three breaches “knocked into one;” and still the defenders kept up their resistance with the same vigor.  “One morning,” says the Loyal Serviteur of Bayard, “the Emperor Maximilian, accompanied by his princes and lords from Germany, went thither to look; and he marvelled and thought it great shame to him, with the number of men he had, that he had not sooner delivered the assault.  On returning to his quarters he sent for a French secretary of his, whom he bade write to the lord of La Palisse a letter, whereof this was the substance:  ’Dear cousin, I have this morning been to look at the breach, which I find more than practicable for whoever would do his duty.  I have made up my mind to deliver the assault to-day.  I pray you, so soon as my big drum sounds, which will be about midday, that you do incontinently hold ready all the French gentlemen who are under your orders at my service, by command of my brother the King of France, to go to the said assault along with my foot; and I hope that, with God’s help we shall carry it.’

“The lord of La Palisse,” continues the chronicler, “thought this a somewhat strange manner of proceeding; howbeit he hid his thought, and said to the secretary, ’I am astounded that the emperor did not send for my comrades and me for to deliberate more fully of this matter; howbeit you will tell him that I will send to fetch them, and when they are come I will show them the letter.  I do not think there will be many who will not be obedient to that which the emperor shall be pleased to command.’

“When the French captains had arrived at the quarters of the lord of La Palisse, he said to them, ’Gentlemen, we must now dine, for I have somewhat to say to you, and if I were to say it first, peradventure you would not make good cheer.’  During dinner they did nothing but make sport one of another.  After dinner, everybody was sent out of the room, save the captains, to whom the lord of La Palisse made known the emperor’s letter, which was read twice, for the better understanding of it.  They all looked at one another, laughing, for to see who would speak first.  Then said the lord of Ymbercourt to the lord of La Palisse, ’It needs not so much thought, my lord; send word to the emperor that we are all ready; I am even now a-weary of the fields, for the nights are cold; and then the good wines are beginning to fail us;’ whereat every one burst out a-laughing.  All agreed to what was said by the lord of Ymbercourt.  The lord of La Palisse looked at the good knight (Bayard), and saw that he seemed to be picking his teeth, as if he had not heard what his comrades had proposed.  ‘Well, and you,’ said he, ’what say you about it?  It is no time for picking one’s teeth; we must at once send speedy reply to the emperor.’  Gayly the good knight answered, ’If we would all take my lord of Ymbercourt’s word, we have only to go straight to the breach.  But it is a somewhat sorry pastime for men-at-arms to go afoot,