standard bearer of the Church, and that I took the oath by your command, I am now on my way to join my uncle to learn his plans so that I can take steps for the defence of the Catholic Faith.

“Also, I wish to implore him to find means of reinstating me in your good grace, which is something that I desire most in the world.  My very redoubtable lord, I pray God to give you good life and long.

    “Written at St. Claude the last day of August.

    “Your very humble and obedient son,

    “LOYS."[14]

This letter hardly succeeded in carrying conviction to the king.  He characterised the projected expedition to Turkey as a farce, a pretence, and a frivolous excuse.[15] Probably, too, he did not contradict his courtiers when they declared that the project had been in the wind a long time, and that the Duke of Burgundy would be prouder than ever to have the heir to France dependent on his protection.

The epistle despatched, Louis continued his journey under the escort of the Seigneur de Blaumont, Marshal of Burgundy, at the head of thirty horse.  Their pace was rapid to elude the pursuit of Tristan l’Hermite.  The prince needed no spurs to make him flee.  Even if his father did not intend to have him drowned in a sack his immediate liberty was certainly in jeopardy.  “In truth this thing was a marvellous business.  The Prince of Orange and the Marshal of Burgundy were the two men whom the dauphin hated more than any one else, but necessity, which knows no law, overcame the distaste of the dauphin."[16]

Louvain was the next place where Louis felt safe enough to rest.  Here he wrote to the Duke of Burgundy to announce his arrival within his territory.  The letter found Philip in camp before Deventer.  It is evident that he was entirely taken by surprise, and was prepared to be very cautious in his correspondence 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