before long more prominently than these honest effusions of feeling.
"All!" said the Duke of Berry, "De Clisson, La Mviere, Noviant, and
Vilaine have been haughty and harsh towards me; the time has come when
I shall pay them out in the same coin from the same mint." The
guardianship of the king was withdrawn from his councillors, and
transferred to four chamberlains chosen by his uncles. The two dukes,
however, did not immediately lay hands on the government of the kingdom;
the constable De Clisson and the late councillors of Charles V. remained
in charge of it for some time longer; they had given enduring proofs of
capacity and fidelity to the king's service; and the two dukes did not
at first openly attack them, but labored strenuously, nevertheless, to
destroy them. The Duke of Burgundy one day said to Sire de Noviant,
"I have been overtaken by a very pressing business, for which I require
forthwith thirty thousand crowns; let me have them out of my lord's
treasury; I will restore them at another time." Noviant answered
respectfully that the council must be spoken to about it. "I wish none
to know of it," said the duke. Noviant persisted. "You will not do me
this favor?" rejoined the duke; "you shall rue it before long." It was
against the constable that the wrath of the princes was chiefly directed.
He was the most powerful and the richest. One day he went, with a single
squire behind him, to the Duke of Burgundy's house; and, "My lord," said
he, "many knights and squires are persecuting me to get the money which
is owing to them. I know not where to find it. The chancellor and the
treasurer refer me to you. Since it is you and the Duke of Berry who
govern, may it please you to give me an answer." "Clisson," said the
duke, "you have no occasion to trouble yourself about the state of the
kingdom; it will manage very well without your services. Whence, pray,
have you been able to amass so much money? My lord, my brother of Berry
and myself have not so much between us three. Away from my presence, and
let me see you no more! If I had not a respect for myself, I would have