The count made some awkward excuses, at the same time that he persisted in complaining of the king's obstinate pretensions and underhand ways.

A serious incident now happened, which for a while distracted the attention of the two rivals from their mutual recriminations.

Duke Philip the Good, who had for some time past been visibly declining in body and mind, was visited at Bruges by a stroke of apoplexy, soon discovered to be fatal.

His son, the Count of Charolais, was at Ghent.

At the first whisper of danger he mounted his horse, and without a moment's halt arrived at Bruges on the 15th of June, 1467, and ran to his father's room, who had already lost speech and consciousness.
"Father, father," cried the count, on his knees and sobbing, "give me your blessing; and if I have offended you, forgive me." "My lord," added the Bishop of Bethlehem, the dying man's confessor, "if you only hear us, bear witness by some sign." The duke turned his eyes a little towards his son, and seemed to feebly press his hand.