The following day, which was Wednesday, the marshal Saint Severe quitted Orleans, as well for the purpose of repairing to the king, as to go and take possession of several lands which had devolved to him by the death of the lord of Chasteau-Brun, his wife's brother. But he promised to those of the city, that he would continue but a short space absent, and they were right well content. For they loved and they prized him, because he had done them many good actions, and also for the great feats of arms which he and his people had enacted for their defence.

This same day, did the English of the bastille of Saint Loup convey many laden chariots to their bastille of Saint Lawrence. And when they were in front of Saint Ladre, they uttered a loud cry, in consequence whereof the tocsin of the belfry was rung. For the French of Orleans believed that they

intended to attack some of their boulevards.

The following Thursday, seventeenth day of the said month, departed this life, Master Alain Dubey, Provost of Orleans; who died of a natural death. At which, those of the city were passing doleful, because he had always acted with justice.

The Saturday ensuing, the nineteenth of the same month, and upon Easter Even, did the English discharge into Orleans several large bombs, and fired off cannons, in such wise, that they had never done before, whereby they did great evil and damage. For the stone from one of the bombs as well killed

as wounded seven persons, from the which died a tin-pot maker, named John Tonnau. And besides this, another stone from a cannon fell before the hotel of the late Berthault Mignon, from which were killed, as well as wounded, five persons.

The Monday following, the twenty-first of the said month of March, the appearance of the English caused the tocsin of the belfry to be rung, and there sallied forth from Orleans a great power, as well of men at war as of citizens and others of the surrounding country, who had retreated thither; so that they went and attacked the boulevards newly constructed by the English to the right of the Grange of Cuivret. But when those who guarded the same beheld them approach, they quitted the boulevards and took to flight, and acted in such sort, that they gained their bastille of Saint Lawrence, and carried away from thence whatsoever they could convey of their property and their artillery. And immediately after sallied forth the English from the said bastille, uttering marvellous cries, and in such power and hardihood, that they drove back the French even to the almonry of Saint Pouvair. But they did not pass beyond on account of the French returning against them, so charging them by the firing of cannons, culverins and other discharges, that they compelled them to stand still, and retreat in great haste to their bastilles. From this skirmish experienced the English a great loss in

one of their gentlemen, a native of England, named Robin Heron; for he had shown himself a valiant man at arms.

The ensuing day there was also a very smart. skirmish, and the tocsin from the belfry was rung; because the English sallied out in great numbers against the French, who had gone forth to the environs of Saint Pouvair, beyond which they were received by the English, who drove them back to the almonry of Saint Povair and to Turpin field. Till in the end, having recovered force, they struck amidst the English host with such great hardihood, that they forced them to fall back in the rear of their bastilles. One of the which, not having sufficient care of himself, fell into a well near unto the cross Morin, within which he was killed by the French.

This same day, being Tuesday, the Pucelle being at Blois, where she sojourned, awaiting a reinforcement of those that were to accompany her, but who were not yet arrived, she despatched an herald to the English lords and captains encamped before Orleans; and by him wrote a letter, which she herself dictated; having at the top, as principal title:

and then commencing at the margin as followeth ;

"King of England, account for yourself to the "King of heaven concerning his blood royal.

"Give up the keys to the Pucelle of all the good "cities which you have forced. She is come on "the part of God to restore the blood royal, and "is quite ready to make peace; if you will act justly. Therefore put down your deposit, and pay for that which you have held from him.

King of England, if thus you will not do, I am "chieftain of war; in every place where I shall find

your people in France, if they will not obey, I "will cause them to go out, willing or not. And "if they will obey, I will take them in mercy. "Believe that if they will not obey, the Pucelle 66 comes to kill them; she comes on the part of the King of heaven; body for body, you shall be driven "out of France. And the Pucelle promises and "certifies to you, that she will cause so great a ravage, that for a thousand years past has none so great been seen, if you do not act justly. "And firmly believe, that the King of heaven will "despatch more force to her and her good people "at arms, than you could destroy in a hundred "attacks. Between you archers companions in

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arms, who are before Orleans, in the name of God

go back into your own country. And if thus you "do not do, take you heed of the Pucelle, and call "to mind your injuries done. Do not take much "into your opinion, that you shall long hold France "from the King of heaven and the son of Sancta "Maria; for king Charles, the true inheritor, will

"hold it, to whom God hath given it, who will "enter into Paris in good company. If you do "not believe the news of God and of the Pucelle, "in whatsoever place we shall find you, we will fight you desperately, and then you shall see "which of the two hath the best right, God or yourself. William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, "John, lord Talbot, Thomas, lord of Escalles (lord Scales) lieutenant of the duke of Bedford, calling "himself regent of the kingdom of France for the "king of England; return for answer, if you will "conclude a peace or not, at the city of Orleans. "If you do not do it, of your injuries you will have "( cause to remember. Duke of Bedford, calling rr yourself regent of France for the king of England, "the Pucelle requireth and prayeth you, that you "do not cause great destruction. If you refuse justice, she will conduct herself in such sort that the French shall perform the greatest feat that 66 ever yet was achieved in Christendom. Written "this Tuesday of the week. Listen to the news "from God and from the Pucelle."

"To the duke of Bedford, calling himself regent of "the kingdom of France for the king of England." When the English lords and captains had read and understood this letter, they were marvellously in choler; and in spite towards the Pucelle, uttered concerning her many villanous words, especially calling her a strumpet, a cow-keeper, and