OF SIX MEDIEVAL WOMEN 



her country through perhaps the most critical 

 period of its history. 



It is impossible to entirely ignore what has 

 been written to Agnes's personal discredit, though 

 much of it may well be looked upon as exaggera- 

 tion, and open to suspicion. That the king 

 was not her only lover may be true, but in the 

 absence of satisfactory documentary evidence of 

 this, perhaps the various intrigues attributed to 

 her may, for the most part at least, be regarded 

 as the creations of scandal. Still, bearing in 

 mind the condition of France at the time of her 

 accession to power, the extent of the influence 

 she admittedly exercised in the councils of the 

 king, and the great change which came over 

 the royal fortunes and the fortunes of the country 

 during the years of her ascendancy, it is scarcely 

 possible to refuse to her some right to share in 

 the recognition so lavishly bestowed upon the 

 other great woman of that time Joan of Arc. 

 The one may be said to have been the com- 

 plement of the other. Both were necessary to 

 the needs of the day, and the glory of successful 

 accomplishment should be shared between them. 



172 



