A GREAT MORTALITY FROM THE UNWHOLESOMENESS OF THE SEASON.—OF THE DEATHS OF MANY PERSONS OF NOTE.
In the course of the year 1504, a truce was concluded between the kings of France and Spain, touching the county of Roussillon: nevertheless, the Spaniards that had been garrisoned in Saulse embarked secretly for Naples. It was said, that the king of Spain had bribed some of the French (of which they were afterwards accused), and by this means he had conquered Naples.
The lord of Aubigny and the lord of Alegre, the principal leaders of the french army, were made prisoners; and great numbers of their men perished, more from want of food than in battle, for there was no great effusion of blood. The lieutenant of the lord of Ligny maintained his post in the territories of that lord's deceased wife,—and the French, notwithstanding the spanish force, made several good prisoners, who were exchanged for the lords of Aubigny and of Alegre.
This summer was exceedingly hot and dry, which prevented the corn from filling; and the harvest was very poor in the Lyonnois, Dauphiny, Auvergne, Burgundy, Savoy, and other countries. From the month of March, the farmers and peasants, foreseeing the season would be unproductive, were in great distress, and made processions to different churches in all the villages around: general processions were even made by the peasants to the churches in Lyon, where the inhabitants and monks gave them bread and wine in abundance.
In these processions, the young women were dressed in white linen, with bare feet, a kerchief on their heads, and a taper in their hands: the boys were clothed also in white, bare headed and bare footed: then came the priests, followed by persons of both sexes, the women singing from the Litany, 'Sancta Maria! ora pro nobis,' and then the whole cried aloud for 'Mercy!'
The parishes of Lyon made similar processions to the church of our Lady of the island, a french league distant from that city. On the last day but one of May, the body of St Just was brought from the suburbs into the city of Lyon, which no man living had before seen done; and his shrine was carried in procession, with chaunting and singing, from church to church. On the following day, the jaw bone of St John the baptist, which had never before been taken out of the church of St John, was carried in procession to the church of the Augustins.
Eight days afterwards, it rained; but the drought was soon as great as ever. The monks of Nôtre Dame de l'Isle, attended by the inhabitants of many villages, brought her image, and that of St Loup, in procession to Lyon, which had not been done in the memory of man. This was on the 7th of June; and at the same time was brought thither the shrine of Saint Hereny, prince of the nineteen thousand martyrs.
Processions came to Lyon four and five leagues distant; and the inhabitants of several villages were from five to six days wandering about the fields, from one place to another, without returning home. In short, every body appeared so miserable, the hardest hearts must have wept on beholding this great desolation of the people, and have quitted all amusements to assist them.