HISTORICAL NOTES

i. Louis XI. Boni 1423; reigned from 1461-83. At the âge of seventeen he became one of the leaders of a revolt of the nobles against his father, Charles VII, was subsequently banished from the court, and sought refuge with Philippe le Bon, Duke of Burgundy. In his exile he continued his intrigues, and inspired his aged father with so much dread that the latter died of starvation in the fear of being poisoned. At his accession he dismissed his father's counsellors and surrounded himself with men of low birth. He opposed the nobles and ail that stood in the way of his absolutism. At the same time he crushed the people by greatly increased taxation. But he brought about the unity of France, created the postal service, established a printing-press at the Sorbonne, and in other ways strengthened the power of France. As a man he was crafty, unscrupulous, cruel, and superstitious ; his tastes were low, and he dressed meanly; never free from remorse and suspicion, he ended his life a véritable prisoner in his own castle of Plessis, where he was protected principally by Scotch guards.

2. Charles the Dauphin, aftervvards Charles VIII (boni 1470, reigned from 1483-98), was brought up in great ignorance by his father, who feared lie might one day treat him as he had trcated his own father. He read chiefly romances of chivalry, and proved himself a feeble monarch, with no Knowledge of politics, and lost several French provinces. He died childless, leaving France impoverished by wars and disastrous treaties.

3. Nemours. Louis d'Armagnac, duc de Nemours. According to history he was detaiiu-d in the Bastille from his father's death until the death of Louis XI, and restored to liberty by Charles VIII. His father, Jacques d'Armagnac, had in his youth been treated generously by Louis XI, but lie subsequently