CHAP. XXVII. THE LORD DE LA RIVIERE AND SIR JOHN It MERCIER ARB DELIVERED OUT Of PRISON. *TpHE lord dc la Riviere and fir John le Mer-' *** ckr, after having been carried from prifon to prifon, and to different caftles, were at laft given up to the provoft of the Châtelet, and in daily expedition of being put to death,, through ' the hatred of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, and their advifers. They had been in this melan-choly ftate. for more than two years, without the king being able to affift them. He, however, would not confent to their execution ; and the dukes of Berry and Burgundy perceived that the duke of Orleans ftrongly befriended them. The duchefs of Berry was inceflant in her en-treaties with her lord in their favour, more parti-cularly for the lord de la Riviere ; but they could not condemn one without the other, for they were both implicated in the fame accufation. The feli-citations of many worthy perfons, added to the juftice of their caufe, were of much weight :" and lèverai of the great_ barons of France thought they had now fufficîently fullered, and fhould bë fet at liberty ; for that fir John le Mercier had wept lb continually, when in prifon, his fight was weak-ened fo that he could lcarcely fee, and it was cur-rently reported he was quite blind. 1*3