This night, there was an alarming rumour that the gate of the bastile of St Anthony had been left open for the admission of the enemy, who was before it; and, in truth, several cannon were found near there with their touchholes spiked, so that they would have been useless had there been occasion for them. Some of the king's captains were uneasy at these fires in the streets, and the increase of the nightly watch, and went to the hôtel of the Tournelles to inquire of the king whether he had ordered them, or by whom these things had been thus done. The king replied, that he was ignorant of the matter, and instantly sent for sir John L'Huillier, the town-clerk, who came to him immediately, and assured the king and the said captains, that the fires and increase of the night-watch had been made with the best intentions. The king, however, ordered sir Charles de Melun to go to the town-house, and to all the quarters of Paris, to give orders that the fires should be extinguished, and that the watch should retire to bed; but the inhabitants refused to obey, and remained under arms until daybreak. Many have since maintained, that had they retired, according to the orders of sir Charles de Melun, which, through God's grace they did not, the town would have been lost and totally destroyed; for the enemy, before Paris, was ready to enter the town by means of the bastile.
Two pursuivants at arms arrived, on the Friday ensuing, at Paris. One came from Gisors[83] to require aid from the king, for that there were from five to six hundred lances before it, and that there were no men at arms within the town for its defence, and that they had neither powder nor artillery. The other pursuivant was sent by Hugh des Vignes, esquire, a man at arms, having charge of the company of the lord de la Barde. This Hugh was then in Meulan, and had sent to tell the king, that, from information of persons of credit, he had learnt that the Bretons and others intended to gain Rouen as they had done Pontoise, and by means of intelligence which they had within the castle or palace of the said town, that he might provide against such attempts.
This day, Friday, the commissioners for obtaining peace, dined all together at St Antoine des Champs, whither the king sent wine, bread, fish, and every thing necessary for their entertainment. Thither also were carried, in a cart, all the rentals and rolls of account relative to Champagne and Brie, from the chamber of accounts at Paris. The next day, the commissioners on both sides again met,—that is to say, my lord of Maine and those of his company, on the part of the king, with the other princes and lords who were at La Grange aux Merciers; and the following were ordered to repair, on behalf of the king, to the aforesaid St Antoine aux Champs,—namely, master Estienne Chevalier, treasurer of France, master Arnould Bouchier and Christopher Paillart, counsellors in the exchequer. The additional commissioners on the other side were, Guillaume de Bische, master Pierre d'Oriole, master John Berart, master John Compaign, a licentiate full of Latin, and master Ythier Marchant; but this day nothing was done.
The king received letters from the widow of the late sir Pierre de Brézé, to inform him that she had arrested the lord de Broquemont, governor of the palace of Rouen, on suspicion of treason; and that he might not be any way distrustful of Rouen, for, from the end of the bridge to the palace, the inhabitants were all loyal and ready to serve him.
On the Sunday following, at daybreak, seven men surrendered themselves at the bulwark of the tower de Billy, who had escaped from the army of the Burgundians. Four were agents to some merchants in Orleans, two for some in Paris, and the seventh was a Fleming. They had been all condemned to be hanged, because, after their capture, no one had offered to ransom them. They reported, that on the preceding Wednesday, a shot from a serpentine on the tower de Billy had killed seven Burgundians, and wounded many more.
This day, after dinner, news was brought to the king, that the duke of Bourbon had gained Rouen, having entered the castle on the side toward the country by means of the widow of the late lord de Brézé, to whom the king had been unusually bountiful, and in whom he had the greatest confidence.[84] The chief managers in this business for the widow were, the bishop of Evreux,[85] master John Hebert, and others.
When this was known to the confederated princes (although the duke of Berry had before been satisfied with having Champagne and Brie for his appanage,) they sent to inform the king, that his brother would not accept of any other appanage than the duchy of Normandy, to which he was forced to consent. The king, therefore, since he could not prevent it, gave to the lord Charles the duchy of Normandy, and took to himself the duchy of Berry. He was also forced to agree to the extravagant demands of the other princes, as a compensation for their expenses in bearing arms against him,—and they all plundered him well. But this has been before amply related by Enguerrand de Monstrelet.
FOOTNOTES:
[80] The lord de Precigny—was president of the chamber of accounts. Another commissioner was appointed, namely, John Dauvet, then president of the parliament of Toulouse. He was greatly in the confidence of Louis XI. and employed by him on several embassies. He died in 1471, first president of the parliament of Paris, and was one of the most celebrated magistrates of his time.