The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-21

A THOUSAND years ago Peronne
~ was already nm ancient town.
~ Three hundred years still fur
ther back In the mists of time
n king of France had given the palace
Of still earlier kings 10 form monus-
terry for Scottish monks. The church
belonging to this foundation received
the body of Charles the Simple for
burial after his death as prisoner In
the great tower Of Peronne. writes Il.
MaXtone Graham in Country Life. The
church and its monuments disappeared
in the revolution. All that remains to-
day of ancient masonry are the four
towers of the castle.
Outwardly there can never have been
great changes in the surroundings and
general appearance of Peronne. The
city lies among the marshes of the
Somme, wilderness of bogland, deep
ening here and there into little slow
streams or widening into pale, shallow
lakes between islands covered with
coarse grass, the haunt of seabirdG Out
of these far-reaching tarns and mo-
rasses the broken outline of the town
seems to emerge, long, low-lying
group Of buildings.
| So Peronne has stood and watched
the ages go by, now asleep, now caught
| in some desperate whirl of war, now
Cor moment forming the stage of
/ some historic drama, or fighting for
life and freedom, till, as war ebbs away
from her walls, she sinks again into
obscurlty.
Where Louis xl Was Humiliated.
The name of Louis XI will always
be associated with the little city be-
cause ii was the scene of dark humili-
alton for the crown in 146S. The magic
pen of Sir Walter Scott has thrown n
veil of romantic interest over the his
torical event in the pages Of Quentin
Durward." Charles, duke OF Bur-
gundy, called lie Temeraire," the last
duke of his race, possessing almost
sovereign powers and vast tracts of
lands, allied himself openly with the
enemies of rhe crown, and spent his
life in one great struggle to preserve a
divided kingdom. The king avoided
war with his vassal and tried diplo-
macy. The promises and VOWS of Louis
never counted for anything, but in q
timid way he prided himself on a
thorough understanding of diplomacy
To avoid a fight he consented, In Octo-
her, 1IGS, TO go to Peronne to meet the
duke, though the city had for many
years declared for the Burgundlans
and was one of their fortresses.
The king rode thither from Noyor
with whole train of mobiles and serv.
ants, so archers of the kings guard and
60 horsemen. On the road near the
city 200 lancers were sent by lie Teme
raire to receive him, headed by the
duke himself. The meeting OF these
two enemies was marked by the friend
liest courtesy. The duke prepared 'tC
dismount to do homage, but the kini
would not suffer him, and they rode
side by side talking familiarly together
the kings hand on the dukes shoul
der, to the gates of Peronne.
The royal lodging was prepared IL
vast building near the gates. Some
thing ominous in the preparations
reused the kings alarm. Troops ar
rived under the command Of a genera
who was personal enemy. OtheI
enemies were there too-he saw then
pass the window of his quarters. Fea
possessed him, and he was not able t.
hide IL. In his panic he made falls,
move, and demanded TO he taken int
the castle Of Peronne, where there wa
only room for few of his attendants
and was thus placed in the power o
the duke. From the windows of tn
castle Louis could see the great towe
of Peronne, with its dire memories o
the murder of king. In the end tn
king agreed to huIniliating terms; h
promised TO go forth from Peronne t
Liege with the duke and take ven
geance on the Burgundan city whic
had dared to defy LIE Temeraire an
to rise In rebellion. 1t was base bar
gain for the people of Liege were tn
king's own allies, and he had promise
his protection. The duke, with Ion
experience of the craftiness of Loui
and of the profound depths of his ST
perstition, knew how to make tn
shameful bargain secure.
The venerated emblem called tn
Cross of Victory was always carrie
wherever the kings of France went.
ras the cross that had been sent I
Charlemagne, and was borne by hir
10 insure success in many battle. Th
dlshonorabie treaty must be swor
upon this cross, the most sacred relic !
the kingdom. 1t was taken from II
casket, and the false peace sealed b'
, tween Louis and his captor.
Withstood Great Siege.
] Nearly sixty years later, when Fral
els / of France was fighting the En-
peror Charles V. Peronne withstoo
successfully the efforts Of the imperii
forces, who besieged the city for