of an intellect active, farsighted, and bent upon becoming acquainted with everything, and regulating everything, not according to a general system, but from actual and exact knowledge.  Charles always proved himself reflective, unhurried, and anxious solely to comport himself in accordance with the public interests and with good sense.  He was one day at table in his room with some of his intimates, when news was brought him that the English had laid siege, in Guienne, to a place where there was only a small garrison, not in a condition to hold out unless it were promptly succored.  “The king,” says Christine de Pisan, “showed no great outward emotion, and quite coolly, as if the topic of conversation were something else, turned and looked about him, and, seeing one of his secretaries, summoned him courteously, and bade him, in a whisper, write word to Louis de Sancerre, his marshal, to come to him directly.  They who were there were amazed that, though the matter was so weighty, the king took no great account of it.  Some young esquires who were waiting upon him at table were bold enough to say to him,

’Sir, give us the money to fit ourselves out, as many of us are of your household, for to go on this business; we will be new-made knights, and will go and raise the siege.’  The king began to smile, and said, ’It is not new-made knights that are suitable; they must be all old.’  Seeing that he said no more about it, some of them added, ’What are your orders, sir, touching this affair, which is of haste?’ ’It is not well to give orders in haste; when we see those to whom it is meet to speak, we will give our orders.’”

On another occasion, the treasurer of Nimes had died, and the king appointed his successor.  His brother, the Duke of Anjou, came and asked for the place on behalf of one of his own intimates, saying that he to whom the king had granted it was a man of straw, and without credit.  Charles caused inquiries to be made, and then said to the duke, “Truly, fair brother, he for whom you have spoken to me is a rich man, but one of little sense and bad behavior.”  “Assuredly,” said the Duke of Anjou, “he to whom you have given the office is a man of straw, and incompetent to fill it.”  “Why, prithee?” asked the king.  “Because he is a poor man, the son of small laboring folks, who are still tillers of the ground in our country.”  “Ah!” said Charles; “is there nothing more?  Assuredly, fair brother, we should prize more highly the poor man of wisdom than the profligate ass;” and he maintained in the office him whom he had put there.