But before setting out he
told the murderer who at his entreaty had done the deed, that he had
seen expresses from the King directing that he should be taken and put
to death. Nevertheless, on account of the service that he had rendered
him, he desired to save his life, and he gave him ten crowns wherewith
to leave the kingdom. The murderer did this, and was afterwards seen no
more.
The murder was so fully proven by the servants of the dead man, by the
woman who had taken refuge with the Jacobins, and by the bones that were
found in the mortar, that legal proceedings were begun and completed in
the absence of St. Aignan and his wife. They were judged by default
and were both condemned to death. Their property was confiscated to the
Prince, and fifteen hundred crowns were to be given to the dead man's
father to pay the costs of the trial.
St. Aignan being in England and perceiving that in the eyes of the law
he was dead in France, by means of his services to divers great lords
and by the favour of his wife's relations, induced the King of England
(10) to request the King of France (11) to grant him a pardon and
restore him to his possessions and honours.
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