the bells within the steeple. It was supposed that one hundred weight of lead on the steeple was destroyed, so that it was pitiful to see the damages done.

During the month of July, the marriage-feast of the dauphin and the lady Margaret of Flanders was celebrated in the town of Amboise; at which were present the most noble persons of the kingdom, who had come thither by the king's orders, from the cities and principal towns of his realm.

CHAPTER CLXXXV.-THE HOLY AMPULLA IS BROUGHT FROM THE CHURCH OF SAINT REMY AT RHEIMS TO THE KING OF FRANCE, WHEN DANGEROUSLY ILL, AT PLESSIS LE PARC. -THE DEVOUT DEATH OF LOUIS XI. HE IS BURIED IN THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AT CLERY.-MAY GOD PARDON HIS SOUL!

a

In the course of this year, the king determined to have the holy ampulla brought to him from Rheims which had descended filled with oil, by the Divine grace, by means of white dove, in the year 500, to good St. Remy of Rheims, to anoint and consecrate king Clovis of France, the first Christian king, who died in the same year, and his body is interred in the church of St. Genevieve at Paris.

THE HOLY AMPULLA BROUGHT TO LOUIS XI. AT RHEIMS. An Archbishop is represented in the act of removing the sacred vessel from the jewelled case in which it was preserved. The relic drawn from a plate in Montfaucon, and the costume from contemporary authorities.

This sacred ampulla had remained in the church of St. Remy for 983 years, when it was taken thence by Claude de Montfaulcon, governor of Auvergne, whom the king had especially

commissioned for the purpose. It was brought to Paris on the last day of July, and was carried with much reverence, and in procession, to repose in the holy chapel of the palace, where it remained until the morrow, and was then conveyed to the king at Plessis le Parc. It was accompanied by the rods of Moses and Aaron, and the cross of victory, which had been sent to the good king St. Charlemagne, that he might obtain a conquest over the infidels. They had remained undisturbed in the holy chapel, with other relics, until they were removed, on this first day of August, by the bishop of Sees, and others appointed by the king to bring them to him at Plessis.

The 25th of August the king's illness so much increased that he lost his speech and senses. News was brought to Paris on the 27th that he was dead, by letters from master John Briçonnet, which obtained belief, from the writer being a man of honesty and credit. In consequence of this intelligence, the provosts and sheriffs, to provide against accidents, ordered a strong guard at each of the gates, to prevent any persons from entering into or going out of the town. This caused it to be currently rumoured that the king was dead; but the report was unfounded, for he recovered his speech and senses, ate and drank, and lingered on until the 30th of August, when, between six and seven in the evening, he gave up the ghost; and his corpse was instantly abandoned by those who had been so obsequious to him during his life. His body was dressed as usual in such cases, and carried from Plessis to the church of Our Lady at Clery for interment, as he had thus ordered it before his decease; for he would not be buried with the noble kings of France, his predecessors, in the habitual church of St. Denis; but would never give any reason that induced him to refuse being there interred. It was, however, generally thought that it was owing to his attachment to the church of Our Lady at Clery, to which he had been a very great benefactor.

During his reign there were some low persons always about him, such as Olivier le Diable, called le Daim, John de Doyac, and others, who had committed very many acts of injustice, in whom he had greater confidence than in all his ministers or kindred. They had so overloaded the people with taxes that, at the time of his death, they were almost in despair; for the wealth he gained from his subjects he expended upon churches, in bestowing great pensions among ambassadors, and people of low degree, to whom he could not resist. making great gifts, insomuch that he had alienated the greater part of the domain of the crown. Notwithstanding the many serious affairs he had had upon his hands during his reign, he brought all his enemies under subjection; and he was so feared and redoubted that there were none so great in France, not even those of his blood, who slept in safety in their houses.

Before his decease he was sorely afflicted with different disorders, for the cure of which his physicians prescribed many extraordinary remedies. May these afflictions be the means of preserving his soul, and gain him admittance into paradise, through the mercy of Him who reigns for ever and ever! Amen*.

CHAPTER CLXXXVI.-THE GREAT CHRONICLES OF THE MOST CHRISTIAN, MAGNANIMOUS, AND VICTORIOUS KING OF FRANCE, CHARLES VIII., COLLECTED AND PUT TOGETHER BY ME, PIERRE DESREY, SIMPLE ORATOR OF TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.

PROLOGUE.

I CANNOT sufficiently wonder when I consider the extraordinary mutability of fortune in this transitory life, nor hinder the tears from filling my eyes. I had determined to write a chronicle of the life of that most illustrious king, prince Charles VIII. of France, in the

The only surviving children of Louis XI. were of Beaujeu, and Jane the wife of Louis, duke of Orleans, Charles VIII, Anne, the wife of Peter de Bourbon lord afterwards Louis XII.

expectation that it might have been of great length; but although he was a magnanimous prince, full of prowess and victorious, the fickleness of Dame Fortune, having allowed him several praiseworthy and triumphant conquests, resigned him into the hands of Atropos in the thirty-eighth year of his age, and in the prime of manhood.

As a commencement to this chronicle, I must say that king Louis XI. departed this life in the month of August, in the year 1483, and that his only son, king Charles VIII, succeeded him; who, in his youth, was somewhat tender and of delicate health; but, as he grew up, he gave signs of a good understanding, that could distinguish between vice and virtue, and, in the course of a few years, he became a man of greater ability by putting a check to his voluptuousness. From this it may easily be foreseen how worthy he would probably have become if death had not carried him off so early. His father, the late king, would not allow him to learn the Latin tongue, as he thought polite literature would prove a hindrance to his attending to the well-governing of his kingdom; more especially as the father perceived that his son had quick parts, and, being well informed in some things, he thought applying to letters would also prove dangerous in his delicate state of health; for, in his early years, he would have been unable to have gone through any laborious course of study.

However, not long after the death of his father, he willingly began to read books in the French language, and also made an attempt to learn the Latin. He commenced his reign, like a pious prince, by paying his devotions toward his God, and by listening to the counsels of wise men, that he might be instructed how to govern his kingdom with uprightness. He was naturally affectionate to all his kindred, and earnest that they might unite with him for the general welfare of his people and kingdom.

CHAPTER CLXXXVII.-KING CHARLES VIII. CROWNED AT RHEIMS.-HE AFTERWARDS VISITS SEVERAL TOWNS IN FRANCE. HE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO PARIS.-MASTER OLIVIER LE DAIM AND HIS SERVANT DANIEL EXECUTED THERE. JOHN DE DOYAC HAS HIS EARS CUT OFF, AND HIS TONGUE BORED WITH A HOT IRON.

[A. D. 1484.]

In the year 1484, king Charles, being fourteen years of age, was conducted by the noble princes of his blood, namely, the duke of Orleans, the count of Angoulême, the count of Foix, the count of Vendôme, the lord of Beaujeu, the lord of Dunois, the duke of Lorraine, and numbers of other princes, barons, and gentlemen, to the city of Rheims, to be consecrated and anointed with the holy oil. He was also attended by the twelve peers of France, or their substitutes, who all appeared to serve him in their different functions, according to ancient usage in such cases established. After the ceremony of the consecration he departed from Rheims, to visit some of the adjoining towns, where he was received with all due honours the streets were hung with tapestries,-and the clergy, with all ranks of people, came out to meet him,—and bonfires and every demonstration of joy at his arrival were displayed in every town he came to. About this time, one Daniel, a native of Flanders, and servant to master Olivier le Daim, was condemned for certain crimes by him committed, to be hanged on the gibbet at Paris*, which was done. And not long after, his master Olivier, who had been in the confidence of the late king, was sentenced to a similar punishment for having acted criminally, and been too bold in his wickedness. Another of the late king's favourites, John de Doyac, was, within a short time, condemned by the court of parliament to be publicly whipped by the hangman, and to have one of his ears cut off, and his tongue bored with a hot iron in the pillory, at the market-place of Paris, for having made too free with the effects of some of the princes, and for having insulted them. He was afterward carried from Paris to Montferrant, where he was again whipped, and had the other ear cut off.

* See a preceding note.

After king Charles had been consecrated at Rheims, he was conducted to the abbey of St. Denis to be crowned, and to perform the accustomed ceremonies. Thence he was carried by the aforesaid lords to Paris, and made his entry as follows:-On the 6th of July all ranks in Paris issued out in handsome order, each person well dressed, and according to his estate, to wait on the king at St. Denis, and to do him the honour and reverence belonging to him. The bishop of Paris and all his clergy were among them, together with the whole court of parliament, the provost of Paris, all the officers of the courts of justice and of accounts, the provost of marchands, the sheriffs, dressed in their robes of state. This procession advanced a little beyond the chapel of St. Ladre, where it met the king, accompanied by the duke of Orleans and the lords before named. The provost and sheriffs having paid due obeisance, presented to the king the keys of the gate of St. Denis, through which he was to make his entry into Paris. Each company having paid their respects, and made offers of all appertaining to their different professions, withdrew to the rear, to follow the king according to their rank.

Thus accompanied, the king entered Paris on a courser, having rich trappings of cloth of gold, armed in brilliant armour, excepting his helmet of parade, which was triumphantly borne before, on a courser of great value, and caparisoned in the same manner as that he rode on. Instead of a helmet, he wore a most brilliant crown, adorned with precious stones, to show that he was king, and a rich canopy of cloth of gold was carried over him. The princes and the other lords were richly armed, and their horses were superbly decorated in divers manners, to do honour to the king on his entrance into the capital of his realm. The gentlemen and pages of honour were likewise superbly dressed, and so numerous that it is impossible to notice them. Many pageants, mysteries, and other devices, were displayed by the town, having an allegorical allusion to the king's name of Charles. The streets were all hung with tapestries: and there were persons appointed in the principal ones to offer meat and wine to all passengers. In short, every one exerted himself to show his loyalty, and his cordial love to the king. He was conducted by the clergy in their robes, many bearing relics and rich jewels, to the church of Notre-Dame. At the corner of the rue Neuve de Notre-Dame, he was met by the rector of the university of Paris, attended by all the doctors and other persons of science, who, having made his reverence, delivered an eloquent oration. The king then proceeded to the cathedral, and offered up his thanksgivings ; which being done, he was conducted to the palace, where a magnificent and plentiful supper was served up in the great hall to the king, the princes of the blood, and other great lords. He lay that night at the palace, and remained in Paris some days.

After this entry the king held a royal session in his court of parliament; and he sojourned several days in the city of Paris, where he daily displayed the great love he had for his people, and for the general welfare of his kingdom. He had been well instructed in his youth as to religion, and ever remained a good Catholic, beloved by his subjects. Many councils were held during the king's stay at Paris, of the princes of the blood and great lords, on the most effectual means for the relief of his subjects; and when the conduct of the late king in granting such prodigal pensions, in the profusion he was accustomed to do, was laid before them, it was considered that the revocation of these grants, and applying them to the use of the state, would be the best and speediest mode of affording ease to the people. These affairs being settled, sumptuous jousts and tournaments took place, on the joyful arrival of King Charles in his town of Paris.

The king, on quitting Paris, went to visit other towns, such as Rouen, Troyes, and Orleans, into which he made his public entry attended by his princes and nobility. These and other towns which he visited received him most honourably, and tried to rival each other in their exertions to display greater magnificence and more splendid entertainments on the king's coming among them, so much was he respected and beloved throughout his kingdom.

CHAPTER

CLXXXVIII.-THE DEATH OF POPE SIXTUS IV.-HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE INNOCENT VIII.-OF THE VICTORIOUS WAR OF KING CHARLES IN BRITTANY.-HE MARRIES THE PRINCESS ANNE DAUGHTER TO THE NOBLE DUKE FRANCIS OF BRITTANY. -OTHER EVENTS.

In the course of the latter end of this year pope Sixtus IV. died at Rome: he had been general of the Franciscans, and had well and catholicly ruled the holy see during the space of nearly thirteen years. He had been very solicitous about the public welfare in the reparation of churches, and in embellishing the city of Rome, without sparing his private purse where he thought the honour of God was any way interested *. On the 13th of August, he was succeeded in the papal dignity by Innocent VIII +. He was from Genoa, of parents in the middle ranks, but much respected and beloved. His father's name was Aaron, but his own was John Baptista; and he was a cardinal-priest, under the title of Cardinal of St. Cecilia, but commonly called the cardinal of Melfe. He was the poorest and most humane of the whole college of cardinals, and was deserving of his election to the papal chair for his benignity and humility. He was magnanimous, and very prudent in all his actions; and from his conduct during his legation at Sienna, he gave a good example to his brothercardinals, and of what might be expected from him if raised to the popedom. On that event taking place, he opened the treasures of the church to all faithful Christians for the remission of their sins. He lived in good union with the Romans and all other people in Christendom. At this period, king Charles, with the advice of his council, made arrangements for the war in Picardy. The command of that army was given to sir Philip de Crevecoeur, lord des Cordes; for Maximilian duke of Austria, who had married the heiress of the late duke of Burgundy, had raised a powerful army, to enable him to demand with success the country of Artois, and other parts in Burgundy, although they had been occupied by the late king, Louis XI., and were since peaceably possessed by his son, the present king. The lord des Cordes was therefore ordered into Picardy, to resist any hostile attempts that should be there made, and to oppose Maximilian. According to the chronicle of master Robert Gaguin, a severe war broke out in the year 1485, in Brittany, which was so prudently conducted on the part of king Charles that he victoriously gained almost the whole of that duchy. During this war, duke Francis of Brittany died, leaving two daughters: the one called Anne succeeded shortly after to the duchy, on the death of her sister. The king now took the field in person, and, attended by many great lords and valiant captains, made several attacks on the town of Nantes, to prevent these daughters of the late duke of Brittany from marrying without his consent. This campaign, however, was not very successful: for king Henry VII. of England had sent a large force to the assistance of the Bretons, although, a short time before this, Henry had fled from that country as a fugitive, and sought an asylum with king Charles. He remained with him some time, as he was liberally aided with money men, with whom he crossed the sea to England, where, after the death of king Richard, he peaceably enjoyed that kingdom, by means of the aid he had received from king Charles, which clearly shows the ingratitude of the English monarch ‡.

and

The before-mentioned master Robert Gaguin was sent on an embassy on this subject to England, in company with the lord Francis de Luxembourg and Charles de Marigny §. However, after all, the French army, under their king, was victorious, more especially at the battle of St. Aubin ||, while the king was at Laval, when the Bretons and English were

In a note, p. 135 of Mr. Andrews' History of Great Britain, a very different character is given of this pope : "As ignorant as turbulent." "He received without respect or hospitality the learned Greeks who fled from Constantinople, and gave so trifling a reward to Theo. Gaza for a translation, that the angry sage flung it away, and, leaving the audience, repeated a Greek proverb, that "thistles only could delight the palate of an ass." Luckily the pope did not understand the language of the sarcasm.