“Some time ago my cousin of Bourbon informed me of the negotiations for the marriage of my cousin of Charolais, your son, to my cousin Isabella of Bourbon, his daughter, which marriage has been deferred, as he writes me, because he does not wish to alienate to his daughter the seignory of Chateau-Chinon.  It is not possible for him to do this on account of the marriage agreement of our daughter Jeanne and my cousin of Clermont, his son, wherein it was stipulated that Chateau-Chinon should go to them and their heirs.  Moreover, it cannot descend in the female line, and in default of heirs male it must return to the crown as a true appanage of France.

“Lest, peradventure, you may doubt the truth of this, and imagine that the point is urged by our cousin of Bourbon simply as an excuse for not ceding the estate, we assure you that it is true, and was considered in arranging the alliance of our daughter so that it is beyond the power of our cousin of Bourbon to make any alienation or transfer of the territory at the marriage of his daughter.  We never would have permitted the marriage of our daughter without this express settlement.  With this consideration it seems to me that you ought not to block the marriage in question, especially as my cousin says he is offering you an equivalent.  He cannot do more as we have charged our councillor, the bailiff of Berry, to explain to you in full.  So pray do not postpone the marriage for the above cause or for any cause, if by the permission of the Church and of our Holy Father it can be lawfully completed.

    “Given at Romorantin, Oct. 17.

    “CHARLES.[13]

    CHALIGAUT.”

As the marriage was an event of importance, and the circumstances are simple historic facts, it is strange that there should be any uncertainty regarding the details of its solemnisation.  But there is a certain vagueness about the narratives.  One version is so amusing that it deserves a slight consideration.[14] The chronicler relates how Charles VII. felt some uneasiness at the delay in the negotiations.  Conscious of the sentiments of the Duchess of Burgundy, he feared lest her well-known sympathies for England might prevail in the final decision.

When Philip had returned to Dijon, the bailiff of Berry came as the king’s special envoy to discuss some aspects of the subject with him.  The mission was gladly undertaken as the messenger had never seen Philip nor his court and he was pleased at the chance of meeting a personage whose fame rang through Europe.  Very graciously was he received by the duke, who read the king’s letters attentively and replied to the envoy’s messages in general terms of courteous recognition, without making his own intention manifest.  The bailiff waited for an answer, finding, in the meanwhile, that his days passed very agreeably.