The king of France, immediately after Easter, made preparations for a renewal of the war, as the truce with Maximilian was nearly expired, and as no ambassadors had arrived from Austria to propose a prolongation of the truce, or to conclude a definitive peace, as had been hinted during the last conference. In the month of May following, although the truce was not expired, the inhabitants of Cambray admitted into their town Flemings, Picards, and other enemies to the king, of the party of the duke of Austria, who drove out the royalist garrisons of the town and castle, notwithstanding the king had given the guard of it to the lord de Fiennes. Soon after, three or four hundred lances, Flemings, and Picards, appeared before Bouchain, in which were only sixteen lances as garrison for the king. They instantly retired into the castle, observing that the townsmen were determined to admit their enemies as soon as they should appear. The Flemings had no sooner gained possession of the town than they attacked the king's lances, whom they took, and put all to death, except one, who escaped by hiding himself in a chamber, and then dropping down, through one of the privies, into the ditch. The king was very indignant at this conduct, and not without reason, for the truce had been violated without the smallest blame attaching to him or his subjects. He lost no time in sending large trains of artillery to the duchy and franche comté of Burgundy, and great reinforcements of men at arms and franc-archers to the governor of Champagne, whose appointment of lieutenant-general he had renewed. The governor exerted himself diligently, and took by storm the castle of Rochefort, killing all within it, and plundering it of its effects. He thence proceeded to Dole[90], which, after battering it some time, he also won by storm, when many of the chief merchants were slain, and the town was razed to the ground. In the month of June, sir Robert d'Estouteville, lord of Beyne, departed this life, at Paris, having been provost of the same for forty-three years. He was succeeded in this office by Jacques d'Estouteville, son to the deceased, in recompense, as the king said, for his loyal services at the battle of Montlehery, and in other affairs. While the king was at Montargis, he was much rejoiced at the good news that was there brought him from sir Charles d'Amboise, and set out for the abbey of Nôtre Dame des Victoires, near Senlis, and make his offerings and thanksgivings. He thence came to the castle of Vincennes, where he only staid a night, and set out for Provins, on his road to Champagne, Langres and other places. In the mean time, great stores of artillery, powder, saltpetre, and particularly sixteen very large bombards, were embarked on the Seine, to be transported to Châlons, Champagne and Bar le Duc, to attempt the conquest of Luxembourg,--but that expedition did not take place.