The Life of Joan of Arc Part 46

Having escaped from the French on the bulwark, across the burning planks the six hundred were set upon by the French on the bridge. Four hundred were slain, the others taken. The day had cost the people of Orleans a hundred men.[1099]

[Footnote 1099: The number of the English who defended Les Tourelles is given in _Le journal du siege_ as 400 or 500; in Charles VII's letter as 600; in _La relation de la fete du 8 mai_ as 800; in _La chronique de la Pucelle_ as 500. It is impossible to fix exactly the number of the French, but they were more than ten times as many as the English.

The English losses, by Guillaume Girault, are said to have been 300 slain and taken; by Berry, 400 or 500 slain and taken; by Jean Chartier, about 400 slain, the rest taken; by _La chronique de la Pucelle_, 300 slain, 200 taken; by _Le journal du siege_, 400 or 500 slain besides a few taken. By Monstrelet, in the MSS., 600 or 800 slain or taken; in the printed editions, 1000; by Bower, 600 and more slain.

The losses of the French are said by Perceval de Cagny to have been 16 to 20 slain; by Eberhard Windecke, 5 slain and a few wounded; by Monstrelet, about 100. The Maid estimated that in the various engagements at Orleans in which she took part "one hundred and even more" of the French were wounded.]

When in the black darkness, along the fire-reddened banks of the Loire, the last cries of the vanquished had died away, the French captains, amazed at their victory, looked anxiously towards Saint-Laurent-des Orgerils, for they were still afraid lest Sir John Talbot should sally forth from his camp to avenge those whom he had failed to succour. Throughout that long attack, which had lasted from sunrise to sunset, Talbot, the Earl of Suffolk and the English of Saint-Laurent had not left their entrenchments. Even when Les Tourelles were taken the conquerors remained on the watch, still expecting Talbot.[1100] But this Talbot, with whose name French mothers frightened their children, did not budge. He had been greatly feared that day, and he himself had feared lest,[1101] if he withdrew any of his troops to succour Les Tourelles, the French would capture his camp and his forts on the west.

[Footnote 1100: _Journal du siege_, p. 88.]

[Footnote 1101: Perceval de Cagny, p. 147. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 295.]

The army prepared to return to the town. In three hours, the bridge, three arches of which had been broken, was rendered pa.s.sable. Some hours after darkness, the Maid entered the city by the bridge as she had foretold.[1102] In like manner all her prophecies were fulfilled when their fulfilment depended on her own courage and determination.

The captains accompanied her, followed by all the men-at-arms, the archers, the citizens and the prisoners who were brought in two by two. The bells of the city were ringing; the clergy and people sang the Te Deum.[1103] After G.o.d and his Blessed Mother, they gave thanks in all humility to Saint Aignan and Saint Euverte, who had been bishops in their mortal lives and were now the heavenly patrons of the city. The townsfolk believed that both before and during the siege they had given the saints so much wax and had paraded their relics in so many processions that they had deserved their powerful intercession, and that thereby they had won the victory and been delivered out of the enemy's hand. There was no doubt about the intervention of the saints because at the time of a.s.sault on Les Tourelles two bishops bright and s.h.i.+ning had been seen in the sky, hovering over the fort.[1104]

[Footnote 1102: _Journal du siege_, p. 88. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 295. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 78.]

[Footnote 1103: _Chronique de l'etabliss.e.m.e.nt de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 294 _et seq._]

[Footnote 1104: _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 163.]

Jeanne was brought back to Jacques Boucher's house, where a surgeon again dressed the wound she had received above the breast. She took four or five slices of bread soaked in wine and water, but neither ate nor drank anything else.[1105]

[Footnote 1105: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 295.]

On the morrow, Sunday, the 8th of May, being the Feast of the Appearance of St. Michael, it was announced in Orleans, in the morning, that the English issuing forth from those western bastions which were all that remained to them, were ranging themselves before the town moat in battle array and with standards flying. The folk of Orleans, both the men-at-arms and the train-bands, greatly desired to fall upon them. At daybreak Marshal de Boussac and a number of captains went out and took up their positions over against the enemy.[1106]

[Footnote 1106: _Journal du siege_, p. 89. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 296. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, pp. 78, 79. _Le Jouvencel_, vol. i, p. 208. The pa.s.sage beginning with the words, "The Sire of Rocquencourt said," must be taken as historical.]

The Maid went out into the country with the priests. Being unable to put on her cuira.s.s because of the wound on her shoulder, she merely wore one of those light coats-of-mail called _jaserans_.[1107]

[Footnote 1107: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 9 (evidence of Dunois).]

The men-at-arms inquired of her: "To-day being the Sabbath, is it wrong to fight?"

She replied: "You must hear ma.s.s."[1108]

[Footnote 1108: _Ibid._, p. 29 (evidence of J. de Champeaux).]

She did not think the enemy should be attacked.

"For the sake of the holy Sabbath do not give battle. Do not attack the English, but if the English attack you, defend yourselves stoutly and bravely, and be not afraid, for you will overcome them."[1109]

[Footnote 1109: _Journal du siege_, p. 89.]

In the country, at the foot of a cross, where four roads met, one of those consecrated stones, square and flat, which priests carried with them on their journeys, was placed upon a table. Very solemnly did the officiating ecclesiastics sing hymns, responses and prayers; and at this altar the Maid with all the priests and all the men-at-arms heard ma.s.s.[1110]

[Footnote 1110: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 296.]

After the _Deo gratias_ she recommended them to observe the movements of the English. "Now look whether their faces or their backs be towards you."

She was told that they had turned their backs and were going away.

Three times she had told them: "Depart from Orleans and your lives shall be saved." Now she asked that they should be allowed to go without more being required of them.

"It is not well pleasing to my Lord that they should be engaged to-day," she said. "You will have them another time. Come, let us give thanks to G.o.d."[1111]

[Footnote 1111: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 296.]

The _G.o.dons_ were going. During the night they had held a council of war and resolved to depart.[1112] In order to put a bold front on their retreat and to prevent its being cut off, they had faced the folk of Orleans for an hour, now they marched off in good order.[1113]

Captain La Hire and Sire de Lore, curious as to which way they would take and desiring to see whether they would leave anything behind them, rode three or four miles in pursuit with a hundred or a hundred and twenty horse. The English were retreating towards Meung.[1114]

[Footnote 1112: _Chronique de l'etabliss.e.m.e.nt de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 294, 295. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 296.]

[Footnote 1113: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 296.]

[Footnote 1114: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 71, 97, 110. _Journal du siege_, p. 89. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 297. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 34. Walter Bower, _Scotichronicon_, in _Trial_, vol. iv, pp. 478, 479. Eberhard Windecke, p. 177.]

A crowd of citizens, villeins and villagers rushed into the abandoned forts. The _G.o.dons_ had left their sick and their prisoners there. The townsfolk discovered also ammunition and even victuals, which were doubtless not very abundant and not very excellent. "But," says a Burgundian, "they made good cheer out of them, for they cost them little."[1115] Weapons, cannons and mortars were carried into the town. The forts were demolished so that they might henceforth be useless to the enemy.[1116]

[Footnote 1115: Charles VII's letter to the people of Narbonne, in the _Trial_, vol. v, p. 101. Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 323.]

[Footnote 1116: _Journal du siege_, pp. 209 _et seq._]

On that day there were grand and solemn processions and a good friar[1117] preached. Clerks, n.o.bles, captains, magistrates, men-at-arms and citizens devoutly went to church and the people cried: "Noel!"[1118]

[Footnote 1117: _Ibid._, p. 216. _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 295.]

[Footnote 1118: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 110. _Journal du siege_, p. 92.]

Thus, on the 8th of May, in the morning, was the town of Orleans delivered, two hundred and nine days after the siege had been laid and nine days after the coming of the Maid.

CHAPTER XIV

THE MAID AT TOURS AND AT SELLES-EN-BERRY--THE TREATISES OF JACQUES GeLU AND OF JEAN GERSON.

On the morning of Sunday the 8th of May, the English departed, retreating towards Meung and Beaugency. In the afternoon of the same day, Messire Florent d'Illiers with his men-at-arms left the town and went straight to his captaincy of Chateaudun to defend it against the _G.o.dons_ who had a garrison at Marchenoir and were about to descend on Le Dunois. On the next day the other captains from La Beauce and Gatinais returned to their towns and strongholds.[1119]

[Footnote 1119: _Journal du siege_, p. 91. G. Met-Gaubert, _Notice sur Florent d'Illiers_, Chartres, 1864, in 8vo.]

On the ninth of the same month, the combatants brought by the Sire de Rais, receiving neither pay nor entertainment, went off each man on his own account; and the Maid did not stay longer.[1120] After having taken part in the procession by which the townsfolk rendered thanks to G.o.d, she took her leave of those to whom she had come in the hour of distress and affliction and whom she now quitted in the hour of deliverance and rejoicing. They wept with joy and with grat.i.tude and offered themselves to her for her to do with them and their goods whatever she would. And she thanked them kindly.[1121]

[Footnote 1120: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 298.]