80. Loiseleur, _Compte des depenses_, p. 149.]

[Footnote 1191: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 261.]

The town of Jargeau, which was shortly to be taken after a severe
siege, had surrendered to the English without resistance on the 5th of
October in the previous year.[1192] The bridge leading to the town
from the Beauce bank was furnished with two castlets.[1193] The town
itself, surrounded by walls and towers, was not strongly fortified;
but its means of defence had been improved by the English. Warned
that the army of the French King was coming to besiege it, the Earl of
Suffolk and his two brothers threw themselves into the town, with five
hundred knights, squires, and other fighting men, as well as two
hundred picked bowmen.[1194] The Duke of Alencon with six hundred
horse was at the head of the force, and with him, the Maid. The first
night they slept in the woods.[1195] On the morrow, at daybreak, my
Lord the Bastard, my Lord Florent d'Illiers, and several other
captains joined them. They were in a great hurry to reach Jargeau.
Suddenly they hear that Sir John Fastolf is at hand, coming from Paris
with two thousand combatants, bringing supplies and artillery to
Jargeau.[1196]

[Footnote 1192: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 258.]

[Footnote 1193: Berry, in the _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 45.]

[Footnote 1194: _Journal du siege_, p. 96. _Chronique de la Pucelle_,
p. 299. _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 295. Jean
Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 82. Berry, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p.
44. Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 325.]

[Footnote 1195: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 94. Perceval de Cagny, pp. 150,
151.]

[Footnote 1196: _Journal du siege_, _Chronique de la Pucelle_, Berry,
Jean Chartier, _loc. cit._ Wavrin du Forestel, _Anciennes chroniques_,
vol. i, p. 284. Falconbridge, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 452.]

This was the army which had been the cause of Jeanne's anxiety on the
4th of May, because her saints had not told her where Fastolf was. The
captains held a council of war. Many thought the siege ought to be
abandoned and that the army should go to meet Fastolf. Some actually
went off at once. Jeanne exhorted the men-at-arms to continue their
march on Jargeau. Where Sir John Fastolf's army was, she knew no more
than the others; her reasons were not of this world.

"Be not afraid of any armed host whatsoever," she said, "and make no
difficulty of attacking the English, for Messire leads you."

And again she said: "Were I not