He took the liberty of disregarding his
master's orders; the troops were not disbanded, and he held himself
in readiness to go to fetch the errant monarch if he did not return
speedily from the enemy's country. His letter to the king and the
unwritten additions delivered by his confidential messengers terrified
his liege lest too much zeal on his behalf in France might work him
ill in Liege. A week later Louis writes again:

NAMUR, Oct. 22nd.

"MONSEIGNEUR THE GRAND MASTER:

"I have received your letter by Sire du Bouchage. _Be assured that
I make this journey to Liege under no constraint, and that I never
took any journey with such good heart as I do this._ Since God and
Our Lady have given me grace to be friends with Monseigneur of
Burgundy, be sure that never shall our rabble over there take arms
against me. Monseigneur the grand master, my friend, you have
proved that you love me, and you have done me the greatest service
that you can, and there is another service that you can do. The
people of Monseigneur of Burgundy think that I mean to deceive
them, and people there [in France] think that I am a prisoner.
Distrust between the two would be my ruin.

"Monseigneur, as to the quarters of your men, you know what we
planned, you and I, touching the action of Armagnac. It seems
to me that you ought to send your people straight ahead in that
direction and I will furnish you four or five captains as soon as
I am out of this, and you can make what choice you will. M. the
grand master, my friend, come, I beg you, to Laon and await me
there. Send me a messenger the minute you arrive and I will let
you have frequent news. Be assured that as soon as the Liegeois
are subdued, on the morrow I will depart, for Monsg. of Burgundy
is resolved to urge me to go as soon as he has finished his work
at Liege, and he desires my return more than I do. Francois Dunois
will tell you what good cheer we are making. Adieu, monseigneur,
etc.

"Writ at Namur, Oct. 22nd.

"LOUIS "TOUSSAINT.

"To our dear and beloved cousin the Count of Dammartin, grand
master of France."[20]

Letters of the same date to Rochefoucauld and others also declare that
Louis goes most gladly with his dear brother of Burgundy and that the
affair will not require much time. To Cardinal Balue he writes only a
few words, telling him that the mes