There was a spell of very bad weather just then. The melting of snow in the mountains of Haute Bourgogne caused a torrent to rush down from the gorges carrying stones and rocks. It drowned many people, broke down the walls of the great abbey of Cluny, and rushed in, driving the monks up to the higher stories, where they remained till, in sixteen hours, the flood went down, and they descended to dig out the dead bodies from the ruins.[209]
The Queen and Duc d’Orléans had formed the project of attaching to their party the Duc de Bar, cousin of the King, by marrying his son to one of the daughters of France. As the only available one was the Princess Marie, notwithstanding her vows and dedication of the child at Poissy, Isabeau, accompanied by Louis, set out for that convent to see her daughter and talk to her on the subject. She found, however, that instead of a ready consent, which she doubtless expected, the Princess Marie, then about twelve years old, absolutely refused to leave the convent. The Queen talked for a long time to her daughter, and the Duc d’Orléans added his persuasions, but it was no use, she would not hear of it. She said to the Queen that she had placed her there, she was dedicated to God, and she should stay there, adding, “You have made a gift to God and you cannot recall it.”
The King was ill just then, but when he got better they persuaded him to try his influence. He consented rather reluctantly, but said she should do as she chose. He went to see her and asked whether she would consent to leave the convent and marry (she had, of course, not yet taken the irrevocable vows). But the child replied that she had promised to be the bride of Christ, and would hold to her vow unless her father could find her a better and more powerful bridegroom.[210] The Queen and Duc d’Orléans, after their unsuccessful visit to the young princess, went to hunt in the forest of St. Germain. There a frightful storm came on. Isabeau, as usual, was terrified. Louis got off his horse and took refuge in her carriage. The horses took fright and ran away down to the river, into which they would certainly have plunged had not a man caught hold of them and cut the traces, or whatever were the straps that fastened them to the carriage. The lightning struck the room where the Dauphin was in Paris, and killed one of his favourite esquires. The Dauphin was dreadfully frightened but not hurt. His attendants consoled him and had holy water thrown about the room.[211] The people said that these floods and storms were caused by the conduct of the Queen and Duc d’Orléans, who seem to have been of the same opinion, for they were for a short time seized with remorse and declared they would pay their debts. Louis even went so far as to summon his creditors to his hôtel to receive their money, but when they came he had changed his mind and would not pay them--at least, only those who had come from a great distance.