THE LORD DE CANNY, ON HIS RETURN FROM HIS EMBASSY, TO PARIS, IS ACCUSED BY THE ROYAL COUNCIL.—ORDERS ARE ISSUED AGAINST THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
PREVIOUSLY to the return of the lord de Canny to Paris, his secretary had given copies of the instructions, and the duke of Burgundy's answer, to many of his friends, insomuch that they made them public long before they were laid before the king and his ministers. In consequence, when the lord de Canny had an audience, to make his report of the embassy, he was told in full council, 'Lord de Canny, you have shewn yourself very unworthy of the king's confidence, by thus distributing copies of the king's instructions, and the duke of Burgundy's answer, of which this is one of them, that you have dispersed at Amiens, Paris and elsewhere, among your friends and acquaintance, with no good intent toward the king's service.'
The copy was compared with the original, signed by the duke's own hand, and found perfectly similar, to the great confusion of the lord de Canny, who, in excuse, said they must have been distributed by his secretary, who had fled from his service.
The lord de Canny was, notwithstanding, carried prisoner to the bastille of St Anthony, where he was confined a long space of time, even until the taking of Paris; for the ministers were very much displeased that the duke of Burgundy's answers should have been made public in so many places; and whatever they may have affected, they were greatly alarmed at the duke's power, for they had been informed that the greater part of the principal towns, and the commonalty throughout the kingdom, were favourable to him, as well as many of the principal lords and gentlemen.
When they found, from the duke's answers, that he was determined to persevere in his enterprise of marching his army to Paris, to demand an audience of the king, they were more uneasy at their situation than before; for they knew they would be driven from their places, and many of them, criminally punished, should he succeed in his object.
To obviate this as much as in them lay, they caused letters to be written in the king's name, and sent to all the chief towns in France, to command them neither to admit within their walls the duke of Burgundy or any of his partisans, nor to pay any obedience to them. They also placed garrisons at all the passes and other important places; and the constable even remanded his men from Normandy for the greater security of Paris.
Thus whilst the king of England was making good his landing in France with an immense army, as has been said, he found no difficulties in adding to his conquests,—and, from the effect of these internal divisions, he met with scarcely any resistance.