now stoutly oppose any interference by him in the government of the kingdom, he resolved to secure the authority he was determined to possess there, by every means in his power. His first step was to conclude two marriages which had been agreed on during his father's lifetime; one between the dauphin, the eldest son of the king, and his own daughter Margaret; the other between his eldest son, Philip, Count of Charolois, and Michelle, daughter of the king. By these means he hoped to obtain an influence over the king and the young dauphin. Finding, however, that the Duke of Orleans, who was steadily supported by the queen, was likely to exclude him from even a share in the administration of the kingdom, he resolved to have recourse to force of arms. He accordingly assembled a body of armed men and hastened to Paris, where he knew he should be well received by the people, who were more attached to him than to the Duke of Orleans, or even the king, who had grievously offended the

citizens in the early part of his reign. Here he found the king, who became, in fact, his prisoner, and hearing that the dauphin, the king's eldest son, was on his way to join his mother and the Duke of Orleans, he hastened after him, and brought him back by force. Being now master of both father and son, he made a show of acting under the orders of the king, but was, in reality, the uncontrolled ruler of the kingdom. A regular war between the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans was now threatened. Both sides collected large bodies of troops, which sorely harassed the country. Great endeavours were made by the friends of both parties to effect a reconciliation, and their efforts were apparently successful. At a meeting held on the occasion of the marriage of the son of the Duke of Orleans with Isabella, daughter of the king, and widow of Richard II. of England-which was attended by many of the chief nobility, a legate from the Pope, and many bishops and churchmen -the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans

swore in the most solemn manner at the altar, to lay aside all their differences, and live in peace and friendship all the rest of their lives: but we shall see that one, at least, of these princes had falsehood on his lips, even while offering the most sacred pledge of his fidelity; for not long after, in the latter end of the year 1407, the Duke of Burgundy, who seems to have made the villain de Craon his model, caused his cousin of Orleans to be waylaid and assassinated in the streets of Paris.

The duke first endeavoured to conceal his share in his cousin's death, but finding there was no chance of concealment, he openly avowed it. The Dukes of Berri and Bourbon, and the other lords, did not, indeed, venture to arrest him; but they showed such abhorrence of the deed, that he thought it best to retire to his own country until he should have time to strengthen himself against his opponents.

The Duchess of Orleans, with her youngest son, hastened to Paris, and entreated the