he had been obliged
to make a long circuit, going round the town from west to east. But,
although, on that previous day, the enemy had lost command of the
Loire above the town, they still held the lower river. They could
cross it between Saint-Laurent and Saint-Prive[1029] as rapidly as the
French could cross it by the Ile-aux-Toiles; and thus the English
might gather in force at Le Portereau. This, the French must prevent
and, if possible, draw off the garrisons from Les Augustins and Les
Tourelles to Saint-Laurent-des-Orgerils. With this object it was
decided that the people of Orleans with the folk from the communes,
that is, from the villages, should make a feigned attack on the
Saint-Laurent camp, with mantelets, faggots, and ladders. Meanwhile,
the nobles would cross the Loire by l'Ile-aux-Toiles, would land at Le
Portereau under the watch of Saint-Jean-le-Blanc which had been
abandoned by the English, and attack the bastion of Les Augustins; and
when that was taken, the fort of Les Tourelles.[1030] Thus there would
be one assault made by the citizens, another by the nobles; one real,
the other feigned; both useful, but only one glorious and worthy of
knights. When the plan was thus drawn up, certain captains were of
opinion that it would be well to send for the Maid and tell her what
had been decided.[1031] And, indeed, on the previous day, she had done
so well that there was no longer need to hold her aloof. Others deemed
that it would be imprudent to tell her what was contemplated
concerning Les Tourelles. For it was important that the undertaking
should be kept secret, and it was feared that the holy damsel might
speak of it to her friends among the common people. Finally, it was
agreed that she should know those decisions which affected the
train-bands of Orleans, since, indeed, she was their captain, but that
such matters as could not be safely communicated to the citizens
should be concealed from her.

[Footnote 1028: May 5th. Quicherat is mistaken when he says (_Trial_,
vol. iv, p. 57, note) that this council was held at Jacques Boucher's.
Cf. _Journal du siege_, p. 83. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, p. 73.
Boucher de Molandon in _Memoires de la Societe archeologique de
l'Orleanais_, vol. xxii, p. 373.]

[Footnote 1029: By the little island without a name which is marked on
the plan as Petite Ile Charlemagne. The English had fortified it. See
plan.]

[Footnote 1030: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p.