on this
expedition proves that he did not anticipate great fatigue or great
danger. Nevertheless, at the last moment the plan was changed. The
Queen, who had come to Gien, was sent back to Bourges. The King set
out without her.[1346]

[Footnote 1346: _Journal du siege_, p. 107. _Chronique de la Pucelle_,
p. 310.]

Quand le roy s'en vint en France,
Il feit oindre ses houssiaulx,
Et la royne lui demande:
Ou veult aller cest damoiseaulx?[1347]

[Footnote 1347: When the King set out in France, he had his gaiters
greased; and the Queen asked him: whither will wend these damoiseaux?
Quoted according to _La Chronique Messine_ by Vallet de Viriville,
_Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. i, p. 424, note 1.]

In reality the Queen asked nothing. She was ill-favoured and weak of
will.[1348] But the song says that the King on his departure had his
old gaiters greased because he had no new ones. Those old jokes about
the poverty of the King of Bourges still held good.[1349] The King had
not grown rich. It was customary to pay the men-at-arms a part of
their wages in advance. At Gien each fighting man received three
francs. It did not seem much, but they hoped to gain more on the
way.[1350]

[Footnote 1348: De Beaucourt, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. iv, p.
88.]

[Footnote 1349: See _ante_, pp. 148-152.]

[Footnote 1350: Perceval de Cagny, p. 157. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_,
vol. i, p. 87. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 313.]

On Friday, the 24th of June, the Maid set out from Orleans for Gien.
On the morrow she dictated from Gien a letter to the inhabitants of
Tournai, telling them how the English had been driven from all their
strongholds on the Loire and discomfited in battle. In this letter she
invited them to come to the anointing of King Charles at Reims and
called upon them to continue loyal Frenchmen. Here is the letter:

[cross symbol] JHESUS [cross symbol] MARIA.

Fair Frenchmen and loyal, of the town of Tournay, from this
place the Maid maketh known unto you these tidings: that in
eight days, by assault or otherwise, she hath driven the
English from all the strongholds they held on the River
Loire. Know ye that the Earl of Suffort, Lapoulle his
brother, the Sire of Tallebord, the Sire of Scallez and my
lords Jean Falscof and many knights and captains have been
taken, and the brother of the Earl of Suffort and Glasdas
slain. I beseech you to remai