Page 116.- Ruin rush'd round us.

To succeed in the siege of Orleans, the English first secured the neighbouring places, which might otherwise have annoyed the besiegers. The months of August and September were spent in this work. During that space they took Mehun, Baugenci, Gergeau, Clery, Sully, Jenville, and some other small towns, and at last appeared before Orleans on the 12th of October.

Page 120.-Soon sadden'd Orleans.

Rapin.

The French king used every expedient to supply the city with a garrison and provisions, and enable it to maintain a long and obstinate siege. The lord of Gaucour, a brave and experienced captain, was appointed governor. Many officers of distinction threw themselves into the place. The troops which they conducted were inured to war, and were determined to make the most obstinate resistance: and even the inhabitants, disciplined by the long continuance of hostilities, were well qualified in their own defence, to second the efforts of the most veteran forces. The eyes of all Europe were turned towards this scene; where, it was reasonably supposed, the French were to make their last stand for maintaining the independence of their monarchy, and the rights of their sovereign.

Hume.

This title was not discriminately used by the French. Chapelle is sometimes stiled le sire, and sometimes gentilhomme de Beausse by Daniel. The same title was applied to the Almighty, and to princes; and Selden observes from Pasquier," these ancient barons affected rather to be stiled by the name of sire than baron, and the baron of Coucy carried to that purpose this rithme in his device:

Je ne suis roy ne prince aussi,

Je suis le sire de Coucy."

Page 120.

· Can never wield the crucifix which hilts His hallow'd sword.

"At the creation of a knight of Rhodes a sword with a cross for the hilt was delivered to him in token that his valour must defend religion. No bastard could be a knight hospitaller, from whose order that of Rhodes was formed, except a bastard to a prince, there being honour in that dishonour, as there is light in the very spots of the moon."

Fuller's Historie of the Holy Warre.

Page 120. And that

young duke.

Alençon.

Page 120.- La Hire, the merriest man.

"In the late warres in France between king Henry the fifth of England and Charles the seventh of France, the French armie being in distresse, one captain La

Hire, a Frenchman, was sent to declare unto the said French king the estate and affaires of the warre, and how for want of victuals, money, and other necessaries, the French had lost divers townes and battailes to the English. The French king being disposed to use his captaine familiarly, shewed him such thinges as himself was delighted in, as his buildings, his banquets, faire ladies, &c. and then asked the captaine how hee liked them: Trust me, sir,' quoth the captaine, speaking his mind freely, 'I did never know any prince that more delighted himself with his losses, than you doe with yours." "

Stowe.

La Hire had just time before an engagement to make a general confession of his sins, and tell his confessor that they were all of them very soldier-like ones. This done, he made this prayer: "Dieu je te prie, que tu fasses aujourd'hui pour La Hire, autant que tu voudrois que La Hire fit pour toi, s'il etoit Dieu et tu fusses La Hire." The epitaph of Thomas Hodmandod was evidently suggested by this ill-directed jest of La Hire. It is surprising how few witticisms are original.

Page 120.- Of ruin.

They pulled down all the most considerable buildings in the suburbs, and among the rest twelve churches and several monasteries; that the English might not make use of them in carrying on the siege."

Rapin. Monstrelet.

Page 122.- No more the merry viol's note was heard. The instrument which most frequently served for an accompaniment to the harp, and which disputed the pre-eminence with it in the early times of music in France, was the viol; and indeed, when reduced to four strings, and stript of the frets with which viols of all kinds seem to have been furnished till the 16th century, it still holds the first place among treble instruments under the denomination of violin.

The viol played with a bow, and wholly different from the vielle, whose tones are produced by the friction of a wheel which indeed performs the part of a bow, was very early in favour with the inhabitants of France.

St. Aignan was the tutelary saint of Orleans. He had miraculously been chosen bishop of that city when Attila besieged it. "Comme les citoyens effrayez eurent recours a leur prelat, luy, sans se soucier, pour le salut de siens, sortit de la ville et parla a Attila. Mais ne l'ayant pu flechir, il se mit en prieres, fit faire des processions, et porter par les rues les reliques des saints. Un prestre s'etant mocqué, disant, que cela n'avoit de rien profité aux autres villes, tomba roide morte sur la place, portant par ce moyen la peine de son insolente temerité. Apres toutes ces choses, il commanda aux habitans de voir si le secours n'arrivoit point; ayant été repondu que non, il se remet en

prieres, et puis leur fait mesme commandement: mais n'appercevant point encore de secours, pour la troisieme fois il se prosterna a terre, les yeux et l'esprit vers le Ciel. Se sentant exaucé, il fait monter a la guerite et luy rapporte-t-on que l'on ne voyoit rien si non une grosse nuée de poussiere, il assuere que c'etoit le secours d'Ætius et de Teudo Roy des Goths, lesquels tardans a se montrer a l'armee d'Attila, S. Aignan fut divinement transporte en leur champ, et les advertit que tout estoit perdu, s'ils attendoient au lendemain. Ils parurent aussi-tost, et forcerent Attila de lever si hâtivement le siege, que plusieurs des siens se noyerent dans la Loire, d'autres s'entretuerent avec regret d'avoir perdu la ville. Et non contens de cette victoire, le poursuivirent si vivement avec le Roy Merouee, que se vint joindre a eux, qu'ils le defirent enbattaille rangée pres de Châlons, jonchant la campagne de 180,000 cadavres.” Le nouveau Parterre des fleurs des vies des Saints. Par P. Ribadeneira, Andre du Val, et Jean Baudoin. Lyons, 1666.

Page 127. — At Troyes.

"By the treaty of Troyes, Charles was to remain in quiet possession of the royal dignity and revenues. After his death the crown, with all its rights and dominions, devolved to Henry and his heirs. The imbecility of Charles was so great that he could not appear in public, so that the queen and Burgundy swore for him."

Rapin.