LITMIR.BIZ

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upset the other Grands. Everyone was, now, turning upon him to receive orders in the King's service. All the Captains were present when he woke up and went to sleep; he kept, however, also an open table, and this was so richly provided, that the Prince of Melfi's seemed very meager in comparison.

      In the meantime, the King received the news that an upheaval broke out in Guyenne, and that people in Bourdeaux have killed the Governor and other appointed officers like creatures from the river. The Constable said to the King, that this population has always been rebellious and that the inhabitants of this territory must be mastered. He offered himself to take care of this situation. The King sent him there, in truth, but ordered to punish severely only the guilty and to keep there a good discipline. He also gave him as accompanier the Duke of Anmale whom Vieilleville accompanied. The popular upheaval just stopped upon hearing news abouts the troops coming, so that the Constable entered in total calm in Bourdeaux where he, within a month, executed around one hundred and forty persons through the most painful way of dying. In particular, the three rebels who have thrown the royal officers into the water, with the words: “Sirs, jump and give salt to the fish in the Charente river!” would be dismembered in a very terrible manner and then burned with the words: “Rascals, jump and broil the fish in the Charente river, which you have salted with the bodies of your King’s servants!”

      On the whole way to Bourdeaux, Vieilleville commanded Marshall Saint Andrew's company, whose Lieutenant he was, and kept it under such a good discipline, that everything would be run like a private business. He would not even climb on his own horse, until his people has sworn to him that they have done everything right. As he came with this company in a large village three hours from Bourdeaux; his stable master found hidden under the hay and straw a great number of very beautiful lances, pistols, cuirasses, helms, shields and halberds. The innkeeper whom he questioned about this in person, answered with fear and trembling, that his neighbours have hidden these weapons there, because they knew well, that he was an innocent man.

      “And because I have not received, in the two days you have been with me, any harsh word from anyone,” he added, “hence, I will even say to you that thirty five coffers and boxes belonging to different noblemen who believed it not secure to keep them in their homes, were brought here, which I enclosed inside the walls, because it is known that I have never had anything to do with the insanity of the last events; I ask you, however, gracious Lord, behave in such a way, that neither you, nor I suffer any damages from this situation!”. Vieilleville who well saw that he was innocent, but was nevertheless a miserable rascal, ordered him not to tell anyone about this situation; however, told him to put the weapons openly in a barn, and showed him a proof, that he himself has bought, paid and brought them there. The innkeeper should only call him upon, if people wanted to use violence against him. Moved by this human action, this man who believed to owe him his life, almost begged him and asked him on his knees, at least, to take the weapons, particularly the lances which were brand new and very beautiful. But Vieilleville would be irritated and ordered him to remain silent, if he did not want to be delivered to Justice.

      The company remained in garrison in a village, an hour away from Bourdeaux. He, however, stayed in Bourdeaux at Member of Parliament Valvyn's. This one came forward to him immediately and felt himself lucky to have a man of such caliber and authority in his house, and even more as he was very much under pressure because of false accusations made upon him by the Constable, and was indeed even under house arrest. Vieilleville secured him all the needed assistance and promised to defend his cause. Hardly has he entered into the room, when Lady Valvyn also appeared with her two daughters of extraordinary beauty. She was still totally confused by a fright caused the previous night when people wanted to break into her sister's house, the widow of a Member of Parliament, who, for that reason, has sent her two nieces to seek refuge at Valvyn's home and would recommend to him the honour of these four young ladies most pressingly. She threw herself before him, on her knees, but Vieilleville lifted her up and said to her, that he also has daughters. He would rather endanger his own life than allow something regrettable to happen to them. As the mother saw herself in confidence, she started to tell that the people of the Lord who lived at her sister’s and was called Count Sancerre, and particularly a young nobleman, wanted to force the doors of the young ladies; however, these young ladies have jumped from the windows onto the brushwood and have fled there.

      Vieilleville asked her if the young nobleman was not Beuil's bastard. So he is called, they said. “Now, people must not be surprised”, replied Vieilleville, “that for a son of a b..., there will never be peace, nor security for young ladies of honour, under the same conditions; for it embarrasses him, that all the women are not like his mother.” In the meantime, the widow also came by and complained, that the bastard has also mistreated her and has demanded her to deliver him the young ladies. After meal, Vieilleville went to see the Constable and told him the bad behaviour of Sancerre's recognized son. The Count of Sancerre, to soften Vieilleville's acquaintances, went with him at their home for dinner where he excused himself and sought to leave them, in the future, in security; only that they did not trust him and never came by their own initiative to see him, so long the army was in Bourdeaux. They spared themselves hence many unpleasantness and shame which the other citizens had to go through, for all the inhabitants of the city, without any exception of gender, had to knee, apologizing before him, only the Valvyn family were spared from this treatment, even if the Constable reminded Vieilleville not to spare this family, to which he answered, totally irritated, that if people would force his hosts to this shameful excuse; hence, he will abide together with them; he assured, however, not to make any noise about the incident.

      It happened very often, that from the companies which were garrisoned in the villages, many more soldiers came to Bourdeaux to buy supplies, or also to see executions. One of the gendarmes and two archers profited from this situation and told themselves to the priest of their villages, that two of their comrades whom they have seen being hanged, have told them that the priest should toll the bell of his church for them. They have, in that respect, the commission to take him prisoner; however, would allow him to escape if he gave them an important sum of money. The poor priest who did not feel really totally guiltless, promised them eight hundred Thalers; however, still not happy with this amount, they forced him to confess, with a knife on his throat, where he has hidden the rich church adornment. The fear of death made him confess everything. They tied him, afterwards, in a remote, large room and resolved themselves to kill him, after putting their loot in security.

      But the priest's nephew run to Bourdeaux to tell this event to Vieilleville who immediately jumped on his horse and without the villains remarking him, arrived at the priest's home, precisely when these ones would exit from it with three richly charged horses. He immediately hit in rage the first one who approached him, saying the following words: “Good for nothing! Are you heretics that you robbery the priest and steal the church?” The other two would be killed by their comrades from the same company themselves, so that the company would not be ashamed, should these soldiers be condemned to the gallows. People found the priest tied, and beside him two servants who held the knife on his neck, to prevent him from shouting. He threw himself before Vieilleville and thanked him for his life and the recovery of his possessions, this one ordered him to bury the three deads and to say a mass for their souls.

      Then, after that the Constable has given to this city a dreadful example of his severity in the punishment of the rebels, he dissolved the main army; he wanted, however, to inspect the remaining troops. Jokingly, he told Vieilleville, that he would be his troops' Commissar, for he has learned that Marshall Saint Andrew's company is neither sufficient in number, nor well equipped to perform the services; and that he knew well, that only twenty service horses were available. Afterwards, Vieilleville offered him, in total humility, not to spare him the dissolution of his company of soldiers, if he found it necessary. However, he should be fully aware, that if he wanted to keep the honour of inspecting his company of soldiers, he should not act like the other Commissars. “And why then?” asked him the Constable who thought that something unpleasant might happen to them. “Because these ones take their lunch with me!”, answered Vieilleville. The Constable also found during the inspection, at everyone's very great surprise, that this company was in excellent condition. It was in parade on a great field, and seemed to be around six hundred horses strong, for he had allowed the riding servants, the same servants who were holding their masters' horses

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