KING CHARLES MARRIES ANNE DUCHESS OF BRITTANY.--SHE IS CROWNED QUEEN
OF FRANCE IN THE CHURCH OF SAINT DENIS, AND MAKES HER PUBLIC ENTRY
INTO PARIS.--THE KING VISITS HIS PROVINCE OF PICARDY.--A PRIEST
EXECUTED AND BURNT AT PARIS.--THE DEATH OF POPE INNOCENT VIII.--HE IS
SUCCEEDED BY POPE ALEXANDER VI.
When king Charles had espoused Anne duchess of Brittany, as a proof of
his affection and love, he willed that she should be crowned queen
of France with every magnificence. The ceremony began by a grand mass
chaunted in the abbey-church of St Denis by a reverend cardinal,
assisted by the archbishop of Sens and other bishops. When this was
done the queen was solemnly crowned; after which, a magnificent dinner
was served and an open court was kept. Having made a short stay at St
Denis, she prepared for her public entry into Paris, where she was
received with all due honours.
The whole of the clergy in their copes of cloth of gold, and bearing
holy relics, came out to meet her, as did the bishop of Paris, the
provost of marchands, the sheriffs, and all the companies of trades in
their holyday dresses. When they had paid their obeisances, the queen
entered Paris in triumph. All the streets were hung with tapestries:
many pageants and mysteries were exhibited,--and bonfires, and all
other usual demonstrations of joy, were made on her arrival. She was
conducted in great state toward the cathedral of Nôtre Dame; and at
the corner of the rue neuve Nôtre Dame, the rector of the university,
attended by all his doctors, was waiting to make his oration; after
which, she proceeded to the cathedral to offer up her prayers. She
was then conducted to the palace where apartments had been handsomely
fitted up for her, becoming her state.
During the queen's residence in Paris, a variety of amusements took
place, such as justings, tournaments, dancings and feasts. The king
lived with her in the greatest harmony and love; and, in course of
time, they had three fine boys, who were spared to them but a short
time; for they all died in their infancy, during the expedition to
Naples, according to the Divine will. May God give them grace to pray
for us!
When peace was concluded with the archduke, the king resolved to visit
Picardy, which he did at divers times, accompanied by some of the
princes of the blood, his lords, and valiant captains. He made a public
entry into several towns wherein he was most honourably received and
grandly feasted,--for they were delighted to see their king. Although
every town tried to surpass the other, yet the entertainments at Amiens
were the most sumptuous and magnificent. The barons, and common people,
of Picardy were exceedingly pleased that the king had come to visit
them, and were more ardent than before in their affections to so benign
a prince.
On the morrow of Corpus-Christi-day, to the great scandal of all
Paris, a priest called master John L'Anglois, while in the chapel of
St Crispin and St Crispinian in the church of Nôtre Dame, moved and
instigated by the devil, approached the priest saying mass,--and after
the consecration of the host, this wicked priest tore it furiously
from the hands of him who had just consecrated it, and threw it on
the ground with contempt, thinking to trample it with his feet. He
was instantly seized and carried to prison, wherein he was some
time detained for examination. When this took place, he persevered
in his iniquity and refused to adjure his errors; for which he was
publicly degraded from his priesthood in the church of Nôtre Dame,
and delivered over into the hands of master Pierre de la Porte, then
lieutenant criminel for the provost of Paris. De la Porte sentenced him
to be drawn on a hurdle to the pig-market, there to have his tongue cut
out, and his body burnt until consumed to ashes,--which sentence was
executed.
About this time, pope Innocent died at Rome. He had peacefully governed
the church during his papacy, and was full of mercy, for he absolved
the Venetians from the censure which had been fulminated against them
by his predecessor Sixtus. Roderigo Borgia was elected pope in his
stead, and took the name of Alexander VI. The new pope was a Spaniard
by birth, and of a robust and courageous disposition: he had been
vice-chancellor to Innocent, and was full of enterprise and revenge
against his enemies. During the reign of this pope, king Charles made a
most victorious expedition into Italy, as shall be more fully related
hereafter.