This day, a handsome embassy came to Paris from the king of Arragon, and was honourably received there by the count de Penthievre[47], the lord de Gaucourt and others, who feasted them well in divers parts of Paris until Palm Sunday, when their festivities ceased on account of the approaching Passion-week. The king arrived at Paris after Easter, the 16th day of April, in the year 1474.
FOOTNOTES:
[46] Eldest daughter. Anne of France, a most accomplished woman. She made a great figure in the succeeding reign.
[47] Count de Penthievre—Jean de Brosse—had, by his wife Louisa de Laval, Réné, who married Jeanne, only daughter to the historian Philip de Comines.
[A.D. 1474.]
CHAP. XVII.
THE PARISIANS ARE REVIEWED BY THE KING.—OF THE ARRAGONIAN AMBASSADORS.—A CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE KING AND THE CONSTABLE.—A TRUCE WITH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—OTHER EVENTS.—THE DUKE OF ALENÇON CONDEMNED TO BE BEHEADED AT PARIS.—THE KING TAKES POSSESSION OF ANJOU.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY BESIEGES NUYS[48].—HE TAKES SEVERAL TOWNS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRUCE BETWEEN THE KING AND HIMSELF.
The king ordered a review of the Parisians on Saturday the 20th of April. They were drawn up from the bastile of St Anthony, along the ditches, to the tower of Billy,—and thence, in battle-array, to the Grange aux Merciers: there was another division formed on the opposite side of the town. They made a brilliant and formidable appearance,—for the whole number was estimated at one hundred and four thousand men, all in uniforms, with red hoods and white crosses. A large train of artillery was also drawn out of Paris, which added much to the beauty of the spectacle.
The king was accompanied at this review by the arragonian ambassadors, who were astonished at the numbers of men under arms that Paris alone had sent forth. The king was attended by his guards, the gentlemen of his household, the count de Dammartin in great pomp, Philip of Savoy count of Bresse, the lord du Perche, Salazart, and several other captains and gentlemen of renown. After the review, the king went to Vincennes to supper, taking with him the arragonian embassy; and shortly after, he gave to the two principal ambassadors two cups of fine gold, embossed with figures, which weighed forty marcs, and had cost three thousand two hundred crowns of gold.
The king left Paris for Senlis, where he made some stay; and during that time two embassies came to him, one from Brittany and another from Germany,—the chief of which last was the duke of Bavaria. With the embassy from Brittany came Philip des Essars, lord of Thieux, master of the household to the duke of Brittany, who had been very active against the king. He was, however, kindly received by him, presented with ten thousand crowns, and appointed general inquisitor and inspector of waters and forests in Champagne and Brie,—which office the lord de Châtillon had held, but it was taken from him to be given to Philip des Essars.