Now the queen became distraught and cried aloud that it was all her doing. Yet even as sails were rigged to catch a landward breeze we observed the galleys pulling toward us. When they got near the king asked why they dawdled and they answered that six young gentlemen of Paris had wandered about the gardens eating fruit and nobody could persuade them to leave. We could not abandon them, said the mariners, so it is not our fault. His majesty ordered these six young men put in a longboat, which is the place for cutthroats and thieves, whereat they threw up their hands and began to howl, imploring him to show mercy, saying they would be disgraced the rest of their lives. The queen and all of us joined this lament but nothing would dissuade King Louis from his purpose. Into the longboat they went and there they sat till we got to land, wretched and terrified by waves dashing in their faces. Yet his majesty was right, since by their greediness to eat fruit they had made us turn about and delayed us.
Before we made port one of the queen’s attendants after seeing her mistress to bed quite foolishly set the queen’s kerchief near a candle. Then she went to the cabin where women slept. In due time the candle burned low, touched the kerchief, and flames spread to a cloth protecting her majesty’s garments. I was told the queen hopped naked out of bed, tossed the kerchief overboard and extinguished the fire while our six cutthroats in the longboat began to shout. I myself, hearing some alarm, opened my eyes and there was her majesty’s kerchief flaming lightly on the sea. If Saint Nicholas or another patron watched over us I could not guess, yet I think we were but moments from lighting up the sea in all directions.
One morning a wealthy gentleman of Provence, Lord Dragonet, lay sleeping on his ship, which sailed a league ahead of us. Early sun wakened him so he called a squire to cloak the porthole. The boy, finding he could not manage it from inside the cabin, climbed outside. His foot slipped and without any sound he vanished. My Lord Dragonet’s ship being small and no dinghy to retrieve the squire, he was left behind. Several aboard the king’s ship noticed an object fall in the sea but took it for a cask or tub since the boy did not wave his arms nor struggle to save himself. One of our galleys fished him up and delivered him to us for inspection. I asked the boy why he did nothing to preserve his life and he said he did not think it necessary because he commended himself to our Lady of Vauvert who came to his aid by holding him up till the galley arrived. When we got home I had this miracle pictured in my chapel and on the stained glass windows at Blécourt.
After ten weeks at sea we reached port two leagues from the castle of Hyères. Queen Marguerite and the counselors thought we should disembark, but his majesty declared he would not leave ship until we came to Aigues-Mortes. Nor could anyone persuade him otherwise. Our ship had two rudders attached so we could turn right or left as easily as a ploughhorse can be guided and the king beckoned to me while seated on one of the tillers.
Seneschal, give me your opinion, he said. What do you think of disembarking at this place?
I replied that it seemed a good idea, since if we did not we might emulate Madame de Bourbon who would not get off here but insisted on going to Aigues-Mortes, which through contrary wind took six weeks.
His majesty summoned the council and repeated what I had said. Everyone urged him to disembark, pointing out that by continuing to Aigues-Mortes he would further imperil his wife and children. At last he consented, which enormously relieved the queen.
While preparations were being made for our journey overland here came the abbot of Cluny with two excellent mounts, presenting them to the royal couple. Next day he reappeared. I did not hear what was said, but I observed the king listen attentively. Later I asked if I might speak my mind and he gave me leave. I should like to know, I said, if you granted the abbot a favorable hearing because of these two fine palfreys. The king thought a while. At last he replied that, in fact, he did.
Sire, I continued, do you know my purpose?
The king told me to go on.
If, said I, officials of the realm who have sworn to dispense justice are permitted to accept gifts you may be sure they will listen favorably, even as yourself. Accordingly, Sire, I would urge you when we return to prohibit all benefaction.
The king summoned his counselors and repeated what I had said. All made haste to agree that my advice was sound, yet one or two looked at me without pleasure.
Another sort of cleric, Brother Hugues, a Franciscan much esteemed, was known to be in the vicinity of Hyères. The king sent for him to come and preach. We saw him approaching a long way off, which is to say we judged by the crowd following somebody that we must be watching Brother Hugues.
My lords, there are too many monks at court, said this Franciscan when he addressed us. Indeed, I count myself one too many. And these monks have no hope of salvation unless Holy Scriptures lie, which could not be. For we know that just as a fish cannot live away from water, so a monk cannot live outside his cloister. If any would maintain that the court of King Louis is a cloister I respond that it must be the largest ever seen, extending as it does from coast to coast. If they protest they live in utmost austerity for the good of their souls I answer that
