But all this agreement was quashed[382], for the reasons above mentioned, and a day and place appointed for a conference between the king and the constable (the king having first given security for his return); for the constable was fearful for his person, as having had intelligence of the whole business at Bouvines. The place was three leagues from Noyon, towards La Fere, upon a little river which was impassable, by reason that, on the constable’s side, the fords were taken away. Upon a causeway in that place a strong barrier was erected. The constable was the first that appeared at it, attended by all, or the greatest part, of his men-at-arms; for he had 300 gentlemen in his train, all of them well armed, and he wore his own cuirass under a loose coat. The king was attended by 600 men-at-arms, and among them the Count of Dammartin, Lord High Steward of France, who was the constable’s mortal enemy. The king sent me before, to excuse him to the constable for staying so long; but presently after his majesty’s arrival they discoursed together with five or six on each side. The constable excused his coming in arms, pretending he could not otherwise secure himself against the Count of Dammartin. The conclusion was, that all things past should be buried in oblivion, and no mention be made of them for the future, upon which the constable came over to the king’s side; the Count of Dammartin and he were reconciled; he waited upon the king that night to Noyon, and the next morning returned to St. Quentin, very well satisfied, as he said. But when the king came to consider what he had done, and understood the dissatisfaction of his subjects, he began to be sensible of having committed a great oversight, in giving a meeting to his servant, suffering a barrier between them at that interview, and permitting him to come attended with such a number of men-at-arms, all his subjects, and paid out of his purse; so that if his hatred to the constable was great before, this conference mightily increased it, neither was the constable himself really much better pleased. CH. XII.—A Digression, not altogether improper in this place, concerning the Wisdom of the King and the Constable, with useful Remarks for those who are in authority with Princes.—1474.