THE MAID AT POITIERS For fourteen years the town of Poitiers had been the capital of that part of France which belonged to the French.

The Dauphin Charles had transferred his Parlement there, or rather had assembled there those few members who had escaped from the Parlement of Paris.

The Parlement of Poitiers consisted of two chambers only.

It would have judged as wisely as King Solomon had there been any questions on which to pronounce judgment, but no litigants presented themselves--they were afraid of being captured on the way by freebooters and captains in the King's pay; besides, in the disturbed state of the kingdom justice had little to do with the settlement of disputes.

The councillors, who for the most part had lands near Paris, were hard put to it for food and clothing.