What most struck me was to find not a single denizen of the town left, who was or who dared to call himself French.

How vain and transitory, thought I, are the things of this world! Six days ago what riches were in the city, and now remains not one stone upon another." The expulsion of the women had been accomplished by the express command of Philip, who moreover had made no effort to stay the work of carnage, pillage, and conflagration.

The pious King had not forgotten, however, his duty to the saints.

As soon as the fire had broken out, he had sent to the cathedral, whence he had caused the body of Saint Quentin to be removed and placed in the royal tent.

Here an altar, was arranged, upon one side of which was placed the coffin of that holy personage, and upon the other the head of the "glorious Saint Gregory" (whoever that glorious individual may have been in life), together with many other relics brought from the church.