The day after the taking of Les Tourelles and when its loss had been remedied as best might be, the King's lieutenant-general entered the town. He was le Seigneur Jean, Count of Porcien and of Montaing, Grand Chamberlain of France, son of Duke Louis of Orleans, who had been assassinated in 1407 by order of Jean-Sans-Peur, and whose death had armed the Armagnacs against the Burgundians. Dame de Cany was his mother, but he ought to have been the son of the Duchess of Orleans since the Duke was his father. Not only was it no drawback to children to be born outside wedlock and of an adulterous union, but it was a great honor to be called the bastard of a prince. There have never been so many bastards as during these wars, and the saying ran: "Children are like corn: sow stolen wheat and it will sprout as well as any other."[522] The Bastard of Orleans was then twenty-six at the most. The year before, with a small company, he had hastened to revictual the inhabitants of Montargis, who were besieged by the Earl of Warwick. He had not only revictualled the town; but with the help of Captain La Hire had driven away the besiegers. This augured well for Orleans.[523] The Bastard was the cleverest baron of his day. He knew grammar and astrology, and spoke more correctly than any one.[524] In his affability and intelligence he resembled his father, but he was more cautious and more temperate. His amiability, his courtesy and his discretion caused it to be said that he was in favour with all the ladies, even with the Queen.[525] In everything he was apt, in war as well as in diplomacy, marvellously adroit, and a consummate dissembler. [Footnote 522: Vallet de Viriville, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. i, p. 25; vol. ii, p. 389.] [Footnote 523: Monstrelet, vol. iv, pp. 273, 274. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, pp. 243, 247. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 54. _Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris_, p. 221. _Cronique Martiniane_, p. 7.] [Footnote 524: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. ii, p. 105.] [Footnote 525: Mathieu d'Escouchy, _Chronique_, ed. Beaucourt, Paris, 1863, vol. i, p. 186. De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, p. 236.]