remony of his coronation was here
performed[*] with the holy oil, which a pigeon had brought to King
Clovis from heaven, on the first establishment of the French monarchy:
the maid of Orleans stood by his side in complete armor, and displayed
her sacred banner, which had so often dissipated and confounded his
fiercest enemies: and the people shouted with the most unfeigned joy,
on viewing such a complication of wonders. After the completion of the
ceremony, the maid threw herself at the king's feet, embraced his knees,
and with a flood of tears, which pleasure and tenderness extorted from
her, she congratulated him on this singular and marvellous event.

* Monstrelet, vol. ii. p. 48.

Charles, thus crowned and anointed, became more respectable in the eyes
of all his subjects, and seemed, in a manner, to receive anew, from a
heavenly commission, his title to their allegiance. The inclinations
of men swaying their belief, no one doubted of the inspirations and
prophetic spirit of the maid: so many incidents which passed all human
comprehension, left little room to question a superior influence: and
the real and undoubted facts brought credit to every exaggeration,
which could scarcely be rendered more wonderful. Laon, Soissons,
Chateau-Thierri, Provins, and many other towns and fortresses in that
neighborhood, immediately after Charles's coronation, submitted to him
on the first summons; and the whole nation was disposed to give him the
most zealous testimonies of their duty and affection.

Nothing can impress us with a higher idea of the wisdom, address, and
resolution of the duke of Bedford, than his being able to maintain
himself in so perilous a situation, and to preserve some footing in
France, after the defection of so many places, and amidst the universal
inclination of the rest to imitate that contagious example. This prince
seemed present every where by his vigilance and foresight: he employed
every resource which fortune had yet left him: he put all the English
garrisons in a posture of defence: he kept a watchful eye over every
attempt among the French towards an insurrection: he retained the
Parisians in obedience, by alternately employing caresses and severity:
and knowing that the duke of Burgundy was already wavering in his
fidelity, he acted with so much skill and prudence, as to renew, in
this dangerous crisis, his alliance with that prince; an alliance of the
utmost importance to the credit and su