Because of its importance, it was greatly coveted by the French king, who shortly before the time of our journey to Dover had made overtures to buy it.
Charles turned a deaf ear to King Louis's first proposal to buy Dunkirk, not because he loved the city, or cared a farthing for its value to his people, but because he feared the storm of indignation its sale would raise.

The Lord Chancellor objected to the sale of Dunkirk, and tried to show Charles the great folly of entertaining the offer.

He was the only wise, honest man in the king's council, and, by reason of his wonderful knowledge of mankind, was called "the Chancellor of Human Nature." But the king needed money, so after a time he listened to Berkeley, Crofts, Castlemain, and others of like character, whose strongest argument consisted in accusing the king, most offensively, of being afraid of his people.
"Are you not king ?" asked Castlemain.

"Does not Dunkirk belong to you, and may you not sell that which is your property?
Are not these dogs, the people, your slaves, your property?
Yet you stand in cowardly fear of a rabble which quakes if you but crook your finger.

A like fear of his subjects cost your father his head.