But to proceed in my relation of the war, of which I was speaking before. After the Duke of Burgundy’s barbarous treatment of the poor garrison of Nesle, he broke up from thence[358], and marched with his whole army and invested Roye, in which place there was a garrison of 1500 frank-archers, besides a considerable number of men-at-arms of the arriere-ban. The Duke of Burgundy’s army never made so fine an appearance as at that time; whereupon the next morning the frank-archers, being struck with a sudden fear, leaped over the walls, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The next day the remaining part of the garrison delivered up the town upon composition, leaving behind them their horses and arms, only the men-at-arms were allowed to march away with their horses. Having left a small garrison in this town, he advanced to Montdidier, with a full design to have demolished it quite; but, finding that the people of that district had a great affection for him, he ordered it to be repaired, and put a garrison in it. From thence his design was to have marched directly into Normandy; but as he was on his way, near to Beauvais, the Lord des Cordes, scouring the country before him with his vanguard, made some attempt upon the town; and at the first attack, the suburb, which faces the bishop’s palace[359], was taken by one Jacques Montmartin[360], a covetous Burgundian, who commanded 100 of the duke’s lancers and 300 of his standing archers. The Lord des Cordes made an attack in another quarter; but his ladders were too short and too few. He had two pieces of cannon with him, which were fired twice (and no more) at the gate[361], where they made a great breach; and if he had had ammunition to have continued his attack, he had certainly taken the town; but he was ill-provided, and not furnished for so great an undertaking. Upon our first investment there were no forces in the town but Loyset de Ballaigny[362], the governor, with some few of the arriere-ban; but that would not have saved the town, had not God himself interposed, and preserved it miraculously. The Burgundians were engaged with the French hand to hand through the breach in the gate, and the Lord des Cordes despatched several messengers to the Duke of Burgundy to acquaint him that, if he marched up presently with his army, he would take the town. Before the duke’s arrival, some of the inhabitants brought kindled faggots to throw in the faces of those who were forcing the gate; and so many were thrown, that the gate was set on fire, and the Burgundians were glad to retire till the flame was extinguished.[363]