Many feasts were held, and much honour was done to the Maid, as by gifts of coat armour, and the ennobling of all her kith and kin, but these things she regarded not, nor did she ever bear on her shield the sword supporting the crown, between the lilies of France.

If these were ill days for the Maid, I shame to confess that they were merry days with me.  There are worse places than a king’s court, when a man is young, and light of heart, full of hope, and with money in his purse.  I looked that we should take the field again in the spring; and having gained some gold, and even some good words, as one not backward where sword-strokes were going, I know not what dreams I had of high renown, ay, and the Constable’s staff to end withal.  For many a poor Scot has come to great place in France and Germany, who began with no better fortune than a mind to put his body in peril.  Moreover, the winning of Elliot herself for my wife seemed now a thing almost within my reach.  Therefore, as I say, I kept a merry Yule at Jargeau, going bravely clad, and dancing all night long with the merriest.  Only the wan face of the Maid (that in time of war had been so gallant and glad) came between me and my pleasures.  Not that she was wilfully and wantonly sad, yet now and again we could mark in her face the great and loving pity that possessed her for France.  Now I would be half angered with her, but again far more wroth with myself, who could thus lightly think of that passion of hers.  But when she might she was ever at her prayers, or in company of children, or seeking out such as were poor and needy, to whom she was abundantly lavish of her gifts, so that, wheresoever the Court went, the people blessed her.

In these months I had tidings of Elliot now and again; and as occasion served I wrote to her, with messages of my love, and with a gift, as of a ring or a jewel.  But concerning the manner of my escape from Paris I had told Elliot nothing for this cause.  My desire was, when soonest I had an occasion, to surprise her with the gift of her jackanapes anew, knowing well that nothing could make her greater joy, save my own coming, or a victory of the Maid.  The little creature had been my comrade wheresoever we went, as at Sully, Gien, and Bourges, only I took him not to the leaguers of St. Pierre le Moustier and La Charite, but left him with a fair lady of the Court.  He had waxed fat again, for as meagre as he was when he came to me in prison, and he was full of new tricks, warming himself at the great fire in hall, like a man.

Now in the middle of the month of January, in the year of Grace fourteen hundred and thirty, the Maid told us of her household that she would journey to Orleans, to abide for some space with certain ladies of her friends, namely, Madame de St. Mesmin and Madame de Mouchy, who loved her dearly.  To the most of us she gave holiday, to see our own friends.  The Maid knew surely that in France my friends were