'As for the disobedience alleged against my officers and commissaries to the bailiff of Amiens, to the king's officers, and to those of the duke, whom they will not permit to execute any warrants saying and maintaining that I have not taken any oaths of allegiance but to the king of England,—I have never before heard any mention made of this, nor do I know what private wrongs may have been done, nor to whom: of course, I am unable to make any reply to this charge. I should have expected that the bailiff of Amiens, whom I consider as my particular friend, would have informed me of any misconduct in my people, for had he done so, I should have exerted myself in such wise that my lord should have been satisfied. In regard to the provost of Peronne, who has charged my officers with waylaying and chacing him into the town of Cambray, with the intention of ill-treating and perhaps of killing him,—I have inquired of my officers, and they tell me, that when they were amusing themselves twenty leagues from Cambray, they were informed, that the said provost had vauntingly declared, that if he could lay hands on them, he would hang them by the necks; on which they suddenly pursued him, to know if what they had heard were true,—and learning that he had not said any such things, they had quietly left him.
'As for the threats which my said officers have held out to the abbot of St Aubert of Cambray, they beg to be held excused.
'With regard to the complaints of the receiver-general of Peronne, that he cannot exercise his office, nor the toll-gatherers at Bapaume, from the hinderance of my officers,—my lord will cause further informations to be made on this subject, and will then write to me fully thereon, according to his pleasure, when I shall make such answers as ought to be satisfactory.
'In respect to master Ador Caperel, who has told my lord that I have caused him to be waylaid, to abuse and ill treat him, I assure you that this is not true,—and I beg that further information may be had thereon. Should it clearly appear, after I have been heard, that I have caused him to be waylaid, I am willing to receive such punishment as justice shall order; but should the contrary be proved, I entreat that you will beg my said lord to lay hands on the said Caperel and others, who have been guilty of such lying reports, that they may be severely punished, for an example to all others, to prevent them from doing the like, and that it may be publicly known that my said lord, and the members of his council, will not suffer such scandalous reports to be made against me, or others of his servants, with impunity.
'As for you, my very dear brothers and companions, whose prudence, valour, and wisdom, I am acquainted with, you would not that one of your brethren should be unjustly accused,—and in this confidence I have written thus fully, for your information, of the charges alledged against me, entreating you fraternally, at the same time, that you would exert yourselves toward my said lord, to induce him to withdraw his indignation from me, and be satisfied with the explanations and excuses contained in this letter, and no longer give faith to any reports made against any one without that person being first heard in his exculpation, that it may be proved on which side the fault shall be.
'In truth, if I am not assisted by you, and if proceedings shall be carried on against me without my being heard in my defence, I know not to whom to apply, nor have I any hope of being treated with justice, which must cause me to suffer the utmost grief. I refer you for all other particulars to the bearers of this letter, the before mentioned Taillemonde and Huet, either of whom can relate to you the details of every charge.
'Very dear brothers and companions, if there be any thing you would wish me to do, let me be made acquainted therewith, and I will perform it most willingly, as the Lord knows, to whose holy keeping I commend you.
'Written at my hotel at Bohain on Candlemas-day.'
Such were the contents of the letters sir John de Luxembourg sent to the different knights-companions of the order of the Golden Fleece, the greater part of whom were very desirous to mediate with the duke of Burgundy that sir John might remain in his good graces. They daily remonstrated with the duke on this subject, and that he ought not to be so much displeased; but new matters of quarrel arose between them, and various tales were continually carried to the duke against him.