One of his first measures when he was finally established at Brussels was to secure more speedy execution of justice.  He appointed a new provost, “a dangerous varlet of low estate, but excellently fitted to carry out perilous work.”  Then he determined to settle petty civil suits himself, as there were many which had dragged on for a long time.  In order to do this and to receive complaints from poor people, he arranged to give audience three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after dinner.  On these occasions he required the attendance of all his nobles, seated before him on benches, each according to his rank.  Excuses were not pleasantly accepted, so that few places were empty.  Charles himself was elevated on a high throne covered with cloth of gold, whence he pompously pronounced judgments and heard and answered petitions, a process that sometimes lasted two or three hours and was exceedingly tiresome to the onlookers.

“In outer appearance it seemed a magnificent course of action and very praiseworthy.  But in my time I have never heard of nor seen like action taken by prince or king, nor any proceedings in the least similar.

“When the duke went through the city from place to place and from church to church, it was wonderful how much state and order was maintained and what a grand escort he had.  Never a knight so old or so young who dared absent himself and never a squire was bold enough to squeeze himself into the knights’ places.”

At the levee, the same rigid ceremony was observed.  Every one had to wait his turn in his proper room—­the squires in the first, the knights in the second, and so on.  All left the palace together to go to mass.  As soon as the offering was made all the nobles were free to dine, but they were obliged to report themselves to the duke immediately after his repast.  Any failure caused the forfeiture of the fee for the day.  It was all very orderly and very dull.

Thus Charles of Burgundy felt that he was law-giver, paternal guide, philosopher, and friend to his people.  From time to time he delivered harangues to his court, veritable sermons.  He obtained hearing, but certainly did not win popularity.  The adulatory phrases used as mere conventionalities seemed to have actually turned his head.  And those stock phrases were very grandiloquent.  There is no doubt that such comparisons were used as Chastellain puts into the mouths of the first deputation from Ghent to ask pardon for the sins committed at the dolorous unjoyous entry into the Flemish capital.[2]

“My very excellent seigneur, when you who hold double place, place of God and place of man, and have in yourself the double nature by office and commission in divine estate, and as your noble discretion knows and is cognisant, like God the Father, Creator, of all offences committed against you, and who may be appeased by tears and by weeping as He permits Himself to be softened