"On the morrow, which was about May 15, 1472, so far as I remember
[says Commines] came letters from Simon de Quingey, the duke's
ambassador to the king, announcing the death of the Duke of
Guienne and that the king had recovered the majority of his
places. Messages from various localities followed headlong one on
the other, and every one had a different story of the death.

"The duke being in despair at the death, at the instigation of
other people as much concerned as himself, wrote letters full of
bitter accusations against the king to several towns--an action
that profited little for nothing was done about it.[25]... In this
violent passion the duke proceeded towards Nesle in Vermandois,
and commenced a kind of warfare such as he had never used before,
burning and destroying wherever he passed."

It is interesting to note how smoothly Commines sails by the capital
charges against the king. He neither accepts nor denies the king's
crime, while frankly admitting that Guienne's decease was an opportune
circumstance for Louis. He apologises for mentioning any evil report
of either king or duke, but urges his duty as historian to tell the
truth without palliation.

Nesle was a little place on a tributary of the Somme which refused
the duke's summons to surrender, sent to it on June 10th. It seems
possible that there was a misunderstanding between the citizens
and the garrison which resulted in the slaughter of the Burgundian
heralds. Whereupon, the exasperated soldiers rushed headlong upon the
ill-defended burghers and wreaked a terrible vengeance on the town.