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the siege of that town by the English, in 1430, relates an anecdote of Jeanne d'Arc, which, if correct, not only belies the French historians, who pretend that the Pucelle never used her sword in battle, but displays her in a point of view not very favourable to her character as a magnanimous and noble-minded woman.

"In the moneth of Maie, 1430, with a valiant man in feats of armes on the duke of Burgognions side, one Franquet and his band of three hundred souldiers, making all towards the maintenance of the siege, the Pucell Jone and a foure hundred with hir did meet. In great courage and force did she and hir people sundrie times assaile him, but he with his, (though much under in number) by meanes of his archers in good order set, did so hardilie withstand them, that for the first and second push she rather lost than wan. Whereat this captinesse, stricken into a fretting chafe, called out in all hast the garrison of Laignie, and from other the forts thereabout, who thicke and threefold came downe with might and maine, in armour and number so far exceeding Franquet's, that though they had done hir much hurt in hir horsemen, yet by the verie multitude were they oppressed, most in hir furie put to the sword; and as for to Franquet that worthie capteine himselfe, hir rage not appeased, till out of hand she had his head stroken off: contrarie to all manhood (but she was a woman, if she were that) and contrarie to common right and law of armes. The man for his merits was verie much lamented, and she by hir malice then found of what spirit she was."

Page 119. So that when he had arrived in Paris, the said duke abided by nothing which he had promised.

Grafton, speaking of the duke of Burgundy's visit to Paris, at page 543, states as under:

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"Sone after these doynges, came to Parys with a great companie Philip, duke of Burgoyn, which was of the regent, and the ladie his wife, honourably receyved, and highly feasted. And after long consultation had; for the recoveryng of the townes, lately by the French king stollen and taken, it was agreed, that the duke of Bedford should raise an armie, for the recoverie of the sayde fortresses, and that the duke of Burgoyn should be his deputie, and tary at Parys, for the defence of the same."

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