thing to intrust the government of the realm to a prince whose youth
needed rather to be governed than to govern." He withdrew the direction
of affairs from the Duke of Orleans and restored it to the Duke of
Burgundy, who took it again and held it with a strong grasp, and did
not suffer his nephew Louis to meddle in anything. But from that time
forward open distrust and hatred were established between the two princes
and their families. In the very midst of this court-crisis Duke Philip
the Bold fell ill and died within a few days, on the 27th of April, 1404.
He was a prince valiant and able, ambitious, imperious, eager in the
pursuit of his own personal interests, careful in humoring those whom he
aspired to rule, and disposed to do them good service in whatever was not
opposed to his own ends. He deserved and possessed the confidence and
affection not only of his father, King John, but also of his brother,
Charles V., a good judge of wisdom and fidelity. He founded that great
house of Burgundy which was for more than a century to eclipse and often
to deplorably compromise France; but Philip the Bold loved France
sincerely, and always gave her the chief place in his policy. His
private life was regular and staid, amidst the scandalous licentiousness
of his court. He was of those who leave behind them unfeigned regret and
an honored memory, without having inspired their contemporaries with any
lively sympathy.

John the Fearless, Count of Nevers, his son and successor in the dukedom
of Burgundy, was not slow to prove that there was reason to regret his
father. His expedition to Hungary, for all its bad leadership and bad
fortune, had created esteem for his courage and for his firmness under
reverses, but little confidence in his direction of public affairs. He
was a man of violence, unscrupulous and indiscreet, full of jealousy and
hatred, and capable of any deed and any risk for the gratification of his
passions or his fancies. At his accession he made some popular moves; he
appeared disposed to prosecute vigorously the war against England, which
was going on sluggishly; he testified a certain spirit of conciliation by
going to pay a visit to his cousin, the Duke of Orleans, lying ill at his
castle of Beaute, near Vincennes; when the Duke of Orleans was well
again, the two princes took the communion together, and dined together at
their uncle's, the Duke of Berry's; and the Duke of Orleans invited the
new Duk