to take up a fixed position in it, as being the political centre of the realm of which Rheims was the religious.  Nothing of the sort was done.  Charles and La Tremoille once more began their course of hesitation, tergiversation, and changes of tactics and residence without doing anything of a public and decisive character.  They negotiated with the Duke of Burgundy, in the hope of detaching him from the English cause; and they even concluded with him a secret, local, and temporary truce.  From the 20th of July to the 23d of August Joan followed the king whithersoever he went, to Chateau-Thierry, to Senlis, to Blois, to Provins, and to Compigne, as devoted as ever, but without having her former power.  She was still active, but not from inspiration and to obey her voices, simply to promote the royal policy.  She wrote the Duke of Burgundy a letter full of dignity and patriotism, which had no more effect than the negotiations of La Tremoille.  During this fruitless labor amongst the French the Duke of Bedford sent for five thousand men from England, who came and settled themselves at Paris.  One division of this army had a white standard, in the middle of which was depicted a distaff full of cotton; a half-filled spindle was hanging to the distaff; and the field, studded with empty spindles, bore this inscription:  “Now, fair one, come!” Insult to Joan was accompanied by redoubled war against France.  Joan, saddened and wearied by the position of things, attempted to escape from it by a bold stroke.  On the 23d of August, 1429, she set out from Compiegne with the Duke d’Alencon and “a fair company of men-at-arms;” and suddenly went and occupied St. Denis, with the view of attacking Paris.  Charles VII. felt himself obliged to quit Compiegne likewise, “and went, greatly against the grain,” says a contemporary chronicler, “as far as into the town of Senlis.”  The attack on Paris began vigorously.  Joan, with the Duke d’Alencon, pitched her camp at La Chapelle.  Charles took up his abode in the abbey of St. Denis.  The municipal corporation of Paris received letters with the arms of the Duke d’Alencon, which called upon them to recognize the king’s authority, and promised a general amnesty.  The assault was delivered on the 8th of September.  Joan was severely wounded, but she insisted upon remaining where she was.  Night came, and the troops had not entered the breach which had been opened in the morning.  Joan was still calling out to persevere.  The Duke d’Alencon himself begged her, but in vain, to retire.  La Tremoille gave orders to retreat; and some knights came up, set Joan on horse-back, and led her back, against her will, to La Chapelle.  “By my martin” (staff of command), said she, “the place would have been taken.”  One hope still remained.  In concert with the Duke d’Alencon she had caused a flying bridge to be thrown across the Seine opposite St. Denis.  The next day but one she sent her vanguard in this direction; she intended to return thereby to the siege; but, by the king’s order, the bridge had been cut adrift.  St. Denis fell once more into the hands of the English.  Before leaving, Joan left there, on the tomb of St. Denis, her complete suit of armor and a sword she had lately obtained possession of at the St. Honore gate of Paris, as trophy of war.