He despatched to Chinon two knights charged to inquire concerning the damsel.

One was Sire Archambaud of Villars, Governor of Montargis, whom the Bastard had already sent to the King during the siege; he was an aged knight, once the intimate friend of Duke Louis of Orleans, and one of the seven Frenchmen who fought against the seven Englishmen at Montendre,[570] in 1402: an Orleans citizen of the early days, notwithstanding his great age he had vigourously defended Les Tourelles on the 21st of October.

The other, Messire Jamet du Tillay, a Breton squire, had recently won great honour by covering the retreat of Rouvray with his men.

They set forth and the whole town anxiously awaited their return.[571] [Footnote 570: _Relation contemporaine du combat de Montendre_, in _Bulletin de la Societe de l'Histoire de France_, 1834, pp.

109-113.] [Footnote 571: _Trial_, vol.iii, pp.