of France and of England, King Henry; and he then styles the Maid of Orleans ’an abandoned and ill-famed woman, draped in men’s clothes and leading a corrupt life.’  He bids Charles to make either his peace with him or to meet him face to face.  Altogether a most rude, abusive, and ungallant letter for one prince to send to another.  This letter reached Charles at Crespy-en-Valois on the 11th of August.  Bedford was then close at hand, and eager to provoke the King into attacking him.

Charles contented himself with pushing on his advanced guard as far as Dammartin, remaining himself at Lagny-le-Sec.

During the 13th of August skirmishes took place between the advanced guards of the armies, but without any result.

Bedford now returned to Paris—­in order to collect more troops, some said, others that he had found the French too strong to attack.  The towns and villages around Paris, hearing of these events, and that the English had returned to the capital, showed now their readiness to join the French cause.

On his way to Compiegne news reached the French King that Bedford had left Paris and marched on Senlis.  On the 15th of August the French attacked the English at dawn.  Their army, formed into companies, was commanded by Alencon, Rene d’Anjou, the King, who had with him La Tremoille, and Clermont.  Joan of Arc was at the head of a detachment with Dunois and La Hire.  The English held a strong position, which they had made still more so by throwing up palisades and digging ditches.

What appeared destined to be a great engagement ended in a mere skirmish.  Neither Charles nor Bedford were eager to pit all on a stake, and both preferred to play a waiting game.  Charles retired on Crecy, while Joan of Arc remained in the field.  She had done all that courage and audacity could to induce the English to attack.  She had ridden up to their palisades and struck them with the staff of her banner.  But nothing would make the English fight that day; and the next, Joan had the mortification of watching the retreat of the English upon Paris.  Joan had nothing now left her to do but to rejoin the King at Crecy.

On the 17th the King received the keys of the town of Compiegne, and there he was welcomed on the next day with much loyalty.  It was during his stay at Compiegne that Charles heard the welcome news that the people of Senlis had admitted the Count of Vendome within their walls, and had bestowed on him the governorship of their town.  Beauvais had also shown its loyalty, had made an ovation in honour of the King, and had ordered the Te Deum to be sung, greatly to the annoyance of the Bishop of that place—­Peter Cauchon—­a creature of the Anglo-Burgundian faction, of whom we shall hear a good deal later on.