was disappointed. The English posted themselves behind their wagons, whence the French strove to drive them by the fire of some cannon they had with them; but a part of their army, being too eager to rush to fight hand to hand, moved too hastily forward; the English took advantage of the disorder, drove the French off the field, wounded the Count of Dunois, and killed five hundred of his soldiers. This battle was called the Battle of Herrings, for the provisions the English were bringing chiefly consisted of herrings, which had been provided for their maintenance during Lent, a time when those who profess the Roman Catholic religion are forbidden by the rules of that church to eat meat.

King Charles's party were already disspirited, but the defeat of Clermont and Dunois, who had led on almost the last man that could be got together on that side,

plunged them nearly into despair. The king, who saw no means of offering further resistance to the enemy, at least in that part of France, sought forgetfulness in the indulgence of all the pleasures that he could yet command. Those nobles who were still faithful to him gathered around him in his castle of Chinon, waiting the result of the siege of Orleans; but the hearts of all were sad even in the midst of apparent pleasure; it was determined among them that if Orleans fell, (and they saw no hope of preventing the loss of that city,) King Charles and his followers should retire into Languedoc and Dauphiny, and there, where the inhabitants were still faithful to him, should strive to make head against the English.

It was a fearful time to all King Charles's friends; and although in that castle of Chinon many sights, very gay to mere lookers

on, appeared and fine entertainments, graceful dances, and delightful music, were not wanting; yet the joyousness of heart which can render the rudest hut cheerful, and without which the grandest shows of earth are gloomy, was absent. Uneasy, miserable, trying to deceive each other by a mere show of pleasure, the inhabitants of Chinon lived on from day to to day, each hour expecting to hear that their last hope had failed them: that Orleans was taken-a strong English army advancing on them; that they must betake themselves to the south, where they expected little better than that the people would refuse to rise in arms against the English; and that their last refuge must be a flight by sea to some more hospitable kingdom, where they might perchance obtain food and a tranquil home. This was a sad prospect, which they tried to shut

RUINS OF THE CASTLE OF CHINON, THE RESIDENCE OF CHARLES VII, DURING THE OCCUPATION OF PARIS BY THE ENGLISH.