516 aOINVILLE's MEMOIRS OF SAINT LOUIS IX. [PT. IL as byfor the wisest of any in his council ; and as a proof of his wisdom, whenever any thing occurred that demanded immediate attention, he never waited for his council, but gave a speedy and decided answer. Soon after, the good king St. Louis negotiated so successfully that he prevailed on the king and queen of England to come to France with their children to conclude a peace. His council, however, were much against this peace, and said to him, " Sire, we marvel greatly how you can consent to the king of England keeping so large a tract of your territories, which your predecessors have conquered from him for ill conduct, and which it seems you have not duly considered, nor will he be any way grateful for it." To this the king answered, that he was well aware the king of England and his predecessor had mostly forfeited the lands he held, and that he never meant to restore any thing but what he was in justice bounden te do. But he should make this restoration in order to confirm and strengthen that union which ought to exist between them and their children, who u were cousins-german. The king added, And by thus acting, I think I shall do a very good work ; for, in the first place, I shall establish a peace, and shall then make him my vassal, which he is not yet, as he has never done me homage." The king, St. Louis, was the man in the world who laboured most to maintain peace and concord among his subjects, more especially between the princes and barons of his realm, in particular between my uncle, the count de Chalons, and his son, the count of Burgundy, who carried on a violent war after our return from Palestine. To make a peace between the father and son, he sent several of his council, at his own costs and charges, into Burgundy, and took such pains, that at length he concluded a peace between them. Through his interference, in like manner, was peace made between the second king Thibault of Navarre, and the counts of Chalons and Burgundy, who carried on a very disastrous war ; but he sent part of his council thither, who appeased their differences, and concluded a peace. After this peace another serious war broke out between Count Thibault de Bar and the count of Luxembourg, who had married his sister. They fought a duel with each other below Pigny, when the count de Bar made prisoner the count