OF SIX MEDLEVAL WOMEN 



king to Agnes's relations. From that time, 

 Charles ceased to spend his time in dreamland, 

 as it were, in the sweet Touraine country, and 

 engaged himself in affairs of State, listening to 

 and accepting wise counsels, favouring the 

 restoration of schools and universities which, 

 in the uncertain state of the country, had almost 

 ceased to exist and encouraging the final efforts 

 to expel the national enemy, even at times 

 personally joining in the fight. If we see in 

 this, in a measure at all events, the guiding 

 spirit of Agnes, the secret of her influence is not 

 very difficult to discover. Apart from her 

 beauty, which, with Charles, would be a potent 

 factor, Agnes had a woman's insight and skill in 

 her relation with him, ever holding up to him 

 the glory and obligations of kingship, at the 

 same time herself entering, with all the vitality 

 of her extraordinary nature, into his favourite 

 pastimes. We know that in one or other of 

 her many residences near Chinon or Loches, she 

 and the king often spent the evening playing 

 piquet or chess (the latter being his favourite 

 game), and then, on the morrow, rode forth 

 together to the chase. So the days were passed 

 in work and simple outdoor pleasures, Agnes 

 taking no recognised public part in the king's 

 life, but devoting herself heart and soul to the 

 task she had in hand. But besides these relaxa- 

 tions of peace, there was also the reality of war ; 

 for the war still lingered on, though feebly. 

 The English had lost their ally, the Duke of 



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