A messenger was despatched post haste to Chambery to stop the dauphin’s nuptials.[11] The duke evaded an interview and the envoy was forced to deliver his letter to the chancellor of Savoy.  On the morrow of his arrival, he was taken to church, where the wedding ceremony was performed (March 10, 1451), but his seat was in such a remote place that he could barely catch a glimpse of the bridal procession, though he saw that Louis was clad in crimson velvet trimmed with ermine.  Two days later the envoy carried a pleasant letter to the king, expressing regrets on the part of the Duke of Savoy that the alliance was made before the paternal prohibition arrived.

Nine years were spent by Louis in Dauphine.  He introduced many administrative and judicial reforms, excellent in themselves but not popular.  There were various protests and when he dared to impose taxes without the consent of the Estates, an appeal was made to the king begging him to check his son in his illegal assumptions.  Charles summoned his son to his presence.  Instead of obeying this order in person, Louis sent envoys who were dismissed by his father with a curt response:  “Let my son return to his duty and he shall be treated as a son.  As to his fears, security to his person is pledged by my word, which my foes have never refused to accept."[12]

Louis showed himself less compliant than his father’s foes.  As Charles approached Dauphine, and made his preparations to enforce obedience, Louis appealed to the mediation of the pope, of the Duke of Burgundy, and of the King of Castile, beside sending offerings to all the chief shrines in Christendom, imploring aid against parental wrath.  Then his thoughts took a less peaceful turn.  He called the nobles of his principality to arms and bade the fortified towns prepare for siege, while he loftily declared that he would not trouble his father to seek him.  He would meet him at Lyons.

Meanwhile, the Count of Dammartin was directed by the king to take military possession of Dauphine and to put the dauphin under arrest.  As he was en route to fulfil these orders, the count heard that a day had been set by Louis for a great hunt.  That an excellent opportunity might be afforded for securing his quarry in the course of the chase, was the immediate thought of the king’s lieutenant.  So there might have been had not the wily hunter received timely warning of the project for making him the game.

At the hour appointed for the meet, the dauphin’s suite rode to the rendezvous, but the prince turned his horse in the opposite direction and galloped away at full speed, attended by a few trusty followers.  He hardly stopped even to take breath until he was out of his father’s domain, and made no pause until he reached St. Claude, a small town in the Franche-Comte, where he threw himself on the kindness of the Prince of Orange.