nd the common folk who had brought the Dauphin thither.

[Footnote 1499: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 322, note 1. C. Leber,
_Des ceremonies du sacre ou Recherches historiques et antiques sur les
moeurs, les coutumes, les institutions et le droit public des
Francais dans l'ancienne monarchie_, Paris-Reims, 1825, in 8vo. A.
Lenoble, _Histoire du sacre et du couronnement des rois et des reines
de France_, Paris, 1825, in 8vo.]

[Footnote 1500: "Et si ipse expectasset habuisset unam coronam
millesies ditiorem," _Trial_, vol. i, p. 91. Varin, _Archives de
Reims_, vol. iii, pp. 559 _et seq._]

Kings were anointed with oil, because oil signifies renown, glory, and
wisdom. In the morning the Sires de Rais, de Boussac, de Graville and
de Culant were deputed by the King to go and fetch the Holy
Ampulla.[1501]

[Footnote 1501: _Journal du siege_, p. 113. _Chronique de la Pucelle_,
p. 321. Varin, _Archives de Reims_, vol. ii, p. 569; vol. iii, p.
555.]

It was a crystal flask which the Grand Prior of Saint-Remi kept in the
tomb of the Apostle, behind the high altar of the Abbey Church. This
flask contained the sacred chrism with which the Blessed Remi had
anointed King Clovis. It was enclosed in a reliquary in the form of a
dove, because the Holy Ghost in the semblance of a dove had been seen
descending with the oil for the anointing of the first Christian
King.[1502] Of a truth in ancient books it was written that an angel
had come down from heaven with the miraculous ampulla,[1503] but men
were not disturbed by such inconsistencies, and among Christian folk
no one doubted that the sacred chrism was possessed of miraculous
power. For example, it was known that with use the oil became no less,
that the flask remained always full, as a premonition and a pledge
that the kingdom of France would endure for ever. According to the
observation of witnesses, at the time of the coronation of the late
King Charles, the oil had not diminished after the anointing.[1504]

[Footnote 1502: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 129. In 1483, when Louis XI was
dying, he had it brought from Reims to Plessis, "and it was upon his
sideboard at the very time of his death, and his intent was to receive
the same anointing he had received at his coronation, wherefore many
believed that he wished to anoint his whole body, which would have
been impossible, for the said Ampulla is very small and contains
little. I see it at this moment." Commynes, bk. vi, ch. 9.]