of Brittany, went to the Pucelle and made offer, that if the king would restore him to his good graces, and continue him in the first rank of honour which he held in his kingdom, he would render unto his majesty, in that unfortunate season, his first duties and ancient fidelity; that he would unite with his army one thousand five hundred horse which accompanied him; and that he would proceed every where she might judge expedient, and for the benefit of his affairs. To the which the duke of Alençon, and the other chiefs, having become guarantees for this lord, the Pucelle retained and assured him, that, by her prayers, she would secure the grace of the king and the entire forgiveness of his inconsiderate revolt." Dubreton, p. 244.

It appears obvious from the above statement, that Jeanne must have acquired very high consideration, when a prince so powerful as the count de Richemont should have thought it expedient to apply to her in order to become his peace-maker with the king; while the Pucelle's undertaking to ensure his pardon, is no trifling proof of the internal conviction she had of her power in directing the counsels of Charles VII.

Page 90. In the course of this day much was gained by the French, &c.

Speaking of the unfortunate conflict at Pathay, Grafton gives the following narrative, at page 536:

"The Englishe men coming forward perceyved the horsemen, and imagining to deceyve their enemies, commaunded the footemen to environe and enclose themselves

about with their stakes; but the French horsemen came on so fiercely, that the archers had no leysure to set themselves in aray. There was no remedie, but to fight at adventure. This battayle continued by the space of three long hours. And although the Englishe men were overpressed with the number of their adversaries, yet they never fled back one foote, till their captayne, the lorde Talbot, was sore wounded at the backe, and so was taken. Then their hartes began to faint, and they fled, in which flight there were slayne above twelve hundred, and taken xl., whereof the lorde Talbot, the lorde Scales, the lorde Hungerford, and Sir Thomas Rampstone, were the chief: howbeit divers archers, which had shot all their arrowes, having onely their swordes, defendyng themselves, and with the helpe of some of the horsemen, came safe to Meum."

Grafton, at page 526, gives the following testimony of the glorious achievements and character of the lord Talbot:

"After this, the lord Talbot was made governor of Aniow and Mayn: and Sir John Fastolfe was assigned to another place; which lord Talbot, being both of noble birth, and haute courage, after his coming into Fraunce, obteyned so many glorious victories of hys enemies, that his onely name was, and yet is, dreadfull to the French nacion, and much renouned amongst all other people."

Page 91. And among others Messire John Fascot,
(Fastolf), who took refuge in Corbueil.

As some statements tending to vilify the character of Sir John Fastolff, have appeared in French histories of that time, which crept into the English chronicles, we subjoin the following extract from Grafton, page 537, being one of the reports in question; whereto we have subjoined some historical facts, to disprove these aspersions on one of the bravest captains the English had to boast, during the period of our possessing sovereign sway in the realm of France.

"When the fame was blowen abroade, that the lorde Talbot was taken, all the Frenchmen not a little rejoysed, thinking surely that nowe the rule of the Englishemen should shortly assuage and waxe faynt: for feare whereof, the townes of Jenevile, Meum, Fort, and dyvers other, returned from the Englishe parte, and became French, to the great displeasure of the regent. From this battayle departed without any stroke striken, Syr John Fastolffe, the same yere for hys valyauntnesse elected into the order of the garter. For which cause the duke of Bedford, in a great anger, toke from hym the image of St. George and his garter but afterward, by meane of friends, and apparaunte causes of good excuse by him alledged, he was restored to the order agayne, agaynst the minde of the lorde Talbot."

Soon after the famous battle of Herrings, whereby Sir

John Fastolff acquired so much renown, he received a check at the battle of Pathay, that took place in June, 1429, upon which occasion many English, who were of the most experienced and approved valour, seeing themselves so very unequal, and the onset of the French so unexpected, that nothing but inevitable ruin would prove the consequence of a rash resistance, and that all must be lost, effected the best retreat in their power; and among those who saved themselves, as it is said, was Sir John Fastolff, who, with such as could escape, retired to Corbueil; thus avoiding being killed, or, with the great lord Talbot, &c. made prisoner.

Thus terminate the French accounts, which some English historians have credited, whereas they contradict themselves; for, after having made the regent, most improbably, and without any examination or defence, divest Fastolff of his honours, they no less suddenly restore him to them, for, as they phrase it, "apparent causes of good excuse, though against the mind of the lord Talbot," between whom there had been, it seems, some emulous contests, and therefore it is no wonder that Fastolff found him, on this occasion, an adversary. It is not reasonable to suppose that the regent ever conceived any displeasure at this conduct, because Fastolff was not only continued in military and civil employments of the greatest magnitude, but seems to have been more in favour with the regent after the battle of Pathay than before.

Page 92. Supplicating that he (the king) would pardon his (the count de Richemont's) evil conduct.

Dubreton, at page 255, thus expresses himself upon this subject:

"For as the Pucelle most humbly beseeched his majesty to extend his pardon to this lord, the king took her by the hand, desiring her to cease her prayers, protesting in the middle of his council, that her virtue and her services had acquired him such a degree of power, that for the love of her, he, with a willing heart, suppressed all his vindictiveness, and freely forgot all the injuries done to himself and to the kingdom. However, he would not permit him to join in the journey to Rheims, fearing that his presence would be offensive, and appear ill, in the sight of La Trimouille, who then held the greatest influence over his good graces. The which gave great displeasure to the Pucelle, because he might have very usefully served the king, as well by his advice as his forces in prosecuting the war. In regard to the constable, he dissembled and stifled his dissatisfaction, perceiving well that the king had not refused him this honour from any animosity entertained towards him; but only for the purpose of gratifying his favourite."

The which was accorded by the king at her request, as well as on account of the love he bore to the lord de la Trimouille, &c.

None of the favourites of Charles usurped a greater