Charles 7. the 54. King of France. Anno 1422.

AFter the decease of Charles the 6, Charles 7. his sonne, began to style himselfe King of France, notwithstanding that his Father had dis-inherited him, and given it to Henry King of England. In the begin∣ning of his Reigne having made Count Page  265 Arthur, brother to the Duke of Bre∣tagne, High Constable of France, sent him against the English, who in a man∣ner were Masters of all France, and had now beleaguered Orleans contrary to their promise made to their Duke, who at that time was prisoner in England: whereupon the King sent the Count of Dunois, the Bastard of Orleans, Pothon, Hire, all valiant Commanders to relieve it. At that time the French lost the Battaile of Harens: whereupon the King being enraged, and not knowing which way best to betake himselfe, was encouraged by Joane the Maid, who miraculously drove the English from before Orleance: and having recovered many lost Townes, and gained the battaile neare Patay, and conveyed the King to be crowned at Rheims, but up∣on a Sally which she made out of Cham∣pagne upon the English, she was taken, and put to death at Rouen.

In the end a peace being made be∣tweene the Duke of Burgundy and the Page  266 King of France, they first drove the English out of Paris, nineteene yeares after their enjoying it, into which the King made his entry the twelfth of No∣vember, Anno Domini 1437, to equall which there presently ensued the Pra∣guery Faction. The quarrells also of the Houses of Orleance and Burgundy were extinguished by the Marriage of Charles Duke of Orleance, with Mary of Cleue, neare to the Duke of Burgundy: The English also lived promiscuously with the French, but the Truce being bro∣ken by an English Captaine, who took in the Castle of Fougeres, the King im∣ployed his uttermost to quit France of all the English: and thereupon hee to this designe appointed his Franc∣archers or Boemen, and began with Normandy, which he reduced wholly to his obedience: after that Guienne and the Citty of Bourdeaux, insomuch that the English could retaine nothing on that side the Seas, but Cales and the County of Guiennes. The King en∣joying Page  267 this repose of peace, was much troubled with the absence of the Dau∣phin, who for sixe yeares had betaken himselfe to the Duke of Burgundy, and thence into Brabant, where hee remai∣ned till his Fathers decease, which was the 22. of July, Anno Dom. 1461.

This King being unfortunate in his Warres, grew so behind hand both in fame and estate, that amongst other afflictions, hee was burthened with re∣proach and poverty, so that he dined in his Chamber, attended on by his houshold servants, where Pothon and la Hire comming to Chusteandun to re∣quire succours, found him at Table with a Rumpe of Mutton and two Chickens. He was reproached for the love of faire Agnes, but the History of St. Dennis reports, that hee loved her onely for her pleasing behaviour, elo∣quent speech, and beauty, and that he never used any lascivious action unto her, nor never touched her beneath the chinne. Joane a Virgin, or rather Page  268 Witch, professing that she had a Reve∣lation how to succour the King, and chase the English from Orleance, was brought by the Lord of Baudie Court, Provost of Vancoleurs to Chinon, at∣tired like a man. The King takes up∣on him the habite of a Countryman, yet shee goes directly to the King, al∣though they told her shee was mista∣ken. Shee had Armes and Horse gi∣ven her, with a Troope to enter the City, accompanied by the Admirall and Martiall of France: Shee comes to Orleance, they rejoyce to behold the Maiden Warriour, whereupon Joane sends threats to the English by Letter, subscribed, Vnderstand these Newes from God and from the Vir∣gin. Orleance was assaulted by her coun∣sell: The Virgin entred the Fort first, crying, Montjoy St. Dennis, the Fort is wonne. The English grew amazed at the Virgins exploits: In memory whereof a Monument was erected; King Charles the seventh armed, and Joane the Virgin Page  269 armed, kneeling on their knees before a Crucifixe of Brasse, which is still to bee seene upon the Bridge at Orleance.