THE BISHOP OF ARRAS CAUSES THE SENTENCE THAT HAD BEEN PRONOUNCED AGAINST MASTER JEAN PETIT TO BE REVOKED.—THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY COMES TO PARIS.
IN this same year, by the exertions of Martin Poree, doctor in theology, and bishop of Arras, and some other ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, having sufficient authorities from him, the following judgement was obtained from the council of Constance.
'By the advice of the clergy, in whose name we issue the following sentence. We pronounce and declare, that the suits, judgments, burnings, prohibitions and executions, ordered by the bishop of Paris, against master Jean Petit, and all consequences that may therefrom have ensued, are null and void, and we now do annul and revoke the same. In regard to the costs that legally attach to this cause, we shall leave them to be taxed on sufficient grounds. In which sentence, I Jourdan bishop of Alba, I Anthony cardinal of Aquileia, I Francis cardinal of Florence, do heartily acquiesce.'
Thus the sentence of the bishop of Paris, against master Jean Petit, was reversed and condemned by the council of Constance, the 15th day of January 1415.
Not long after this, two knights arrived at Paris from the emperor Sigismund, to prepare the lodgings he was to have in that city, and lay in his purveyances. The castle of the Louvre was given to them for this purpose; and on the following Sunday, being Shrove Sunday, the emperor arrived at Paris, attended by about eight hundred horse.
The duke of Berry, the cardinal de Bar, the constable, the chancellor, the provosts of Paris and of the merchants, the sheriffs, and a noble company of the citizens in handsome state, went to meet him, and he was by them conducted to the Louvre. Some days afterward, he explained to the king and council the cause of his coming, which was to establish union in the whole church: he also made many offers of service to the king and his realm. A doctor of divinity, named master Guerrard Machet, then harangued him in the name of the king of France, with which he was much pleased.
Charles king of France was very sensible of the honour of this visit, and the two monarchs eat frequently together. On the first Sunday in Lent, the king of Sicily and his son-in-law, the count de Ponthieu came to visit the emperor at Paris; and during the emperor's stay there, the highest honour and distinctions were paid him by the king and princes. When many conferences had been holden on the state of the universal church, and on other matters, he set out from Paris on the Wednesday before Palm Sunday, and was accompanied by the king of France as far as la Chappelle, between Paris and St Denis, where they separated.
The king of Sicily, the duke of Berry, and the cardinal de Bar, attended him to St Denis, where he was most honourably received by the abbot and his clergy. He thence rode to Beauvais: the bishop of the place and the inhabitants had come out to meet him, and the bishop conducted him to his palace, where he was lodged.
The emperor there celebrated Easter, in company with the duke of Milan, uncle to the duke of Orleans, the archbishop of Rheims, and others, ambassadors from the king of France to his adversary the king of England. Leaving Beauvais, he crossed the bridge at St Remy, and went to St Riquier, because the townsmen of Abbeville would not admit his people, although he was in company with ambassadors going to England. From St Riquier he went on a pilgrimage to St Josse, where the abbot and the whole convent came out in procession to meet him, in the same state they would have done had he been king of France. After offering up his prayers, he made no present to the glorious friend of God saint Josse.
The emperor was clad in armour, having on the pummel of his saddle a montauban hat, and over his armour a robe, on the front and back part of which was an ash-coloured upright cross, with a latin motto round it,—'O how merciful God is!' Most of his attendants were armed, and well mounted; and from St Josse, by way of Estaples, he went to Boulogne, but the townsfolk would not permit him to enter, at which he was so indignant that he would not accept the presents the inhabitants sent to him.
After dining in the suburbs of Boulogne, he went to lie at Calais, whence the governor, the earl of Warwick, had come to meet him, accompanied by men at arms and archers. He was there most honourably entertained, at the expense of the king of England, until the ensuing Wednesday, when he embarked for England.
During the time the emperor was at Paris, he one day went to the court of parliament, where the presidents and counsellors shewed him every honour, and seated him, as was right, on the royal throne. The advocates then began to plead such causes as were before the court; and among others, was one of a languedocian knight, called William Segnot, respecting the seneschalship of Beaucaire. It was claimed by two persons in right of the king's gift; but sir William proved, that no one could hold that office unless he were a knight. The emperor, hearing this, asked the esquire in latin, if he wished to be a knight; and on his replying in the affirmative, the emperor called for a sword, which being given him, he instantly dubbed the esquire a knight, who by this means obtained the office by sentence of the judges of the parliament. The king and his council, however, when they heard of this, were greatly angered against the judges of the court for having suffered it; for it seemed that this act had been done by the emperor, as having superior authority to the king of France, who, had he been present, would not on any account have permitted it. It was nevertheless passed over in silence, and no notice taken of it to the emperor.