Charles the Bold eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 423 pages of information about Charles the Bold.

Charles the Bold eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 423 pages of information about Charles the Bold.

As a matter of fact, before his arrival at Dijon Philip Pot had set out for the Netherlands, bearing the duke’s orders to his son to celebrate his nuptials without further delay.  The duke did not intend to be influenced by any one.  It was his will that his son should accept the bride selected and that was all sufficient.  The reason why the duke detained the king’s messenger was that he “awaited news from Messire Philip de Pot, whom he had sent in all speed to his son to hasten the wedding."[15] The said gentleman found the count at Lille with the duchess, his mother, and he was so diligent in the discharge of his mission that he made all the arrangements himself and saw the wedding rites solemnised immediately.  The bridegroom did not even know of the plan until the night preceding the important day.  Then Philip Pot rode back to Dijon.

When the duke was assured that the alliance was irrevocably sealed he was quite ready to answer the king’s messenger, whom he at once invited to an audience.  In a casual fashion Philip remarked: 

“Now bailiff, the king sent you hither about a matter which I am humbly grateful for his interest in.  You know my opinion.  I had no desire to dissemble.  Here is a gentleman fresh from Flanders; ask him his news and note his reply.”

“What tidings, Monsieur, do you bring us?

Prithee impart it” said the bailiff to the chevalier.  And the gentleman, laughing, replied:  “By my faith, Monsieur bailiff, the greatest news that I know is that Monseigneur de Charolais is married!”

“Married! to whom?”

“To whom?” responded the chevalier, “why, to his first cousin, Monseigneur’s niece.”

Merry was the duke over the Frenchman’s blank amazement.  Again the latter had to be reassured of the truth of the statement.  Philip Pot told him that it was so true that the wedded pair had spent the night together according to their lawful right.

The bailiff did not know which way to turn.  “So he acted out his two roles.  Returning thanks to the duke in the king’s name with all formality, he then joined in the general laugh over the unsuspected trick.  He was a man of the world and knew how to take advantage of sense and of folly.”

It was on the morrow of this hasty tying of the wedding knot that the Countess of Charolais sent a messenger to announce the fact to her parents.  They seem to have been perfectly satisfied, made no further objection to any point, and the mooted territory of Chinon made part of the dower in spite of the reasons urged against it.

As to the bailiff, when he made his adieux at Dijon, Philip presented him with a round dozen stirrup cups, each worth three silver marks, and he went home a surprised and delighted man.

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Charles the Bold from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.