Brie, and thence to St. Denis, to pay his devotions at the sepulchre of his father. In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy went, with a small attendance, from Meaux to Paris, where he arrived on Sunday, the last day but one of August, and found there his son, and the greater part of his attendants, who had arrived eight days before him.

СПАРТЕR C.-KING LOUIS XI. MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO PARIS.-THE HANDSOME RECEPTION HE MEETS WITH.-THE GREAT MAGNIFICENCE OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND HIS ATTENDANTS.

ON Monday, the last day of August, the noble duke of Burgundy issued out of Paris, after dinner, grandly accompanied, to meet the king of France, who was waiting for him in the plain of St. Denis, to attend him on his entrance into the city of Paris, which was to take place on that day, for the first time since his coronation. After the first compliments on their meeting, they arranged their men, for their entrance, in order following: First rode before all the rest, the lord de Ravenstein, the lord de Baussegines, and the lord de la Roche, abreast, each having six pages behind him so nobly mounted and richly dressed that it was a pleasure to see them. Next came the archers of the count d'Estampes, two and two, in number twentyfour, and well-appointed, with two knights as their leaders, followed by the two brothers, the counts de Nevers and d'Estampes, the count d'Estampes having behind him thirteen pages magnificently dressed; then upwards of thirty of the lords and gentlemen of the household of the count, superbly equipped. Next came the archers of the duke of Bourbon, amounting to more than twenty-four; then thirty archers of the count de Charolois, very well appointed, having two knights for their captains; then two other knights, leaders of the duke of Burgundy's archers, to the number of one hundred, handsomely dressed; then the lords and gentlemen of his household, with the other great barons who had accompanied him, most magnificently dressed, themselves and their horses, to the amount of upwards of two hundred and forty, with housings trailing on the ground, which was a noble sight.

After them came the admiral and marshal of France, with many great lords and gentlemen of the king's household, with forty very splendid housings; then came the counts d'Eu, de la Marche, and de Perdriac, abreast and without housings, who were followed by the heralds of the king and princes, to the number of seventy-four; then the king's archers, amounting to six score, well equipped, each having a valet on foot beside him; then fifty-and-four trumpeters, but none sounded excepting those of the king. After the trumpets came the marshal of Burgundy and the lord de Croy, very richly dressed; then Joachim Rohault, master of the horse to the king, bearing the royal sword in a scarf, followed by the son of Flocquet, bearing the king's helmet, having thereon a very rich crown of gold. Between these last and the king was a led-horse covered with trappings of blue velvet, besprinkled with flowersde-luce of gold; then came the king, mounted on a white steed, dressed in a white silk robe without sleeves, his head covered with a hood hanging down. He was surrounded by four of the burghers of Paris, who bore on lances a canopy over his head of cloth of gold, in the same manner as the holy sacrament is carried from the altar. Behind the king were two men-at-arms on foot, having battle-axes in their hands. The king was followed by the duke of Burgundy, so splendidly dressed, himself and his horse, that the whole of his equipment was valued at ten hundred thousand crowns. Nine pages attended him, magnificently appointed, each having a light but superb helmet, one of which was said to be worth a hundred thousand crowns,-and the frontlet of the duke's horse was covered with the richest jewels. On his left hand was his nephew, the duke of Bourbon, handsomely dressed and mounted; and on his right, his son, the count de Charolois, most superbly dressed. About a stone's-cast in their rear came the duke of Cleves, himself and his horse highly adorned with precious stones; then all the other lords of France in such numbers that there were upwards of twelve thousand horse, so finely equipped that it was a pleasure to see them, although not with such splendid trappings as the Burgundians,-for many among them knew not whether they were well or ill in the opinion of the king.

Before this grand entry commenced, a cardinal and the principal burghers of Paris came

out of the town to pay their obedience to the king while in the plain. The duke of Orleans did not come out of Paris, as well on account of his age as because he mourned for the death of king Charles, but placed himself at an apartment which looked towards the street, from the windows of which he saw the procession pass, as did the duchess of Alençon with her son the count du Perche *, then about fifteen years old, of a noble figure, and in high spirits, for his father was released from prison immediately on king Charles's death.

At the entrance of the gate of Paris was the representation of a ship elegantly made, from which two small angels descended, by machinery, right over the king as he passed, and placed a crown on his head; which done, they re-ascended into the ship. In the street of St. Denis was a fountain that ran wine and hippocras for all who chose to drink. At the corner of a street leading to the market was a butcher of Paris, who, on seeing the duke of Burgundy, cried with a loud voice, "Frank and noble duke of Burgundy, you are welcome to Paris: it is a long time since you have been here, although you have been much wished for."

At the entrance of the Châtelet was a representation of the capture of the castle of Dieppe from the English, which had been taken by king Louis while dauphin. In other parts were pageants of the crucifixion of Our Lord, and of divers subjects from history. The streets were so crowded with people that with difficulty the procession went forward, although it had been proclaimed by sound of trumpet that no one should be in those streets through which the king was to pass; but the anxious desire thus to see all the nobility of France caused the proclamation to be little regarded; for the whole of the nobles were there excepting king Réné of Sicily and his brother the count du Maine, who were with the widowed queen their sistert. Neither the duke of Brittany, the duke of Alençon, nor the count d'Armagnac were present, for the late king had banished the two last his kingdom, and confiscated their fortunes. However, soon after,-namely, on the 18th day of September,-the duke d'Alençon came to the new king at Paris, who received him most kindly, and granted him a free pardon: he then waited on the duke of Burgundy, who gave him a very kind reception.

On the king's arrival at Paris, he went straight to the church of Notre Dame, where he paid his devotions, and then took the usual oath which the kings of France take on their first entrance into Paris,--and while in the church, he created four new knights. He then remounted his horse, and went to the Palace, which had been highly ornamented for his reception, where he held open court and supped: the peers of France and those of his blood sat at the royal table. On the morrow, he fixed his residence at the Tournelles.

The duke of Burgundy was lodged at his hôtel of Artois, which was hung with the richest tapestries the Parisians had seen and his table was the most splendid any prince ever kept, so that all the world went to see it, and marvelled at its magnificence. Even when he rode through the streets or went to pay his devotions at church, crowds followed to see him, because every day he wore some new dress or jewel of price,-and he was always accompanied by seven or eight dukes or counts, and twenty or thirty of his archers on foot, having in their hands hunting-spears or battle-axes.

In the dining-hall of his hotel was placed a square sideboard, with four steps to each side, which, at dinner-time, was covered with the richest gold and silver plate: at the corners were unicorns, so handsomely and finely done that they were surprising to behold. In the garden was pitched a superb tent, covered on the outside with fine velvet, embroidered with fusils in gold, and powdered over with gold sparkles. The fusils were the arms of all his countries and lordships, and were very richly worked. In short, whether the duke remained in his hôtel or came abroad, every one pressed to see him, on account of his noble appearance and great riches.

Réné duke of Alençon, after the death of his father, in 1476. His mother was Joanna, daughter to the duke of Orleans.

Mary of Anjou, queen of France, who survived her husband only two years, dying in 1463.

OF EACH OTHER,

CHAPTER CI.-THE KING AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TAKE LEAVE
AND DEPART FROM PARIS.-EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN DIVERS PARTS.

THE king, during his stay at Paris, dismissed some of his officers from their places, and nominated others to fill them. He then made preparations to leave Paris, for Amboise, to visit the queen his mother, who there resided. The day before his departure, he went to the hôtel of Artois, to take leave of his uncle of Burgundy, who was then sitting at dinner; but he rose from table the moment he heard the king was coming, and went out far in the street, and, on meeting him, knelt down to salute him. The king instantly dismounted, and they walked together in the hôtel; and then, in the hearing of the whole company, the king thanked the duke for all the honours and services he had done him, acknowledging that he was indebted to him for everything he possessed, for had it not been for his friendship, he would not, perhaps, have been now alive. He then took leave of the duke, and returned to the palace of the Tournelles,—and on the morrow, the 24th of September, set out from Paris, escorted by the duke and all the lords of his company, very far on the road, notwithstanding they had taken leave of each other the preceding day. The king then again thanked him for his friendship and services, and the duke most honourably offered him his life and fortune whenever called upon.

The king continued his road toward Amboise; and the duke returned to Paris with his noble company, where he remained until the last day of September, and then went to St. Denis, staying there two days with his niece the duchess of Orleans. He had a magnificent funeral service performed in the church of St. Denis, as well for the soul of the late king Charles as for the souls of all the kings who had been there interred, and from whom he was descended. He gave dinners and banquets to the lords and ladies who had accompanied him thither from Paris. From St. Denis the duke returned by Compiègne, and the places of the count de St. Pol, who grandly feasted him, to the town of Cambray; for the king of France, while at Paris, had made up the quarrel between the count and the duke of Burgundy. Peace was also made between the count de St. Pol and the lord de Croy, who before hated each other mortally. At length, the duke arrived at his city of Brussels in Brabant. His son the count de Charolois took his leave at St. Denis, and, with the duke's approbation, went into Burgundy, where he was grandly feasted, for he had never before been in that country, having been brought up in the town of Ghent. Before he left Burgundy, he went to visit the shrine of St. Claude*, on the confines of that country, and thence took the road to wait on the king at Tours.

In this year the summer was very fine and dry: the wines and corn were good, and the last very cheap. However, after August there were many fevers and other disorders, which although not mortal, lasted a long time. About the feast of St. Remy, all the gabelles and taxes throughout the realm were proclaimed to be let to the highest bidder. It happened that the populace in Rheims rose against those who had taken them, and killed several; they then seized their books and papers, wherein their engagements were written, and burned them in the open streets. The king, on hearing this, ordered thither a large body of troops, who, dressing themselves as labourers, entered the gates by two and three at a time, so that, soon being assembled in sufficient force, they threw open the gates for the remainder of the army, under the command of the lord de Moy, who instantly arrested from four-score to a hundred of those who were the most guilty of this outrage, and had them beheaded,-which so intimidated the rest that they dared not longer oppose the will of the king.

In this year died at Bordeaux, Poton de Saintrailles, seneschal of the Bordelois, who had been in his time wise, prudent, and valiant in arms; and together with another great captain, called La Hire, who died before him, had aided the late king Charles so ably and gallantly to reconquer his kingdom from the English, that it was said his success was more owing to them than to any others in his realm.

St. Claude, or St. Oyen,-a city in Franche-comté : it owes its origin to a celebrated abbey, founded in the

fifth century, so called after St. Claude, archbishop of Besançon.

On the 11th of October, in this year, the church and town of Encre were almost entirely destroyed by fire in less than half an hour; which was a sad misfortune to the poor inhabitants. Between September and the 1st of November, marvellous signs were seen in the air like to lighted torches, four fathoms long and a foot thick, where they remained fixed for half a quarter of an hour,—and they were thus seen at two different times. Some said they had observed in the night the appearance of battles in the air, and had heard great noises and reports.

CHAPTER CII.- THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS WAITS ON THE KING OF FRANCE AT TOURS, WHERE HE IS MAGNIFICENTLY ENTERTAINED.—HE LOSES HIMSELF WHILE AT THE CHASE. HE RETURNS TO ARTOIS THROUGH NORMANDY, OF WHICH THE KING HAD MADE HIM HIS LIEUTENANT.

AFTER the count de Charolois had performed his pilgrimage to Saint Claude, he took the road to Tours, where king Louis resided at that time. The count was accompanied by a number of great lords and nobles, and about three hundred and fifty horsemen.

When the king knew that he was near to Tours, he sent out to meet him the greatest lords of his household, who gave him a joyful reception, and, by the king's commands, led him to dismount at the palace, where he was met by the king and received most honourably by him and his whole court. The king took him for his amusement to all the handsome places around,—and he was grandly feasted at each of them. The king one day took him to hunt a red deer, which showed much sport, but ran so long, the count pursuing him, that when night came, he knew not where he was, and had but four other persons with him. They, however, proceeded, although it was dark night, until they stumbled on a good inn, wherein they were lodged.

The king, on his return from the chase, not hearing anything of the count, no one being able to give him the least intelligence what was become of him, was exceedingly vexed and alarmed, and instantly despatched people to all the adjacent villages, and had lighted torches fixed to the church steeples, that, should the count see them, he might find his road back again to Tours: those who were sent into the forests carried lighted brands or torches. The king was so troubled for fear of some accident happening to the count, that he swore he would not drink until he should hear something of him. In the mean time, the count, doubting that the king would be uneasy at his absence, and learning from his host that he was but two leagues from Tours, wrote him an account where he was by one of his servants, whom he sent under the guidance of a peasant, and desired him not to be uneasy at his absence, for that he had only lost his way. The king, on the receipt of this letter, was much rejoiced, and sent for him very early the next morning.

The duke of Somerset was at this time with the king of France, having been banished England by king Edward, whose enemy he was, and against whom he had made war, in support of queen Margaret's quarrel. He had fled to France to take refuge under king Charles, but, on his arrival, had found him dead. He had been arrested by the officers of the new king, and carried to his hôtel; but at the request of the count de Charolois, the king gave him not only his liberty, but handsome presents of gold and silver, for he was a great favourite with the count, because he was his relative †, and also because he preferred the party of king Henry to that of king Edward, although he knew well that his father the duke of Burgundy was of a contrary way of thinking. The duke of Somerset was desirous of retiring into Scotland; but as he was informed that king Edward had put spies to watch his conduct, he withdrew to Bruges, where he remained in private a considerable time.

The count de Charolois, having staid nearly a month with the king, was desirous to take his leave, which the king granted, together with an annual pension of thirty-six thousand francs, and appointed him his lieutenant-general of Normandy. The count returned by

* Encre. Q. Ancre or Abbert? a town in Picardy, seven leagues from Peronne.

† I do not understand what relationship could possibly

have existed between the count de Charolois and the duke of Somerset, and must therefore set this down under the head of mistake.

Blois, where he was handsomely entertained by the duke of Orleans, and thence proceeded through Normandy. He was met by processions from all the principal towns through which he passed, and received as many honours as if he had been the king himself,—for the king had so ordered, by commands which he had sent to the different towns. At Rouen, in particular, he was magnificently received. He passed through Abbeville and Hêdin without stopping anywhere, until he came to Aire, where his countess was: from Aire he soon after departed, to wait on his father the duke of Burgundy, then at Brussels.

About this time, John bishop of Arras, through the instigation of the pope, prevailed on the king of France to abolish the Pragmatic Sanction*, which had been established in France for upward of thirty years. In return for having done this, the pope sent him the red hat, and made him a cardinal, under the title of Cardinal of Arras. While this Pragmatic Sanction was in force, the benefices of the kingdom were disposed of at the nomination of the universities; whence arose innumerable law-suits;—and this practice was greatly prejudicial to the court of Rome.

At this period died Flocquet, one of the king's commanders, valiant and subtile in war. By his subtilty he won Pont de l'Arche from the English, and was the first cause of the total loss of Normandy to the English. At this time also died master Nicholas Raullin † at Autun in Burgundy. He had first been an advocate in the parliament, then chancellor to duke Philip, whom he governed very wisely in many difficult affairs during the whole time he held this office, and was a great favourite with the duke; but while he managed his lord's business so well, he was not neglectful of his own, for he acquired, during his service, upwards of forty thousand francs of landed revenue and many lordships,—so that his sons were rich and great lords, and his daughters married very nobly.

CHAPTER CIII.-DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY DANGEROUSLY ILL, BUT

MATTERS WHICH HAPPENED AT THIS PERIOD.

RECOVERS.-OTHER

ABOUT Candlemas in this year, 1461, the duke of Burgundy was taken so dangerously ill in the city of Brussels, that the physicians despaired of his life; and the duke, in consequence, sent in haste to his son, then at Quesnoy, who instantly came to him. The count de Charolois, seeing the duke in so great danger, issued orders throughout his father's dominions for the priests and monks of all churches and abbeys to offer up ardent and devout prayers to God, that he would be pleased to restore his father to health. Processions were therefore made, and prayers offered up with so much affection that God, full of pity and mercy, restored the duke to health, for he was beloved by his subjects as much as prince

ever was.

His son the count de Charolois, who had no legitimate children, showed his affection in another manner; for he never quitted his bed-side, and was always at hand to administer to him whatever was prescribed in his illness. He was three or four nights and days without taking any rest; which rather displeased his father,—and he ordered him frequently to take some repose, because it was better to lose one than both. In short, the prayers for the good duke were so effectual, and his physicians so attentive, that he recovered his health, excepting a debility that always remained; which inclines to a belief that, had it not been for the prayers of some religious and good persons, he had never recovered.

At this time died the lady of Ravenstein, niece to the duchess of Burgundy; a very good

The title of the Pragmatic Sanction was given to an assembly of the French clergy at Bourges, called by Charles VII., where, in the presence of the princes of the blood and of the chief nobility of the kingdom, the canons of the council of Basil were examined, and being found, for the most part, to be very wise and just, and perfectly calculated to extinguish the capital grievances that had been so long complained of, they were compiled into a law for the benefit of the Gallican Church. The power of

nominating to ecclesiastical dignities was taken from the see of Rome; and those branches of the papal prerogatives which were not abolished, were so curtailed as to be less injurious to the people and detrimental to the monarchy. + Or Rollin. He was father of the lord d'Aymeries, mentioned before in chap. 79 of this book, and, by merit, had raised his family from a middling station of life to the honours of nobility.