Part 44 (2/2)

_Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 292.]

”In G.o.d's name, I will,” she said. And straightway she mounted her horse, and uttering a very ancient phrase, she cried: ”Let who loves me follow me!”[1060]

[Footnote 1060: _Chronique de l'etabliss.e.m.e.nt de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 293. Le Roux de Lincy, _Proverbes_, vol. ii, p. 395.]

As she was leaving the treasurer's house a shad was brought her. She said to her host, smiling, ”In G.o.d's name! we will have it for supper.

I will bring you back a _G.o.don_ who shall eat his share.” She added: ”This evening we shall return by the bridge.”[1061] For the last ninety-nine days it had been impossible. But happily her words proved true.

[Footnote 1061: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 124 (evidence of the woman P.

Milet). _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 292.]

The townsfolk had been too quick to take alarm. Notwithstanding their fear of Talbot and the English of the Saint-Laurent camp, the n.o.bles crossed the Loire in the early morning, and at Le Portereau rejoined their horses and pages who had pa.s.sed the night there with the archers and train-bands. They were all there, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, the Sire de Gaucourt, and the lords of Rais, Graville, Guitry, Coarraze, Villars, Illiers, Chailly, the Admiral de Culant, the captains La Hire, and Poton.[1062] The Maid was with them. The magistrates sent them great store of engines of war: hurdles, all kinds of arrows, hammers, axes, lead, powder, culverins, cannon, and ladders.[1063] The attack began early. What rendered it difficult was not the number of English entrenched in the bulwark and lodged in the towers: there were barely more than five hundred of them;[1064] true, they were commanded by Lord Moleyns, and under him by Lord Poynings and Captain Glasdale, who in France was called Gla.s.sidas, a man of humble birth, but the first among the English for courage.[1065] The a.s.sailants, citizens, men-at-arms and archers were ten times more numerous. That so many combatants had been a.s.sembled was greatly to the credit of the French nation; but so great an army of men could not be employed at once.

Knights were not much use against earthworks; and the townsfolk although very zealous, were not very tenacious.[1066] Finally, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, who was prudent and thoughtful, was afraid of Talbot.[1067]

Indeed if Talbot had known and if he had wanted he might have taken the town while the French were trying to take Les Tourelles. War is always a series of accidents, but on that day no attempt whatever was made to carry out any concerted movement. This vast army was not an irresistible force, since no one, not even the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, knew how to bring it into action. In those days the issue of a battle was in the hands of a very few combatants. On the previous day everything had been decided by two or three men.

[Footnote 1062: Berry, in _Trial_, vol. iv, pp. 43, 44.]

[Footnote 1063: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 292. _Journal du siege_, p. 284, _pa.s.sim_.]

[Footnote 1064: _Journal du siege_, p. 87. Letter from Charles VII to the people of Narbonne (10 May, 1429), in _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 101 _et seq._ _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 294. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 77. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 32, note 1.]

[Footnote 1065: Jarry, _Le compte de l'armee anglaise_, pp. 94, 95, 136, 206. Boucher de Molandon, _L'armee anglaise_, pp. 94 _et seq._]

[Footnote 1066: They were employed chiefly in carrying munitions of war. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 292.]

[Footnote 1067: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 5.]

The French a.s.sembled before the entrenchments had the air of an immense crowd of idlers looking on while a few men-at-arms attempted an escalade. Notwithstanding the size of the army, for a long while the a.s.sault resolved itself into a series of single combats. Twenty times did the most zealous approach the rampart and twenty times they were forced to retreat.[1068] There were some wounded and some slain, but not many. The n.o.bles, who had been making war all their lives, were cautious, while the soldiers of fortune were careful of their men. The townsfolk were novices in war.[1069] The Maid alone threw herself into it with heart and soul. She was continually saying: ”Be of good cheer. Do not retreat. The fort will soon be yours.”[1070]

[Footnote 1068: _Journal du siege_, p. 85. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 293. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 77. Morosini, vol. iii, pp. 31 _et seq._]

[Footnote 1069: Accounts of fortresses in _Journal du siege_, pp. 296, 300. Vergniaud-Romagnesi, _Notice historique sur le fort des Tourelles_, Paris, in 8vo, 1832, p. 50.]

[Footnote 1070: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 293.]

At noon everyone went away to dinner. Then about one o'clock they set to work again.[1071] The Maid carried the first ladder. As she was putting it up against the rampart, she was struck on the shoulder over the right breast, by an arrow shot so straight that half a foot of the shaft pierced her flesh.[1072] She knew that she was to be wounded; she had foretold it to her King, adding that he must employ her all the same. She had announced it to the people of Orleans and spoken of it to her chaplain[1073] on the previous day; and certainly for the last five days she had been doing her best to make the prophecy come true.[1074] When the English saw that the arrow had pierced her flesh they were greatly encouraged: they believed that if blood were drawn from a witch all her power would vanish. It made the French very sad.

They carried her apart. Brother Pasquerel and Mugot, the page, were with her. Being in pain, she was afraid and wept.[1075] As was usual when combatants were wounded in battle, a group of soldiers surrounded her; some wanted to charm her. It was a custom with men-at-arms to attempt to close wounds by muttering paternosters over them. Spells were cast by means of incantations and conjurations. Certain paternosters had the power of stopping hemorrhage. Papers covered with magic characters were also used. But it meant having recourse to the power of devils and committing mortal sin. Jeanne did not wish to be charmed.

[Footnote 1071: ”Post prandium,” says Brother Pasquerel (_Trial_, vol.

iii, p. 108). Cf. the evidence of Dunois (_Ibid._, p. 8).]

[Footnote 1072: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 79. Eberhard Windecke, p. 172.]

[Footnote 1073: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 109.]

[Footnote 1074: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 292. Clerk of _La Chambre des Comptes_ of Brabant, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 426.]

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