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around her; she was welcomed as a tutelar angel descended from heaven; while she continued exhorting the people to place their confidence in God, assuring them that through the medium of faith they would escape the hatred and the fury of their enemies.*

On the following day La Pucelle conferred with Dunois as to the measures most expedient to be pursued; giving it as her opinion that immediate advantage should be taken of the ardour and willingness evinced by the Orleanese to attack the English bastilles; in which decision she was seconded by La Hire and Florent d'Illiers, while several other captains conceived it necessary to await the arrival of the army. These contrary sentiments gave rise to very warm debates, which terminated in opposition to Jeanne's desire: it was, however, decided, that several leaders should proceed to expedite the arrival of the forces.

It was originally the editor's intention to have here introduced the Diary of the Siege. However, upon consulting the various authorities, and comparing them with the contents of that document, so many additional statements were found, of a most interesting nature, counected with the siege, that it was deemed absolutely necessary to present them to the public.

In the ensuing pages the several details alluded to are condensed; and as the matter occupies but a few leaves, there is reason to hope, that the nature of their contents will requite the reader for the trouble of their perusal.

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Jeanne d'Arc, finding that nothing could as yet be undertaken, and by no means discouraged on account of the ill success of her epistolary communication to the English, took advantage of this delay to renew the application. She despatched her two heralds at arms with a letter addressed to the lord Talbot, the earl of Suffolk, and the lord Scales, with the contents of which historians have not made us acquainted, but it is probable that it contained nothing more than a repetition of the contents of her former letter. This document was

received with every mark of opprobrium and contempt: and one of her heralds was detained, the other being despatched for the purpose of making known to her all that had transpired. La Pucelle on perceiving her messenger immediately exclaimed: "Que dit Talbot? What does Talbot say?" When the herald having recapitulated all the injurious epithets which the enemy had lavished upon her, and told her that if they could seize her person they would burn her at the stake, Jeanne instantly replied: "Or t'en retourne, et ne fais doute que tu ameneras ton compagnon, et dis à Talbot, que s'il arme je m'armeray aussi, et qu'il se trouve en place devant la ville, et s'il me peut prendre, qu'il me face ardoir; et si je le deconfis, qu'il face lever les sieges et s'en aillent en leur pays. Return then thy ways, and do not doubt that thou wilt bring back thy companion; and tell Talbot that if he

arms I will also arm myself, and let him take his station before the city; and if he can secure me, let him cause me to be burnt; and if I discomfit him, let him raise the siege and go back to his own country." This singular challenge was not accepted by our English hero.

Notwithstanding the disdain with which the English affected to treat Jeanne d'Arc, it is certain that they already began to feel the fatal effects of her influence, as the ardour with which she inspired the French soldiery spread terror through the British ranks.

On the day when the convoy entered Orleans, Dunois, according to the deposition of Daulon, repaired to the residence of La Pucelle, and announced to her that Fastolf was conducting reinforcements to the English. Jeanne, rejoiced at the idea of having to combat that redoubted enemy, expressed herself in the following terms to the Bastard: "Bastard, bastard, en nom de Dieu, je te commande que tantôt que tu sauras la venue dudit Fastolf, que tu me le fasses savoir; car s'il passe sans que je le sache, je te promets que je te ferai ôter la tête. Bastard, bastard, in the name of God, I command thee, that as soon as thou shalt ascertain the coming of the said Fastolf, that thou lettest me know; for if he passes without my knowledge, I promise thee that thy head shall be stricken off." It is obvious that this exclamation was the result of an enthusiastic

feeling which prompted Jeanne to wish for an encounter with that hardy English chieftain. Dunois entertained a similar opinion, as appears from the moderation manifested in his reply, which was to the following effect: "That she need have no doubt upon that head, as he would take care to give her the necessary information."

Thus was the promise made by Jeanne d'Arc to succour Orleans accomplished. The unexpected success of an enterprise attended with so much difficulty, during which none of the impediments that were apprehended had presented themselves, forcibly operated upon the multitude; and in consequence, the most incredulous no longer entertained doubts as to the celestial mission of La Pucelle. The English, on the other hand, who were already apprized of the harangues and the conduct of Jeanne, felt a disquietude they were unable to conceal. When they beheld the maid come to defy them at the head of an inferior force, they were completely paralyzed with fear; and it is ascertained beyond a doubt that they regarded as a sorceress *

The truth of this assertion may be inferred from the following letter, written by the duke of Bedford after the raising of the siege of Orleans and the battle of Patay.

"All things here proved propitious for you (Henry VI.) until the period of the siege of Orleans, undertaken God only knows from what advice. About this period, after the mishap that occurred to my cousin of Salisbury, whom God absolve,

the very person who was looked upon by the French as a messenger from God: nor could it indeed be otherwise, when we consider the ideas then prevalent, and the superstition so universally predominating over the public mind.

Jeanne speedily commenced an attack upon the bastilles of the English. Military discipline in the fifteenth century differed widely from that of the present age. Commanders, in the times of which we are speaking, formed enterprises according to the events that transpired, and were led to decide from casual circumstances. Some of the military leaders at Orleans, without having either consulted Dunois or apprized La Pucelle, made a sortie from the city, and attacked the bastille of Saint Loup, which had been strongly fortified and well garrisoned by lord Talbot. The assault, which had been undertaken at the spur of the moment, was in the first instance successful; but on a sudden the

another terrible blow hath been struck, by the hands of God, as I feel persuaded, upon your people assembled there. This reverse in a great measure resulted, as I have well ascertained, from the unfortunate belief and superstitious dread inspired in them by a woman, the true disciple of Satan, formed from the excrement of hell, called La Pucelle, who made use of enchantments and sorcery. These disasters and this defeat have not only caused a great part of your troops to perish, but have at the same time discouraged in the most astonishing manner those who still remain; and what is more, have led your enemies to assemble in far greater numbers. Rymer, vol. x. page 408.

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