Returning to Forez after the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559), he began to live beyond his means. Discovered embezzling public funds, he went into debt to repay what he had illegally "borrowed". He narrowly escaped death at the hands of Huguenots during the Massacre of Montbrison in July 1562. His protector, Jacques d'Albon, died in the Battle of Dreux on 19 December 1562. Around 1565, Du Tronchet was imprisoned for debt. In 1569 he published a collection of letters and missives that was reprinted several times to the middle of the following century.