“I was determined to help in the defense of the town. Some of my men thought it too risky with so few of us, but I managed to persuade them, and at midnight on 22 May, we set out for Compiègne. There was no moon, and we had to ride very carefully, watching out for Burgundians and rabbit holes. We arrived at the town around 4 a.m. and entered on the far side away from the enemy.
“Having ridden most of the night, we rested ‘til around 5 p.m. that afternoon, then I decided it was time to take the offensive and attack the closest group at Margny. I led a band of about five hundred men across the bridge and into the enemy camp. We took them by surprise and would have defeated them easily, but I did not know that this was to be the moment my time had run out.
“By a stroke of very bad luck, Jea
