The incident of the black charger standing so still beside the cross, and the figure of the Maid, mystic, wonderful, in her white panoply, with her head bare—­that head which, in spite of no authentic portrait having come down to us, we cannot but imagine a grand and noble one—­make up a living picture of historic truth, far above the fancies evolved out of the brains of any writer of fiction—­for is it not romance realised?

The eagerness to accompany Joan of Arc in this expedition of the Loire was great.  The Duke of Alencon wrote to his mother to sell his lands in order that money might be raised for the army.  The King was unable or unwilling to pay out of his coffers the expenses of the campaign.  From all sides came officers and men eager for new victories under the banner of the Maid.

Joan led the vanguard, followed by Alencon, de Rais, Dunois, and Gaucourt.  At Orleans they were joined by fresh forces under Vendome and Boussac.  On the 11th of June the army amounted to eight thousand men.  Jargeau was the first place to be attacked.  Here Suffolk, with between six and seven thousand men, all picked soldiers, had established himself.  Inferior in numbers, the English had the advantage over the French in their artillery.  In the meanwhile, Bedford, who had news of Suffolk’s peril, sent Fastolfe to Jargeau, with a fresh force of five thousand men.  But for some reason or other Fastolfe seemed in no hurry to come to Suffolk’s assistance; he lost four days at Etampes, and four more at Jauville.  Some alarm seems to have been felt among the French troops at the news of Fastolfe’s approach.  Joan mildly rebuked those who showed anxiety by saying to them:  ’Were I not sure of success, I would prefer to keep sheep than to endure these perils.’

The faubourgs of the town of Jargeau were attacked and taken, but before storming the place, Joan, according to her habit, sent a summons to the army.  She bade the enemy surrender:  doing so, he would be spared, and allowed to depart with his side-arms; if he refused, the assault should be made at once.  The English demanded an armistice of fifteen days:  hardly a reasonable request when it is remembered that Fastolfe, with his reinforcements, might any day arrive before Jargeau.  Joan said they might leave, taking their horses with them, but within the hour.  To this the English would not consent, and it was decided to attack upon the following morning.

The next day was a Tuesday; the signal was given at nine in the morning.  Joan had the trumpets sounded, and led on the attacking column in person.  Alencon appears to have thought the hour somewhat early; but Joan overruled him by telling him that it was the Divine will that the engagement should then take place.  ‘Travaillez,’ she repeated, ‘Travaillez! et Dieu travaillera!’