in order to consult on the critical posture of affairs. Some were of opinion that the king ought to return to Gien, while others advised that the march direct for Rheims should be continued without delay. The lord de Treves, formerly chancellor of France, a man respectable on account of his advanced age and eminent services, gave it as his opinion, that since the expedition had been undertaken by the advice of La Pucelle, she might be able to devise means that would ensure its success. On a sudden, Jeanne d'Arc rapped at the door of the council-chamber, and, being admitted, her opinion was asked, in regard to the measures requisite to adopt under the existing state of affairs: upon which she thus addressed the king: Serai-je crue de ce que je dirai? Will what I have 66 "That the city, although rich, could not succeed in purchasing the favour of La Trimouille; and it was therefore invested for the space of two or three days, during which the army suffered greatly from a scarcity of provisions. In consequence of this, upwards of two thousand men were deprived of bread, and with difficulty procured beans as a substitute. These beans had been sown by the advice of a cordelier, named Brother Richard, a great preacher and zealous Burgundian. Monstrelet, who speaks in his praise, calls him a monk of the Augustine order; but he was misinformed." Luchet, (at page 23,) adverting to the above statement, says, "These beans came to maturity in three days: rather a clever growth, it must be confessed." to say be believed?" when the king replying in the affirmative, she continued: "Noble Dauphin, ordonnez à votre gent de venir et d'assieger la ville de Troyes, et ne tenez pas plus longs conseils; car, en mon Dieu! avant trois jours, je vous introduirai dans la ville de Troyes par amour ou par puissance, et sera la fausse Bourgogne bien stupéfaite. Noble Dauphin, command your people to come and besiege the city of Troyes, and hold no longer councils; for, by my God! before three days I will introduce you into the city of Troyes by love or by force, and false Burgundy shall be much stupified." The chancellor then stated to Jeanne, that they should be glad to continue six days, so that the truth of her assertion could be verified. Upon which the heroine, feeling piqued that any doubt was entertained, answered, with great coolness: "Que l'on me suive et mette la main à l'œuvre, car Dieu veut que l'on s'emploie soi-même:" then turning to the king, she added, “Demain vous serez maître de la cité. Only follow me and apply your hands to the work, for it is the will of God that we toil ourselves: to-morrow you shall be masters of the city.” Jeanne d'Arc then took her standard, assembled the troops, and ordered them to pitch their tents below the ramparts; she also commanded the soldiers to convey fascines to fill up the fosse. During the whole night La Pucelle occupied herself in forwarding these preparatives with the most indefatigable zeal and activity. These hostile movements in the army caused great alarm in the city. A general consternation, which appeared supernatural, soon took possession of the populace, who fled in crowds to the churches, and, prostrate before the altars, spent the night in prayer.* The period of the attack being arrived, Jeanne d'Arc, who had not tasted repose, commanded the assault, and caused the trumpets to sound. She then sprang upon the verge of the moat, bearing her banner, and ordered the ditch to be filled up with the fascines prepared for that purpose. At this. juncture a panic took possession of the English and the Burgundians; the recollection of the recent victories obtained by Jeanne flashed upon their minds, and completed the effect of terror. Deputies were, in consequence, appointed to go and treat with * Jean Lesguisé, bishop of Troyes, a very holy man, set the example, and instigated the inhabitants to submit to their legitimate sovereign. It was this prelate, in conjunction with the principal citizens, who demanded the capitulation.-Lenglet, vol. i. page 102. This assault was prepared on the side of the city where Magdalen Gate stands, and that of Composité. The Count Dunois, in the course of his interrogatories during the revisal of Jeanne's 'sentence, stated, that it was not a little surprising to view the activity of the girl on this occasion, who singly produced more effect than a whole company of soldiers. the king; the gates were opened, and they proceeded, trembling, towards the French camp. The English and treaty, took with previously fallen Charles received these emissaries with peculiar marks of favour: the leading terms of the capitulation were, that the garrison, consisting of English and Burgundians, should march away unmolested, bearing their goods and chattels, and that a general amnesty should be accorded to the inhabitants; the rest of the day being given to the garrison to retire from the city. Burgundians, by virtue of the them the prisoners who had into their hands, whom they regarded as a part of their rightful property. La Pucelle, on beholding this, was sensibly affected, and could not bear the sight; she took her station before the gate of the town at the moment when the garrison was marching forth; and when the unfortunate captives appeared, loaded with chains and overcome by grief, she cried out, "En mon Dieu, ils ne les emmeneront pas !-By my God, they shall not march them away!" and she prevented them from quitting the place. The king, on being made acquainted with what was passing, ordered that a certain sum should be given to the English and the Burgundians by way of ransom for their captives; with which they were compelled to be satisfied, having no power left to dispute the question. The ensuing day, the 10th of July, 1429, being that fixed upon for the king's entrance into the city, Jeanne d'Arc was desirous of going before him. The inhabitants, fully acquainted with the injurious reports circulated by the English respecting her, not knowing whether to regard her as a fairy or a saint, despatched brother Richard to meet her, stating, that they were doubtful as to her mission being from the Lord. This father Richard was the same ecclesiastic whose discourses at Paris had been attended with the greatest success, and who had foretold that the year 1430 would be productive of the most extraordinary events. He approached La Pucelle, making the sign of the cross, and sprinkling holy water before him. Jeanne, smiling with playful gaiety, thus addressed him: "Approchez hardiment, beau père; je ne m'en voullerai pas—Approach boldly, good father; I shall not fly away:" and from that moment brother Richard attached himself to the interests of Charles VII.* "This Richard," says Luchet, (p. 23,) 66 was a fanatic monk, charged with various crimes, and disgraced. As soon as he perceived La Pucelle, he was desirous of exorcising her, but she replied," &c. Our authority then says in continuation : "How are we to sift out the truth from this chaos of absurdities? Writers annex something of the marvellous in the subjection of Troyes, the garrison of which city consisted only of six hundred men with no experienced captain to command them. Nothing from thenceforth could happen in the ordinary course of nature, |