Just as the duke's army was ready to march to Dinant, the bastard de St Pol, lord de Hautbourdin, who, like the others, was fully prepared for this march, was suddenly taken ill,--and the disorder became so serious that he died of it, which was a great pity and loss, for he was valiant and prudent, and one of the best warriors the duke had in his army, handsome above all others, and a knight of the Golden Fleece. Toward the beginning of August, the duke of Burgundy's army was ready to march to Namur, according to the orders he had issued for all who loved him to follow him thither. This was the largest army that had been seen, for it was more than as numerous again as that which had marched to France: indeed, common report said, they were upwards of thirty thousand who received pay. The principal nobles in it were the count de Charolois, the count de St Pol constable of France, the lord de Ravenstein, the three sons of the count de St Pol, the two bastards of Burgundy, the count de Nassau, and so many barons, lords, knights and gentlemen, that it would be tiresome to name them all. The marshal of Burgundy was also there, but in his private capacity, for the army of Burgundy had remained at home. The duke of Burgundy would likewise be present, and went from Brussels to Namur on the 14th day of August. The army soon marched from Namur toward Dinant, where a skirmish ensued in the suburbs of that town, between about three hundred of the Burgundians, commanded by the count de Charolois and the marshal of Burgundy, and the townsmen, who sallied out to the attack. This was renewed twice or thrice, but the townsmen were always repulsed. It was horrible to see the engines that were used in the town, although they killed none, and three or four of the townsmen were slain. The count de St Pol, sir James his brother, with numbers of other lords, advanced on the other side of the Meuse in all diligence,--while the lord de Saveuses was posted at Bovines, a tolerably good town in the county of Namur, about half a league from Dinant. News was brought to the army, that the Liegeois had mustered their forces, which amounted to full forty thousand combatants, of whom they had sent four thousand to Dinant, and had boasted in Liege, that if Dinant were besieged, they would raise the siege or die in the attempt.