HENRY vl 
*6 
f witcheraft having been preferred against her, she was adjudged 
Zuilty and put to death. She died with martyr-like constancy, affırm- 
ing fo the last that Heaven had inspired her to save her country. No 
me can doubt that Joan was sincere, As a true patriot she deserved 
+ better fate, 
5. From the day of Joan’s death, the English cause in France 
steadily declined. Bedford put forth every effort to stem the tide of 
disaster, but in vain. The French captured Harfleur 
In 1435, the Duke of Burgundy, for years England’s Ci 
‘aithful ally, transferred his allegiance to his own sov- ) 
sreign. Bedford’s death followed elose upon Burgundy’s desertion. 
Charles soon entered Paris in triumph; and in 1445 the English 
were glad to make a temporary truce, 
6. In 1445, Henry VI., who was then twenty-three years of age, 
Married Margaret, daughter of Rene, Duke of Anjou. Margaret was 
ünquestionably a woman of remarkable ability. Her 
life was spent in a brave but, after all, unavailing Mankarst of 
struggle to maintain the cause of her husband and his non, 
race, Henry himself was a most amiable and pious prince ; but he in- 
herited from his French grandfather a mind of such exceeding feeble- 
Ness that he was never King in the true sense of the word, 
7. In domestic affairs, Beaufort, first bishop and afterwards car- 
dinal, gradually got the upper hand of Gloucester, He favored &, 
mild policy towards France, Henry’s marriage was 
followed by the cession of Anjou and Maine to Charles More losses 
VII. Shortly afterwards, (Houcester died in prison, in France, 
Where he had been confined on a charge of treason. Soon his great 
rival Beaufort died also. Then Charles VII, encouraged by the 
Yielding policy of England, invaded Normandy, and took Rouen, its 
Capital. "his roused the English people to madness, Suffolk, who 
after the death of Beaufort had been Margaret’s chief adviser, was 
IMmpeached and found guilty of treason. Henry tried to save him by 
banishment, but he was seized and beheaded without process of law. 
8. By 1451 Charles had acquired complete control of Normandy. 
In 1453, under the command of the Earl of Shrewsbury, 
England made a final and determined effart to retain Final loss 
her remnining territory in south-western France. But of Frauen: 
Shrewsbury’s defeat and death at the Battle of Castillon were followed 
by the downfall of Bordeaux and the seizure of the surrounding coun- 
iry. Al that England had now left was the single fortress of Calnis, 
9. During the long struggle with France, England herself had been 
Ffrightfully misgoverned. This, coupled with heavy taxa- 
tion, led to numerous popular outbreaks. "The: most En ee- 
formidable of these risings was that headed by Jack Cade, an 
3ald to be an Irishman. He marched towards London ”