The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-07-06

4 THOUSAND years ago Peronne
~ was already an ancient town.
~ Three hundred years still fur
= Their back In the mists OF time
a king Of France had given the palace |
of still earlier kings to form monas-
terry for Scottish monks. The church
belonging to this foundation received
the body of Charles the Simple for
burial after his death as a prisoner in
the great tower of Peronne, writes Il.
Maxtone Graham in Country Life. The
church and It's 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, a 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 seabirds. 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
for a moment forming the stage Of
some historic drama, or fighting for
life and freedom, till, as war GIBBS away
from her walls, she sinks again into
obscurity.
Where Louis XII Was Humiliated.
The name of Louis XII will always
be associated with the little city be-
cause it was the scene of dark humili-
alton for the crown In 1853. The magic
pen of Sir Walter Scott has thrown a
veil of romantic interest over the his
torical event In the pages Of "Quentin
Outward" 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 the crown, and spent his
life in one great struggle to preserve
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 a
timid way he prided himself on a
thorough understanding of diplomacy.
To avoid a fight he consented, In Octo-
Der, 1868, to go to Peronne to meet the
duke, though the city had for many
years declared for the Burgundians
and was one of their fortresses.
The king rode thither from Noyon
with a whole train of mobiles and serv-
ants, so archers of the kings guard and
! CD horsemen. On the road near the
, city 200 lancers were sent by LIE Teme-
r,tire to receive him, headed by the
, duke himself. The meeting Of these
two enemies was marked by the friend
! Hest courtesy. The duke prepared to
: dismount to do homage, but the king
: would not suffer him, and they rode
, side by side talking Familiarity together,
7 the kings hand on the dukes shout
, der, to the gates of Peronne.
I The royal lodging was prepared In
q vast building near the gates. Some
J thing ominous In the preparations
S reused the kings alarm. Troops ar
+ rived under the command Of a general
4 who was a personal enemy. Other
' enemies were there too-he saw them
D pass the window of his quarters. Fear
: possessed him, and he was not able tC
h hide it. In his panic he made false
n move, and demanded to be taken into
the castle of Peronne, where there wa:
). only room for a few of his attendants
y and was thus placed in the power o.
:. the duke. From the windows of thu
a castle Louis could see the great towe
II of Peronne, with its dire memories O
! the murder of king. In the end tn
\, king agreed to humiliating terms; h
70 promised to go forth from Peronne t
"a Llege with the duke and take ven
"A geance on the Burgundian city whicl
"A had dared to defy lie Temeraire an
q to rise In rebellion. 1t was base bar
IA gain, for the people of Liege were tn
i kings own allies, and he had promise
= his protection. The duke, with Ion
experience of the craftiness of Loui
"A and of the profound depths of his ST
a perstition, knew how to make th
h shameful bargain secure.
m The venerated emblem called tn
~ Cross of Victory was always carrie
,a wherever the kings of France went.
GO was the cross that had been sent
Charlemagne. and was borne by hill
=, to insure success in many battle. Th
Is dishonorable treaty must be swor
~ upon this cross, the most sacred relic
the kingdom. II was taken from Il
10 casket. and the false peace sealed b.
ie- tween Louis and his captor.
ne Withstood 8 Great Siege.
Oh Nearly sixty years later, when Fra
ut els l of France was fighting the EI
OF peror Charles v, Peronne withstos
ns successfully the efforts of the imperi
II forees who besieged the city for