Such a mistake, after such a fuss, was probably not unconnected with a
resolution adopted by Charles VI. some time after the abandonment of the
projected expedition against England. In October, 1388, he assembled at
Rheims a grand council, at which were present his two uncles, the Dukes
of Burgundy and Berry [the third, the Duke of Anjou, had died in Italy,
on the 20th of September, 1384, after a vain attempt to conquer the
kingdom of Naples], his brother, the Duke of Orleans, his cousins, and
several prelates and lords of note. The chancellor announced thereat
that he had been ordered by the king to put in discussion the question,
whether it were not expedient that he should henceforth take the
government of his kingdom upon himself. Cardinal Ascelin de Montaigu,
Bishop of Laon, the first to be interrogated upon this subject, replied
that, in his opinion, the king was quite in a condition, as well as in a
legal position, to take the government of his kingdom upon himself, and,
without naming anybody, he referred to the king's uncles, and especially
to the Duke of Burgundy, as being no longer necessary for the government
of France. Nearly all who were present were of the same opinion. The
king, without further waiting, thanked his uncles for the care they had
taken of his dominions and of himself, and begged them to continue their
affection for him. Neither the Duke of Burgundy nor the Duke of Berry
had calculated upon this resolution; they submitted, without making any
objection, but not without letting a little temper leak out. The Duke of
Berry even said that he and his brother would beg the king to confer with
them more maturely on the subject when he returned to Paris. Hereupon
the council broke up; the king's two uncles started for their own
dominions; and a few weeks afterwards the Cardinal-bishop of Laon died
of a short illness. "It was generally believed," says the monk of St.
Denis, "that he died of poison." At his own dying wish, no inquiry was
instituted on this subject. The measure adopted in the late council was,