The Life of Joan of Arc Part 61

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.]

Jean Laiguise was the spokesman. He came to do homage to the King and to offer excuse for the townsfolk.

It is not their fault, he said, if the King enter not according to his good pleasure. The Bailie and those of the garrison, some three or four hundred, guard the gates, and forbid their being opened. Let it please the King to have patience until I have spoken to those of the town. I trust that as soon as I have spoken to them, they will open the gates and render the King such obedience as he shall be pleased withal.[1453]

[Footnote 1453: _Relation du greffier de La Roch.e.l.le_, in _Revue historique_, vol. iv, p. 342. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, _Journal du siege_, Chartier, _loc. cit._ Gilles de Roye in Chartier, vol. iii, p.

205.]

In replying to the Bishop, the King set forth the reasons for the expedition and the rights he held over the town of Troyes.

Without exception, he said, I will forgive all the deeds of past times, and, according to the example of Saint Louis,[1454] I will maintain the people of Troyes in peace and liberty.

[Footnote 1454: J. Rogier in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 296.]

Jean Laiguise demanded that such revenues and patronage as had been bestowed on churchmen by the late King, Charles VI, should be retained by them, and that those who had received the same from King Henry of England should be given charters by King Charles authorizing them to keep their benefices, even in cases where the King had bestowed them on others.

The King consented and the Lord Bishop beheld in him a new Cyrus. This conference he reported to the Council of the Town. Thereupon it deliberated and resolved to render allegiance to the King, in consideration of his legal right and provided he would grant an amnesty for all offences, would leave no garrison in the city and would abolish all aids, save the _gabelle_.[1455] Whereupon the Council sent letters to the citizens of Reims making known to them this resolution and exhorting them to take a similar one:

[Footnote 1455: _Gabelle_, word of German origin (_gabe_), originally applied to all taxes, came to signify only the tax on salt. This tax was first rendered oppressive by Philippe de Valois (1328-1350) who created a monopoly of salt in favour of the crown. He obliged each family to pay a tax on a certain quant.i.ty whether they consumed it or not. The _Gabelle_, which led to several rebellions, was not abolished until the Revolution (1790). (W.S.) _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 296.

_Ordonnances des rois de France_, vol. xiii, p. 142. Th. Boutiot, _Histoire de la ville de Troyes_, vol. ii, p. 500. A. Roserot, _Le plus ancien registre des deliberations du conseil de la ville de Troyes_ in _Coll. de Doc. inedits sur la ville de Troyes_, vol. iii, p. 175.]

"Thus," they said, "we shall have the same lord over us. You will keep your lives and your goods, as we have done. For otherwise we should all be lost. We do not regret our submission. Our only grief is that we delayed so long. You will be right glad to follow our example; for King Charles is a prince of greater discretion, understanding and valour than any who for many a long year have arisen in the n.o.ble house of France."[1456]

[Footnote 1456: J. Rogier, in _Trial_, vol. iv, pp. 295, 296.]

Friar Richard went to find the Maid. As soon as he saw her, and when he was still afar off, he knelt before her. When she saw him, she likewise knelt before him, and they bowed low to each other. When he returned to the town, the good Friar preached to the folks at length and exhorted them to obey King Charles. "G.o.d is preparing his way," he said. "To accompany him and to lead him to his anointing G.o.d hath sent him a holy Maid, who, as I firmly believe, is as able to penetrate the mysteries of G.o.d as any saint in Paradise, save Saint John the Evangelist."[1457] The good Brother found himself obliged to recognise as superior to Jeanne at least one saint,--one who was the first of saints, the apostle who had lain with his head on Jesus' breast, the prophet who was ere long to return to earth, when the ages should have been consummated.

[Footnote 1457: _Relation du greffier de La Roch.e.l.le_, in _Revue historique_, vol. iv, p. 342.]

"If she wished," continued Friar Richard, "she could bring in all the King's men-at-arms, over the walls or in any other manner that pleased her. And many other things can she do."

The townsfolk had great faith and confidence in this good Brother who spoke so eloquently. What he said of the Maid appeared to them admirable, and won their obedience to a king so powerfully accompanied. With one voice they all cried aloud, "Long live King Charles of France!"[1458]

[Footnote 1458: _Relation du greffier de La Roch.e.l.le_, in _Revue historique_, vol. iv, p. 342.]

But now it was necessary to treat with the Bailie. He was not unapproachable, seeing that he had suffered this going and coming from the town to the camp and the camp to the town; and with him must be devised some honest means of getting rid of the garrison. With this object the commonalty, preceded by the Lord Bishop, went in great numbers to the Bailie and the Captains, and called upon them to provide for the safety of the town.[1459] This demand they were incapable of granting, for to safeguard a city against its will and to drive out thirty thousand French was beyond their power.

[Footnote 1459: J. Rogier, in _Trial_, vol. iv, pp. 296, 297.]

As the townsfolk had antic.i.p.ated, the Bailie was greatly embarra.s.sed.

Beholding his perplexity, the Councillors of the town said to him, "If you will not keep the treaty you have made for the public weal, then will we bring the King's men into the city, whether you will or no."

The Bailie and the Captains refused to betray their English and Burgundian masters, but they consented to go. That was all that was required of them.[1460]

[Footnote 1460: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 13, 117; vol. iv, pp. 296, 297.

Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. iii, p. 205. Th. Boutiot, _Histoire de la ville de Troyes_, vol. ii, pp. 499, 500. M. Poinsignon, _Histoire generale de la Champagne et de la Brie_, Chalons, 1885, vol.

i, pp. 352 _et seq._ A. a.s.sier, _Une cite champenoise au XV'e siecle_, Paris, 1875, in 12mo, pp. 16, 17.]

The town opened its gates to Charles. On Sunday, the 10th of July, very early in the morning, the Maid entered first into Troyes and with her the common folk whom she so dearly loved. Friar Richard accompanied her. She posted archers along the streets which the procession was to follow, so that the King of France should pa.s.s through the town between a double row of those foot soldiers of his army who had so n.o.bly aided him.[1461]