The Dauphin was baptized next day in the church of St. Paul, his god-parents being Blanche, Duchess-dowager of Orléans, the Duke of Burgundy, and Comte de Daumartin.
In the following May was born, also at the hôtel St. Paul, the eldest son of Louis and Valentine. He was also named Charles. The Duc de Bourbon was his godfather. He afterwards married the Princess Isabelle, eldest daughter of Charles VI.[135]
The Duchess-dowager of Orléans, Blanche de France, died in February, 1392, after a long and painful illness. She was greatly respected and honoured, and her funeral at St. Denis was attended by the whole of the royal family and court. She was daughter of Charles IV. and Jeanne d’Evreux, and, as she on one occasion remarked to King Philippe de Valois, if she had been a man she would have been king instead of him. She was proud, high-spirited, and so charitable that she had given away nearly all her fortune before she died.[136]
The King gave the duchy of Orléans to his brother instead of that of Touraine.
A conference was held at Amiens between the Dukes of Lancaster and York, uncles of Richard II., and the French King with the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry. The four dukes entered Amiens riding side by side so as to avoid questions of precedence. It was remarked that the English dukes were dressed with great simplicity in cloth of greenish brown, while the Duke of Burgundy had his clothes covered with pearls, rubies, and sapphires. They could not agree on terms of lasting peace, so they arranged a truce for a year longer, and then separated. But Charles, who, during the whole fortnight had not troubled himself at all about the negotiations, but passed the time in feasting and amusements, had made himself very ill with an attack of fever and had to be taken in a litter to Beauvais, where he stayed in the bishop’s palace till he was well again.[137]
Amongst the constant companions of the King and the Duc d’Orléans was a certain Pierre de Craon. He was a particular favourite of Louis, they often dressed alike, and Craon was the confidant of all the duke’s love affairs, which were innumerable. There was a girl in Paris whose beauty he had for some time admired and to whom he had offered 1,000 crowns if she would consent to become his mistress. She appears to have been hesitating about the matter, and meanwhile, Louis took Craon to see her. Craon had the rashness to go and tell the whole story to the Duchesse d’Orléans, with the result he might have expected. Valentine was very angry and sent for the girl, who appeared before her trembling with fear.
“Well,” said Valentine, “so you wish to take monseigneur away from me?”
“No, no, Madame, God forbid,” answered the girl, beginning to cry, “I should not dare even to think of such a thing.”
“That is true,” said Valentine, “I know all about it. Monseigneur loves you and you love him, things have even gone so far that he has offered you 1,000 crowns, but you have refused and you have done well. For this time I forgive you, and I forbid you, as you value your life, to have for the future anything to do with monseigneur. Dismiss him.”[138]
The girl retired, thankful to have escaped so well, and the next time the Duke called she fled from him, refusing to show him the least sign of affection. Much astonished and disappointed he asked what was the matter. She began to cry and reproached him with having betrayed her either to the Duchess or to somebody else who had told her, and went on to say, “you had better try to recollect to whom you have been making confidences. I am dreadfully afraid of Madame la Duchesse, and I have promised and sworn never to have any communication with you. I am not going to excite her jealousy.”