CHAP. XI.
THE SENTENCE THAT HAD BEEN FORMERLY PASSED ON MASTER JOHN PETIT IS PUBLICLY REVERSED.—THE CAPTURE OF LAIGNY-SUR-MARNE.—THE ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
THE SENTENCE THAT HAD BEEN FORMERLY PASSED ON MASTER JOHN PETIT IS PUBLICLY REVERSED.—THE CAPTURE OF LAIGNY-SUR-MARNE.—THE ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
Inthese days, a public procession was made from all the churches in Paris, and mass was chaunted in that of Nôtre Dame. While mass was celebrating, a friar minorite, doctor in theology, preached a solemn sermon in the square before the church,—at which were present the king's ministers, such as the chancellor and others, the rector and principal heads of the university, several great lords, the provost of Paris, and some of the chief citizens. There were also present the vicars and officials of the bishop of Paris, who, having received anespecial commission for the purpose from the bishop, then very ill at St Maur des Fossés, reversed, in his name, the sentence which he and others had formerly pronounced contrary to the honour of the duke of Burgundy, and against the proposition avowed by this duke through the organ of master John Petit, as has been before related, and now made every possible reparation in regard to the honour and loyalty of the said duke, as the true champion of the crown of France.
The preacher, in his sermon, compared him to the prop that supports the vine, and explained the legality of the powers granted by the bishop to his vicars to annul this sentence, at the same time making excuses for the bishop's absence on account of his illness. In short, every thing was done to the satisfaction of the duke of Burgundy, and the sentence was annulled in the middle of the sermon.
At this time news was brought to the duke while at Paris, that the Dauphinois at Meaux-en-Brie had taken the town of Laigny-sur-Marne, by the carelessness of the garrison, which was true, and the day theywon it, they committed many outrages. Some of the garrison escaped into a strong tower, and sent in haste to the duke for help, who instantly dispatched thither the lord de l'Isle-Adam; and, by means of those in the tower, he gained admittance to the town, and put the greater part of the Dauphinois to the sword,—when, having placed therein a strong garrison, he returned to Paris.
On the morrow, the duke of Burgundy, attended by a large body of men at arms, went from Paris to the bridge of Charenton, to meet the duke of Brittany, who was coming to negotiate a peace between him and the dauphin; but as nothing could be agreed on, the duke of Burgundy returned to Paris, and the duke of Brittany to his own country.
The reason why they met at Charenton was the epidemical disorder that then raged in Paris. By accounts from the rectors of the parishes, it was known that upward of fourscore thousand had died within that town. Many of the dependants of the duke of Burgundy were carried off by this pestilence, as were the prince of Orange,the lord de Fosseux, sir Jenet de Poix, the lord d'Auxois, and numbers of other gentlemen.
Shortly after, the cardinals d'Orsini and di San Marco returned to Saint Maur des Fossés, to treat of a peace between the dauphin and the duke of Burgundy; and many notable ambassadors were sent to them from the king, queen and duke, who at length concluded a treaty by means of these cardinals with the commissioners sent from the dauphin. It seemed good, and to the mutual advantage of both parties; but when it was carried to the dauphin and his advisers, they were dissatisfied with it, so that the war continued with greater bitterness than before.