Lord was they should depart unmolested. Jeanne caused a table to be brought, whereon she spread many religious ornaments, and then prostrated herself, with all the army and the citizens of Orleans, before this altar, which was placed in the open field that separated the city from the enemy. Two masses were performed in succession, and, at the conclusion of the second, Jeanne inquired if the English had their faces turned towards the French. Being answered in the negative, and told that their faces were directed towards Meun, she exclaimed: "En mon Dieu, ils s'en vont, laissez-les partir, et allons rendre grace à Dieu: By my God, they are going; suffer them to depart, and let us go and offer prayers to God." All the bastilles were rased to the ground, and La Pucelle, with her escort, returned to the city, where the whole population renewed their contrite prayers to Heaven. After this a solemn procession of the ecclesiastics paraded the streets and ramparts of Orleans, making the air resound with hymns and canticles. This ceremony, which took place on the eighth of May, was regularly repeated every succeeding year until the stormy period of the revolution, when it was discontinued. In 1803 the procession was renewed, and has since been continued, according to the ancient forms adopted on this memorable occasion. 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 DorM |