On the Sunday preceding Christmas-day in this year, master Guillaume Edelin, doctor of divinity, prior of St Germain en Laye, formerly a monk of the order of St Augustin, and of other orders, was publicly reprimanded on a scaffold in the city of Evreux, and condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the prisons of the bishoprick, for having given himself up to the temptations and power of the enemy of mankind, that he might accomplish his carnal desires. He was particularly charged with cohabiting with a lady of birth, and, to accomplish this, had bound himself in such servitude to Satan that he was obliged to attend him whenever called upon by him. When such meetings were appointed he had only to bestride a broom, and was instantly transported to their consistorial meeting. Master Guillaume frankly confessed that he had done homage to the enemy, under the form of a sheep, by kissing his posteriors,--and that he had persevered for many years in this damnable debasement, and had been aided by the enemy whenever he required it of him, until the time of his arrest; when, having been duly convicted by the law, he was detained prisoner, and the power of the enemy was without effect. He therefore remained, according to his sentence, closely confined in a dungeon, fed on bread and water. The inquisitor of the faith frequently remonstrated with him on the degeneracy of his conduct from what it was formerly, when he went about preaching so well to the people the faith of JESUS CHRIST. During the reprimands of the inquisitor, the prisoner was placed on a scaffold, in the presence of great crowds of people. At the end of these remonstrances, master Guillaume, knowing how infamously he had relinquished our Creator and Redeemer, began to groan and repent aloud of his sins, asking mercy of God, the bishop, and Justice, and recommending himself to the prayers of the audience. He was then chained, and conducted to his dungeon to do penance for the horrible sins he had committed. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 182: _Amende honorable_,--'A most ignominious punishment inflicted on great offenders, who were led through the streets barefooted and bareheaded (with a burning link in their hands) unto the seat of justice, or some public place, and there to confess their offences, and ask forgiveness of the party they had wronged.'----Cotgrave.] [A.D. 1454.] CHAP. LIX. THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF SPAIN.--HE BUILDS TWO CASTLES AT BORDEAUX TO KEEP THE INHABITANTS IN SUBJECTION.--THE DUKE OF YORK IMPRISONS THE DUKES OF SOMERSET AND GLOCESTER.--OTHER EVENTS. In the year 1454, the reverend father in God master John Bernard, archbishop of Tours, and sir Guillot Destan, knight, seneschal of Rouergue, set out on an embassy from the king of France to the king of Castille, to confirm the alliances between France and Spain.