John. He was reclaimed by the ecclesiastical authorities as
a clerk; but the claim was rebutted on the score of
incorrigibility, and ultimately fell to the ground; and he
was condemned to death by the Provost of Paris. It was a
very rude hour for Montigny, but hope was not yet over. He
was a fellow of some birth; his father had been king's
pantler; his sister, probably married to some one about the
Court, was in the family way, and her health would be
endangered if the execution was proceeded with. So down
comes Charles the Seventh with letters of mercy, commuting
the penalty to a year in a dungeon on bread and water, and a
pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in Galicia. Alas! the
document was incomplete; it did not contain the full tale of
Montigny's enormities; it did not recite that he had been
denied benefit of clergy, and it said nothing about Thevenin
Pensete. Montigny's hour was at hand. Benefit of clergy,
honourable descent from king's pantler, sister in the family
way, royal letters of commutation - all were of no avail. He
had been in prison in Rouen, in Tours, in Bordeaux, and four
times already in Paris; and out of all these he had come
scatheless; but now he must make a little excursion as far as
Montfaucon with Henry Cousin, executor of high justice.
There let him swing among the carrion crows.
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