hemp and flax, which was fastened on with pitch. The Duke of Orleans wishing to examine their faces, approached torch in hand; their dresses became ignited by the torch, and the presence of mind of the Duchess of Berri alone saved the king's life, but the shock to his mind had been terrible, and from that time till his death he had but very lucid intervals. And now began a struggle for power between the Dukes of Orleans and of Burgundy. In 1403 the old Duke of Burgundy died, and was succeeded in the regency by his son John. The Duke of Berri succeeded in reconciling the two princes, who took the Holy Sacrament together. The next day, however, 23rd. November, 1407, as Louis of Orleans was supping with the queen (rue Babette), he was told the king desired his presence. He went out immediately, but was hardly in the street when he was attacked by a band of armed men and killed. The Duke of Burgundy had caused the assassination; he boldly boasted of his crime, came to Paris, and governed as absolute master.

In 1410 the young Duke of Orleans, joined by the Dukes of Berri, of Bourbon, and of Bretagne, declared war upon the Duke of Burgundy. All France was now divided into two factions, that of the Duke of Orleans, who called themselves Armagnacs after his father-in-law and whose sign was a band of white linen worn upon the shoulder; and that of the Burgundians who wore a blue cap with a white St. Andrew's cross and a fleur-de-lys. The animosity of the two parties was greatly augmented by the conduct of the queen Isabeau of Bavaria, who betrayed each in turn. The crimes committed in Paris by the Burgundians excited the indignation of the citizens, who revolted and fell into the power of the Armagnacs. In the year 1415 war broke out with

England, and added to the misery of the country. Henry V. of England demanded the hand of Catherine of France, and the restoration of all the provinces ceded to France by the Treaty of Brétigny. This being refused, he entered France and gained the battle of Agincourt, in which the French lost about 10,000 men, among whom were the Dukes of Orleans and of Bourbon. The Duke of Burgundy now tried to obtain possession of Paris, but was repulsed. He tried a second time, and being successful, caused the Duke of Armagnac and 2000 of his partisans to be put to death. Henry V. in the meantime marched into and took possession of Normandy 1417. The Armagnacs and Burgundians alarmed at this new danger, for a moment forgot their quarrels, and joined their forces in order to repulse the English king. But a fresh crime rendered their permanent reconciliation impossible. The dauphin Charles, now chief of the Armagnacs, invited the Duke of Burgundy to a personal conference on the bridge of Montereau-sur-yonne, but as he was entering the royal tent he was assassinated by Louvet and Du Chastel 1419. His son Philip vowed to avenge his father's death, and the queen joined his party. In 1420 the infamous Treaty of Troyes was signed, which took the succession entirely from the dauphin, giving the crown to Henry of England at the death of Charles VI., and consenting to his marriage with Catherine of France. In 1421 Henry returned to England with his wife, leaving the Duke of Clarence as his lieutenant; the duke was however soon afterwards killed by some soldiers in the dauphin's service. Upon the death of Charles VI., preceded by that of Henry V., the dauphin was recognised king by a few faithful subjects at Poitiers, but the infant son of Henry V. and of Catherine was proclaimed King of France

by the title of Henry VI., under the protection of his uncle the Duke of Bedford. Charles VI. married Isabeau of Bavaria he left one son, Charles VII.

CHARLES VII., THE VICTORIOUS.

1422-1461.

THE generals of Charles VII. were defeated by the English in the year 1424. The activity of the Duke of Bedford constantly stirred up fresh enemies to France, and in 1428 Orleans (which was also besieged by the English) was the only town of importance remaining to Charles; this town must also have surrendered had not the French received unexpected help in the person of Joan of Arc. This young girl, a servant at an inn at Domrémy, followed the king to Chinon, obtained an interview, and told him she had received a mission from God to deliver her country from the English, and to crown the king at Rheims, but that she must first deliver Orleans, then besieged by the Duke of Suffolk. Convinced by her earnestness, Charles gave her an escort to Orleans, which was defended by three of the king's bravest generals. Her appearance excited the French soldiers to fresh efforts, while it discouraged the English, who all believed in her sacred mission, and the Earl of Suffolk was obliged to raise the siege 1429.

Joan then accompanied the king to Rheims, where he was crowned by the Archbishop, July 7th, 1429. At the conclusion of the cremony she threw herself at the king's feet, asking permission to return home to her parents, now that her mission was accomplished; but Charles constrained her to remain with his army, and as a reward for what she had done ennobled her family and descendants, giving them the

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name of Des Lys. But Joan no longer fought with the same ardour and confidence, and was at last taken prisoner by the English at the siege of Compiègne; she is said to have been burnt to death at Rouen, by order of the Duke of Bedford, May 30th, 1431. The English army was now everywhere defeated, and, being abandoned by the Duke of Burgundy, Bedford's ruin was complete. The Duke of Burgundy also was reconciled to Charles VII., who gave to him the counties of Auxerre and Macon, and the towns of Peronne and Mont Didier. The French then rose en masse against the English; in 1436 Paris opened its gates to the king's Constable, Richemond, the people crying, "Peace! Peace! Long live Charles VII. and the Duke of Burgundy." The Constable replied, "My good people, the king thanks you for rendering him again master of the first city in his kingdom."

In 1439 Charles VII. assembled his parliament, and made some new and severe laws with regard to the organisation of his army. These laws gave offence to several nobles, who joined by the dauphin Louis, revolted, but Charles soon reduced them to submission.

In 1451 Calais only remained to the English; Lord Talbot, and his son, Lord Lisle, were killed at the battle of Castillon, 1453, while attempting the recovery of Guienne.

The last years of the life of Charles VII. were greatly troubled by the misconduct of his eldest son, whom he also suspected of wishing to poison him; this idea at last took such hold of his mind that he refused to take food and died 1461.

This king levied a perpetual tax for the maintenance of a standing army; established the election of bishops, and re

duced the power of the parliament, which had become greater than that of the king.

A merchant, Jacques Cœur, had acquired such enormous riches by commerce that he was able to lend the king a sum of 20,000 crowns, and to maintain four armies in 1448. By his wife, Marie of Anjou, Charles VII. had two sons: Louis XI., king, and Charles, Duke of Berri

LOUIS XI.
1461-1483.

ON the day of the coronation of Louis XI., the Duke of Burgundy threw himself at the king's feet in the middle of the ceremony, praying him: "In honour of the death and passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to forgive all those whom he suspected of having sown discord between himself and his late father." Louis promised pardon, except to seven persons, but he soon forgot his promise, and surrounded himself with the companions of his revolts.

Louis abolished the Pragmatic sanction, which he considered too favourable to the nobles; by this ordinance each church elected its bishop, each monastery its abbot.

The conduct of Louis XI. excited the indignation of the nobles, and they formed a league known as the League of the Public Good, at the head of which were the Dukes of Burgundy, of Bretagne, of Nemours, and the king's brother, the Duke of Berri.

In 1465 was fought the battle of Monthlery, the issue of which is doubtful. The Duke of Charolois had also joined the confederates, but the policy of Louis separated the allies, and the treaty of Conflans was signed, by which the king promised to Charolois, son to the Duke of Burgundy, the