Читать книгу Joan of Arc: In her own words - Joan of Arc - Страница 12

June, 1429

Capture of Jargeau, June 11-12

THE LEADERS OF OUR PARTY answered the English that they could not have the two weeks’ delay for which they had asked, but that they must leave, they and their horses, that very hour. As for me, I said, “Let the garrison in Jargeau go in their small-clothes with their lives safe, if they will. Otherwise they will be taken by assault.”

TO THE FRENCH CAPTAINS

Fear not, however many they be! Neither weigh difficulties. God guides our work. Were I not certain that God guides this work, I would rather keep sheep than expose myself to such perils.

TO D’ALENÇON

Fear not. The hour is ripe when God pleases. We must work when God wills. “Toil and God will toil.”

Ah, noble Duke, are you afraid? Do you not know that I have promised your wife to bring you back safe and sound?

On, noble Duke, to the assault!

TO HER SOLDIERS

Friends, friends, on, on! Our Lord has condemned the English. This very hour they are ours. Be of good heart!

Battle of Patay, June 18

TO THE CAPTAINS

In God’s name! we must fight them. Did they hang from clouds we should have them! For God is sending them to us for us to punish. And today our noble King shall have the greatest victory he has won in many days. My council has told me that they are all ours.

Ride bravely, and we shall have good leading!

Orléans, June 24

TO THE CAPTAINS

Sound trumpets and to horse!

It is time to rejoin our noble King Charles and set him on the road to his anointing at Reims.

Letter, June 25

To the loyal Frenchmen of Tournai

JHESUS MARIA

Noble loyal Frenchmen of Tournai town, the Maid sends you news from these parts: that in one week she has chased the English out of all the places that they held along the River Loire, either by assault or otherwise, in which encounters many English were killed and captured, and she has routed them in a pitched battle. Know too that the Earl of Suffolk, his brother La Pole, Lord Talbot, Lord Scales, with Sir John Fastolf and many other knights and captains have been captured, and a brother of the Earl of Suffolk’s and Glasdale were killed.

Keep yourselves loyal Frenchmen, I pray you. I pray you too and beg you to be ready, all of you, to come to the anointing of noble King Charles at Reims, where we shall shortly be. And come out to meet us when you hear that we are near. I commend you to God. God keep you and give you grace to maintain the good cause of the Kingdom of France.

Written at Gien, the xxvth day of June