The king having received information of the constable’s departure, resolved to attempt some action that might prevent his reconciliation with the Duke of Burgundy; wherefore he marched with all expedition towards St. Quentin[489], with a detachment of 700 or 800 men-at-arms, whom he had assembled on a sudden, being privately advised of what number of troops the garrison consisted. Upon the king’s approach, some of the citizens came out to meet his majesty, and submitted themselves to him. The king commanded me to enter the town, and order the garrison to evacuate their quarters, which I did; and our men-at-arms having entered, the king himself followed, and was well received by the inhabitants; upon which some of the constable’s party fled after him into Hainault. As soon as the king was in possession of St. Quentin, he immediately despatched a courier with the news of it to the Duke of Burgundy, to let him understand that all hope of recovering it by the constable’s interest was now entirely lost. Upon receiving this news, the Duke of Burgundy sent his commands to the Lord of Aimeries (his grand bailiff in Hainault) to keep such guards in Mons that the constable might not escape, and in the meantime to confine him to his house. The bailiff durst not disobey the duke’s orders, yet his guards were not so strict but the constable might have escaped if he had pleased. What account can we give of Fortune in this place? This person was seated between the territories of these rival princes; he was possessed of several strong castles, had 400 men-at-arms well paid, and all his own creatures, under his control, and had had the command of them a dozen years: he was a person of great wisdom and valour, was very rich, and had great experience; and yet none of all these powerful advantages could, in the time of danger and distress, either afford him relief, or inspire him with courage enough to attempt his escape. One may say (and not without reason) that deceitful Fortune had assumed another air, and begun to regard him with a frowning aspect: but alas! Fortune is nothing but a poetical fiction; such surprising mysteries as these are far above her power to effect; and, when I reflect upon what, has already been said, and what may farther be urged, I cannot help thinking but that God had forsaken him; and if it were no offence in any man to judge (which it would be, and especially for me), I should maintain that the most probable cause of all his misfortunes, was his restless endeavours and designs to foment and continue the war between the king and the Duke of Burgundy, upon which alone his authority and power depended; nor indeed was this very difficult to accomplish, upon account of their humours and dispositions, which were naturally in themselves so vastly different.