Six hundred of the Parisians went out to meet the queen and the duke, dressed in blue jackets, having thereon a St Andrew's cross, which they had worn for some time. They presented the duke and his nephew the young count de St Pol, with two robes of blue velvet, which they put on, and thus made their entry through the gate of St Anthony.
They were received in Paris with the greatest joy: carols were sung in all quarters, and flowers were thrown in abundance on the carriage of the queen, and on the lords who accompanied her from all the upper windows in the streets they passed through. The duke of Burgundy escorted the queen to the hôtel de St Pol, where the king resided, who gave to both of them a most welcome reception.
Shortly after, many great councils were holden by the duke and other lords, on the present state of the kingdom and on its government. At their conclusion, the king, to please the duke of Burgundy, created several new officers: the lords de l'Isle-Adam and de Chastellus were made marshals of France, sir Robinet de Mailly grand butler, sir Charles de Lens admiral of France, although the king had a little before nominated sir Jenet de Poix to that office, and he for a short time bore the title of admiral: master Eustace de Lactre was appointed chancellor of France, and master Philip de Morvillers first president of the parliament.
The duke of Burgundy was made governor of Paris, and chose sir Charles de Lens as his lieutenant. Many great changes were made, with which the king seemed satisfied, and granted every thing that was asked by those who had the government of him.
In these days (as it was commonly believed by orders of sir John de Luxembourg), Jean Bertrand, governor of St Dennes, was put to death at La Chapelle, between Paris and St Dennis. He had been one of the leaders of the companies with sir Gastelin Vas, Jean de Guigny and Jean de Clau, and was a butcher. The Parisians were greatly exasperated at his death, and issued out in crowds to find and punish his murderers, but in vain,—for, having performed the deed, they hastened to escape.
They made loud complaints of it to the duke of Burgundy, who demanded of sir John de Luxembourg if he had been the author of this murder; and he replied that he was not. It was afterwards known, that the perpetrators of it were principally Lyonnet de Vendôme, and the bastard de Robais, with about twelve other wicked fellows as their accomplices.
CHAP. VII.
POPE MARTIN ADJOURNS THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE.—THE KING OF ENGLAND CONQUERS PONT DE L'ARCHE.—OTHER MATTERS.
At this period, pope Martin, with the consent of the holy council of Constance, adjourned that council to the month of April in the year 1423, to be held in a convenient city, which should be named by him or his successor in proper time. The pope then departed from Constance, and was conducted from the palace of the bishop by Sigismund emperor of Germany and king of Bohemia, walking on foot, and holding the bridle of his mule. When he was without the town, the pope mounted his horse and went to Geneva, where he held his court for three months.
At this same time, king Henry of England advanced to Louviers in Normandy, which had submitted to his obedience, and thence went to quarter himself at the abbey of Bomport, of the order of Cisteaux[3], very near to Pont de l'Arche, of which place sir John de Graville was governor for the king of France. King Henry sent sir John de Cornwall to summon him to surrender it, but the lord de Graville replied that he would not: upon which Cornwall said, 'Graville, I pledge my word, that in spite of you or of your men I will cross the Seine. Should I do so, you shall give me the best courser you have; and if I fail, I will present you with my helmet of steel, which I will prove to be worth five hundred nobles.' After this conversation and engagement, they parted mutually pleased with each other.