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April–May, 1429

March from Blois to Orléans, Apri1 28–29

TO HER SOLDIERS

TRUST IN GOD. Make confession, and be shriven, for so God will help you. Being shriven, you shall have the victory, by God’s help.

TO DUNOIS, COMING OUT FROM ORLÉANS TO MEET HER

Are you the Bastard of Orléans?

Was it you who counselled that we should come here on this side of the river, and not go straight to where Talbot and the English are?

(He answers, “Yes, I, and others wiser than I, believing it safer and surer.” Then Jehanne:)

In God’s name! our Lord God’s counsel is surer and wiser than yours. You thought to deceive me; it is yourself that you deceive. For I bring you better succour than ever carne to captain of town, which is succour from the King of Heaven. Nor is it granted for love of me; but God, at the prayer of Saint Louis and Saint Charlemagne, has taken pity on the town of Orléans, nor will he suffer the enemy to hold both the Duke of Orléans’ person and his town.

Entry into Orléans, Apri129

TO THE PEOPLE

My Lord has sent me to succour this good town of Orléans.

Hope in God. If you have good hope and faith in him, you shall be delivered from your enemies.

Orléans: Capture of the English Fortress of Saint-Loup, May 4

TO HER PAGE

Ha! wretched boy! you did not tell me that French blood was flowing!

Where are those who should arm me?

To horse! To horse!

Evening of the Same Day, Ascension Eve

TO HER CHAPLAIN

Tomorrow I will not go out to fight nor put on armor, in reverence to the feast day, I will make my confession and receive the sacrament.

Let none tomorrow dare to leave the town and go out to fight, unless he has first gone to confession. And let them beware lest women of evil fame follow them: because, for sin, God will permit the loss of this war.

Letter, May 5

(Fastened to an arrow and shot into the English lines)

You Englishmen, who have no right in this Kingdom of France, the King of Heaven sends you word and warning, by me Jehanne the Maid, to abandon your forts and depart into your own country, or I will raise such a war-cry against you as shall be remembered forever. And this I write to you for the third and last time, nor shall I write further.

I should send you my letter more decently, but you detain my heralds. For you have kept my herald Guyenne. Send him to me, and I will send you some of your men who were taken at Saint-Loup, for not all were killed.

Orléans: Capture of the English Fortress of the Augustines, May 6

TO HER SOLDIERS

In God’s name! let us go on bravely!

Evening of the Same Day: Council of War

TO ONE OF THE CAPTAINS

You have been with your council and I have been with mine. Believe me that the counsel of my Lord will be accomplished and will stand, and this counsel of yours will perish.

THEN TO HER CHAPLAIN

Tomorrow, rise very early, earlier than you did today, and do the best that you can. Keep close to me all day, for tomorrow I shall have much to do and greater things than I have had to do yet. And tomorrow blood will flow from my body, above my breast.

Orléans: Capture of the Bridge, May 7

I was the first to set a ladder against the fortress on the bridge, and, as I raised it, I was wounded in the throat by a cross-bow bolt. But Saint Catherine comforted me greatly. And I did not cease to ride and do my work.

TO HER SOLDIERS

Courage! Do not fall back: in a little the place will be yours. Watch! when you see the wind blow my banner against the bulwark, you shall take it!

In, in, the place is yours!

TO THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN

Glasdale, Glasdale, yield, yield to the King of Heaven. You have called me “whore” I pity your soul and the souls of your men.

TO THOSE WHO OFFERED TO CHARM HER WOUND

I would rather die than do what I know to be sin.

Orléans: The English Raise the Siege, May 8

TO HER SOLDIERS

In God’s name! they go. Let them depart. And go we to give thanks to God. We shall not follow them farther, for it is Sunday. Seek not to harm them. It suffices me that they go.