ed less divine to the French or less
evil to the English. Her failures, either unknown, or partially known,
rendered unimportant by the fame of her victories, had not dispelled
the idea that within her resided invincible power. At the time when
the hapless damsel with the flower of French knighthood was receiving
sore treatment under the walls of La Charite at the hands of an
ex-mason's apprentice, in Burgundian lands it was rumoured that she
was carrying by storm a castle twelve miles from Paris.[1940] She was
still considered miraculous; the burgesses, the men-at-arms of her
party still believed in her. And as for the _Godons_, from the Regent
to the humblest swordsman of the army, they all regarded her with a
terror as great as that which had possessed them at Orleans and Patay.
At this time so many English soldiers and captains refused to go to
France, that a special edict was issued obliging them to do so.[1941]
But they doubtless discovered reasons enough for not going into a
country where henceforth they could hope only for hard knocks and
nothing tempting; so that many declined, terrified by the enchantments
of the Maid.[1942]

[Footnote 1940: Morosini, vol. iii, pp. 228-231. Concerning Perrinet
Gressart see vol. i, p. 389.]

[Footnote 1941: May 3, 1430.]

[Footnote 1942: G. Lefevre-Pontalis, _La panique anglaise_. Le P.
Ayroles, _La vraie Jeanne d'Arc_, vol. iii, pp. 572-574.]

CHAPTER VI

THE MAID IN THE TRENCHES OF MELUN--LE SEIGNEUR DE L'OURS--THE CHILD OF
LAGNY

In Easter week, Jeanne, at the head of a band of mercenaries, is
before the walls of Melun.[1943] She arrives just in time to fight. The
truces have expired.[1944] Is it possible that the town which was
subject to King Charles[1945] can have refused to admit the Maid with
her company when she came to it so generously? Apparently it was so.
Was Jeanne able to communicate with the Carmelites of Melun? Probably.
What misfortune befell her at the gates of the town? Did she suffer
ill treatment at the hands of a Burgundian band? We know not. But when
she was in the trenches she heard Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret
saying unto her: "Thou wilt be taken before Saint John's Day."

[Footnote 1943: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 115, 253, April 17-23. Perceval de
Cagny, p. 173. _Chronique des cordeliers_, fol. 502 recto. P.
Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_, p. 158, note 2.]

[Footnote 1944: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 363 (April 16).]

[Footnote 1945: