to argue no further.
There must have been a fine panic inside the palace for, at the very moment that the workmen were putting their levers under the gates, they opened of their own accord. The Count of Valois' garrison was surrendering.
`It was time you took the wise course,' said the Constable, as he took possession of the palace. `Go back to your homes and to the houses of your masters; if you do not assemble, no harm will come to you.'
An hour later Philippe of Poitiers was in occupation of the royal apartments. He immediately took measures for his safety. The courtyard of the palace, normally open to the public, was closed, a military guard placed on it, and all visitors were carefully checked. The mercers, who had the privilege of trading in the Great Gallery, were asked to close their stalls temporarily.
When the Counts of Valois and de la Marche arrived in Paris, they realized that the game was lost.
`Philippe has played a dirty trick on us,' they said.
And they hastened to the palace to negotiate their submission, having no longer any alternative. About the Count of Poitiers was a large number of lords, burgesses and ecclesiastics, among whom was the Archbishop Jean de Marigny, always prompt to join the winning side.
`He won't last. He must be very uncertain of himself if he feels obliged to seek the support of the commonalty,' Valois whispered to Charles de la Marche, when he saw with some vexation that Coquatrix, Gentien and other notables were present.
Nevertheless, he assumed his best manner when advancing towards his nephew and presenting his excuses for the morning's incident.
`My equerries of the guard knew no better. They had received definite orders because of Queen Clemence, '
He exp ected a harsh rebuff and almost hoped for it so that he might have a pretext for opposing Philippe openly. But his nephew gave him no opportunity for a quarrel and replied in the same tone: `I had to act as I did, and with the greatest regret, Uncle, to forestall the plans of the Duke of Burgundy, who had a free hand in your absence. I received, the news during the night at Fontainebleau, but did not wish to disturb you.'
Valois, to mi nimize his defeat, pretended to credit the explanation, and even brought himself to be polite to the Constable, whom he believed to be the author of the whole plot.
Charles, de la Marche, who was less clever at dissimulation, clenched his teeth.
The Count of Evreux then made the pro posal which had been previously agreed with Philippe. While the Count of Poitiers pretended to be engaged in military questions with the Constable and Mille de Noyers in a corner of the room, Louis of Evreux said: `My noble lords, and you too, Messires, I counsel, for the g ood of the kingdom and so as to avoid dangerous disturbances, that our well-beloved nephew, Philippe, take possession of the government, we all consenting, and that he should fulfil the r oyal duties in the name of his unborn nephew, if. God so wishes that Q ueen Clemence should give birth to a son. I counsel also that an assembly of all the chief men of the kingdom be held as soon as it c an be convoked, with the peers and the barons, in order to approve our decision and swear fealty to the Regent.'
It was a precise counterstroke to the declaration Charles de la Marche had made the evening before on his arrival at Fontainebleau. But this Act had been prepared by better artists. Led by those who were loyal to the Count of Poitiers, everyone present approved with acclamation. Then Louis of Evreux, repeating the gesture the Count de Forez had made at Lyons, went and placed his hands between those of Philippe.
`I swear fealty to you, Nephew,' he said, falling upon his knees.
Philippe raised, him and, embracing him, whispered in his ear'. `Everything is going splendidly: thank you, Uncle.'
Charles de la Marche, furiously angry at Philippe's success, muttered: `He thinks he's the King.'
But Louis of Evreux had already turned to Charles
There must have been a fine panic inside the palace for, at the very moment that the workmen were putting their levers under the gates, they opened of their own accord. The Count of Valois' garrison was surrendering.
`It was time you took the wise course,' said the Constable, as he took possession of the palace. `Go back to your homes and to the houses of your masters; if you do not assemble, no harm will come to you.'
An hour later Philippe of Poitiers was in occupation of the royal apartments. He immediately took measures for his safety. The courtyard of the palace, normally open to the public, was closed, a military guard placed on it, and all visitors were carefully checked. The mercers, who had the privilege of trading in the Great Gallery, were asked to close their stalls temporarily.
When the Counts of Valois and de la Marche arrived in Paris, they realized that the game was lost.
`Philippe has played a dirty trick on us,' they said.
And they hastened to the palace to negotiate their submission, having no longer any alternative. About the Count of Poitiers was a large number of lords, burgesses and ecclesiastics, among whom was the Archbishop Jean de Marigny, always prompt to join the winning side.
`He won't last. He must be very uncertain of himself if he feels obliged to seek the support of the commonalty,' Valois whispered to Charles de la Marche, when he saw with some vexation that Coquatrix, Gentien and other notables were present.
Nevertheless, he assumed his best manner when advancing towards his nephew and presenting his excuses for the morning's incident.
`My equerries of the guard knew no better. They had received definite orders because of Queen Clemence, '
He exp ected a harsh rebuff and almost hoped for it so that he might have a pretext for opposing Philippe openly. But his nephew gave him no opportunity for a quarrel and replied in the same tone: `I had to act as I did, and with the greatest regret, Uncle, to forestall the plans of the Duke of Burgundy, who had a free hand in your absence. I received, the news during the night at Fontainebleau, but did not wish to disturb you.'
Valois, to mi nimize his defeat, pretended to credit the explanation, and even brought himself to be polite to the Constable, whom he believed to be the author of the whole plot.
Charles, de la Marche, who was less clever at dissimulation, clenched his teeth.
The Count of Evreux then made the pro posal which had been previously agreed with Philippe. While the Count of Poitiers pretended to be engaged in military questions with the Constable and Mille de Noyers in a corner of the room, Louis of Evreux said: `My noble lords, and you too, Messires, I counsel, for the g ood of the kingdom and so as to avoid dangerous disturbances, that our well-beloved nephew, Philippe, take possession of the government, we all consenting, and that he should fulfil the r oyal duties in the name of his unborn nephew, if. God so wishes that Q ueen Clemence should give birth to a son. I counsel also that an assembly of all the chief men of the kingdom be held as soon as it c an be convoked, with the peers and the barons, in order to approve our decision and swear fealty to the Regent.'
It was a precise counterstroke to the declaration Charles de la Marche had made the evening before on his arrival at Fontainebleau. But this Act had been prepared by better artists. Led by those who were loyal to the Count of Poitiers, everyone present approved with acclamation. Then Louis of Evreux, repeating the gesture the Count de Forez had made at Lyons, went and placed his hands between those of Philippe.
`I swear fealty to you, Nephew,' he said, falling upon his knees.
Philippe raised, him and, embracing him, whispered in his ear'. `Everything is going splendidly: thank you, Uncle.'
Charles de la Marche, furiously angry at Philippe's success, muttered: `He thinks he's the King.'
But Louis of Evreux had already turned to Charles
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