The duke made her a very kind answer, saying that he would heartily assist her against her rebellious subjects with every means in his power,--for which she gratefully thanked him. In consequence, he lost no time to assemble his council, for them to deliberate on the matter and determine on the most efficacious method of performing his engagement.--It was resolved at this council, that the duke of Burgundy should send a solemn message to the inhabitants of Luxembourg, to require of them to perform their duties to the duchess and to her officers, as they were bounden to do,--and that, should they refuse, he, the duke, would support her with all his power, to restore to her her rights. The inhabitants refused to attend to this summons, although several requests were made to them for the purpose, and instantly introduced into their towns a body of troops from duke William of Saxony, who laid claim to the duchy as next heir. He sent thither eight hundred combatants from the borders of Germany, under the command of a relative called the count de Clicque, who garrisoned the town of Luxembourg, Thionville, and others of their party. The duke of Burgundy, perceiving they persevered in their rebellion, determined to make war upon them, and wrote letters to the count de Vernembourg, the heir of Sarrebrusse, Henry de la Tour, and to other nobles of the duchy of Luxembourg, the greater part of whom supported the duchess, to request that they would join him in his war against her rebellious subjects. He added that he would shortly send thither an army, and command it in person, to conquer that duchy, and drive out those who at present occupied it. They returned for answer, that they were very agreeable to join him; and, after they had sent to the different towns in rebellion their challenges, made open war upon them. In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy ordered the count d'Estampes into Picardy, to assemble a large force, and march with it to meet him in Burgundy. When his army was ready, he commanded it to advance toward Saint Quentin, whither he himself went, accompanied by Waleran de Moreul, Guy de Roye, the lord de Humieres, the lord de Saveuses, sir Simon de Lalain, the lord de Neufville, Gauvain Quieret, sir Anthony de Wissoch, Jean de Haplaincourt, and many noble knights and esquires, to the number of twelve or thirteen hundred combatants.