John Hardy undertook to manage this affair, and consequently, the poisons, were delivered to him, with promises of great wealth on his success: at the same time, fifty thousand crowns were paid him down, for him to distribute among such as he should judge able to, assist him. He had also money given him for his expenses; and this madman, Hardy, not having the fear of God before his eyes, nor foreseeing, that had his plot succeeded, (which, thanks to God, it did not) the whole of the noble realm of France would have been destroyed, set out on his journey to the place of the king's residence. On his arrival at Amboise, forgetting that the king had formerly kindly received him and given him great sums of money, in order to execute his damnable enterprise, he addressed himself to a person who had the charge of making sauces in the royal kitchen, with whom Hardy was acquainted during the time they were both in the service of the duke of Guienne. Hardy communicated to him his plan, and offered him twenty thousand crowns if he would assist him to accomplish it. The saucemaker listened to him, but said he could not engage in the business without the consent of Colinet, the king's head cook, who had likewise been in the same service with themselves. He promised to mention the matter to Colinet, and urge him to join them,--but desired Hardy to give him the poisons to show the head cook. Soon after, the saucemaker and head cook having discussed the business together, went and informed the king of the plot, who was very much alarmed, but most honourably and handsomely rewarded them for having discovered it. John Hardy had set out for Paris, but was instantly followed and overtaken near Estampes, where he was arrested and brought back to the king, who interrogated him, and had him examined by others, as to the charges made against him,--all of which he confessed to be true. To make the matter public, and that his trial might have the greater notoriety, the king set out from Amboise for Chartres, Meulanc, Creil, and other places in the Beauvoisis, followed by Hardy, chained with heavy irons, in a low cart, under the guard of John Blosset, esquire, captain of one hundred archers of the dauphin's guard, fifty of whom always surrounded the cart. Thus guarded, he was sent to Paris, to be delivered up to the provost and sheriffs, where he arrived on Thursday the 20th day of January, about three o'clock in the afternoon; when sir Denis Hesselin, the provost, and others, went out to receive him in the suburbs, beyond the gate of St Denis. With sir Denis were the four sheriffs, their officers and great crowds of people, and the archers of the town in handsome array.