n Le Franc, _Champion des
dames_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 71.]

The Royal Council deemed it necessary to recover La Charite, left in
the hands of Perrinet Gressart at the time of the coronation campaign;[1836]
but it was decided first to attack Saint-Pierre-le-Moustier, which
commanded the approaches to Bec-d'Allier.[1837] The garrison of this
little town was composed of English and Burgundians, who were
constantly plundering the villages and laying waste the fields of
Berry and Bourbonnais. The army for this expedition assembled at
Bourges. It was commanded by my Lord d'Albret,[1838] but popular report
attributed the command to Jeanne. The common folk, the burgesses of
the towns, especially the citizens of Orleans knew no other commander.

[Footnote 1836: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 310. _Journal du siege_,
p. 107. Morosini, vol. ii, p. 229, note 4. Perceval de Cagny, p. 172.]

[Footnote 1837: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 217. Jaladon de la Barre, _Jeanne
d'Arc a Saint-Pierre-le-Moustier et deux juges nivernais a Rouen_,
Nevers, 1868, in 8vo, chaps. ix _et seq._]

[Footnote 1838: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 356. Lanery d'Arc and L. Jeny,
_Jeanne d'Arc en Berry_, p. 89.]

After two or three days' siege, the King's men stormed the town. But
they were repulsed. Squire Jean d'Aulon, the Maid's steward, who some
time before had been wounded in the heel and consequently walked on
crutches, had retreated with the rest.[1839] He went back and found
Jeanne who had stayed almost alone by the side of the moat. Fearing
lest harm should come to her, he leapt on to his horse, spurred
towards her and cried: "What are you doing, all alone? Wherefore do
you not retreat like the others?"

[Footnote 1839: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 217.]

Jeanne doffed her sallet and replied: "I am not alone. With me are
fifty thousand of my folk. I will not quit this spot till I have taken
the town."

Casting his eyes around, Messire Jean d'Aulon saw the Maid surrounded
by but four or five men.

More loudly he cried out to her: "Depart hence and retreat like the
others."

Her only reply was a request for fagots and hurdles to fill up the
moat. And straightway in a loud voice she called: "To the fagots and
the hurdles all of ye, and make a bridge!"

The men-at-arms rushed to the spot, the bridge was constructed
forthwith and the town taken by storm with no great difficulty. At any
rate that is how the good Squire, Jean d'Aulon, told the story.[1840]
He was a