"About this time [says Alienor de Poictiers] Monsieur de Charolais
married Mademoiselle de Bourbon and he married her on the eve of
All Saints[16] at Lille, and there was no festival because Duke
Philip was then in Germany. Eight days after the nuptials the
duchess gave a splendid banquet where were all the ladies of
Lille, but they were seated all together, as is usually done at
an ordinary banquet, without mesdames holding state as would have
been proper for such an occasion."

It is evident from all the stories that Charles protested against his
father's orders as much as he dared and then obeyed simply because he
could not help himself.

Yet, strange to say, the unwilling bridegroom proved a faithful
husband in a court where marital fidelity was a rare trait.

Philip's plans for the international union against the Turk were less
easily completed than those for the union of his son and his niece. In
November, the diet met at Frankfort; the expedition was discussed and
some resolutions were passed, but nothing further was achieved.

Charles VII. would not even promise co-operation on paper. He had
gradually extended his own domain in French-speaking territory and had
dislodged the English from every stronghold except Guisnes and Calais.
Under him France was regaining her prestige. Charles had much to lose,
therefore, in joining the undertaking urged by Philip and he was
wholly unwilling to risk it. From him Philip obtained only expressions
of general interest in the repulse of the Turks, and more definite
suggestions of the dangers that would menace Western Europe if all her