---175]

[Illustration: Louis XI. and Burgesses waiting for News----193]

[Illustration: Charles the Rash----203]

[Illustration: Louis XI. and Charles the Rash at Peronne----209]

[Illustration: Philip de Commynes----217]

[Illustration: The Corpse of Charles the Rash Discovered----236]

[Illustration: The Balue Cage----245]

[Illustration: Louis XI. at his Devotions----255]

[Illustration: Views of the Castle of Plessis-les-Tours----258]

[Illustration: Louis XI----260]

[Illustration: Anne de Beaujeu----264]

[Illustration: Meeting between Charles VIII, and Anne of Brittany----282]

[Illustration: Charles VIII. crossing the Alps----285]

[Illustration: Charles VIII----293]

[Illustration: Battle of Fornovo----303]

[Illustration: Louis XII----310]

[Illustration: Bayard----315]

[Illustration: Battle of Agnadello----334]

[Illustration: Cardinal d'Amboise----347]

[Illustration: Chaumont d'Amboise----350]

[Illustration: Bayard's Farewell----358]

[Illustration: Gaston de Foix----364]

CHAPTER XXIII.----THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR--CHARLES VI. AND THE DUKES OF
BURGUNDY.

Sully, in his Memoirs, characterizes the reign of Charles VI. as "that
reign so pregnant of sinister events, the grave of good laws and good
morals in France." There is no exaggeration in these words; the
sixteenth century with its St. Bartholomew and The League, the eighteenth
with its reign of terror, and the nineteenth with its Commune of Paris,
contain scarcely any events so sinister as those of which France was, in
the reign of Charles VI., from 1380 to 1422, the theatre and the victim.

Scarcely was Charles V. laid on his bier when it was seen what a loss he
was and would be to his kingdom. Discord arose in the king's own family.
In order to shorten the ever critical period of minority, Charles V. had
fixed the king's majority at the age of fourteen. His son, Charles VI.,
was not yet twelve, and so had two years to remain under the guardianship
of his four uncles, the Dukes of Anjou, Berry, Burgundy, and Bourbon; but
the last being only a maternal uncle and a less puissant prince than his
paternal uncles, it was between the other three that strife began for
temporary possession of the kingly power.

Though very unequal in talent and in force of character, they were all
three ambitious and jealous. The eldest, the Duke of Anjou, who was
energetic, despotic, and stubborn, aspired to dominion in France for the