CHAP. XXXII.
THE KING'S ILLNESS CONTINUING, HE COMES FROM TOURS TO AMBOISE, TO RECOMMEND TO HIS SON OLIVIER LE DAIM.—OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE DAUPHIN WITH THE COUNTESS MARGARET OF FLANDERS.—A PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, WHICH INCLUDES THE GOOD DUKE OF ALBANY.—THE KING RECOMMENDS HIS HEALTH TO THE DEVOTIONS OF THE MONKS OF THE CHURCH OF ST DENIS.
THE KING'S ILLNESS CONTINUING, HE COMES FROM TOURS TO AMBOISE, TO RECOMMEND TO HIS SON OLIVIER LE DAIM.—OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE DAUPHIN WITH THE COUNTESS MARGARET OF FLANDERS.—A PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, WHICH INCLUDES THE GOOD DUKE OF ALBANY.—THE KING RECOMMENDS HIS HEALTH TO THE DEVOTIONS OF THE MONKS OF THE CHURCH OF ST DENIS.
Theking was again so dangerously ill, at Plessis le Parc, that he was much afraid of dying, and, for this reason, was carried to Amboise, to see his son. He made many wise remonstrances to him on the state of his kingdom,—and as he thought his was an incurable disorder, he exhorted him, after his decease, to have some of his most faithful servants, whom he would name, in his good remembrance. He mentioned first master Olivier le Diable, called le Daim, his barber, and John de Doyac, governor of Auvergne,as having served him loyally,—and that Olivier had done him most essential services which he could never have accomplished himself without his aid: that Olivier was a foreigner,—and he advised him to make use of him and keep him in those offices which he had given him. The king recommended also the lord du Bocage, and sir Guyot Pot, bailiff of the Vermandois, charging the dauphin to follow their counsels, which he had always found good and prudent. He desired of his son that he would not dismiss any from their offices, and that he would pay every attention to his poor people, whom he had reduced to great distress and poverty. He remonstrated with him on many other subjects, which were afterward made public in the court of parliament, and in the principal of towns of the realm.[102]
The king advised the dauphin to give the command of his troops to the lord des Cordes, whom he had always found able and trusty, of excellent conduct, and a notable knight. Having held this discoursethe king then returned to Plessis near Tours.
At this time, the king sent for a number of musicians, who played on low-toned instruments, whom he lodged at St Côme near to Tours. They were about six score in number, and, with some shepherds from Poitou that played on their pipes, assembled before the king's apartments, but never saw him, and there played for his amusement and to prevent him from falling asleep. On the other hand, he collected a great many devout people of both sexes, such as hermits and others of holy lives, to pray incessantly to God that his days might be prolonged[103].
In the months of October and November, an embassy arrived from Flanders,—and the king referred them to master John de la Vacquerie, a native of Picardy, and who had lately been appointed first president of the court of parliament, the lord des Cordes, and others. They held frequent conferences, and at length agreed to a treaty of peace between the king and the Flemings,—and by one of the articles, the dauphinwas to marry the daughter of the duke of Austria, then under the guardianship of the town of Ghent. The king was much rejoiced at this, and was very willing to sign the treaty. Te Deums were chaunted throughout the realm, for joy of this event, and bonfires made in all the streets of Tours.[104]
It was now reported, that the flemish ambassadors were gone to Ghent, to bring back to Paris their countess, and that the king had ordered the lady of Beaujeu his eldest daughter, the countess of Dunois,[105]sister to the queen, the lady of Thouars, the lady of the lord admiral, and other ladies and damsels to be ready to receive her, as it was expected she would arrive at Paris about the 8th of December: but her arrival was postponed until some trifling matters of dispute, that had arisen on the part of the Flemings, should be settled.
In this year, a war broke out between the kings of England and Scotland; and the Scots advanced very far into England,where they did much mischief: but notwithstanding the Scots were one hundred thousand men more than the English, a treaty was entered into by means of the duke of Albany, brother to the king of Scotland. The duke of Albany had laid claim to the crown of Scotland, which he said his brother had usurped from him; for that they were twin-children, and he had been the first that was delivered on earth, and therefore, by right of seniority, the crown was his. The duke of Albany had concluded a treaty with the English, which had prevented any battle being fought: and the scots army returned to their country, and the English to their garrisons[106].
In the month of January, the flemish ambassadors, who had concluded a peace by means of the marriage of the dauphin with the lady Margaret of Austria, returnedto France. By orders from the king, the principal persons of Paris went out to meet them, having at their head the bishop of Marseilles, the king's lieutenant in Paris, the provost of marchands, and the sheriffs. A doctor in divinity, named Scourable, made the ambassadors a fine harangue, which pleased them greatly. On the morrow, which was Sunday, the 4th of January, they attended high mass at the church of Nôtre Dame, whither a general procession was made,—and the doctor, Scourable, preached an excellent sermon, which gave much satisfaction. Te Deum was sung, and bonfires were made, and public tables were spread in the principal streets. When the church-service was over, the ambassadors were grandly entertained by the city of Paris in the town-hall.
The lord cardinal of Bourbon was as much, if not more, rejoiced than any one, on peace being restored: and in honour of it, had a splendid morality, or farce, exhibited at his hôtel of Bourbon, which numbers of the Parisians went to see, and were much delighted with their entertainment. It would have been more brilliant;but the weather was very rainy and wet, which damaged the tapestry and other decorations that adorned the court of the hôtel, for it was covered and hung with tapestry, of which the cardinal had very great abundance. The ambassadors, having been spectators of this entertainment, departed from Paris, on the ensuing day, to wait on the king at Amboise. They had a most gracious reception, and saw the dauphin twice, who treated them very kindly. On their quitting Tours, whither they had afterward gone, the king ordered thirty thousand crowns, stamped with the sun, to be given them to defray their expenses, besides a handsome service of plate which he presented to them. On the return of the ambassadors to Paris, they had all the articles of the peace publicly read, with open doors, in the court of parliament, and then enregistered. After this act, master William Picard, bailiff of Rouen, conducted them from the court of parliament to his house, in the rue de Quinquempoix, where he entertained them, and a large company, with a most plentiful dinner.
The king wrote letters addressed to allranks in Paris, by which he earnestly besought them instantly to go to the church of St Denis, and pray to him to make intercession with our LordJesus Christ, that the north wind might not blow,—because, according to the opinions of physicians, the north wind did much harm to the health of mankind, and to the fruits of the earth. By the king's orders, numerous processions were made at divers times from Paris to St Denis, where public prayers were offered up for his recovery, and many masses chaunted.
FOOTNOTES:[102]See the 366th number of Proofs to the memoirs of Comines, for a copy of the instructions of Louis XI. to the dauphin.[103]Among others, he sent for Francis of Paule, afterwards St Francis, and the founder of the order of Minimes in France.[104]For particulars relative to the treaty of Arras see number 369. of Proofs to Comines.[105]Agnes, daughter to Louis duke of Savoy, wife to Francis I. count of Dunois.[106]Mr Pinkerton attributes to Richard duke of Glocester the rebellion of the duke of Albany, and his assumption of the title of Alexander King of Scotland. Albany joins Glocester on his march against Berwick; but the scottish king is forced to return on account of a revolt of his nobles, who destroy his favourites.See Pinkerton's history of Scotland,—for the account in the text is very erroneous.
[102]See the 366th number of Proofs to the memoirs of Comines, for a copy of the instructions of Louis XI. to the dauphin.
[102]See the 366th number of Proofs to the memoirs of Comines, for a copy of the instructions of Louis XI. to the dauphin.
[103]Among others, he sent for Francis of Paule, afterwards St Francis, and the founder of the order of Minimes in France.
[103]Among others, he sent for Francis of Paule, afterwards St Francis, and the founder of the order of Minimes in France.
[104]For particulars relative to the treaty of Arras see number 369. of Proofs to Comines.
[104]For particulars relative to the treaty of Arras see number 369. of Proofs to Comines.
[105]Agnes, daughter to Louis duke of Savoy, wife to Francis I. count of Dunois.
[105]Agnes, daughter to Louis duke of Savoy, wife to Francis I. count of Dunois.
[106]Mr Pinkerton attributes to Richard duke of Glocester the rebellion of the duke of Albany, and his assumption of the title of Alexander King of Scotland. Albany joins Glocester on his march against Berwick; but the scottish king is forced to return on account of a revolt of his nobles, who destroy his favourites.See Pinkerton's history of Scotland,—for the account in the text is very erroneous.
[106]Mr Pinkerton attributes to Richard duke of Glocester the rebellion of the duke of Albany, and his assumption of the title of Alexander King of Scotland. Albany joins Glocester on his march against Berwick; but the scottish king is forced to return on account of a revolt of his nobles, who destroy his favourites.
See Pinkerton's history of Scotland,—for the account in the text is very erroneous.