ABSTRACT
l. 3] ‘Lewes Duke of Orleance murthered in Paris, by Jhon Duke of Burgoyne, was owner of the Castle of Concy, on the frontiers of Fraunce toward Arthoys, whereof he made Constable the Lord of Cauny, a man not so wise as his wife was faire, and yet she was not so faire, but she was as well beloved of the Duke of Orleance, as of her husband. Betwene the Duke and her husband (I cannot tell who was the father) she conceived a child, and brought furthe a prety boye called Jhon, whiche child beyng of the age of one yere, the Duke deseased, and not long after the mother and the Lord of Cawny ended their lives. The next of kynne to the Lord Cawny chalenged the inheritaunce, which was worth foure thousande crounes a yere, alledgyng that the boye was a bastard: and the kynred of the mother’s side, for to save her honesty, it plainly denied. In conclusion, this matter was in contencion before the presidentes of the Parliament of Paris, and there hang in controversie till the child came to the age of eight years old. At whiche tyme it was demanded of hym openly whose sonne he was; his frendes of his mother’s side advertised hym to require a day, to be advised of so great an answer, whiche he asked, and to hym it was granted. In the mean season, his said frendes persuaded him to claime his inheritance as sonne to the Lorde of Cawny, whiche was an honorable livyng, and an auncient patrimony, affirming that if he said contrary, he not only slaundered his mother, shamed hymself, and stained his bloud, but also should have no livying, nor any thing to take to. The scholemaster thynkyng that his disciple had wel learned his lesson, and would reherse it according to his instruccion, brought hym before the Judges at the daie assigned, and when the question was repeted to hym again, he boldly answered ‘my harte geveth me, and my tonge telleth me, that I am the sonne of the noble Duke of Orleaunce, more glad to be his bastarde, with a meane livying, than the lawful sonne of that coward cuckolde Cauny, with his four thousand crownes.’ The Judges much merveiled at his bolde answere, and his mother’s cosyns detested hym for shamyng of his mother, and his father’s supposed kinne rejoysed in gaining the patrimony and possessions. Charles Duke of Orleaunce heryng of this judgment, took hym into his family, and gave hym greate offices and fees, whiche 410he well deserved, for (during his captivitie) he defended his landes, expulsed the Englishmen, and in conclusion procured his deliverance.
