Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-04
A Mad Kings Dance.

Among the numberless follies and quas
crimes that the volatile and semi-insan'
Charles VI, of France, was guilty of IN tn,
| first year of his reign, was an ATTEMPTED
invasion of Brittany and a masque bal
given at the Hotel de St. Pol, Paris, il
January, 1892
Charles had been crowned at Rheim.
twelve years before, when he was clever
years old. His uncles, the Dukes of Ber-
~ and Burgundy, had gained such contro
over him that they were almost supreme al
court.
Yet in one matter Charles broke away
from their authority and took the Bit in HI
mouth with q vengeance that resulted dis
astrously for him.
Sir Peter de Craon, a knight of great
wealth, had been disgraced by reason OF
official corruption, and retiring to Brittany,
broOded over revenge upon Sir Oliver de
Cissson, Cons;abls of France, whom the
Duke of Brittany ~ asserted tC be respon-
sible for De Craon's disgrace. De Clisson
himself was the most corrupt man of his
day, being then worth. according to the
will he shortly afterwards made, over seven
eNNh tAAOisdAlNl ulOltN
than the King and his family possessed.
DE Craon sold all his estates in AnjOu to
the Duke Of Brittany, renOunced his al
leslance 10 the King of France. and re-
turned covertly to Paris He hired forty
cut -thrOats, and one night when the Con-
stable de ClissOn WAS returning from the
Hotel de St. Pol, where the King kept
open court, way laid him in st. Catharine
place.
DE Clisson was knocked of his horse,
his attendants being put to flight, ami al
though he fought as well as he could with
his short cutlass, lie was sent whirling
through the door of abaker's shop with a
dozen sword cuts in his body, and left for
desd.
De Craon and his band then sneaked out
of Paris and returned to Brittany.
Sir Oliver de ClissOn had long been in
high favor with the King by reason of his
sycOphancy, and this assault on him en-
ragged the volatile King beyond bounds,
and was the occasion of his defiance of his
uncles, Berry and Burgundy.
The Kings demand ON the Duke of
Brittany for the arrest and transportation
10 Paris of De Craon meeting with a con-
temptuous evasion, Charles determined to
invade Brittany. In this the creatures
about the court encouraged him, none but
Berry aud Burgundy made any opposition.
The Constable de Clisson did not die, but
before his recovery made and affirmed the
will that exposed his immense wealth:
which fact urged ON and fortified Berry
and Burgundy in their opposition to the
King desire for war on Brittany
Sir Peter de CraOn was condemned for
coniumacy, all his goods were confiscated,
his furniture taken by the King, and his
lands given 10 fawning cOUrtiers Jean de
Nienne, the Admiral of France, who was
charged with executing part of these or
ders. disgraced himself by outraglng the
mOdesty Of de Craon's wife and daughter.
the latter a celebrated beauty, and then
turning them out of doors in their
chemises
The King overwhelmed all opposition
and ordered his troops to take the road to
Brittany, and although Berry and Burgun-
dy accompanied him, their advice and adj
mOnitions were not needed. Men at arms
poured in al all quarters, and the mad
young King rode gaily Onward. At Mans
was first manifested that disorder in the
Kings mind which made him fool for the
remainder of his life. He grew fcyerish
and unfit to ride his horse; but he gave no
heed 10 his physicians. and persisted in 60
Ing on with the army. He exclaimed:
''We have determined never to return
from Brittany until we shall have destroyed
the traitors who gave us 50 much trouble
The day the King lcfi Mans was exces-
sively hot, and the SIN blistered the earth
In riding through forest a baroheaded,
barcfooted man, wearing white ierkin,
rushed out from the trees and seized the
rcins of the Kings horse, saying:
''King. rde no further, but return, for
thou ART betrayed" -"
Although startled, the King rode on af-
ter The soldiers had driven or the apparent
maniac.
After clearing the forest they entered an
extensive saHdy plain. The heat was eX-
cessive. The lords and men-at-arms about
the King spread out and pursued different
routes from each other. The King rode
alone to have no dust. with two pages be-
hind him. lie wore Jacket of black vel
vet which added to the warmth. and on his
head was crimson hood, which was no
protection at all from the hot rays of the
sun. In addition to these discomforts he
was constantly frettlng over the diverse
counscls of his uncles AMI the cOurtiers;
and the words OF the wild man in the forest
had found secure lodgment in his failing
mind
As they were thus riding the two pages
behind grew negligent, and the one who
bore the Kings lance fell asleep and let it
fall across the steel helmet worn by his
companion. II rang loudly, and startled
the King. With the words of the wild
man in his mind, he al once fancied enc
mics had set upon him.
lie drew his sword and turned upon the
pages. BY that time his senses were gone,
and believing that the boys were enemies,
hc struck wildly at them, bawling:
Advance, advance on these traitors
The pages scampered away, and the
Duke of Orleans rode hastily up to the
King. The latter, with drawn sword,
rushed at the Duke in a frenzy, and Or
leans spurred his horse and made of, the
X ng after him. The Duke was greatly
Dul Win TIC vi OtlltIS
his escape.
Knights and squires then put themselves
in the way of the insane King, and let him
spend his strength on their strong shields
and parties. But some were not so FORUM
ate in warding the Kings blows; several
were wounded, and five men were killed by
him, one, knight of Guyenne, called the
Bastard of Polignac
When the frenzied and almost blind
King had exhausted himself, and was fall
ing off his horse, he was lifted to the
ground, stripped, administered to and car
ried on litter to Mans.
That ended the expedition to Brittany,
the army at once being ordered home by
the marshals at the secret instigation of
Berry and Burgundy.
The King, not regaining his senses. was
carried to the castle of Criel, on the river
Oise, where the climate was superior. All
were forbidden under penalty of severe
punishment to mention the Kings condi-
tion to the Queen. Berry and Burgundy
took control of the Government, with Bur
gundy as the principal. Then came the
r Al