AGNES SOREL 



brought them out to graze at night. As Alain 

 Chartier wrote at the time, "Les pays champestres 

 sont tournez a Testat de la mer, ou chascun a 

 tant de seigneurie comme il a de force." Men 

 of all conditions, from the proudest lord to the 

 poorest peasant, joined in spasmodic and detached 

 efforts to drive out the English, but with the 

 result that they did little else than harass them. 

 Want of cohesion was the characteristic of the 

 national resistance until, from a small village in 

 the east of France, there appeared a deliverer in 

 the person of Joan of Arc. Instantly, as if her 

 sword were a magic wand, all the fighting men, 

 impelled and inspired by the strength of her 

 personality, rallied around her, and victory was 

 assured. 



The story ot the siege and surrender ot 

 Orleans, of the crowning of Charles in Rheims 

 Cathedral, of Joan subsequently falling into the 

 hands of the Burgundians, who sold her to their 

 allies, the English, of her shameful trial and 

 cruel death, are facts so well known that they 

 may well be passed over here as briefly as 

 possible. Suffice it to say, that, except for a 

 time, even the triumph of this maiden-patriot 

 did little to rouse the indolent king, who 

 speedily returned to his selfish life in Touraine. 

 War, pillage, and anarchy again devastated 

 France. But gradually a change came over 

 Charles. He seemed to awake as from a stupor. 

 Dissolute and self-seeking favourites were dis- 

 missed, and the king was surrounded by able 



