On the occasion of the Treaty of Bretigny, which seriously narrowed the dominions of King John, the folk of Paris strewed the streets with grass and flowers as a sign of rejoicing.[137] As a matter of fact, nobles changed their allegiance as often as it was necessary.

Juvenal des Ursins relates in his Journal[138] how at the time of the English conquest of Normandy, a young widow was known to quit her domain with her three children in order to escape doing homage to the King from beyond the seas.

But how many Norman nobles were like her in refusing to swear fealty to the former enemies of the kingdom?
The example of fidelity to the king was not always set by those of his own family.

The Duke of Bourbon, in the name of all the princes of the blood royal, prisoners with him in the hands of the English, proposed to Henry V that they should go and negotiate in France for the cession of Harfleur, promising that if the Royal Council met them with refusal they would acknowledge Henry V to be King of France.[139] [Footnote 134: A.Thomas, _Le mot "Patrie" et Jeanne d'Arc_ in _Revue des Idees_, July 15, 1906.] [Footnote 135: _Les oeuvres de Maistre Alain Chartier_, published by Andre Duchesne, Paris, 1642, in 4to, p.

410.] [Footnote 136: _Trial_, vol.ii, p.436.See _post_, vol.i, p.