This is not a campfire story meant to scare children. It is true: By the year 1450, France had been devastated by the Hundred Years’ War. The English had laid waste to the country side, leaving the people hungry and seeking safety. Many fled to the great city of Paris. But Paris was not great anymore. The loss of able men to the war effort meant Paris was without adequate defenders. Worse, the cost of the war had diverted funds away from vital building, leaving the once-formidable ...