fllAP. VII.] 



DECLINE OF FEUDALISM, 



221 



firmly the royal authority, Charles VII. decided to form 

 a permanent paid army consisting of the best soldiers he 

 could select. This decision was arrived at in 1445, and 

 was kept secret until the organisation of the new force 

 was completed. The provost marshals in all the Provinces 

 were ordered to have their archers in readiness to take 

 the field, and co fortify themselves with the assistance of 

 the magistrates of the towns, and the nobles of the 

 country, and to patrol all the great roads, to prevent the 

 disbanded mercenaries from pillaging, or uniting in 

 bands against the authority of the king. These pre- 

 cautions, being taken, the king chose fifteen captains, men 

 of position, honesty, experience, and courage, explained 

 his design to them, and asked their assistance in estab- 

 lishing a permanent force. He ordered them to choose 

 from all the troops in the army the best men, those on 

 whom the most reliance could be placed for preserving 

 exact discipline, and to form them into companies. 



The enrolment was completed, the service rolls sub- 

 mitted to the king, and an edict was made establishing 

 fifteen companies of ordonnance. A proclamation an- 

 nounced the fact to the army, and ordered all those 

 soldiers not enrolled in the corps, to disperse, and go at 

 once to their own homes, without committing any dis- 

 order upon the route, without leaving the main roads, 

 and without banding themselves together, under the pain 

 of death.' 



So judicious were the preparations and so well carried 

 out, that the disbanded soldiers went quietly to peaceful 

 pursuits, and after fifteen days they were no more to be 

 seen upon the roads. 



The fifteen companies so formed by Charles VII. were 

 all cavalry, and contained, according to most writers, 100 

 lances each, although an ordonnance of the month of 

 December 1445, fixing the garrison of Poitou at 200 

 lances, divides them into three companies, one of 110 

 lances under the Seneschal de Poitou, one of 60 lances 

 under the Mareschal de Loheac, and one of only 30 under 

 Captain Floquet.* 



' Daniel, i. 153. 



Boutaric, 312. 



