- The dufce a#4 dujçbcfs of Burgundy,, the dnjce of Orleans, with many other great lords of France, diflembled, their real opinions on the fubje to the king. Some through favour.acknowledged Benedict, who was. prodigal, of his pardons, irî order that the court of j^vignpn might thrive the more, The duke of Brittany readily enough followed the opinio^ of the king of France^ for he had been in former times fo fcandalized, by the, in-formation die earl of Flanders, his coufin, had given him of the rebellion in the church, that he would nevef allow of Clement being the true pope, although his clergy paid him obedience and ac-knowledged him. When any of the churches in France became vacant, the king difpofed of then* to clergymen, without ever fpeaking of it to pope Benedift, who, as well as his cardinals, was greatly furprifed at fuch condud, and began to fear the king would deprive them of the benefices they held in his realm. They re/blvccl, therefore, to fend a well-in-ftruéted legate to France, to remonftrate with the king ard council on the ftate of the church, and to learn their indentions, and likewife to affure them tha| the pope they had elefted was/only conditionally chofen, in cafe of his proving agree-able to the king, but that other wife they would dethrone him, and exalt another more " to his pleafure. About this period, the friar, whom I before mentioned to have been fent by pope Boniface to the 114 .