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battle of Poictiers had thrown all France into mourning; the king was taken captive by the English, and Charles de Valois, Duke of Normandy (who had just taken the title of Dauphin), was declared Regent. The character of Charles was by no means calculated to please the nation, and the comparisons that were made, between him and his happy and brilliant rival, Edward III. greatly sunk him in its esteem.

Charles D’Evreux, King of Navarre, was the enemy whom the nation had the greatest reason to dread. His quality, as Prince of the blood, ought to have made him the supporter of the throne; but fate had destined him to be its scourge.

The Count de Nevers and the Seur de Joinville, were irreproachable for their principles and conduct. Although the Regent was not particularly attached to any nobleman, yet he always distinguished these two young lords, whose loyalty and courage recalled to mind, in times of corruption