The truce lasted a whole year, and during that time this plot was contriving against the Constable of France. The king’s agents applied themselves to one of the Duke of Burgundy’s knights, called the Lord of Humbercourt, who for a long time had hated the constable, but more particularly of late, upon the following occasion: In a convention at Roye, where the constable and others were met on the king’s part, with the Chancellor of Burgundy, the Lord of Humbercourt, and others in behalf of the duke, in the heat of their argument, the constable in a passion gave the Lord of Humbercourt the lie. The Lord of Humbercourt made no other reply, but that he would not expect satisfaction from him, but from the king, upon whose security he was come thither, under the character of an ambassador; for the affront was not so much to him as to his master, whose person he represented, and to whom he would give an account. This single piece of insolence, which was so suddenly committed, was the occasion afterwards not only of the constable’s death, but also of the ruin of his family, as the sequel of this history will inform you. For this reason, persons in great authority, and princes themselves, ought to be careful of their language, and consider to whom it is they speak; for the greater the person is, the greater is the injury, and it lies heavier upon him that is affronted, because he thinks the grandeur and authority of him that committed the outrage make it more remarkable, and more liable to be objected against him. If it be one’s own king or master, it makes one despair of a further preferment from him; and generally the hope of future advancement makes courtiers serve a prince better and more faithfully than the thought of what they already possess. But to return. The king’s agents made continual applications to the Lord of Humbercourt and the chancellor (who was present when that abusive language was given at Roye, and was besides a particular friend of the Lord of Humbercourt); and so far they proceeded in that affair, that they appointed a meeting at Bouvines, which is a town not far from Namur, to consult further about it. On the king’s part there were the Lord of Curton, Governor of Limousin, and Monsieur John Heberge[381], afterwards Bishop of Evreux; and for the Duke of Burgundy, there were the Chancellor of Burgundy and the Lord of Humbercourt, whom I have already mentioned. This was in the year 1474.