CHAP. XXXIX.
KING CHARLES MARRIES ANNE DUCHESS OF BRITTANY.—SHE IS CROWNED QUEEN OF FRANCE IN THE CHURCH OF SAINT DENIS, AND MAKES HER PUBLIC ENTRY INTO PARIS.—THE KING VISITS HIS PROVINCE OF PICARDY.—A PRIEST EXECUTED AND BURNT AT PARIS.—THE DEATH OF POPE INNOCENT VIII.—HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE ALEXANDER VI.
KING CHARLES MARRIES ANNE DUCHESS OF BRITTANY.—SHE IS CROWNED QUEEN OF FRANCE IN THE CHURCH OF SAINT DENIS, AND MAKES HER PUBLIC ENTRY INTO PARIS.—THE KING VISITS HIS PROVINCE OF PICARDY.—A PRIEST EXECUTED AND BURNT AT PARIS.—THE DEATH OF POPE INNOCENT VIII.—HE IS SUCCEEDED BY POPE ALEXANDER VI.
Whenking Charles had espoused Anne duchess of Brittany, as a proof of his affection and love, he willed that she shouldbe crowned queen of France with every magnificence. The ceremony began by a grand mass chaunted in the abbey-church of St Denis by a reverend cardinal, assisted by the archbishop of Sens and other bishops. When this was done the queen was solemnly crowned; after which, a magnificent dinner was served and an open court was kept. Having made a short stay at St Denis, she prepared for her public entry into Paris, where she was received with all due honours.
The whole of the clergy in their copes of cloth of gold, and bearing holy relics, came out to meet her, as did the bishop of Paris, the provost of marchands, the sheriffs, and all the companies of trades in their holyday dresses. When they had paid their obeisances, the queen entered Paris in triumph. All the streets were hung with tapestries: many pageants and mysteries were exhibited,—and bonfires, and all other usual demonstrations of joy, were made on her arrival. She was conducted in great state toward the cathedral of Nôtre Dame; and at thecorner of the rue neuve Nôtre Dame, the rector of the university, attended by all his doctors, was waiting to make his oration; after which, she proceeded to the cathedral to offer up her prayers. She was then conducted to the palace where apartments had been handsomely fitted up for her, becoming her state.
During the queen's residence in Paris, a variety of amusements took place, such as justings, tournaments, dancings and feasts. The king lived with her in the greatest harmony and love; and, in course of time, they had three fine boys, who were spared to them but a short time; for they all died in their infancy, during the expedition to Naples, according to the Divine will. May God give them grace to pray for us!
When peace was concluded with the archduke, the king resolved to visit Picardy, which he did at divers times, accompanied by some of the princes of the blood, his lords, and valiant captains. He made a public entry into several towns wherein he was most honourably received and grandly feasted,—for they were delightedto see their king. Although every town tried to surpass the other, yet the entertainments at Amiens were the most sumptuous and magnificent. The barons, and common people, of Picardy were exceedingly pleased that the king had come to visit them, and were more ardent than before in their affections to so benign a prince.
On the morrow of Corpus-Christi-day, to the great scandal of all Paris, a priest called master John L'Anglois, while in the chapel of St Crispin and St Crispinian in the church of Nôtre Dame, moved and instigated by the devil, approached the priest saying mass,—and after the consecration of the host, this wicked priest tore it furiously from the hands of him who had just consecrated it, and threw it on the ground with contempt, thinking to trample it with his feet. He was instantly seized and carried to prison, wherein he was some time detained for examination. When this took place, he persevered in his iniquity and refused to adjure his errors; for which he was publicly degraded from his priesthoodin the church of Nôtre Dame, and delivered over into the hands of master Pierre de la Porte, then lieutenant criminel for the provost of Paris. De la Porte sentenced him to be drawn on a hurdle to the pig-market, there to have his tongue cut out, and his body burnt until consumed to ashes,—which sentence was executed.
About this time, pope Innocent died at Rome. He had peacefully governed the church during his papacy, and was full of mercy, for he absolved the Venetians from the censure which had been fulminated against them by his predecessor Sixtus. Roderigo Borgia was elected pope in his stead, and took the name of Alexander VI. The new pope was a Spaniard by birth, and of a robust and courageous disposition: he had been vice-chancellor to Innocent, and was full of enterprise and revenge against his enemies. During the reign of this pope, king Charles made a most victorious expedition into Italy, as shall be more fully related hereafter.