The King having established posts in all parts of his kingdom—­which before never had been done—­it was not long ere he received the news of the Duke of Burgundy’s defeat; and he was in hourly expectation of the report, for letters of advice had reached him before, importing that the German army was advancing toward the Duke of Burgundy’s, and that a battle was expected between them.  Upon which many persons kept their ears open for the news, in order to carry it to the King.  For his custom was to reward liberally any person who brought him the first tidings of any news of importance, and to remember the messenger besides.  His majesty also took great delight in talking of it before it arrived, and would say, “I will give so much to any man who first brings me such and such news.”  The Lord du Bouchage and I, being together, happened to receive the first news of the battle of Morat, and we went with it to the King, who gave each of us two hundred marks of silver.  The Lord du Lude, who lay without the Plessis, had the first news of the arrival of the courier, with the letters concerning the battle of Nancy; he commanded the courier to deliver him the packet, and as he was a great favorite of the King’s he durst not refuse him.  By break of day the next morning, the Lord du Lude knocked at the door next to the King’s chamber, and, it being opened, he delivered in the packet from the Lord of Craon and other officers.  But none of the first letters gave any certainty of the Duke’s death; they only stated that he was seen to run away, and that it was supposed he had made his escape.

The King was at first so transported with joy at the news he scarce knew how to behave himself; however, his majesty was still in some perplexity.  On one hand, he was afraid that if the Duke should be taken prisoner by the Germans, by means of his money, of which he had great store, he would make some composition with them.  On the other, he was doubtful, if the Duke had made his escape, though defeated for the third time, whether he should seize upon his towns in Burgundy or not; which he judged not very difficult to do, since most of the brave men of that country had been slain in those three battles.  As to this last point, he came to this resolution—­which I believe few were acquainted with but myself—­that if the Duke were alive and well, he would command the army which lay ready in Champagne and Barrois to march immediately into Burgundy, and seize upon the whole country while it was in that state of terror and consternation; and when he was in possession of it he would inform the Duke that the seizure he had made was only to preserve it for him, and secure it against the Germans, because it was held under the sovereignty of the crown of France, and therefore he was unwilling it should fall into their hands, and whatever he had taken should be faithfully restored; and truly I am of opinion his majesty would have done it, though many people who are ignorant of the motives that guided the King will not easily believe it.  But this resolution was altered as soon as he was certain of the Duke of Burgundy’s death.