The heart of Bertha was suddenly filled with holy solace, for the banner of the great monastery turned the corner of a road across the fields, and appeared accompanied by the chants of the Church, which burst forth like heavenly music.  The monks, informed of the murder perpetrated on their well-beloved prior, came in procession, assisted by the ecclesiastical justice, to claim his body.  When he saw this, the Sire de Bastarnay had barely that time to make for the postern with his men, and set out towards Monseigneur Louis, leaving everything in confusion.

Poor Bertha, en croup behind her son, came to Montbazon to bid her father farewell, telling him that this blow would be her death, and was consoled by those of her family who endeavoured to raise her spirits, but were unable to do so.  The old Sire de Rohan presented his grandson with a splendid suit of armour, telling him to acquire glory and honour that he might turn his mother’s faults into eternal renown.  But Madame de Bastarnay had implanted in the mind of her dear son no other idea than of atoning for the harm done, in order to save her and Jehan from eternal damnation.  Both then set out for the places then in a state of rebellion, in order to render such service to Bastarnay that he would receive from them more than life itself.

Now the heat of the sedition was, as everyone knows, in the neighbourhood of Angouleme, and of Bordeaux in Guienne, and other parts of the kingdom, where great battles and severe conflicts between the rebels and the royal armies was likely to take place.  The principal one which finished the war was given between Ruffec and Angouleme, where all the prisoners taken were tried and hanged.  This battle, commanded by old Bastarnay, took place in the month of November, seven months after the poisoning of Jehan.  Now the Baron knew that his head had been strongly recommended as one to be cut off, he being the right hand of Monsiegneur Louis.  Directly his men began to fall back, the old fellow found himself surrounded by six men determined to seize him.  Then he understood that they wished to take him alive, in order to proceed against his house, ruin his name, and confiscate his property.  The poor sire preferred rather to die and save his family, and present the domains to his son.  He defended himself like the brave old lion that he was.  In spite of their number, these said soldiers, seeing three of their comrades fall, were obliged to attack Bastarnay at the risk of killing him, and threw themselves together upon him, after having laid low two of his equerries and a page.