In return for the warm affection they had shown him, he would not conceal his mind from them, but truly inform them of all the crimes and artifices that had been committed and practised by the lord de Croy and his adherents. In the first place, he said, that when he was last with the lord his father (the countess of Charolois, his lady, being then very ill), the lord de Croy had said, that if he were not afraid of vexing her, he would make him his prisoner, and place him in such security that he should be disabled from doing him or any one else mischief. Item, the lord de Croy had told a worthy gentleman of the name of Pius, that he cared not for him (the count de Charolois), for that he had nine hundred knights and esquires, who had sworn to serve him until death. Item, the lord de Croy had said publicly, on seeing the count return to court, 'Here is this great devil coming! so long as he lives, we shall not succeed at court.' Item, the lord de Croy had declared, on his (the count's) retreat to Holland, that he was much afraid of him,--but that, when he should be inclined to hurt him, he would not be safer in Holland than elsewhere, for that he was like a gaufre between two irons. Item, the lord de Croy had boasted, that, should a struggle arise between him and the count, he was sure of being assisted by all in Artois, as the whole country was at his command,--adding, 'What does my lord de Charolois mean to do? Whence does he expect aid? Does he expect it from the Flemings, or the Brabanters? if he does, he will find himself mistaken,--for they will abandon him, as they have before abandoned their lord.' 'This I do not believe,' said the count, 'for I consider them as my true and loyal friends,--nor have I the least doubt of the affections of those in Artois and Picardy.' Item, that the lord de Croy had sent to the provost of Watten[30] the horoscope of his nativity, and that the provost, on examination, had given it as his opinion, that the person to whom it belonged would be miserably unfortunate, and that the greatest misfortunes would befal him,--all of which he had related to the duke, his father, to incense him more against him. Item, he had also desired the provost of Watten to manage so that the duke his father might always hate him, and keep at a distance from his person.