OF SIX MEDIAEVAL WOMEN 



at Bourges. Here doubtless many a time Agnes 

 and the king were entertained. Hither Jacques 

 returned from sundry journeys to the East, laden 

 with treasures to beautify his surroundings. 

 Hence he fled, the victim of success. Over the 

 principal entrance is a canopied recess, once 

 sheltering an equestrian statue destroyed during 

 the Revolution. This now empty space once 

 held a statue of King Charles the Seventh, armed 

 cap-a-pie on a galloping caparisoned charger, as 

 he may be seen represented on medals of the 

 period. It is not a little significant of this 

 thankless monarch that he here seems to be 

 turning his back on the house of his faithful 

 servant and supporter, and to be riding away. 

 Other details worthy of mention in this Book of 

 Hours are the realistic background to the picture 

 of the Visit of the Magi^ with its snow-covered 

 village church, houses, and fields ; the Italian 

 drug-pot in the Magdalen's hands in the scene 

 of the Crucifixion, showing the intimate inter- 

 course with Italy ; and the Mater Dolorosa 

 seated alone at the foot of the Cross, a tragic 

 note taken from the Mystery of the Passion. 



There is only one unanimous opinion con- 

 cerning Agnes Sorel, and that is as to her beauty. 

 For the rest, it would seem as if prejudice and 

 flattery held the scales. The mean is difficult 

 to discover, and perhaps it is only possible to 

 get somewhere near it by studying results the 

 remarkable change, as already noticed, in Charles's 

 life and conduct whilst under her influence. 



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