caufe the king did not refide among them. They were afraid left he fliould order his men at arms to force the gates of the city in the night-time, overrun it,, and put to death whomfoever he pleafed. To avoid this danger which they dread-ed, they kept great guards in all the ftreets and fquares every nighty and barricaded the ftreets with chains, to prevent any cavalry from paling; nor would they fuffer any one on foot to pafs: and thofe found in the ftreets after nine o'clock, Who were not acknowledged by them or their partifans. were put to death. There were in the city of Paris upwards of thirty thoufand rich and powerful men armed, from head to foot, and fo hatidfomely arrayed that few knights could afford to rival them. They had, in like manner, armed their fervants, who had mallets of iron and lead for the bruifihg of hel-mets. T-hey faid in Paris, when they were mut-tering their men, that they were fufficient in number and ftrength to fight their own battles, without the aid of the greateft lord on the earth. Thefe people were called the army of jnallets. VOL.'VI. G CHAP. *81