D THE KING CROWNED AT REIMS

Here are the exploits which the Maid and the loyal French did in one
week. She took Jargeau on June 11; on June 15 she seized the bridge of
Meun; Beaugency yielded to her on June 17; on June 18 she defeated the
English army at Pathay. Now sieges were long affairs in those days, as
they are even to-day, when cannon are so much more powerful than they
were in Joan's time. Her success seemed a miracle to the world.

This miracle, like all miracles, was wrought by faith. Joan believed in
herself, in her country, and in God. It was not by visions and by
knowing things strangely that she conquered, but by courage, by strength
(on one occasion she never put off her armour for six days and six
nights), and by inspiring the French with the sight of her valour.
Without her visions, indeed, she would never have gone to war. She often
said so. But, being at war, her word was 'Help yourselves, and God will
help you.' Who could be lazy or a coward when a girl set such an
example?

The King of France and his favourites could be indolent and cowards. Had
Charles VII. been such a man as Charles Stuart was in 1745, his foot
would have been in the stirrup, and his lance in rest. In three months
the English would have been driven into the sea. But the king loitered
about the castles of the Loire with his favourite, La Tremouille, and
his adviser, the Archbishop of Reims. They wasted the one year of Joan.
There were jealousies against the Constable de Richemont of Brittany who
had come with all his lances to follow the lily flag. If once Charles
were king indeed and the English driven out, La Tremouille would cease
to be powerful. This dastard sacrificed the Maid in the end, as he was
ready to sacrifice France to his own private advantage.

[Illustration: THE CORONATION OF CHARLES VII]

At last, with difficulty, Charles was brought to visit Reims, and
consent to be crowned like his ancestors. Seeing that he was never
likely to move, Joan left the town where he was and went off into the
country. This retreat brought Charles to his senses. The towns which he
passed by yielded to him; Joan went and summoned each. 'Now she was with
the king in the centre, now with the rearguard, now with the van.' The
town of Troyes, where there was an English garrison, did not wish to
yield. There was a council in the king's army: they said they could not
take the place.

'In two days it shall be yours, by force or by good wi