The rest of the party returned to Pouilly, where they found Isabeau and Louis just going to dinner. But on hearing what had happened they were so alarmed that, without even waiting to dine, they fled to Melun and took refuge there.[214]
There was now open war between the Queen and Duc d’Orléans and the Burgundian party, and the royal family was divided and perplexed. The King of Sicily and Duc de Bourbon tried to make peace and came to Melun for that purpose, but it was no use; the Queen would not see them and the Duc d’Orléans would not listen to them. He said the capture of the Dauphin was an insult to the Queen and to himself. They went back in despair, and begged the Duc de Berry to try. He also went to Melun, but it was no use; the Queen would not go back to Paris.
She was at this time very angry with some of the members of her household who had been spreading scandal about her. She dismissed several of her maids-of-honour, among them one who had been her great favourite, whom she often consulted, and who kept her seal. She put two of the gentlemen of her household in prison and kept them there for some time, in spite of the entreaties of their friends that they might be brought to trial.[215]
However, a conference was held at Vincennes, peace was patched up, and they all returned to Paris, where the Queen took up her abode again with the King at St. Paul, the Duc d’Orléans at his hôtel near the Bastille, the Duke of Burgundy occupied the hôtel d’Artois, the King of Sicily the hôtel d’Anjou, and the Duc de Berry the hôtel de Nesle. Each of these hôtels was a fortress, and all the streets around them were defended with chains and wooden doors.
Meanwhile, the King had another attack worse than ever. He was very fierce, so that no one dared go near him, and refused to undress or wash. This went on so long, and he got into such a dreadful state, that the doctor said it must be stopped somehow. Ten or twelve men therefore disguised themselves, wore armour under their clothes, and blackened their faces. Then they rushed into the King’s room, “terrible to see,” as the chronicler remarks. The King was so frightened that he let them get close to him, and then they seized him, undressed and washed him, and put clean clothes on him. He soon began to get better, but for some time did not know any one but Juvenal des Ursins, who used to go to see him, and whom he would recognise and talk to. Shortly after he recovered his senses.[216]