Michelet discovered this story in the deposition of Joan of Arc’s page, Louis de Contes, who was probably an eye-witness of the scene.

With this brilliant victory at Patay closed Joan of Arc’s short but glorious campaign on the Loire.  Briefly, this was the career of her victories:—­On the 11th of June the Maid attacked Jargeau, which surrendered the next day.  On the 13th she re-entered Orleans, where she rallied her troops.  On the 15th she occupied the bridge at Meun, and the following day she attacked Beaugency, which yielded on the day after.  The English had in vain hoped to relieve Jargeau:  they arrived too late.  After the fall of Beaugency they fell back, and were defeated at Patay on the 18th.

A wonderful week’s work was this campaign, ordered and led by a maiden of eighteen.  What made Joan of Arc’s success more remarkable is the fact that among the officers who served under her many were lukewarm and repeatedly foiled her wishes.  And it is not difficult to trace the feeling of jealousy that existed among her officers; for here was one not knight or noble, not prince, or even soldier, but a village maiden, who had succeeded in a few days in turning the whole tide of a war, which had lasted with disastrous effects for several generations, into a succession of national victories.  This professional jealousy, as one may call it, among the French military leaders was fomented and aggravated by the perfidious counsellors about the King.  The only class who thoroughly appreciated and were really worthy of the Maid and her mission, were the people.  And it is still by the people that everlasting gratitude and love of the heroic Maid are most deeply felt.

While Joan was gaining a succession of victories on the Loire, the indolent King was on a visit to La Tremoille at his castle of Sully-sur-Loire.  Accompanied by Alencon and the Constable Richemont, Joan repaired to Sully.  She had promised to make the peace between Charles and Richemont, and as the Constable had brought with him from his lands in Brittany fifteen hundred men as a peace-offering, the reconciliation was not a matter of much difficulty.  La Tremoille saw with an evil feeling the ever-growing popularity of Joan, and feared her daily increasing influence with the King; but he could not prevent the march on Rheims, much as he probably wished to do so.  It was arranged that the army should be concentrated at Gien.  From Gien, Joan addressed a letter to the citizens of Tournay, a town of doubtful loyalty to Charles, and much under the influence of the Burgundian party.  She summoned in this letter those who were loyal to Charles to attend the King’s forthcoming coronation.