The malady to which the King of France was subject generally attacked him every year, when he was for a time subject to delirium and madness. The disease defied all the attempts of the physicians. The royal family, as a last resource, threw themselves into the hands of the sorcerers of the time, who, to explain away their failures, declared that the devil had communicated to them the fact that the Duchess of Orleans, a daughter of the Duke of Milan, had, by magic arts, laid the King under a charm, with the view of causing his death, and so becoming Queen of France. These accusations soon became known and spoken of throughout all Paris, insomuch that the Duchess, to avoid the scandal of such reports, retired to Asnieres, where the Duke had a handsome château, and remained a long time absent from the Court. The picture was selected on account of showing the mode of riding adopted by ladies of rank of the period; which, unlike that of the lower orders, appears very similar to the present manner, except that the saddle or pad appears to be without the peculiar pommel, or rather horn, used. [Illustration: The reconciliation of Sir Oliver de Clisson and the Duke of Brittany.] PLATE XXXIV. RECONCILIATION OF SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON AND THE DUKE OF BRITTANY. The feud that commenced, or rather recommenced, between Sir Oliver de Clisson and the Duke of Brittany, on account of the shelter afforded by the latter to Sir Peter de Craon, continued for a considerable time to harass the province; deadly engagements continually occurring, in which neither side showed any mercy. In this warfare, however, Sir Oliver had the advantage, as two-thirds of the country were in his favour. The Duke, aware that he should gain nothing by continuing the struggle, proposed an interview, which was declined by Sir Oliver, unless the eldest son of the Duke was left at his castle as an hostage. Sir Oliver had good reason to dread treachery from previous experience, and knew well that his death in any way would be pleasing to the Duke, who, in a time when treachery and cold-blooded murder were things of every-day occurrence, would probably not have scrupled to rid himself of an enemy in such a way. In the present instance, however, the feud was not destined to end by the assassination of either party. The Duke, at last, being determined to put an end to the war, sent the Viscount de Rohan, the Lord de Monboucher, and Sir Ives de Tegre, with his eldest son, to Castle Josselin, the residence of Sir Oliver, who was so much moved by this trait of confidence and sincerity, that he refused to detain the boy, and returned with him to his father at Vannes, the appointed place of meeting. Such occasional traits of generosity are the redeeming features in the dark picture of these times, and seldom failed in producing striking results. In this instance the termination of a long enmity was the immediate consequence; a treaty was agreed to in which