road from Paris to Autun, and commanding the plain
between Orleans and Briare and the ancient bridge with twenty arches,
the chateau of Sully linked together central France and those northern
provinces which Jeanne had so regretfully quitted, and whither with
all her heart she longed to return to engage in fresh expeditions and
fresh sieges.

[Footnote 1902: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 159.]

[Footnote 1903: Perceval de Cagny, p. 173. _Chronique de la Pucelle_,
p. 258. _Berry_, in Godefroy, p. 376. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 294,
notes 4, 5. Vallet de Viriville, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. i,
pp. 139, 163. De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, p.
144.]

During the first fortnight of March, from the townsfolk of Reims she
received a message in which they confided to her fears only too well
grounded.[1904] On the 8th of March the Regent had granted to the Duke
of Burgundy the counties of Champagne and of Brie on condition of his
reconquering them.[1905] Armagnacs and English vied with each other in
offering the biggest and most tempting morsels to this Gargantuan
Duke. Not being able to keep their promise and deliver to him
Compiegne which refused to be delivered, the French offered him in its
place Pont-Sainte-Maxence.[1906] But it was Compiegne that he wanted.
The truces, which had been very imperfectly kept, were to have expired
at Christmas, but first they had been prolonged till the 15th of March
and then till Easter. In the year 1430 Easter fell on the 16th of
April; and Duke Philip was only waiting for that date to put an army
in the field.[1907]

[Footnote 1904: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 378. D. Plancher, _Histoire de
Bourgogne_, vol. iv, p. 137. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 268.]

[Footnote 1905: Du Tillet, _Recueil des rois de France_, vol. ii, p. 39
(ed. 1601-1602). Rymer, _Foedera_, March, 1430.]

[Footnote 1906: P. Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_, pp. 35, 152.]

[Footnote 1907: De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, pp.
351, 389.]

In a manner concise and vivacious the Maid replied to the townsfolk of
Reims:

"Dear friends and beloved and mightily desired. Jehenne the
Maid hath received your letters making mention that ye fear
a siege. Know ye that it shall not so betide, and I may but
encounter them shortly. And if I do not encounter them and
they do not come to you, if you shut your gates firmly, I
shall shortly be with you: and if they be there, I shall