. 104 (Brother Pasquerel's
evidence).]

That night they encamped in the fields. Jeanne, who had not been
willing to take off her armour, awoke aching in every limb.[920] She
heard mass and received communion from her chaplain, and exhorted the
men-at-arms always to confess their sins.[921] Then the army resumed
its march towards Orleans.

[Footnote 920: _Ibid._, p. 67 (evidence of Louis de Coutes).]

[Footnote 921: _Ibid._, p. 67. Pasquerel says (vol. iii, p. 105) that
the soldiers of fortune were permitted to join the congregation if
they had confessed.]

CHAPTER XII

THE MAID AT ORLEANS

On the evening of Thursday, the 28th of April, Jeanne was able to
discern from the heights of Olivet the belfries of the town, the
towers of Saint-Paul and Saint-Pierre-Empont, whence the watchmen
announced her approach. The army descended the slopes towards the
Loire and stopped at the Bouchet wharf, while the carts and the cattle
continued their way along the bank as far as l'Ile-aux-Bourdons,
opposite Checy, two and a half miles further up the river.[922] There
the unloading was to take place. At a signal from the watchmen my Lord
the Bastard, accompanied by Thibaut de Termes and certain other
captains, left the town by the Burgundian Gate, took a boat at
Saint-Jean-de-Braye, and came down to hold counsel with the Lords de
Rais and de Lore, who commanded the convoy.[923]

[Footnote 922: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 4, 5. Boucher de Molandon,
_Bulletin de la Societe archeologique de l'Orleanais_, vol. iv, p.
427; vol. ix, p. 73. The same author, _Premiere expedition de Jeanne
d'Arc_, pp. 41 _et seq._ _Mistere du siege_, lines 11,480 _et seq._
_Chronique de l'etablissement de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p.
289.]

[Footnote 923: _Journal du siege_, p. 75. _Chronique de la Pucelle_,
p. 283.]

[Illustration: PLAN D'ORLEANS

Siege de 1429]

Meanwhile the Maid had only just perceived that she was on the Sologne
bank,[924] and that she had been deceived concerning the line of
march. Sorrow and wrath possessed her. She had been misled, that was
certain. But had it been done on purpose? Had they really intended to
deceive her? It is said that she had expressed a wish to go through La
Beauce and not through La Sologne, and that she had received the
answer: "Jeanne, be reassured; we will take you through La
Beauce."[925] Is it possible? Why should the barons have thus trifled
with the holy damsel, whom the King had confide