Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
1t was typical education OF the time
for a girl Of good family.
Always Consulted His Mistress

Just when the lady was elevated 10
this proud position of acknowledged mis-
tress is neither precisely known nor par
ticularly important. 1t was about AZ
that Charles began to manifest some
qualities of true royalty. and historians
ascribe the change to the influence OF
Agnes Sorel. We have the word of no
less parsonage than Pope Plus III that
when the treaty of Arras was concluded
In 1435-he being then papal legate at
the French court-the relations existing
between the king and Agnes were gen.
orally known and that the monarch took
no steps without consulting his mistress.
BY way of preparing himself for his more
Sanctified state Charles had cast OH his
former favorite. La Tremouille. who. be-
sides being. according to court historians,
his ''evil genius had the added weak
ness Of having grown old in her devotion
to him.
The better influence of the new IA
vorite soon began to manifest itself. She
stirred Charles up to renewed interest
In his kingdom. and shamed him into
prosecuting the war with such vigor that
the gates of Paris were finally thrown
open to HIM. More important still. a
and ''cemented" after the fashion of the
day by marrying niece OF the king.
Margaret OF Anjou. to that Henry vi OF
England whose royal pre:ensions when
war. Great was the rejoicing in France.
and to Agnes came the high distinction
Of having her position officially recog-
n!zed. though we would imagine that she
would prefer it to be officially ignored.
To her was given the royal castle of
Beaute, near Vincennes. Tire cOurtiers
said 1t was fitting she should be Dame
de Beaute de nom CONNIE de faft"-lady
OF beauty In name as in fact. She ap-
peared with the king at all royal pa
RAanfa fn0fiS-ift0C i'm
royal council when the gravest matters
were discussed The latter was an honor
which was likewise conferred by Henry II
upon Diane de POitiers. and by Louis XIV
upon Mime. de Maintenon.
France Made Great Strides.
Under what may fairly be called the
reign Of Agnes Sorel France made great
forward strides. Peace ruled over the
land. Agriculture was resumed and men
followed the pillow rather than the drum.
Commerce revived. the rivers bore ar
gosies of trade instead of expeditions of
war. Schools and universities reopened.
there was revival of learning. and the
court of Charles became q center of wit
and refinement. though he had little
enough OF either. War fingered only in
Normandy and there Charles took the
from the cringing indifferent debauchee
whom the Maid of Orleans had to fairly
taunt into fighting for his own. He was
at R0uen. which he had taken in triumph,
when Agnes heard of a plot against his
life. Loyalty she rushed to warn him.
Hardly had she delivered her message
when she was mysteriously taken ill-of
poison. some said-and died in his arms
In February. l45O
When all is said and thought we must
attribute to this woman a helpful in
fiuence on the life Of France. She was re-
garded at her death as one Of the ma
tons benefactors. Her heart was buried
in the Abbey of Jumieges. Her body
rests under a noble reclining statue in
the chancel Of the cathedral at Loches.
After her death Charles slowly reverted
10 his earlier state and died, friendless
and deserted. literally starving to death
for fear Of being poisoned If he ate.