under strict guard to the castle of Alontresor, the property of his nephew, Sire de Beuil.  The conspirators had concerted measures with La Tremoille’s rival, the constable De Richemont, Arthur of Brittany, a man distinguished in war, who had lately gone to help Joan of Arc, and who was known to be a friend of peace at the same time that he was firmly devoted to the national cause.  He was called away from his castle of Parthenay, and set at the head of the government as well as of the army.  Charles VII. at first showed anger at his favorite’s downfall.  He asked if Richemont was present, and was told no:  where-upon he seemed to grow calmer.  Before long he did more; he became resigned, and, continuing all the while to give La Tremoille occasional proofs of his former favor, he fully accepted De Richemont’s influence and the new direction which the constable imposed upon his government.

War was continued nearly everywhere, with alternations of success and reverse which deprived none of the parties of hope without giving victory to any.  Peace, however, was more and more the general desire.  Scarcely had one attempt at pacification failed when another was begun.  The constable De Richemont’s return to power led to fresh overtures.  He was a states-man as well as a warrior; and his inclinations were known at Dijon and London, as well as at Chinon.  The advisers of King Henry VI. proposed to open a conference, on the 15th of October, 1433, at Calais.  They had, they said, a prisoner in England, confined there ever since the battle of Agincourt, Duke Charles of Orleans, who was sincerely desirous of peace, in spite of his family enmity towards the Duke of Burgundy.  He was considered a very proper person to promote the negotiations, although he sought in poetry, which was destined to bring lustre to his name, a refuge from politics which made his life a burden.  He, one day meeting the Duke of Burgundy’s two ambassadors at the Earl of Suffolk’s, Henry VI.’s prime minister, went up to them, affectionately took their hands, and, when they inquired after his health, said, “My body is well, my soul is sick; I am dying with vexation at passing my best days a prisoner, without any one to think of me.”  The ambassadors said that people would be indebted to him for the benefit of peace, for he was known to be laboring for it.  “My Lord of Suffolk,” said he, “can tell you that I never cease to urge it upon the king and his council; but I am as useless here as the sword never drawn from the scabbard.  I must see my relatives and friends in France; they will not treat, surely, without having consulted with me.  If peace depended upon me, though I were doomed to die seven days after swearing it, that would cause me no regret. however, what matters it what I say?  I am not master in anything at all; next to the two kings, it is the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Brittany who have most power.  Will you not come and call upon me?” he added, pressing