THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY LEAVES KING CHARLES AT LAON, AND RETURNS TO THE DUKE HER LORD AT QUÊNOY.
KING Charles, having celebrated the festival of Easter at the bishop's palace at Laon, held several councils on the requests which the duchess of Burgundy had made, at the conclusion of which (as I have before said) few if any were granted. She was much displeased at this, and saw clearly, as well as those who had accompanied her, that the king's ministers were not well inclined toward the duke of Burgundy or his concerns.
Perceiving that her stay was no longer profitable, she took leave of the king, and thanked him for the honourable reception he had given her,—but added, 'My lord, of all the requests I have made you, and which seemed so very reasonable, you have not granted me one.' The king courteously replied, 'Fair sister, this has weighed on my mind more than you conceive, and I am much hurt that it cannot be otherwise; for, having laid the whole of them before my council, where they have been fully discussed, they have determined that it would be very much to my prejudice were I to accede to them.'
After this conversation, she took her leave of the king and the dauphin, and went to St Quentin with her attendants. She was escorted by the constable, and others, a considerable way. From St Quentin, she departed on the morrow to dine at the castle of Cambresis. While she was there, some of the king's men had entered Hainault on a foraging party, and were carrying away great numbers, of cattle, sheep, horses, and other effects; but they were sharply pursued by the duchess's men, who killed three or four on the spot: the rest saved themselves by flight, except two, who were overtaken, made prisoners, and carried to Quênoy, where they suffered death.
The duchess pushed forward to Quênoy, where the duke was, to whom she related all that had passed between her and the king and his ministers. In truth, the greater number of the nobles who had accompanied her were not so much attached to the french interest on their return as they were when they had set out, on account of what they had seen and heard while at Laon.
The duke weighed well these matters in his own breast, and considered with his council on the best means of securing his dominions, which seemed likely on the first fair opportunity, to be attacked. He had, however, about him many prudent and valiant men, who exerted themselves to the utmost to preserve peace and union,—and in particular, on the part of the French, the archbishop of Rheims, lord chancellor of France, was very active to preserve the peace from being infringed. And although the duchess of Burgundy had left the king in an ill humour, there were daily communications between well-intentioned men on both sides, to bring to an amicable conclusion what differences might exist between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy.