The winter, this year, began late: there was no frost until St Stephen's day, and it lasted only until the 8th of February. But, if it began late, it was most severe; for the oldest persons did not remember the frost so sharp: the river Seine, Yonne, Marne, and all that fell into the Seine, were so hard frozen that all kinds of carriages passed over, as on dry land. Great mischiefs were done to several bridges by the thaw: some were quite ruined, and carried away on the before-named rivers,--and large pieces of ice drove many boats against the bridges of Nôtre Dame and Saint Michel at Paris. They, however, for some hours, formed a rampart, and perhaps saved these bridges; but the danger was thought so great that all who lived upon them carried away every thing of value out of their houses. The ice broke seven of the large piles at the Temple-mill. During this hard weather, no floats of wood came down the river,--which raised the price excessively, insomuch that the billet cost seven or eight sols parisis. To relieve the poorer sorts, the country people of the neighbouring villages daily brought green wood in carts or on horses' backs to Paris. The wood would have been dearer if the astrologers had told truth, for they predicted that this frost would last until the 8th of March: the thaw, however, began three weeks sooner than they had foretold,--but the weather continued extremely cold until May was far advanced, which destroyed all the buds of the early vines, and the fruit-blossoms were cut off. In the course of the winter, and even during the month of April, when the truce with the Flemings expired, no hostilities took place; for the duke of Austria, had sent an embassy to the king, at Tours, and a prolongation of the truce was agreed on for one year, in the expectation that in the interval means might be found for a general peace. Another embassy came likewise from England respecting the truce; and the king took the trouble of going as far as Château Regnault[98], to meet the ambassadors and hear their business. This being settled, they returned to king Edward,--and on their departure, it was publicly said, that the truce between France and England had been renewed for a very long time. In the month of March, the king was suddenly taken ill while at Plessis le Parc, near Tours, and was for some time in very great danger; but, by the grace of God, his health was restored, and he was soon perfectly recovered. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 94: Cusset,--a town in the Bourbonnois, near St Gerand.] [Footnote 95: Julian de la Rovere, afterwards pope Julius II.] [Footnote 96: Aleth,--a small city in upper Languedoc.] [Footnote 97: Forges. There are several towns of this name one in Aunis, near la Rochelle, which I should suppose to be the one in the text,--another in Normandy, famous for its mineral waters.] [Footnote 98: Château Regnault,--a town in Touraine, near Tours.] [A.D. 1481.] CHAP. XXX.