The father renounced his son for a heretic, and wanted to put him to death with his own hands. When brought before the court of parliament, he was asked of what religion he was; and replied, Of the religion of nature. It was said that he had frequented the company of some scholars from Spain, who had fled. A general procession was made to the holy chapel, to offer up prayers to God that the scholar might be converted,--and a sermon was preached, while he was present, by an eminent doctor. The court of parliament finding him obstinate, condemned him to be dragged from prison to the place where he had thrown down the host; then to be put into a tumbril, and have his wrist cut off, and carried to the pig-market to be burnt. He was accompanied all the time by three doctors, who earnestly exhorted him to repent,--namely, master John Standun, a Cordelier, and a Jacobin: the first never left him until dead, notwithstanding he continued in his obstinacy to the last. From the time this impiety had been committed, a canopy of cloth of gold was supported over the spot where the host had fallen, with two burning tapers beside it. The pavement was taken up, and carried to the holy chapel, with such parts of the wafer as could be found, to be preserved as relics, and the place repaved. Toward the end of August, in this year, pope Alexander VII. died. The king was then at Mâcon, and immediately ordered the cardinal of Amboise, the cardinal Ascanius Sforza, then a prisoner in France, the cardinal of St George, with other cardinals, to repair to Rome, for the election of a pope. About nine or ten o'clock of the Monday, before Michaelmas-day, the whole arch of the bridge over the Rhône at Lyon fell down. The cardinal of Sienna, nephew to pope Pius II. was elected pope, and took the name of Pius III., but did not live more than eight or ten days after his exaltation. During that short space, he had already shown how very much he was indisposed against the French. He was the hundred and sixth pope. On Wednesday preceding St Luke's day, the lord Peter of Bourbon died, while the king was at Mâcon: he was much bewailed, for he had ever been true and loyal to the crown of France, and was an able counsellor. The 19th of October, died pope Pius III. at Rome, who, as I have said, did not outlive his election more than eight or ten days,--and the cardinals made another election. The French at Naples slew very many Spaniards,--and had they been properly supported, they would have driven them thence, for the lord d'Aubigny evinced much valour and prudence. CHAP. XVII. THE CARDINAL OF ST PIETRO AD VINCULA ELECTED POPE.