requent
and of no great consequence. On churchmen these thunderbolts fell but
lightly, doing them no great hurt.

[Footnote 2695: De Beaurepaire, _Les etats de Normandie sous la
domination anglaise_, pp. 66, 67, 185, 188. De Beaucourt, _loc. cit._
p. 362.]

[Footnote 2696: De Beaurepaire, _loc. cit._, p. 17. _Notes sur les
juges et assesseurs du proces de condamnation_, p. 117. _Recherches
sur le proces_, p. 124.]

From 1444, the realm of France, disembarrassed alike of adversaries
and of defenders, was free to labour, to work at various trades, to
engage in commerce and to grow rich. In the intervals between wars and
during truces, King Charles's government, by the interchange of
natural products and of merchandise, also, we may add, by the
abolition of tolls and dues on the Rivers Seine, Oise, and Loire,
effected the actual conquest of Normandy. Thus, when the time for
nominal conquest came, the French had only to take possession of the
province. So easy had this become, that in the rapid campaign of
1449,[2697] even the Constable was not beaten, neither was the Duke of
Alencon. In his royal and peaceful manner Charles VII resumed
possession of his town of Rouen, just as twenty years before he had
taken Troyes and Reims, as the result of an understanding with the
townsfolk and in return for an amnesty and the grant of rights and
privileges to the burghers. He entered the city on Monday, the 10th of
November, 1449.

[Footnote 2697: De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. v, ch.
i.]

The French government felt itself strong enough even to attempt the
reconquest of that essentially English province, Aquitaine. In 1451,
my Lord the Bastard, now Count of Dunois, took possession of the
fortress of Blaye. Bordeaux and Bayonne surrendered in the same year.
In the following manner did the Lord Bishop of Le Mans celebrate these
conquests, worthy of the majesty of the most Christian King.

"Maine, Normandy, Aquitaine, these goodly provinces have returned to
their allegiance to the King. Almost without the shedding of French
blood hath this been accomplished. It hath not been necessary to
overthrow the ramparts of many strongly walled towns, or to demolish
their fortifications or for the inhabitants to suffer either pillage
or murder."[2698]

[Footnote 2698: Lanery d'Arc, _Memoires et consultations en faveur de
Jeanne d'Arc_, p. 249.]

Indeed Normandy and Maine were quite content at being French once
more. The