KING CHARLES VIII. CROWNED AT RHEIMS.--HE AFTERWARDS VISITS SEVERAL
TOWNS IN FRANCE.--HE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO PARIS.--MASTER OLIVIER LE
DAIM AND HIS SERVANT DANIEL EXECUTED THERE.--JOHN DE DOYAC HAS HIS
EARS CUT OFF, AND HIS TONGUE BORED WITH A HOT IRON.
In the year 1484, king Charles, being fourteen years of age, was
conducted by the noble princes of his blood, namely the duke of
Orleans, the count of Angoulême, the count of Foix, the count of
Vendôme, the lord of Beaujeu, the lord of Dunois, the duke of Lorraine,
and numbers of other princes, barons, and gentlemen, to the city of
Rheims, to be consecrated and anointed with the holy oil. He was also
attended by the twelve peers of France, or their substitutes, who
all appeared to serve him in their different functions, according to
ancient usage, in such cases established. After the ceremony of the
consecration, he departed from Rheims, to visit some of the adjoining
towns, where he was received with all due honours: the streets were
hung with tapestries,--and the clergy, with all ranks of people came
out to meet him,--and bonfires and every demonstration of joy at his
arrival were displayed in every town he came to.
About this time, one Daniel, a native of Flanders, and servant to
master Olivier le Daim, was condemned for certain crimes by him
committed, to be hanged on the gibbet at Paris[107], which was done.
And not long after, his master Olivier, who had been in the confidence
of the late king, was sentenced to a similar punishment for having
acted criminally, and been too bold in his wickedness. Another of
the late king's favourites, John de Doyac, was, within a short time,
condemned by the court of parliament to be publicly whipt by the
hangman, and to have one of his ears cut off, and his tongue bored with
a hot iron in the pillory, at the market-place of Paris, for having
made too free with the effects of some of the princes, and for having
insulted them. He was afterward carried from Paris to Montferrant,
where he was again whipt, and had the other ear cut off.
After king Charles had been consecrated at Rheims, he was conducted
to the abbey of St Denis to be crowned, and to perform the accustomed
ceremonies. Thence he was carried by the aforesaid lords to Paris,
and made his entry as follows: On the 6th of July, all ranks in Paris
issued out in handsome order, each person well dressed, and according
to his estate, to wait on the king at St Denis, and to do him the
honour and reverence belonging to him. The bishop of Paris and all his
clergy were among them, together with the whole court of parliament,
the provost of Paris, all the officers of the courts of justice and
of accounts, the provost of marchands, the sheriffs, dressed in their
robes of state. This procession advanced a little beyond the chapel of
St Ladre, where it met the king, accompanied by the duke of Orleans
and the lords before named. The provost and sheriffs having paid due
obeisance, presented to the king the keys of the gate of St Denis,
through which he was to make his entry into Paris. Each company
having paid their respects, and made offers of all appertaining to
their different professions, withdrew to the rear, to follow the king
according to their rank.
Thus accompanied, the king entered Paris on a courser, having rich
trappings of cloth of gold, armed in brilliant armour excepting his
helmet of parade, which was triumphantly borne before, on a courser
of great value, and caparisoned in the same manner as that he rode
on. Instead of a helmet, he wore a most brilliant crown, adorned with
precious stones, to show that he was king,--and a rich canopy of cloth
of gold was carried over him. The princes and the other lords, were
richly armed,--and their horses were superbly decorated in divers
manners, to do honour to the king on his entrance into the capital of
his realm. The gentlemen and pages of honour were likewise superbly
dressed, and so numerous that it is impossible to notice them.
Many pageants, mysteries, and other devices, were displayed by the
town, having an allegorical allusion to the king's name of Charles.
The streets were all hung with tapestries: and there were persons
appointed in the principal ones to offer meat and wine to all
passengers. In short, every one exerted himself to show his loyalty,
and his cordial love to the king. He was conducted by the clergy in
their robes, many bearing relics, and rich jewels, to the church of
Nôtre Dame. At the corner of the rue neuve de Nôtre Dame, he was met by
the rector of the university of Paris, attended by all the doctors and
other persons of science, who, having made his reverence, delivered an
eloquent oration. The king then proceeded to the cathedral, and offered
up his thanksgivings; which being done, he was conducted to the palace,
where a magnificent and plentiful supper was served up in the great
hall to the king, the princes of the blood, and other great lords. He
lay that night at the palace, and remained in Paris some days.
After his entry the king held a royal session in his court of
parliament; and he sojourned several days in the city of Paris, where
he daily displayed the great love he had for his people, and for the
general welfare of his kingdom. He had been well instructed in his
youth as to religion, and ever remained a good Catholic, beloved by his
subjects. Many councils were held during the king's stay at Paris, of
the princes of the blood and great lords, on the most effectual means
for the relief of his subjects,--and when the conduct of the late king
in granting such prodigal pensions, in the profusion he was accustomed
to do, was laid before them, it was considered that the revocation of
these grants, and applying them to the use of the state, would be the
best and speediest mode of affording ease to the people. These affairs
being settled, sumptuous jousts and tournaments took place, on the
joyful arrival of king Charles in his town of Paris.
The king, on quitting Paris, went to visit other towns, such as
Rouen, Troyes, and Orleans, into which he made his public entry
attended by his princes and nobility. These and other towns which he
visited received him most honourably, and tried to rival each other
in their exertions to display greater magnificence and more splendid
entertainments on the king's coming among them, so much was he
respected and beloved throughout his kingdom.