In 1471 St.Quentin opened its gates to Count Louis of St.Poi, constable of France; and Duke Charles complained with threats about it to the Count of Dampmartin, who was in commend, on that frontier, of Louis XI.'s army, and had a good understanding with the constable.

Dampmartin, "one of the bravest men of his time," says Duclos [Histoire de Louis XI in the (Enures completes of Duclos, t.ii.p.

429), "sincere and faithful, a warm friend and an implacable foe, at once replied to the duke, 'Most high and puissant prince, I suppose your letters to have been dictated by your council and highest clerics, who are folks better at letter-making than I am, for I have not lived by quill-driving.

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