Part 61 (1/2)

Such were the crafty thoughts of those dwellers in Champagne. The citizens fired a few stone bullets on to the French. The garrison skirmished awhile and returned into the town.[1440]

[Footnote 1440: _Journal du siege_, p. 109. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, pp. 314, 315. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 91. Th. Boutiot, _Histoire de la ville de Troyes_, vol. ii, p. 497.]

Meanwhile King Charles' army was stricken with famine.[1441] The Archbishop of Embrun's counsel to provide the army with victuals by means of human wisdom was easier to give than to follow. There were between six and seven thousand men in camp who had not broken bread for a week. The men-at-arms were reduced to feeding on pounded ears of corn still green and on the new beans they found in abundance. Then they called to mind how during Saint Martin's Lent Friar Richard had said to the folk of Troyes: ”Sow beans broadcast: He who is to come shall come shortly.” What the good brother had said of the spiritual seed-time was interpreted literally: by a curious misunderstanding, what had been uttered concerning the coming of the Messiah was applied to the coming of King Charles. Friar Richard was held to be the prophet of the Armagnacs and the men-at-arms really believed that this evangelical preacher had caused the beans they gathered to grow; thus had he provided for their nourishment by his excellence, his wisdom and his penetration into the counsels of G.o.d, who gave manna unto the people of Israel in the desert.[1442]

[Footnote 1441: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 92.]

[Footnote 1442: _Journal du siege_, pp. 109, 110. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 315.]

The King, who had been lodging at Brinion since the 4th of July, arrived before Troyes in the afternoon of Friday the 8th.[1443] That very day he held council of war with the commanders and princes of the blood to decide whether they should remain before the town until by dint of promises[1444] or threats they obtained its submission, or whether they should pa.s.s on, leaving it to itself, as they had done at Auxerre.[1445]

[Footnote 1443: Perceval de Cagny, p. 157. Nevertheless see also Morosini, vol. iii, p. 143, note.]

[Footnote 1444: ”And always desiring and discussing the submission of this city.” Jean Chartier, vol. i, p. 91.]

[Footnote 1445: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 13. Evidence of Dunois. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 92. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p.

315. Chartier and the _Chronique de la Pucelle_ put words into the mouths of Regnault de Chartres and Robert le Macon which are very improbable.]

The discussion had lasted long when the Maid arrived and prophesied:

”Fair Dauphin,” said she, ”command your men to attack the town of Troyes and delay no further in councils too prolonged, for, in G.o.d's name, before three days, I will cause you to enter the town, which shall be yours by love or by force and courage. And false Burgundy shall look right foolish.”[1446]

[Footnote 1446: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 13. Evidence of Dunois.

_Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 317. _Journal du siege_, p. 110. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 94.]

Wherefore had they contrary to their custom summoned her to the Council? It was merely a question of firing a few cannon b.a.l.l.s and pretending to scale the walls, in short, of making a false attack.

Such a feigned a.s.sault was due to the people of Troyes, who could not decently surrender save to some display of force; and besides the lower orders must be frightened, for they remained at heart Burgundian. Probably my Lord of Treves[1447] or another judged that the little Saint by appearing beneath the ramparts of Troyes would strike a religious terror into the weavers of the city.

[Footnote 1447: Jean Chartier, vol. i, p. 95.]

They had only to leave her to go her own way. The Council over, she mounted her horse, and lance in hand hurried to the moat, followed by a crowd of knights, squires, and craftsmen.[1448] The point of attack was to be the north west wall, between the Madeleine and the Comporte Gates.[1449] Jeanne, who firmly believed that the town would be taken by her, spent the night inciting her people to bring f.a.ggots and put the artillery in position. ”To the a.s.sault,” she cried, and signed to them to throw hurdles into the trenches.[1450]

[Footnote 1448: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 13, 14, 117. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 96. _Journal du siege_, p. 111. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 78. De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, p. 225.]

[Footnote 1449: Th. Boutiot, _Histoire de la ville de Troyes_, vol.

ii, p. 497, note. A. a.s.sier, _Une cite champenoise au XV'e siecle_, Paris, 1875, in 8vo, p. 26.]

[Footnote 1450: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 117. (De Gaucourt's evidence.)]

This threat had the desired effect. The lower orders, imagining the town already taken, and expecting the French to come to pillage, ma.s.sacre and ravish, as was the custom, took refuge in the churches.

As for the clerics and notables, this was just what they wanted.[1451]

[Footnote 1451: _Ibid._, p. 117. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 96. J. Rogier, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 296.]

Being a.s.sured by Charles of Valois that they might come to him in safety, the Lord Bishop Jean Laiguise, my Lord Guillaume Andouillette, Master of the Hospital, the Dean of the Chapter, the clergy and the notables went to the King.[1452]

[Footnote 1452: J. Rogier, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 295. _Trial_, pp.

13, 14, 17. Chartier, _Journal du siege_, _Chronique de la Pucelle_.

Camusat, _Mel. hist._, part ii, fol. 214.]