He that seriously considers this action of the king’s, must certainly allow, that his majesty acted with great wisdom and prudence; for it is not improbable that the constable might have made his peace with the Duke of Burgundy, by the surrender of St. Quentin, notwithstanding all his promises to the contrary. But certainly for a wise man (as the constable undoubtedly was), he took the wrongest measures in the world, or else God had strangely infatuated his understanding, to come thus in that warlike manner and disguise to converse with his king and master, under a guard of so many horse, all of them the king’s subjects, and at that time in his pay; and indeed by his looks he seemed to be ashamed of the action himself, for as soon as the king came to him, though they were parted by nothing but a rail, he ordered it immediately to be opened, and in coming to the king, was in no little danger that day. Perhaps he and some of his friends might highly value themselves upon this action, and think it glorious to have a monarch stand in awe of him, as being sensible of the king’s timidity; and indeed sometimes he was fearful, but never without just cause. The king had extricated himself out of all his troubles and wars with the great lords of his kingdom, by large presents, and larger promises, and was sensible of many false steps he had made, and for the future was resolved to put nothing to a venture that he could gain otherwise. Many were of opinion it was from his fear and cowardice that this cautious way of acting proceeded; but several persons, who, upon the strength of that imagination, durst presume to provoke his anger, if they were feebly supported, found themselves strangely mistaken, as the Count of Armagnac and others, who paid dear for that opinion; for he knew very well how to distinguish between the appearance and reality of danger: and this I dare boldly say in his commendation (and if I have said it before, it is not unworthy to be repeated), that in my whole life I never knew any man so wise in misfortunes.