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its comfort, succour and aid, many lords, knights, captains and esquires greatly renowned in war, the principal of whom were John, Bastard of Orleans; the lord of Saint Severe, Marshal of France; the lord of Bueil; Messire James of Chabanes, Seneschal of the Bourbonnois; the lord of Chaumont-sur-Loire; Messire Theaulde de Valpergne, Lombard knight; and a valiant captain of Gascony, called Stephen de Vignolles, otherwise La Hire, who, as well as the captains and those accompanying him, were all valiant and of high renown. And of these were captain de Vendosme, Messire Cerney, an Arragonese, and many others, accompanied by eight hundred armed combatants, such as archers, crossbowmen, with other Italian infantry bearing pointed stakes.

The Wednesday following, twenty-seventh of the month at night, died the earl of Salisbury at the city of Meung on the Loire, whither he had been carried from the siege, after receiving the wound from the cannon of which he died; whose death greatly stupified and discomfited the English carrying on the siege, for they mourned much thereat, wherefore they concealed the matter to the utmost of their power, fearing lest those of Orleans should become acquainted therewith. They caused his entrails to be taken out, and sent the body to

England. The death of which Earl brought great harm to the English, and on the contrary, great profit

to the French. Many since have said, that the earl of Salisbury thus met his end by divine judg ment of God, and believe it: for that he had broken his promise to the duke of Orleans, held prisoner in England, to whom he had passed his word, that he would not injure any of his possessions; as well as, that he spared neither monasteries nor churches, all of which he pillaged when he could enter them. These are things sufficiently strong to make one believe that his days were abridged by the just vengeance of God. Among others was particularly pillaged the church of our Lady of Clery, as well as

the town.

On Tuesday, the eighth day of November, was divided and removed the army of the English, the one part retiring to Meung on the Loire, and the other to Jargeau, leaving a strong garrison at the Tournelles and the boulevard of the bridge; amongst whom was captain Glacidas (Glasdale), and with him five hundred men to guard them.

This same Tuesday, the English burned and destroyed several houses, presses, and other edifices in the vale of the Loire; while at the same time the men of war and the citizens of Orleans acted with so much zeal, that they burned and threw down, by the end of the month of November, several churches which stood in the suburbs of the city; namely, the church of Saint Aignan, patron of Orleans, together with the cloisters appertaining thereto, which was

very seemly to behold; the churches of Saint Michael and Saint Aux, the chapel of Martroy, the church of Saint Victor, situated in the suburbs of the gate of Burgundy; the church of Saint Michael above the fosses, the Jacobins, the Cordeliers, the Carmelites; Saint Mathurin, the Almonry of Saint Povair and Saint Lawrence; besides these, they burned and destroyed all the suburbs surrounding the city, structures very rich and beautiful to behold before they were beaten down. For there were sundry grand and rich edifices, insomuch so, that they were esteemed the most beautiful suburbs in the kingdom; notwithstanding which the French garrison burned and threw them down. All which was done with the consent and aid of the citizens of Orleans, in order that the English might not lodge therein, which would have been very prejudicial to the city.

The first day of December following, arrived at the Tournelles of the bridge several English lords; amongst whom of highest renown were, Messires John Talbot, first Baron in England, and the lord of Escalle (lord Scales), accompanied by three hundred combatants; who conveyed thither provisions, cannon, bombs and other implements of war, from which they fired against the walls and within Orleans, more incessantly and strongly than had been done before, during the lifetime of the earl of Salisbury; for, they threw stones that weighed eighty-four pounds, which

did great evil and damage to the city, as well as to many houses and beautiful edifices of the same, without killing or wounding any one, which was regarded as a great marvel. For, among others, in the street of the Petits Souliers (Little Shoes) one fell in the hotel and upon the table of a man who was at dinner (he being the fifth person then present) without killing or hurting any one; which is said to have been a miracle performed by our Lord, at the request of Monsieur Saint Aignan, the patron of Orleans.

The following Tuesday, at three o'clock in the morning, was rung the alarm-bell in the belfry, because the French thought that the English wanted to attack the boulevard of the beautiful Cross on the bridge. And already had two scaled it, advancing as far as one of the cannoneers; but they presently returned back to their Tournelles. And while observing, they perceived that the English were upon the watch, having arranged all things, such as cannon, cross-bows, stick-slings, culverins, stones, and other implements of war, necessary for their defence, in case they were assailed.

On Thursday the twenty-third day of the month of December, began the bombarding by throwing of stones that weighed an hundred and twenty pounds, the bombs all newly made by one named William Duisy, a very subtle workman; the same being placed at the cross of the mills of the postern Chesneau, in

order to fire against the Tournelles ; near which were posted two cannons, the one called Montargis, the other Rifflard, which, during the siege, played against the English, doing them much injury.

On the following Christmas-day, was a truce agreed upon on either side, lasting from nine in the morning till three in the evening: during this truce, Glacidas, (Glasdale) and other lords of England invited the Bastard of Orleans, and the lord of Saint Severe, Marshal of France, that they might play a tune of grand minstrelsy, with trumpets and clarions; which was done accordingly; so that they played on the instruments for a long space of time, producing great melody; but no sooner was the truce ended, than every one took care of himself. During the festival of Christmas there were horrible discharges from bombs and cannon; but above all was great injury done by a cannoneer, native of Loraine, being then of the garrison of Orleans, named Master John, who was said to be the most expert at the said business. And well did he show it; for he had a large culverin, from which he often fired from between the pillars of the bridge near the boulevard of the beautiful Cross, in such wise, that he killed and wounded a multitude of English. And to scoff them, he often threw himself upon the ground, feigning to be dead or wounded, and caused himself to be borne into the city. But incontinent he returned to the skirmish, and so

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