clxii

HISTORY OF JEANNE D'ARC.

Thus in the short space of eight days from the arrival of Jeanne d'Arc at Orleans, only three of which had been devoted to combats, the face of things was completely reversed; the standard of victory being transferred to the French, who had for so long a period bowed to the valour of the English arms.

DIARY

OF THE

SIEGE OF ORLEANS.

As the language of the following Diary may appear obsolete, it is necessary to acquaint the reader that this phraseology was purposely adopted, in order to convey the style of the Original Manuscript with the least possible variation.

DIARY,

ETC. ETC.

THE earl of Salisbury, a great lord and the most renowned in feats of arms of all the English; and the which for Henry, king of England, to whom he was related, and as his lieutenant and chief of his army in this kingdom, had been present at many battles as well as divers rencounters and conquests against the French, where he had valiantly conducted himself; thinking to take the city of Orleans by force, which maintained the cause of the king, its sovereign lord Charles, seventh of that name, came to besiege it on Tuesday the twelfth day of October, one thousand four hundred and twenty-eight, with great host and army, which he encamped on the side. of Sauloïgne, and near one of the suburbs called Portereau. In which host and army and in his company were, Messire William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and Messire John de la Pole, his brother, the lord of Escales (Scales), the lord Faulconberg,

B

the bailiff of Evreux, the lord d'Egres, the lord de Moulins, the lord de Pomus, Glacidas (William Glasdale or Glad disdale)* of high renown, Messire Launcelot de l'Isle, Marshal of the host, and many other lords and men of war as well English as others, false French, maintaining their cause. But the men of war there in garrison, had, on the same day and before the arrival of the English, by the advice and aid of the citizens of Orleans, caused the church to be destroyed, the convent of the Augustins of Orleans, and all the houses which were then standing at the foresaid Portereau, in order that their enemies might not be lodged there, nor construct any fortification against the city.

On the ensuing Sunday the English threw into the city two hundred and four bombarding stones from large cannons, of which there were some stones that weighed one hundred and sixteen pounds. And among others was placed near to the Turcie Sainct Jean le Blanc, between the wine-press of Faviere and Portereau, a great cannon which they named Passe-volant (Beyond-flying); the which threw stones weighing eighty pounds, doing much damage to the houses and edifices of Orleans, not however killing or wounding any one but a woman named Belles, living near the postern Chesneau.

· According to one of our Chroniclers.