Two days after the Duke of Burgundy’s servants had deserted him (which was in December, 1470), the Constable of France entered St. Quentin[280], and forced the inhabitants to take an oath of fidelity to the king. Then the duke began to discern the ill posture of his affairs; for he had sent all his officers to raise men in his own countries. However, with those few he could get together, and about 400 or 500 horse, he marched to Dourlans[281], intending to secure Amiens, and keep it from revolting; but he had not been there many days before Amiens began to treat, for the king’s army being not far off, invested the town, but was refused entrance for some time, because there was still a small party left in it for the duke, who had sent his quarter-master thither, and if he had had a sufficient number of troops with him to have entered in person, that town had never been lost; but with the small brigade he had, he durst not venture himself in it, though he was much pressed by several of the townsmen. As soon as those of the king’s party perceived he was afraid, and not strong enough to trust himself in the town, they put their plans in execution, and received a garrison of the king’s troops.[282] Those of Abbeville intended to have done the same, but the Lord des Cordes got in for the duke, and prevented their design. From Amiens to Dourlans is but five short leagues[283]; so that upon the news that Amiens had declared for the king, the Duke of Burgundy was forced to retire with great precipitation and alarm to Arras[284], fearing lest other places should do the like, and seeing himself surrounded by the friends and relations of the constable. Besides, the revolt of the Bastard Baudouin made him entertain a jealousy of the great Bastard of Burgundy, his natural brother. However, by degrees, troops came in to him; and the king now thought himself master of his designs, for he believed whatever the constable and the rest had told him of their intelligences all over the Duke of Burgundy’s dominions; and had it not been in hopes it would have proved true, that enterprise had never been undertaken.