ndence with the French king. He assured
him that he was willing to receive and honour Louis as his suzerain's
heir, but he implored that suzerain not to blame him, the duke, for
that heir's flight to his protection.

His envoy, Perrenet, was charged with many reassuring messages in
addition to the epistle. Before he reached the French court, his
news was no novelty. Rumour had preceded him. The messenger was very
eloquent in his assurances to the king that Philip was wholly innocent
in the affair and a good peer and true. Perrenet

"stayed at the French court until Epiphany and I do not know what
they discussed, but during that time news came that the king had
garrisoned Compiegne, Lyons, and places where his lands touched
the duke's territories. When the envoy returned to the duke, he
published a manifesto ordering all who could bear arms to be in
readiness."[17]

Philip sent messages of welcome to Louis with apologies for his
own inevitable absence, and the visitor was profuse in his return
assurances to his uncle that he understood the delay and would not
disturb his business for the world. "I have leisure enough to wait and
it does not weary me. I am safe in a pleasant land and in a fine town
which I have long wished to see." He showed his courtesy when the
Count d'Etampes, Philip's nephew-in-law, presented his suite, by
pronouncing each individual name and assuring its bearer that he had
heard about him.[18]

The count was commissioned to conduct the dauphin to Brussels and we
have the story of an eye-witness of his reception by the ladies of the
ducal family:

"I saw the King of France, father of the present King Charles,
chased away by his father Charles for some difference of which
they say that the fair Agnes was the cause, and on account of
which he took refuge with Duke Philip, for he had no means of
subsistence.[19]

"The said King Louis, being dauphin, came to Brussels accompanied
by about ten cavaliers and by the Marshal of Burgundy. At this
time Duke Philip was at Utrecht in war and there was no one to
receive the visitor but Madame the Duchess Isabella and Madame
de Charolais, her daughter-in-law, pregnant with Madame Mary of
Burgundy, since then Duchess of Austria.

"Monsieur the dauphin arrived at Brussels, where were the ladies,
at eight o'clock in the evening, about St. Martin's Day.[20] When
the ladies heard th