Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/235

 Tin: Development of France 199 The young hero, Prince Louis, 1 gay, gracious, and so How friendly to all that he passed with some for a person of no Pr | nc ^ Louis force, had hardly come to man's estate when he proved him- ^a^uarrel self an illustrious and courageous defender of his father's between his realm. He provided for the needs of the Church, and strove ^tofo'f^ 6 to secure peace for those who pray, for those who work, and st. Denis for the poor. And no one had done this for a long time. and the lord Now it came to pass at this time that certain disputes morency arose between Adam, the venerable abbot of St. Denis, and a nobleman, Burchard, lord of Montmorency [his vassal], concerning certain customs. The controversy waxed so hot and reached such extremes of irritation that all ties of homage were broken between vassal and lord, and the two disputants betook themselves to arms, war, and fire. When the affair came to the ears of Lord Louis he was sorely vexed. He delayed not, but ordered the aforesaid Burchard, duly summoned, to appear before his father in the castle of Poissy for judgment. Burchard lost his cause, but refused to submit to the judgment. He was not taken prisoner, for that is not the custom of the French, but hav- ing withdrawn to his estates, he straightway learned what manner of injury and calamity the king's majesty can inflict on his disobedient subjects. For this famous youth [Prince Louis] carried arms thither against him and his criminal allies, Matthew, count of Beaumont, and Dreux of Mouchy- le-chatel, vigorous and warlike men. He laid waste the land of Burchard with fire, famine, and the sword ; and overthrew all the defenses and buildings, except the castle itself, and razed them to the ground. When his enemies undertook to defend themselves in the castle he besieged them with the French and the Flemish troops of his uncle Robert, as well as with his own. By these and other means he brought the humiliated Burchard to repentance, bent him to his will 1 The earlier chapters of Suger's Life of Louis relate to the period before he actually became king. His incompetent father, Philip, appears to have left much of the hard work of government to his energetic son and heir.