A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Agnes Sorel
AGNES SOREL,
A native of Fromenteau, in Lorraine, was maid of honour to Isabella of Lorraine, sister-in-law of the queen of Charles the Seventh of France. The king became enamoured of her, and at last abandoned the cares of government for her society. But Agnes roused him from enervating repose, and induced him to attack the English, who were ravaging France. She maintained her influence over him till her death, 1450, at the age of thirty-nine. Some have falsely reported that she was poisoned by the orders of the dauphin, Louis the Eleventh. From her beauty, she was called the fairest of the fair, and she possessed great mental powers. She bore three daughters to Charles the Seventh, who were openly acknowledged by him.
She herself relates, that an astrologer, whom she had previously instructed, being admitted to her presence, said before Charles, that unless the stars were deceivers, she had inspired a lasting passion in a great monarch. Turning to the king, Agnes said, "Sire, suffer me to fulfil my destiny, to retire from your court to that of the king of England; Henry, who is about to add to his son the crown you relinquish, is doubtless the object of this prediction." The severity of this reproof effectually roused Charles from his indolence and supineness.
The tomb of Agnes was strewed with flowers by the poets of France. Even Louis, when he came to the throne, was far from treating her memory with disrespect. The canons of Loches, from a servile desire to gratify the reigning monarch, had, notwithstanding her liberalities to their church, proposed to destroy her mausoleum. Louis reproached them with their ingratitude, ordered them to fulfil all her injunctions, and added fix thousand livres to the charitable donations which she had originally made.
Francis the First, honoured and cherished her memory. The four lines made on her by that prince, are well known:—
Gentille Agnes! plus d'honneur tu merite.
La cause etant do France recouvrer,
Que ce que peut dans un cloitre ouvrer
Clause Nonain, ou bien devote hermite.