He then entered France at the head of his army, to assist the duke of Brittany; but at the moment when nothing seemed to oppose the most extensive views of his ambition he lost by his hot-brained caprice every advantage within his easy reach: he chose to sit down before Beauvais; and thus made of this town, which lay in his road, a complete stumbling-block on his path of conquest.
The time he lost before its walls caused the defeat and ruin of his unsupported, or as might be said his abandoned, ally, who made the best terms he could with Louis; and thus Charles's presumption and obstinacy paralyzed all the efforts of his courage and power.

But he soon afterward acquired the duchy of Guelders from the old Duke Arnoul, who had been temporarily despoiled of it by his son Adolphus.

It was almost a hereditary consequence in this family that the children should revolt and rebel against their parents.

Adolphus had the effrontery to found his justification on the argument that his father having reigned forty-four years, he was fully entitled to his share--a fine practical authority for greedy and expectant heirs.

The old father replied to this reasoning by offering to meet his son in single combat.