Editing Jean Balue (section)

===Canon Balue===

In 1461 he became vicar-general (Grand Vicar) of the [[bishop of Angers]], Jean de Beauvau (1447–1467), and was named a Canon of the Cathedral of Saint-Mauritius.<ref>Breguet, p. 156.</ref> In 1462 he accompanied Bishop de Beauvau to Rome in the embassy which was sent to present the homage of the new King of France, Louis XI, to [[Pope Pius II]], and to engage in negotiations concerning the revocation of the Pragmatic Sanction, as well as the French claims to the Kingdom of Naples. The leader of the embassy was Bishop Jean Jouffroy of Arras, who had been named a cardinal on 18 December 1461.<ref>Conradus Eubel, ''Hierarchia catholica medii aevi, sive Summorum pontificum, S.R.E. cardinalium, ecclesiarum antistitum series'', [https://archive.org/details/hierarchiacathol02eubeuoft editio altera, Tomus II] (Monasterii 1913), p. 13 no. 8. Forgeot, p. 6, note 4. {{cite book|author=Charles Fierville|title=Le cardinal Jean Jouffroy et son temps: 1412-1473|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nG1HTqHPEbgC|year=1874|publisher=Imp. Salettes|location=Coutances|language=French|page=9}}</ref> During this visit Balue was named a [[Protonotary Apostolic]] by the Pope.<ref>Forgeot, p. 6-7.</ref> On their return to Angers, Bishop de Beauvau wanted to reward Balue with the grant of the prebend of S. Marguerite in the Cathedral Chapter, which had just fallen vacant on the death of the Dean of the Chapter. The prebend, however, was in the gift of the Chapter, not the bishop, and they protested successfully to the Pope, who granted the prebend to the Chapter's candidate on 21 January 1463. Not satisfied with the result, Balue carried an appeal to the King. In Paris he got in touch with Thibault de Vitry, a Canon of Paris who held the office of Treasurer of the Cathedral Chapter of Angers as a benefice. He was introduced to the Lieutenant-General of Paris and the Île-de-France, Charles de Melun, whose father was Governor of Champagne and Brie and Governor of the Bastille. Melun in due course presented Balue to the King. Louis XI granted letters patent on 15 September 1463 ordering the Chapter to hand over the prebend to Balue.<ref>Forgeot, pp. 7-8. Breguet, p. 156.</ref>

On 10 February 1464, at the request of King Louis, the Pope granted Balue a new Canonry in the Cathedral Chapter of Angers which had fallen vacant.<ref>Forgeot, p. 8. Breguet, p. 156.</ref>

His activity, cunning, and mastery of manipulation gained him the appreciation of Louis XI, who made him his [[almoner]] in 1464 and one of his secretaries. Balue's ambitions then got him into trouble. He looked to succeed Vitry, who had just died, as Treasurer of Angers, and on 23 March 1464 made his claim. But Bishop de Beauvau held a bull of Pius II which granted him the gift of an abbey or any other benefice which happened to become vacant. Beauvau wanted the Treasurership for his own purposes. The Canons of the Cathedral opposed Balue out of respect for the bishop, but, on 20 April a cleric of Paris, Jacques Chaumort appeared in Angers with a mandate from the King, ordering the Canons to allow Balue to enjoy the fruits of the office of Treasurer. The Canons complied. This was the end of the friendship and patronage of Bishop de Beauvau.<ref>Forgeot, pp. 8-9. Breguet, pp. 156-157.</ref>

Balue also acquired a number of other benefices during the year 1464. He was made Abbot Commendatory of Fécamp, Abbot Commendatory of Saint-Thierry de Reims, and (in 1465) Abbot Commendatory of Saint-Jean-d'Angély.<ref>Balue's brother Antoine was made Chamberlain of the Abbaye de Saint-Jean-d'Angély, and in 1464 was given a prebend in the Cathedral Chapter of Évreux by Louis XI. He was elected by the Chapter to succeed Jean Balue when Jean was transferred to Angers in 1767, and received confirmation on 7 July 1467, but, before he could take possession, he was transferred to the diocese of Saint-Pons-de-Tomières. Fisquet, p. 50.</ref> He was also named Prior of Saint-Eloi-de-Paris, and (in 1465) Saint-Jean-des-Sables.<ref>Forgeot, p. 13.</ref>

On 26 December, King Louis named Balue a Councilor clerk in Parliament, and on 28 December he granted Balue the privilege of conferring a wide range of benefices which were in the gift of the King. These included bursaries at the Collège de Navarre, benefices at the Hôtels-Dieu, hospitals for the sick and almonries.<ref>Forgeot, p. 9.</ref>