of France, the rich and noble merchant of Bourges, Jacques Coeur, whose purse had been opened to the destitute king in his emergencies, and who had devoted all the energies of his mind to save his country from the ruin which the idle favourites who surrounded the throne were assisting as much as possible.

His princely liberality, his foresight, and promptitude, had rescued Charles from perils which seemed insurmountable.

He had come forward with a sum of great magnitude, at the moment when his royal master was so distressed that he could not undertake the conquest of Normandy, then possessed by the English.

He paid and supported an army, and Normandy was restored to France.

He rescued the country from poverty and misery, placed its finances in a flourishing condition, drove marauders from the desolated land, and saw the little King of Bourges the powerful monarch of regenerated France.
Then came his reward.