ation, and considering
it imprudent to recognize a new prince without being forced to it, the
citizens abruptly renounced the silver of speech and took refuge in
the gold of silence.

On Saturday, the 16th, King Charles took up his quarters in the
Castle of Sept-Saulx, ten miles from the city where he was to be
crowned. This fortress had been erected two hundred years before by
the warlike predecessors of my Lord Regnault. Its proud keep commanded
the crossing of the Vesle.[1492] There the King received the citizens
of Reims, who came in great numbers to do him homage.[1493] Then, with
the Maid and his whole army, he resumed his march. Having traversed
the last stage of the highroad which wound along the bank of the
Vesle, he entered the great city of Champagne at nightfall. The
southern gate, called Dieulimire, lowered its drawbridge and raised
its two portcullises to let him pass.[1494]

[Footnote 1492: Perceval de Cagny, p. 159. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_,
p. 97; _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 320. _Chronique des Cordeliers_,
fol. 85, v'o. _Journal du siege_, p. 112. Bergier, _Poeme sur la
tapisserie de Jeanne d'Arc_, p. 112. H. Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a
Reims_, pp. 20, 21. F. Pinon, _Notice sur Sept-Saulx_, in _Travaux de
l'academie de Reims_, vol. vi, p. 328.]

[Footnote 1493: J. Rogier, in _Trial_, pp. 298 _et seq._ Dom Marlot,
_Histoire de la ville de Reims_, vol. iv, Reims, 1846 (4 vol. in 4to),
vol. iii, p. 174.]

[Footnote 1494: H. Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a Reims_, p. 23.]

According to tradition the coronation should take place on a Sunday.
This rule was found mentioned in a ceremonial which was believed to
have served for the coronation of Louis VIII and was considered
authoritative.[1495] The citizens of Reims worked all night in order
that everything might be ready on the morrow.[1496] They were urged
on by their sudden affection for the King of France and likewise by
their fear lest he and his army[1497] should spend many days in their
city. Their horror of receiving and maintaining men-at-arms within
their gates they shared with the citizens of all towns, who in their
panic were incapable of distinguishing Armagnac soldiers from English
and Burgundians. Wherefore in all things were they diligent, but with
the firm intention of paying as little as possible. Seeing that to
them the coronation brought neither profit nor honour, the aldermen
were accustomed to throw the burden of it on the Archbishop, who,