soned by his perfidious enemy,
King Charles of Navarre. His uncle, Charles IV., Emperor of Germany,
had sent him an able doctor, who "set him in good case and in manly
strength," says Froissart, by effecting a permanent issue in his arm.
"When this little sore," said he to him, "shall cease to discharge and
shall dry up, you will die without help for it, and you will have at the
most fifteen days' leisure to take counsel and thought for the soul."
When the issue began to dry up, Charles knew that death was at hand; and
"like a wise and valiant man as he was," says Froissart, "he set in order
all his affairs, and sent for his three brothers, in whom he had most
confidence, the Duke of Berry, the Duke of Burgundy, and the Duke of
Bourbon, and he left in the lurch his second brother, the Duke of Anjou,
because he considered him too covetous. 'My dear brothers,' said the
king to them, 'I feel and know full well that I have not long to live.
I do commend and give in charge to you my son Charles. Behave to him as
good uncles should behave to their nephew. Crown him as soon as possible
after my death, and counsel him loyally in all his affairs. The lad is
young, and of a volatile spirit; he will need to be guided and governed
by good doctrine; teach him or have him taught all the kingly points and
states he will have to maintain, and marry him in such lofty station that
the kingdom may be the better for it. Thank God, the affairs of our
kingdom are in good case. The Duke of Brittany [John IV., called the
Valiant] is a crafty and a slippery man, and he hath ever been more
English than French; for which reason keep the nobles of Brittany and the
good towns affectionate, and you will thus thwart his intentions. I am
fond of the Bretons, for they have ever served me loyally, and helped to
keep and defend my kingdom against my enemies. Make the lord Clisson
constable, for, all considered, I see none more competent for it than he.
As to those aids and taxes of the kingdom of France, wherewith the poorer
folks are so burdened and aggrieved, deal with them according to your
conscience, and take them off as soon as ever you can, for they are
things which, although I have upheld them, do grieve me and weigh upon my
heart; but the great wars and great matters which we have had on all
sides caused me to countenance them."

Of all the dying speeches and confessions of kings to their family and
their councillors, that which has just