d allude to it with tears in his eyes, ask to
have his hunting-knife taken away, and say to those about him, "If any of
you, by I know not what witchcraft, be guilty of my sufferings, I adjure
him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to torment me no more, and to put an
end to me forthwith without making me linger so." He conceived a horror
of Queen Isabel, and, without recognizing her, would say when he saw her,
"What woman is this? What does she want? Will she never cease her
importunities? Save me from her persecution!" At first great care was
taken of him. They sent for a skilful doctor from Laon, named William de
Harsely, who put him on a regimen from which, for some time, good effects
were experienced. But the doctor was uncomfortable at court; he
preferred going back to his little place at Laon, where he soon
afterwards died; and eleven years later, in 1405, nobody took any more
trouble about the king. He was fed like a dog, and allowed to fall
ravenously upon his food. For five whole months he had not a change of
clothes. At last some shame was felt for this neglect, and an attempt
was made to repair it. It took a dozen men to overcome the madman's
resistance. He was washed, shaved, and dressed in fresh clothes. He
became more composed, and began once more to recognize certain persons,
amongst others, the former provost of Paris, Juvenal des Ursins, whose
visit appeared to give him pleasure, and to whom he said, without well
knowing why, "Juvenal, let us not waste our time." On his good days he
was sometimes brought in to sit at certain councils at which there was a
discussion about the diminution of taxes and relief of the people, and he
showed symptoms, at intervals, of taking an interest in them. A fair
young Burgundian, Odette de Champdivers, was the only one amongst his
many favorites who was at all successful in soothing him during his
violent fits. It was Duke John the Fearless, who had placed her near the
king, that she might promote his own influence, and she took advantage of
it to further her own fortunes, which, however, did not hinder her from
afterwards passing into the service of Charles VII. against the house of
Burgundy.

[Illustration: Charles VI. and Odette----71]

For thirty years, from 1392 to 1422, the crown remained on the head of
this poor madman, whilst France was a victim to the bloody quarrels of
the royal house, to national dismemberment, to licentiousness in morals,
to civi