of the prud'hommes, vassals, and subjects."