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Jeanne d'Arc took place: and, thirdly, to examine, with the greatest exactitude, all these accounts, comparing them at the same time with the plan and the calendar. withstanding this, if the scrutiny proved extremely long and tedious, we were amply compensated by the result of the labour bestowed; for, with the exception of some circumstances of little or no interest, almost every thing that has been handed down to us relating to the siege of Orleans, and the exploits of Jeanne d'Arc, is found to be completely developed.

Another source of embarrassment and error to the modern historian, has been, that the year during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries commenced at Easter, and consequently was incessantly varying, since that festival is never found to occur twice upon the same days. In consequence, if the strictest attention is not paid to this circumstance, how can it be accounted for that the ratification of a particular treaty in the month of October, 1416, should be anterior to the death of a prince which took place on the fifth of April in that year; or that a battle fought on the twentieth or the twenty-first of March should be the identical conflict recorded by one chronicler as occurring on the twentieth of March 1420, and by another on the twenty-first of March 1421. There are very few writers who have not been led into error by such variations in the calendar, and this the more easily, because those writers who preceded them were very faulty in their statements on the score of chronology.

By the following table extracted from L'Art de Vérifier les Dates (The Art of Verifying Dates), edit. of 1750

and 1770, will be found the first days of the several years during which the events took place, forming the subject matter of our volume.

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If the examination of the Paschal Calendar is indispensably requisite, that also of the festivals of the saints is of great utility in discovering the dates of events, because the old writers frequently contented themselves, (a practice still in use among artisans and labouring men on the continent in particular,) with indicating these same festivals; to which circumstance we have likewise paid attention in the progress of our researches.

No. 1. Observations.

Having explained the plan pursued in the formation of this chart, we must add that the scale accompanying the same, if not strictly correct, will serve to elucidate every thing stated in the Diary of the Siege of Orleans, as well as the various other accounts of that event, which have been recorded by writers of the period.

No. 2. Bastilles.

The positions of several of these bulwarks could not be accurately determined. The name of that numbered 31 in the Chart, is placed at that point, because it is positively affirmed in the History of the Pucelle, pages 500 and 501 of Godfroy's Collections, &c. &c. that the English established bastilles on all the public roads.* The same incertitude exists in regard to another bastille, which must, however, have been Nos. 28 or 30 on the chart; there is also some reason for conjecture, that the bastille of the wooden cross was situated near to No. 26. In regard to that called Colombier, it is very probable that it stood at No. 27, because the English, by whom it was garrisoned, made frequent sallies, and gave battle to the

According to Tripaut, from pp. 83 to 85, the English at first lodged in the environs of the Cross of Fleury (No. 45 in the Chart), and that several days after, the French advanced as far as that cross in order to protect some merchants journeying to Orleans, whose progress was resisted by the English; a convincing proof that the latter afterwards established themselves between that cross and Orleans.

Orleanese in the environs of Colombier Turpin, which, according to an observation of Miquellus of the ensuing century, (see Aurelia Obsidio, &c. p. 26. ed. 1560), occupied the spot which now forms the street Colombier.

The uncertainty attending the positions of these several fortresses is owing to the history already quoted not having designated them in their regular order. With respect to the other bastilles, there is very little doubt of their having occupied the stations assigned to them upon

the chart.

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No. 3. Designations.

At the explanation, No. 5, will be found the various. edifices, forts, &c. delineated upon the Chart. Being compelled to form the plan upon a very circumscribed scale, we have been under the necessity of noting only those objects which were of utility in recording the history of the siege of Orleans.

No. 4. Churches burnt.

The following are the names of the religious edifices burnt by the Orleanese. Saint Aignan, No. 50 on the Chart. Saint Michael, No. 51. Saint Aux, or Saint Avit (now the seminary, see Polluche, 127), No. 54. The chapel of Martroy, No. 55. Saint Victor, in the suburb of Burgundy Gate, No. 52. Saint Michael, on the fosses, No. 56. The Cordeliers, afterwards the Recollets, No. 60. The Jacobins, No. 57. The Carmelites, No. 59. Saint Mathurin, No. 23. The Almonry of Saint Povaire, No. 58.

Saint Lawrence, No. 25. Saint Loup, No. 32. Saint Mark, No. 42. Saint Euverte, No. 18. The chapel of Saint Aignan, No. 53. Saint Vincent of the Vines, No. 41. Saint Ladre or Saint Lazarus, No. 46. Saint Povaire or Saint Paterne, No. 24. The Magdalen, No. 27. Saint Gervais, afterwards Saint Phalier, No. 47. Vide Polluche, p. 19 and 153.

No. 5. Explanation of the Numbers on the Chart.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, boundaries of Orleans at the period of the siege.

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20; 8, 9, 10, 11, and 1, boundaries of the city at the present period.

1. Notre Dame de Recouvrance.

2. The Gate and Boulevard Renard.

3. The ancient Gate and Boulevard Banier.

4. Postern Saint Samson.

5. Paris Gate.

6. The Bishop's Palace.

7. Anciently Burgundy Gate.

8. The New Tower Postern.

9. The New Tower.

10. Postern Chesneau.

11. Anciently the Chatelet and Bridge Gate.

12. The City Garden, formerly Saint Lawrence Gate.

13. Gate and suburbs of Magdalen.

14. Gate and suburbs of Saint John.

15. Banier Gate, still standing.

16. Saint Vincent's Gate, also standing.

17. Saint Euverte Gate, since walled up.

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