special messenger that he does not believe he will be alive a
fortnight hence.... The person who gave me this information is
the monk who repeated his Hours with M. de G[uienne.] I am much
abashed at this and have crossed myself from head to foot.

"Written at Moutils-lès-Tours, May 18th."

This prognostic was correct. In less than a fortnight the Duke of
Guienne lay dead, and the heavy suspicion rested upon his royal
brother of having done more than acquiesce in the decree of fate.
Whether or not there was any truth in this charge the king was
certainly not heartbroken by the loss. Indeed, the event interested
him less than the question of making the best use of the remainder of
his truce with Charles. The following letters to Dammartin and the
Duke of Milan belong to this time.

"Thank you for the pains you have taken but pray, as speedily as
you can, come here to draw up your ordinance for we only have
a fortnight more of the truce. I have sent the artillery and
soldiers to Angers. Monsg. the grand master, strengthen Odet's
forces, do not let one man go, and see to it that the seneschal of
Guienne enrols sufficient to fill his company. Then if there are
more at large, form them into a body and send them to me and I
will find them a captain and pay all those who are willing to
stay.

"As to him,[21] make him talk on the way and learn whether he
would like to enter into an agreement in his brother's name, and
work it so that the duke will leave the Burgundian in the lurch at
all points for ever, and make a good treaty, as you will know how,