"My master, King Louis, sends greeting to his royal brother, and hopes that no cause of difference may ever arise to darken the blue sky of peace that now hangs over two kings, potent as are your Majesty and my master, and two nations, happy, rich, and powerful as are the noble realms of France and England.

Believing the possession by either monarch of cities or territory within the other's realm to be a constant menace to this much-desired peace and amity, my master, the king of France, sends me, his humble ambassador, with plenary authority, the instrument of which now lies with your Majesty's noble Lord Chancellor, to make offer to your Majesty of the great sum of one hundred thousand pounds for the good city of Dunkirk, which is on territory contiguous to my master's domain." "The great sum of one hundred thousand pounds!" demanded Charles, contemptuously.

"Does your master consider one hundred thousand pounds a great sum to pay for so great a city as Dunkirk ?" "It is a great sum to pay, your Majesty," returned the Abbe, with meekness in his manner, but boldness in his words, "when it is considered that the king of France might have the city of Dunkirk for the mere taking, did he not love your Majesty." "Might have it for the mere taking, say you ?" cried Charles, with a flash of imitation fire.

"Odds fish, man! What do you suppose we should be doing while he was taking it ?" "Sending ships across the Channel at a great cost in money and life to your people, your Majesty," coolly, though meekly, answered the Abbe.
"Of that my people will not complain," answered Charles, still burning a pinch of red powder.

"Their blood and their gold will be given gladly to defend my possessions abroad.