Part 42 (1/2)

[Footnote 999: _Ibid._, vol. iii, p. 79. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p.

286. P. Mantellier, _Histoire du siege_, p. 85.]

On that day there entered into the city the little garrisons of Gien, of Chateau-Regnard, and of Montargis.[1000] But the Blois army did not come. On the morrow, at daybreak, it was descried in the plain of La Beauce. And, indeed, the Sire de Rais and his company, escorted by the Marshal de Boussac and my Lord the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, were skirting the Forest of Orleans.[1001] At these tidings the citizens must needs exclaim that the Maid had been right in wis.h.i.+ng to march straight against Talbot since the captains now followed the very road she had indicated. But in reality it was not just as they thought. Only one part of the Blois army had risked forcing its way between the western bastions; the convoy, with its escort, like the first convoy, was coming through La Sologne and was to enter the town by water. Those arrangements for the entrance of supplies, which, in the first instance, had proved successful, were naturally now repeated.[1002]

[Footnote 1000: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 287.]

[Footnote 1001: _Ibid._, p. 287. _Journal du siege_, p. 81. Abbe Dubois, _Histoire du siege_, dissertation ix. Lottin, _Recherches_, vol. i, p. 205. Loiseleur, _Comptes des depenses_, ch. vii.]

[Footnote 1002: On the 4th of May, as on the 29th of April, the corn was brought down the Loire. Indeed there exists a bill which makes mention of ”sailors who brought the corn which came from Blois on the 4th day of May,” ”_nottoniers qui amenerent les bles qui furent amenes de Blois le iiij'e jour de may_” (Boucher de Molandon, _Premiere expedition de Jeanne d'Arc_, pp. 58, 59).]

Captain La Hire and certain other commanders, who had remained in the city with five hundred fighting men, went out to meet the Sire de Rais, the Marshal de Boussac and the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. The Maid mounted her horse and went with them. They pa.s.sed through the English lines; and, a little further on, having met the army, they returned to the town together. The priests, and among them Brother Pasquerel bearing the banner, were the first to pa.s.s beneath the Paris bastion, singing psalms.[1003]

[Footnote 1003: The 4th of May, _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 105, 211.

_Journal du siege_, p. 81. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 287.]

Jeanne dined at Jacques Boucher's house with her steward, Jean d'Aulon. When the table was cleared, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, who had come to the treasurer's house, talked with her for a moment. He was gracious and polite, but spoke with restraint.

”I have heard on good authority,” he remarked, ”that Fastolf is soon to join the English who are conducting the siege. He brings them supplies and reinforcements and is already at Janville.”

At these tidings Jeanne appeared very glad and said, laughing: ”b.a.s.t.a.r.d, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, in G.o.d's name, I command thee to let me know as soon as thou shalt hear of Fastolf's arrival. For should he come without my knowledge, I warn thee thou shalt lose thy head.”[1004]

[Footnote 1004: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 212 (Jean d'Aulon's evidence).]

Far from betraying any annoyance at so rude a jest, he replied that she need have no fear, he would let her know.[1005]

[Footnote 1005: _Ibid._, p. 212.]

The approach of Sir John Fastolf had already been announced on the 26th of April. It was expressly in order to avoid him that the army had come through La Sologne. It is possible that on the 4th of May the tidings of his coming had no surer foundation. But the b.a.s.t.a.r.d knew something else. The corn of the second convoy, like that of the first, was coming down the river. It had been resolved, in a council of war, that in the afternoon the captains should attack the Saint-Loup bastion, and divert the English as had been done on the 29th of April.[1006] The attack had already begun. But of this the b.a.s.t.a.r.d breathed not a word to the Maid. He held her to be the one source of strength in the town. But he believed that in war her part was purely spiritual.[1007]

[Footnote 1006: _Ibid._, p. 212. _Journal du siege_, p. 78.]

[Footnote 1007: I have followed the account of Jean Chartier, vol. i, p. 73 (amplified in _La chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 288), which is more plausible than that of _Le journal du siege_.]

After he had withdrawn, Jeanne, worn out by her morning's expedition, lay down on her bed with her hostess for a short sleep. Sire Jean d'Aulon, who was very weary, stretched himself on a couch in the same room, thinking to take the rest he so greatly needed. But scarce had he fallen asleep when the Maid leapt from her bed and roused him with a great noise. He asked her what she wanted.

”In G.o.d's name,” she answered in great agitation, ”my Council have told me to go against the English; but I know not whether I am to go against their bastions or against Fastolf, who is bringing them supplies.”[1008]

[Footnote 1008: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 212, 213 (Jean d'Aulon's evidence).]

In her dreams she had been present at her Council, that is to say, she had beheld her saints. She had seen Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. There had happened to her what always happens. The saints had told her no more than she herself knew. They had revealed to her nothing of what she needed to know. They had not informed her how, at that very moment, the French were attacking the Saint-Loup bastion and suffering great hurt. And the Blessed Ones had departed leaving her in error and in ignorance of what was going on, and in uncertainty as to what she was to do. The good Sire d'Aulon was not the one to relieve her from her embarra.s.sment. He, too, was excluded from the Councils of War. Now he answered her nothing, and set to arming himself as quickly as possible. He had already begun when they heard a great noise and cries coming up from the street. From the pa.s.sers-by, they gleaned that there was fighting near Saint-Loup and that the enemy was inflicting great hurt on the French. Without staying to inquire further, Jean d'Aulon went straightway to his squire to have his armour put on. Almost at the same time Jeanne went down and asked: ”Where are my armourers? The blood of our folk is flowing.”[1009]

[Footnote 1009: _Ibid._, vol. iii, p. 106.]

In the street she found Brother Pasquerel, her chaplain, with other priests, and Mugot, her page, to whom she cried: ”Ha! cruel boy, you did not tell me that the blood of France was being shed!... In G.o.d's name, our people are hard put to it.”[1010]

[Footnote 1010: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 68 (evidence of Louis de Coutes).]

She bade him bring her horse and leave the wife and daughter of her host to finish arming her. On his return the page found her fully accoutred. She sent him to fetch her standard from her room. He gave it her through the window. She took it and spurred on her horse into the high street, towards the Burgundian Gate, at such a pace that sparks flashed from the pavement.

”Hasten after her!” cried the treasurer's wife.[1011]