The future king was highly intelligent but physically weak, with
pale skin and a thin, ill-proportioned body. He made a sharp
contrast to his father — who was tall, strong and sandy-haired —
and gossip at the time suggested he was not John's son. Similar
rumors would pursue Charles' grandson, Charles VII. A contest of
wills followed. In an attempt to raise money, Charles tried to
devalue the currency; Marcel ordered strikes, and the Dauphin
was forced to cancel his plans and recall the Estates in
February, 1357. The Third Estate presented the Dauphin with a
Grand Ordinance, a list of 61 articles that would have given the
Estates-General the right to approve all future taxes, assemble
at their own volition and elect a Council of 36 — with 12
members from each Estate — to advise the king. Charles
eventually signed the ordinance, but his dismissed councillors
took news of the document to King Jean, imprisoned in Bordeaux.
The King renounced the ordinance before being taken to England
by Prince Edward. Charles ma