The principal actors in this conspiracy against the duke of Burgundy were Jean Louvet, president of Provence, the viscount de Narbonne, sir Guillaume Batiller, sir Tanneguy du Châtel, sir François de Grimaulx, sir Robert de Loire, Pierre Frotier, Olivier Layet, sir Ponchon de Namac, seneschal of Auvergne, and several more. They had for a considerable time before confederated, and sworn to bring the matter to the conclusion they had just accomplished; and, as I have been informed, they intended to have put their plan in execution at the moment of the meeting of these two princes at Pouilly le Fort, when peace was made between them,--but were then forced to abandon it because the duke was too powerful in arms, and because the armies of each were drawn up so near that great mischiefs must have ensued. The lord de Joinville and the others in the castle of Montereau, to whom the duke had confided the guard, were greatly alarmed, and not without cause, when they noticed the conduct that was observed toward their lord, whose real situation they were as yet ignorant of, and those who had accompanied him. They were likewise very uneasy as to themselves,--for they were unprovided with any stores of provision or of ammunition, excepting what they had brought with them, which were not in any great quantities; and before their arrival, the castle had been dismantled of artillery, and every other store carried away. They held many consultations, whether they should depart or not, but at length determined to remain where they were until they should receive more certain intelligence respecting their lord than they had hitherto had. Notwithstanding the lords de Joinville and de Montagu most earnestly and often begged of the duke's men to stay with them in the castle, they would not listen to their words, but set off in haste, and in a most disorderly manner galloped away for Bray sur Seine, whence they had come that morning. However, a large body of the dauphin's army pursued them, and killed and wounded great numbers without any resistance. The lords de Joinville and de Montagu remained, as I have said, in the castle,--and with them sir Robert de Marigny, sir Philip de Servoiles, sir John de Murat, the lord de Rosmat, John d'Ermay, John de Caumaisnil, Sabertier, Philip de Montant, Regnault de Chevilly, Regnault de Rethel, Guillaume de Biere, the lady of Giac and her woman, Philip Josquin, with about twenty varlets and pages of the household of the late duke of Burgundy. CHAP. XXVII. THE CONDUCT OF THE DAUPHIN, AND OF THOSE WITH HIM, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.--HE SENDS LETTERS TO DIFFERENT TOWNS.