conducted himself, that the English knew him to be alive, to their great cost and displeasure.

Wednesday, the twenty-ninth day of the month of December, were burned and destroyed several other churches and houses which were still left standing near Orleans; namely, Saint Loup, Saint Marc, Saint Gervais, Saint Euverte, the chapel Saint Aignan, Saint Vincent of the Vines, Saint Lardre, Saint Povair, and also the Magdalen, in order that the English might not lodge there, or retreat and fortify themselves against the city. The last day of the said month arrived about two thousand five hundred English fighting men, at Saint Lawrence des Orgerilz, near Orleans, in order to invest the same; among whom were captains, the earls of Suffolk and Talbot, Messire John de la Pole, lord of Escalles, (lord Scales) Messire Launcelot de L'Isle, and many others. But, at their coming, great skirmishing took place; for the Bastard of Orleans, the lord of Saint Severe, Messire James de Chabanes, and many other knights, esquires and citizens of Orleans, who valiantly conducted themselves, went to meet them and receive them as their enemies. And there were enacted many noble feats of arms on either side. In these skirmishes was wounded in the foot by an arrow from the English, Messire James de Chabanes, and his horse killed, by a like adventure.

On the same day, were also performed many gallant feats of arms on either side, by the wooden cross

near Saint Lawrence; and during the whole of this day, Master John did great damage with his culverin.

This Friday the last day of the year, at four o'clock in the evening, two Frenchmen so sagely defended themselves from the cannon and other warlike implements, that the English retired into the bastilles of Saint Lawrence.

The following Wednesday came Messire Louis Deculan, admiral of France, and with him two hundred combatants, repairing to the Portereau before the Tournelles, where was the garrison of the English; and in spite of them passed the Loire, at the gate of Saint Loup, himself and his men entering into the city to learn news concerning the government of the same and of the French therein; who, with his men, was much feasted and mightily extolled. For right valiantly had they conducted themselves against the English at the skirmish of the Portereau.

On the following Thursday, being the festival of Epiphany, that is of the kings, sallied forth from Orleans the lords of Saint Severe and Deculan, Messire Theaulde de Valpergne, and many other men at war and citizens; performing a great skirmish, where they conducted themselves right gallantly against the English; who also defended themselves well and stoutly. Many English lords were also there, as well as knights and esquires, but their names are not known. During this skirmish also did Master John gallantly conduct himself with his culverin.

About this period the English had worked so well, that they had raised two boulevards on the river Loire, the one being on a little island on the side, and to the right of Saint Lawrence, formed of faggots, sand, and wood. The second, was to the right of the former, in the field of Saint Privé, and on the bank of the river; which they traversed at this spot, conveying food the one to the other; and to guard them was appointed captain Messire Lancelot de L'Isle, Marshal of England.

Thursday, the tenth day of the said month, arrived in Orleans a great quantity of powder for cannon, and provisions which were conveyed from Bourges for its comfort and succour. On this same day, was a very hot and great skirmish as well with cannon as other culverins; so that those who fired them did their duty in a noble manner, insomuch, that many English were killed and a number taken prisoners.

The ensuing Tuesday, about nine at night, the whole of the roofings and walls of the Tournelles were destroyed and thrown down, and six English killed under them, by a cannon-ball of iron; which piece was planted on the boulevard of the beautiful Cross of the bridge, and fired off at that hour.

On the following Wednesday, the twelfth day of the said month of January, the alarm-bell of the belfry was rung, because the English uttered loud cries, and sounded their trumpets and their clarions

before the boulevard of Regnart gate; and on the same day towards morning six hundred hogs were driven into Orleans.

Next Saturday, fifteenth day of the said month, about eight at night, sallied forth from the city, the Bastard of Orleans, the lord of Saint Severe and Messire James de Chabanes, accompanied by many knights, esquires, captains and citizens of Orleans, in order to make a charge upon part of the forces at Saint Lawrence des Orgerilz; but the English perceived them, and cried to arms throughout their host; in consequence of which, they armed themselves in such wise, that there was a very great and a violent skirmish. At length the French retired to the boulevard of Regnart gate, for the English sallied out in full force, so that the French were well beaten.

The Sunday next ensuing, about two in the afternoon, came to the English army, twelve hundred combatants commanded by Messire John Fascot, (Fastolf) bringing with them food, bombs, cannon, powder, arrows, and other implements of war, whereof their army stood in great need.

The Monday following, the seventeenth of the said month, happened a most marvellous occurrence; for the English fired from a cannon on their boulevard of the wooden cross; the stone from which fell before the boulevard of Banier gate, in the midst of more than one hundred persons, without killing or

harming any one; only striking a Frenchman upon the foot, in such wise, that his shoe was carried away without doing him the least injury; a thing most marvellous to believe.

On the same day was to have been a pitched battle of six Frenchmen against six English, in the field close adjoining to Banier gate, at the spot where stands Turpin Dovecot; but there was no fight, which was not owing to any lack on the French side, for they presented themselves to meet their adversaries, who never arrived, not daring to sally forth.

Tuesday, the eighteenth of the said month of January, at the hour of nine at night, the English being in their tournelles, fired a cannon from the boulevards of the beautiful Cross, which struck a man named Le Gastelier, a native of Orleans, who was looking that way and bending his cross-bow, thinking to shoot at them.

The Tuesday following, arrived in Orleans, at the opening of the city gates, forty horned beasts and two hundred hogs.

On the same day, and immediately after the entrance of these beasts, the English possessed themselves at the tournelles of the road, two corner towers, and five hundred beasts, which the drovers thought to conduct for sale to Orleans; whereas the same were denounced by some traitors of a village called Sandillon, in order that they might have a