"Joan the Maid" "I" " The Battles" "I had a daughter, born within wedlock, whom I had baptised and confirmed." "I brought her up to be God-fearing and to respect Church tradition in spite of her young age and humble birth." "As a result, though she grew up in fields and pastures, she spent much time in church." "November Tth, 1455, in Notre-Dame de Paris " "Each month, she received Holy Communion." "She fasted and she prayed." "She displayed great devotion and fervour to resolving the hardships of the people because she felt great compassion for them." "Isabelle Romée, mother of Jeanne " "And yet, though she never thought, conceived or did anything contrary to her faith, some of her enemies had her tried for heresy." "And in spite of her denials and appeals no one supported her innocence, and, without any trace of legality, they condemned her, damnably and criminally, to a cruel death by fire." "For this, their souls will be damned, and I, Isabelle Romée, have sumered an irreparable loss." "What is it?" "Oh, it's you, Laxart?" "You've brought round this little pest?" "My Lord, Captain, forgive me." "Forgive her." " My Lord, hear me out." " Be quiet!" "I won't listen to you." "I'm speaking to your uncle." "Yes, you, the man from Burey." "You're known to be a good man, a good husband, a reliable type." " Yes, my Lord." " Well, it won't last." "Tell me, has this little goose bewitched you?" "Or have you gone soft in the head, bringing her back against my will?" "Neither, Captain." "Forgive me." "She hasn't changed her mind." "So you think I change my mind as often as I change my shirt?" "I was kind enough to listen six months ago." " What did I tell you at the time?" " My Lord, Captain, I obeyed you." " What did I tell you?" " To bring her back to her parents." "Yes, after slapping her around a lot." "If you'd done that, I wouldn't be wasting my breath with a fool like you." "A couple of slaps." "I should have taken care of it myself." "He was joking." "It was bound to go this way." "He called me a fool." "It'll work the third time." "Vaucouleurs in the Barrois, mid-January, 1429" " Almost ready." " Jeanne!" " Where has she got to now?" " She's with my wife." " Where else would she be?" " You can't tell." "One can't control her." " Jeanne!" " Catherine!" "Bring a bottle and two glasses." "They're leaving." " Are you deaf?" " Don't bother." " I want to be back before dark." " Have one for the road." "Goodbye, Uncle." " What?" " I'm not leaving." "Don't look at me like that." "I'm ashamed, but I must stay." " This madness must end." " I'm not mad." "Have you considered how your father will feel?" " What am I to tell him this time?" " Tell him the truth." "Henri, help me." "I'd like to beat her, but I can't." "Catherine told me I could stay here." "Women, women, they're a plague." "Don't speak ill of women, Henri." "Without them, you'd be nothing but wasted seed in your father's underclothes and three flies could have sipped you up." "Maybe I will have some wine." "I realise I've upset you." "But I'm unappy too." "I have been for a long time." " Why must you be so stubborn?" " I'm not." "I'm merely obeying." " She's obeying." " You're obeying me?" "I'm not obeying you, Uncle." "Forgive me." "She speaks in riddles." "I can't help it." "I must go to France and see the dauphin." "The kingdom's in danger, and I alone can save it." "I know." "We'll deal with that later." "Now we must get home." "Why don't you believe her?" "Havert you heard of the prophecy?" " What prophecy?" " The one that says the kingdom, which was lost by a woman, will be saved by a virgin from Lorraine." "It's a dimerent story in Champagne." "But it's true, everyone knows about it." "You don't believe it because you're afraid to." "That's why we're losing and the kingdom is in ruins." "Listen to her." "Listen to her speak." "No one speaks the way she does." "It's as if gold poured out of her mouth." "Everyone will want to hear her." "They'll all come here." "All those with nothing better to do." "And we'll have to feed them." "You know what?" "You're too stupid." "She'll sleep with me." "I give up." "I'll go and see your father." "He'll run me through." "You know he won't." "He'll cry, and my mother will cry." "So will you, and so will I, thinking about you all." "The Meuse will burst its banks." "I'll be back, Jeanne." "Wort you kiss me?" "I have aged ten years in one." "So Jeanne stayed at my house for three weeks." "I Time seemed to slow down for her as for an expectant mother, in her longing to meet the dauphin." "What is she up to?" " She's sitting on the chest." " But what is she up to?" "Nothing." "She's not moving." "Her eyes are shining and her lips are moving." " Is she saying something?" " I can't hear anything." "Her cheeks are red, as red as enamel." "Is light emitting from her?" "No, it's just the lamp light." "Call her." "You call her." "I don't dare when she's like this." "It's the si_h time she's sung, and she still hasn't moved." "Jeanne!" "Are you coming to eat?" "It's ready." " Did she hear me?" " I don't know." "She's still not moving." "So the days passed, as though time stood still " "I'm not saying Baudricourt isn't a good captain." "They won't leave it at that." "Do you think he'll strike again?" "They failed a month ago." "We're the last royal enclave in the region." "They'll keep coming at us." "They're all around us." " As at Orléans." " Yes, as at Orléans." "Or almost." "I'd hate to be there." "Here, we have some breathing space." "They're completely surrounded." "It can't be fun." "Is the Loire still frozen in February?" "If the Loire were to freeze, it'd be very dangerous when the sun came out." "You slip through the ice and drown before you knew it." "I've seen it happen." "I was in the king's army when I was young." "I know, Jacques." "Not the dauphirs." "His father's, Charles the Mad." "Did you fight?" "Did you bear arms?" "I was in charge of fodder." "We went everywhere, we even went to Brittany." "I know all the fords, all the bridges between here and Bourges." "I saw wild animals, I saw brigands." "Have you heard of the flayers?" "Hey, are you asleep?" "I'm talking to you." "Is that true?" "That you know the way to Bourges?" "Would you know how to reach Chinon?" "Would you know how to get there?" "It's not a journey to make at a time like this." "Not with all the Burgundians around." "Be careful, Jacques Alain." "She presses everyone into service." " Hello, Uncle." " So you're back?" "Were you getting bored in Burey?" "I can no longer stand lying to your father." "I'd rather be here with you, erring." "Let's see this through, then." "Come to Chinon with us." " He'll take us there." " Who?" "Me?" "Don't you want to see the dauphin?" "The King of Bourges?" "Should one risk being cut to pieces to deliver a message to a wretch, who probably won't have a corner of his kingdom left once we get there?" " He'll cover you with honours." " You're daydreaming." "Look at you." "Look at us." "Even if we reach the king's castle, however wretched he may be," " we won't get to see him." " You don't know that." "I must go to Chinon." "Help me get there." "The rest is up to heaven." " Shall we bring the donkey along?" " This is no time to be a pilgrim." "God, keep us on the right path." "My stirrups are set too high." "I set them just right to travel fast." "Arert we in a hurry?" "I hope he won't throw me into a ditch." "I've never yet made a horse gallop." "We train our horses to be both lively and obedient." "Are you tired, Jeanne?" "Saint-Nicolas is just over there." "We'll be there before dark." " We must go back to Vaucouleurs." " You think we're too old for this?" "No, we shouldn't leave in this manner." "I need someone to speak to the dauphin on my behalf." "Your captain, he's the only one who can do it." "You're so dimicult, my child." "You start, you stop, you rush fom/ard, you turn back." "The fact is I know what I must do, and sometimes I don't know how to do it." "You're still here?" "If all my parishioners were like you," "I'd have no concerns about their souls' salvation." "During confession, you told me I was sinning against caution." "There's something I didn't tell you." "It's that you argue too much." "Is that a sin?" "Go on, keep praying." "Look who's back." "You there, scram!" "Go home." "You're not welcome here." " She's back?" " Yes." "The maiden who wants to save the king." "I know someone who'd like to ask her for some help too." "Yes, he's called Percy, and he's no bigger than my little toe." "Don't speak to her." "The captain will have you whipped." "I We're not allowed to talk to her or he'll put us in chains." "Your orders aren't necessarily mine." "So, my lovely one, why have you come here?" "Don't you know the king will be expelled" " and we'll soon all be English?" " Who are you?" "They call me Jean de Metz." "I'm Robert de Baudricourt's squire." "And I've come to this royal city to talk to him." "I want him to have me escorted to the king." "That's what I've been told, yes." "And I bet he's not agreeable." "He's ignoring me." "And yet I must see the king before the third Thursday of Lent, even if it means walking until my legs are just stumps." "I absolutely must see him." "Even if you got to see the king, what dimerence would it make?" "Even the king of Scotland, with his army, can't help him." "Even his mother disinerited him." "And when Orléans falls, run for your life!" "Hello, England!" "God damn, thank you, fare ye well." "Shut your mouths!" " What do you say to that?" " That's how it is." "There is no one in the world, no one, neither duke nor prince nor daughter of the king of Scotland, who can recover the French kingdom." "I alone can help him." "You alone?" "Really?" "I realise my position is lowly." "I'd much rather have stayed at home, spinning and sewing with my mother." "I'm very good at sewing." "But I must." "I must go." "I must do this." "My Lord demands it." "You speak of your lord." "Mine's Baudricourt, the captain." "Who is yours?" "God, the king of heaven." " When would you like to leave?" " Today rather than tomorrow." "Rather tomorrow than the day after." "I'll speak with our captain." "And if God helps us, I'll be the one to lead you to the king." "And many more, as the days passed, began to believe her." "Eventually, Duke Charles of Lorraine, who was ill, asked to see her." "Jeanne went to see him, in Nancy, with a safe-conduct." "Three days later, she returned to Vaucouleurs." "Look." "No!" "Four francs!" " What did you say to him?" " Nothing." "I asked him..." "Henri!" "Come and look at this!" "Look at what he gave her." " What did you do to him?" " Nothing." "I asked him for an escort to go to France." "He thought I'd cure him from his illness." " That's why he wanted to see me." " So, did you cure him?" "Well, no." "His illness is old age." "Now what will I do?" "Hey, is she here?" "Come with us!" "Go ahead." "You stay there." "If this girl is bad, let her move away from us." "If she is good, let her come closer." "You see?" "Fine." "Since that's the way it is, since everybody seems to want it," " you'll get your escort." " Not a moment too soon." "And you pe_ormed an exorcism, even though you'd heard my confession this morning." "I know." "It was for his benefit." "I'll give you Jean de Metz." "Does that suit you?" "I don't know what you did to him." "You're all he talks about." "Jeanne?" "What are you doing?" "I must look like a boy." "But it's all crooked." "You look like a scarecrow." "Help me." "Come over here." " I need chausses and a jacket." " Not a jacket, a doublet." "Let me think who's built like you." "I know, Marie will give you her sors, as he's ill." "He's been in bed since Midsummer's Day." "His doublet has never been used." "I find it strange to imagine you as a boy." "You can't keep those clogs." "You'll need a cloak." "Pierrot, our neighbour, will give you his." "He's your size." "You know Jean." "He's Bertrand de Poulengy, a good squire." "He's the king's messenger, Colet de Vienne." "He'll guide you." "And this is Richard, the archer." "I Swear, before her that you will guide her safely to Chinon to meet our king." "I swear it." "Just a second!" "This is for you." " Thank you, Captain." " Go along, go, come what may." "That same evening of February 12th, 1429 " "As we left the town, that first evening, we were afraid, because there were many Burgundian and English soldiers along the route." "We travelled all night." " Go ahead, we'll join you later." " Don't be long." "Just the time to take a leak." "She already thinks she's our captain." "Yes, she puts on airs." "Only, later, when we'll all have to sleep together..." "Don't tell me you haven't thought about it." "Really?" "She's going to sleep alongside us both?" "Well, yes." "Between two gentlemen." "We have to keep warm." "Have you ever been with a woman?" " I bet you haven't." " Not really, no." "The time's come, then." "She may well dress like a man, but she has all that's required." "Virgin or not, before the journey's up, we'll know her in and out." "Stop it!" "You're making me piss on my breeches." "Your little birdie wants to fly away." "You pig, you're already excited." "It's empty." "And there's some straw left." "You'll keep guard." "Jean will relieve you halmay through the day." "Can't you sleep?" "Can't you?" "Every time I close my eyes, I imagine we're being attacked by the enemy." "Me too." "Look at her." "She looks like an angel." "I'll be punished for all the filth I spouted earlier, I know I will." "I'd give anything to have kept my mouth shut." "You should see your faces!" "Have you swallowed a slug?" "Didrt you hear a snapping sound?" "I heard nothing." "Now, be good." "We must sleep." "What are you afraid of?" "Afraid?" "Us?" " We're not afraid." " Afraid of the English?" "We'll hear them coming." " You'll hear nothing coming." " What?" "Because nothing will come." "Trust me." "Go to sleep." "Like this." "Yes, very good." " You make it look light." " It isn't." "Careful, you're hitting with the flat side." "I don't want to kill anyone." "Slaps or dust-ups, I'll give you plenty of those." " Like that?" " Ow!" " That must hurt." " Yes, it hurts a lot." "I've sinned against you badly, you know." "You?" "It's thanks to you that I was able to leave." "That will get you into heaven." "I think you really come from God." " You had doubts?" " No." "We travelled for 11 days, crossingrivers andridingallthewaytoChinon." "As we travelled together, I asked her if she would achieve her aims." "And the Maid kept telling us not to be afraid, that she had been ordered to do this." "They've plundered everything." "It's been too many days since I last went to Mass." "How will it be possible?" "Jeanne." "Jeanne." "Leave her." "It's happening to her again." "It always happens when we're about to eat." "Not a bit of it." "It happens all the time." "I must say, I find it reassuring." "At least, this way, we know where we're going." "If we had only you to rely upon..." "Go ahead, say what you're thinking." " Am I not a good guide?" " Yes, you are." " Only you're not always very clear." " Shush!" "We mustrt disturb her." " Do you know this village?" " Yes." "But I don't know what's become of it recently." "I want to go there." "I must attend Mass." "I don't know." "Everything changes so quickly here." "First they're friends, then enemies." "Well?" "Can you smell Burgundy... or Armagnac?" "This way." "It's longer, but it's safer." "Yes." "The enemy may be there, but God is sure to be." "On February 23rd, at Sainte-Catherine de Fierbois " "I thought the third Mass would be shorter." "Given the number of times the bell's rung, it should be over soon." "You guessed right." " How far is it to Chinon?" " Less than half a day." "Get some paper and write." ""Gentle Dauphin," ""Give a good reception to the Maid." ""I have travelled 150 leagues to come and see you" ""on behalf of the king of heaven."" " Arert you writing?" " You want me to write that?" "Of course." "Then you'll leave immediately." "The dauphin should be informed that we're on our way, don't you think?" "I'll start again." ""Gentle Dauphin," ""Give a good reception to the Maid."" "When we reached our inn in Chinon, people were sent to ask her why she had come and what she wanted." "Some advisers had told the king not to trust her." "Others said that, since she was sent by God, the king should at least hear her out." "On the third day, after a messenger from Robert de Baudricourt had arrived, they came to fetch her." "Follow me." "I think we're about to part ways." "And I think we'll meet again." "I don't know where." "Adieu, my friends." "I'll last a year, no more." "I must work hard." "May God grant you a long life, Gentle Dauphin." "Why do you address me?" "Look at how I am dressed." "Why should I be the one you call "Gentle Dauphin"?" "I know that you are the true heir of France and the son of a king." "What do you want?" "What do you expect from me?" "Noble Dauphin," "I came because I was sent by God to help you and the kingdom." "What's your name?" "I'm called Jeanne the Maid, and God wants me to give you the message that you will be anointed and crowned in Rheims." "And you will be the lieutenant of the king of heaven, who is king of France." "Gentle Dauphin, give me some men so that I can lift the siege at Orléans and lead you to Rheims." "I wish to speak to you alone." "I have great faith in her." "Jeanne told me a secret that no one, beside God, could know." "Yes, I trust her." "I want her to stay here tonight, in the Tour du Coudray." "Let her be looked after by my master of the house." "Gaucourt, let her have a page." "Here's Louis de Coutes, sire." "When his father, Jean de Coutes, chamberlain to the Duke of Orleans, died, the duke entrusted the child to me so that I might make him a page." "He is a good page." "Two days later, in the middle of the day " "Are the soles of your shoes tough enough, Jeanne?" "They saw me through a long journey." "Mine are quite worn out." "Unless my lord is prepared to lend me some more money..." "You already owe me a thousand gold écus, sire." "I can add... these 12 coins here." "We'll have to deduct them from the war chest." "As you can see, Maid, the French dauphin is given great consideration." "Where is she?" "Already back in our rich province?" "I was hunting quail." "I was told a maid had arrived who says she can save the kingdom." " That's what she says." " Where is she?" "I've never seen a girl do something like that." " Who is this gentleman?" " The Duke of Alençon." "The noble cousin of our king." "You are very welcome." "The more of the French royal family we have together, the better." "I, Regnault de Chartres," "Archbishop of Rheims, Chancellor of France and advisor to the king, said the Maid should be questioned on some points of faith." "The king wanted Jeanne to be questioned in the town of Poitiers." "She was put up in the house of Master Jean Rabateau, at that time the king's lawyer in Parliament." "She stayed there for over three weeks." "I chose, for examiners," "Master Pierre de Versailles, former professor of the University of Paris," "Master Mathieu Mesnage, Master Guillaume Aymeri," "Brother Seguin Seguin, then Dean of the University of Poitiers, and others whose names I cannot recall." "Do you know why we are here?" " To interrogate me." " You put it badly." "We are here to test your good faith." "We will find out whether it is good or evil that guides you." "Just as internal illnesses must become visible, hidden evil must manifest itself in some visible manner." "And good must dispel the shadows and doubts that surround it." "I was already questioned in Chinon." "That is true." "Your replies were found to be relevant." "You were found to be devout, sober, temperate, accustomed to go to confession and take Communion once a week." "That's not enough." "We need to find out more about you." "You wear mers clothes and have short hair." "It is not suitable to your station." "The apostle condemns it." "Moral and religious law formally forbids it." "I was unaware of all this." "I dressed in the way that best suited my mission." "It was not revealed to me that it was wrong." "These revelations, from what did you get them?" "From whom did you receive them?" "From Saint Michael, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret." "What makes you think it is them?" "They told me." "You wouldn't be the first to have had dreams inspired by the earth, by animality, by the devil, by which I mean, avarice, lust and pride." "Of all those who appear before you, which one came to you first?" "Saint Michael came first." "I was 13, or thereabouts." "He wasrt alone." "He was surrounded by many angels from heaven." "Did you see the angels in the flesh?" "I saw them with my eyes, just as I see you." "When they went away, I cried." "I would have liked them to take me with them." " What did Saint Michael look like?" " Did he wear a crown?" "I saw no crown." " I didn't notice his clothes." " Did he have hair?" "I don't know." "Was he holding scales?" "I know nothing about that." "How did you know it was Saint Michael who was speaking to you?" "He spoke to me in the language of the angels." "Of the angels that were all around him?" "How can you be sure they were angels?" "I firmly believe they were angels." "But if... enemy put on angel dress, how can it be figured what is?" "That is not the language of the angels." "If the enemy took on the shape of an angel, how would you recognise him?" "I'd know if it were Saint Michael or something pretending to be him." "The first time..." "Please continue." "The first time, I had grave doubts and I was afraid." "I saw him many times before I was sure it was Saint Michael." "When did you first see him?" "I've already told you that." "I was a young girl and I was afraid ofwhat I was seeing." "But later he taught me and showed me so many things, that I firmly believed it was him." "What did he teach you?" "He taught me to feel compassion for the kingdom of France." "He told me to leave my village and come to France." "And that I would come to the rescue of the French dauphin." "No doubt you felt a sense of pride and contentment?" "At first, I began to cry." "Then the voice told me to go to Vaucouleurs, where I would find a captain who would take me to the dauphin." "He told me I had nothing to fear." "Why do you call the king "the dauphin"" "and not "the king"?" "I will not call him that until he has been crowned and anointed in Rheims, where I am to lead him." "What was the voice like?" "The voice was gentle." "What tongue spoke it?" "What language did the voice use?" "It was better than yours." " Do you believe in God?" " Yes." "More than you do." "They questioned her for days " "A man-at-arms, that makes a change." "I'd like to have a lot of men like you." "Have you also come to question me?" "I know neither A nor B." "The king sent me here to be your intendant." "My name is Jean d'Aulon." "What are the names of the English military leaders?" "Orléans is under Sumolk, Glasdale and William Pole." "Their leader is the Duke of Bedford, who claims to be regent of France and England." " Why?" " Do you know how to write?" " Yes, of course." " Fetch some paper and ink." "Write." ""King of England, and you, Duke of Bedford," ""who claim to be regent of France," ""You, Sumort, Classidas and la Poule," ""return to the Maid, who has been sent by God," ""the keys to all the towns that have been seized and violated in France." ""All of you, archers, brothers in arms," ""and gentlemen," ""you who are before the town of Orléans," ""return to your country." ""And if you do not, you will hear from the Maid," ""who will join you soon, to your great detriment." ""King of England, if you do not retreat, be aware that I am a war leader" ""and wherever I come across your men in France" ""I will chase them from there." ""If they will not obey, I will have them all killed." ""I have been sent here by the king of heaven," ""one man against another, to chase you out of France." ""You, Duke of Bedford," ""the Maid entreats you not to let yourself be destroyed." ""Reply if you wish for peace in Orléans." ""OtheM/ise, you will soon be sorry." ""Written on Tuesday of Holy Week."" "Sign it for me, "The Maid"." "Jeanne, let me say this one more time." "God will not let us believe in you unless you give us a sign." "Give us a sign that will allow us to believe in you." "I did not come to Poitiers to produce signs." "Do you think we'll advise the king to entrust you with an army just because you want one?" " So that you may endanger the men?" " Send me to Orléans." "I will show you the signs for which I was sent." "Give me these men-at-arms and I'll show you the signs for which I was sent." "According to you, God wishes to deliver the French from their troubles." "But if that's what He wants, He doesn't need men-at-arms." "His will should sumice." "In God's name, the men-at-arms will fight, and God will grant victory." "These are my signs." "I'll go to Orléans, and the English will be defeated, the siege will be lifted, and the town will be freed." "After that, the dauphin will go to Rheims, where he will be anointed king." "Then Paris will return its allegiance to the king." "And finally, the Lord of Orléans will return from his captivity in England." "That's all I have to say." "You can leave now." "I As no fault could be found in her the king must not stop her from going to Orléans with an army." "But he must ensure that she is given proper support and put his trust in God." "To spurn or abandon her would be to reject the Holy Spirit" "and render oneself unwon'thy of God's help." "Once this report was sent to the king by the Doctors of the Church," "Jeanne was entrusted to the Queen of Sicily," "Yolande of Aragon, the mother of our queen, and the ladies of Preuilly and of Mortemer by whom this virgin was secretly examined in the secret parts of her body." "I already knew, before they did, that there is nothing shameful about you." " They thought I was a boy." " They needed proof." "You have inspired the dauphin with new enthusiasm." "But he is not a king yet." "Charles was 11 when he married my daughter, Marie of Anjou." "Since then I've looked after him as if I were his mother." "I've put all my will, all my power, toward restoring his wisdom and strength." "But I feel alone." "And here you are." "The kingdom of France is now no more than a tattered rag about to fall apart." "Let us pray that with your help we might finally be able to repair the damage caused by Queen Isabella." "I will assist you." "I have turned my gold dishes into arms and provisions for your soldiers." "Baudricourt was not mistaken." "Why do you mention him, madame?" "He told me you would be coming." "He didn't believe me at first." "Can I leave now, and do what I came to do?" "In Tours, you will find armour I had made for you." "And the road awaits you, with battles much fiercer than those fought with words." " That does not frighten me." " Go, Jeanne, and may God keep you." "I followed Jeanne to Tours." "There, her armour was made to measure and the king put her in command." "Hauves Poulnoir, a Scottish painter who lived in Tours, made her banner." "There, she was approached by Brother Jean Pasquerel, back from a pilgrimage to Le Puy, where Isabelle Romée, Jeanne's mother, had also been." "She had asked him to meet up with her daughter." "Jeanne left Tours for Blois, where the king's army was assembling, but, without waiting for the men to be ready, she decided to go to Orléans with a company of men-at-arms." "And this company, from then on, had great faith in her." " You don't look pleased." " There are banners." "Have they painted them?" "One can see them a mile om." "They're coming from the west." "It's been like this for two weeks." "Our good king is finally shifting his arse." "He's sending us men, provisions." "The wind says no, they won't enter the town." " That means we're here for nothing." " Not for nothing." "To give thanks to the king who has finally decided to help us." "I don't place much faith in the king's help," " let alone a little girl's." " She may be that, but she knows how to sit in a saddle." " Are you the Bastard of Orléans?" " I am he," " and I'm delighted that you are here." " I am not delighted." "Did you give the order that I should come to this side of the river and not straight ahead, to where Talbot and the English are?" "I made the decision along with others, such as Lord Gaucourt here." "If you'd gone straight ahead, you'd have faced their arrows." "This seemed wiser and safer." "In God's name, the counsel of God our Lord is wiser and safer than yours." "You sought to deceive me, but you deceive yourselves." "I am here to bring you aid, better aid than that of any army, the aid of the king of heaven." "Does He send it out of love for you?" "Not out of love for me, but at the request of St Louis and St Charlemagne," " because He took pity on Orléans." " It's a great comfort." "We no longer knew which saint to turn to." "Don't look so disgusted." "Jeanne is a sign from heaven." "And what's more, she's bringing you earthly goods, meat and wheat." "Trouble is, everything will rot here." "What do you mean, everything will rot?" "Didrt your advisor tell you?" "Our boats aren't working." "I The wind blows where it will and it is against us, so long as it blows from the west, towards the sea." "My God." "Quick, let's head for the town!" "Alert the people of Orléans." "Get the boats over here." "Nice pennon." "Is it an Annunciation?" "Can't you see it's Our Lady, with an angel handing her a lily?" "As I was saying, it's very beautiful." "In Blois, we had loaded several chariots with wheat, and had brought along oxen, sheep, cows, pigs and other provisions." "And we had set om, guided by the Lord and by Gilles de Laval, who was devoted to the Maid." "I knew it." "You belong to God and not to man." "You are the angel Raphael, sent to save us." " Give me your hand." " Stop it." "I'm none of those things." "Jeanne!" "Come with me." "It's nightfall." "The whole town awaits you." "They want to see you, to touch you." "Arert we ousting the English?" "I know we'll get on, if only you can learn to be patient." "So the Maid entered Orléans." "I stood to her left." "She was met by other soldiers, by the people of Orléans, carrying torches and displaying the kind ofjoy they would have shown if God Himself had come among them." "There was a great press of people hoping to touch her." "And one of those bearing a torch came so close to her that her pennon caught fire." "So she spurred on her horse and turned him gently round towards the pennon whose fire she put out as though she were an experienced soldier." "The men-at-arms and the people of Orléans were amazed and led her deferentially across town to the house of Jacques Boucher, who was the treasurer of Orléans." "Put that down at once." "Girls shouldn't play with mers armour." "I wonder where you find the strength, Madame Jeanne." "Everyone says that you are so upright, so haughty on horseback." "Is it true that you've routed the English?" "Charlotte, can't you see Madame Jeanne is tired?" "I hope there'll be no hullabaloo and that you'll sleep well." "My husband is so proud to have you as our guest." "Please, I would like for you to touch it." " Why?" " So it will be blessed, Madame Jeanne." "Hand it to Charlotte, her touch will bless it as much as mine would." "You see?" "I'm not as bad as you think." " How about saying your prayers?" " We always pray together before bed." " Then the three of us will pray." " With Dagobert?" "Dagobert is hiding." "He's the cat." "He's my cat." " What else do you need?" " Arrows for our crossbows." " How many?" " About 10,OOO." "Maybe 20,OOO." "We need them." "That's a heavy expense for the town to bear." "Can't the king contribute something?" "The king is like Job on his dunghill." "If I were to rely on his finances, I may as well stay here." "How much for, shall we say, 15,OOO arrows or thereabouts?" "500 livres." "And powder." "And lead shot for the culverins." "How much for powder, saltpetre, grapeshot, including containers?" " 250 livres?" " 300." "I can't do more." "We must also feed the population." "It isn't easy." " I can't do more." " I'm asking on behalf of your saviours." "We can but hope." "2T5." " When will you be back?" " When I have everything, the munitions, the provisions and the men," " with the help of the king." " May he help you." "Sign there." "Bastard, something must be done." "Do what?" "For whom?" "Thank you." "I've lost my messengers." "The English have kept them prisoner." "That's not done." "I'll send them a warning." " Don't worry, they'll give them back." " Good." " From what side shall we attack tomorrow?" " None." "We won't attack tomorrow." "Are you doing this to try me?" "I told you to be patient." "I'm going back to Blois to gather the rest of the army." "We'll act upon my return." "Not a moment earlier." " Why am I here, then?" " To wait for me." "And to serve me." "I'm in charge of this town and I expect everyone to obey me, even you." "Even if St Michael, St Catherine, St Louis and St Charlemagne all told you to attack on your own." "I order you, in the king's name, not to do anything until I get back except eat, drink and sleep." "It will do you a lot of good." "Goodbye." "Christ!" "My nice doublet." " What's wrong with you?" " Cross yourself before the cross." " Because I snagged my doublet?" " Because you swore!" "I'm sorry." "It slipped out." " I won't do it again." " You keep saying that." "It's as if you'd all ganged up to demoralise me." " But you won't succeed." " What are you talking about?" "I haven't ganged up with anyone." " I'm your brother." " That makes it even worse." "If I catch you at it again..." "Show me that snag." "It's nothing." "Go on, get out of here." "You'd better practise your fencing with Louis." " You hold your sword like a stick." " Your wish is my command, Captain!" "I'm in no mood for joking, you rascal." "Go to confession!" "You foul-mouth!" "Triple penance." " You'll fast all week." " I'll eat nails." "Stop, stop." "You're frightening me." "My word, if the English could see you, they'd pack their bags right now, without putting up a fight." "Your eyes are shining with the fire of hell." "Don't say that." "Don't ever say that, not even in jest." "Jeanne, forgive me." "Jeanne, in the name of..." "In the name of a little gingerbread man." "I didn't mean to upset you." "Forgive me." "I won't do it again." "You keep saying that." " What did they do to him?" " We found him like this at the door." "Look how hungry he is." "Poor man, it's the Goddamns who did this to him." "They didn't appreciate your message." "Where's Guienne?" "They kept the other one." "They want to burn him alive." "They can't do that!" "It's uneard of to burn a messenger." "Here's their reply to your message." "Could you read it for me?" "I don't know how." ""From Talbot, Army Chief, to the self-styled Maid." ""You are no more than a brazen wench and, as such," ""we order you to go tend your cows, unless you want to be burned alive."" "It's short, but explicit." "They'll see!" "Open this for me." "Glasdale!" "Glasdale!" " Who is calling?" " It's the Maid!" "In God's name, I demand that you leave!" "You demand what?" "I fear he is a bit deaf." "Do you need a strong voice?" "Don't worry." "With La Hire, they're sure to hear." "Tell them to lift the siege, in the name of God, or else I shall throw them out and do them great harm." "You'd better set sail, you bunch of pink scallops!" "Just tell them what I said, nothing else." "You'd better leave!" "In the name of God." "Or we will forcibly boot you out!" " Is that it?" " More or less." "Go back to your cows, you witch!" "You're lying!" "I think they got the message." "No point in lingering." "Why do they say such things?" "I didn't insult them." "No, La Hire's the one who got a bit carried away." "So you're La Hire?" "Is it true what they say about you?" "That grass no longer grows where you've passed by?" "That's someone else." "I just make war." "With me, you'll have to do it dimerently." "When speaking to Glasdale and the rest of the English in the turrets," "Jeanne was at the fort of Belle Croix, in the middle of the bridge between the town and the south bank." " I need your help." " That's what I'm here for." " Shall I hear your confession?" " No, not every two hours." "I want you to teach me to sign my name." "All military leaders do it." "I want to be able to sign letters myself." "Is that my signature?" "Yes." "Give me the pen." "Is that how I should hold it?" "Like this." "Now just imitate the line, as if it were a drawing." "Jeanne's a simple name." "If I had to sign the Bastard of Orléans, I don't know what I'd do." " Your H." " What about it?" "Make a loop, like this." " What's that H for?" " Nothing." "It's like an E. It's a silent letter." "How many silent letters are in my name?" "Three." "There, there and there." "That's not too pretty." "Make your J longer." "Start again." "Go on, try again." "Wheat, oats, wheat, oats." "I see nothing about munitions." "The fortress accounts are... here." "All that section is about weapons." "Weapons?" "Are we fighting, then?" "We're preparing to, Madame Jeanne." "Everyone believes in it now." "To Jean Volant, for 11 days as a carpenter and 14 days as a stonemason, and who worked setting up the cannon at the tower by the orchards of St Samson," "101 sous and four deniers." "Raoulet de Recourt, for lodging the Maid, 20 sous." "Since the siege, everything's become expensive." "Men, wood, even fish." " Yes." " How many cannons do we have?" "How much gunpowder?" "I wouldn't mind another drink." "Read it to me, so I can get an idea." "To Jean, the mason, for the crossbows he made for the town..." "Ermine!" "Don't use the same wine, it's a bit sour." "It is sour." "Why didn't I notice that earlier?" "Here." "I'll be with you in a minute." "Shall I fry the fish?" "Wait a while." "She barely eats a thing." "I'll talk to you later." " Run along." " What if she doesn't want any?" "It won't go to waste, I can assure you." "For a sieve to separate powder, ten sous." "To five men who prepared the powder, two sous and eight deniers each, per day." "To Jean Mahy, for a gift made to three wounded Scotsmen to help them live, 48 sous." "To Charlot le Long, for three pairs of greaves and of chausses for the Maid's brother..." " Moving on..." " Yes." "To Jacquet Compaing, for having carried cannonballs across the river five sous and three deniers." "There are good people in this town." "Yes, marvellous." "Have you heard of Jean the culveriner?" "What a man!" "If they were all like him, we wouldn't need anyone's help." "Present company excepted." "Besides, he's from Lorraine, from Montesclère, near your home town." "The things he's done with his culverin!" "Last winter, he'd go to the boulevard at La Belle Croix and shoot at them." "Who knows how many of them he killed or wounded?" "And then, when they responded with arrows, he'd play dead." "So we'd carry him away and we could hear the English shouting for joy." "And then he'd come back, and bam!" "They soon figured out it was still him." "La Hire." "I'm looking for my pages, Raymond and Louis." " I was told they were here." " Come closer, watch and learn." "FoM/ard!" "What are they up to?" "They seem to be weakening." "FoM/ard!" "They're all yours!" " So, Maid, which one's yours?" " Him at the front, with the red hair." " That's Raymond." " Capo d'Oro!" "He's my favourite!" " Ten livres says he'll be first on the island." " 20 livres on Tête-Noire." "He's mine." "FoM/ard, Capo d'Oro!" "Fling them into the water!" "Into the water!" "Hey, you bunch of nancies!" " It's their fight." " But he's bleeding." "It's nothing!" "He took fright." "Raymond got two of them!" "Long live Raymond!" " You bet on the wrong man." " Not necessarily." " Come on, Tête-Noire!" " A cry for Capo d'Oro!" "Capo d'Oro!" "Capo d'Oro!" "Louis!" "Cover him!" "Go fom/ard!" "You, in blue, attack from the right!" "Go on!" "Further!" "You, in white!" "Don't hold back!" "Xaintrailles!" "Yes, it's him!" " Xaintrailles, 20 livres." " Can it wait until tomorrow?" "Jeanne, remove from my eyes the terrible things I see at night." "I am Jeanne." "What can I do for you?" "My son hasn't come back for two nights." "He left with the soldiers." "He's still a child." "If your son left with the soldiers, that's a good thing." "He's a good son of Orléans." "They're doing their duty." "As soon as we've chased away the English, he'll be back." "Jeanne, I would have liked to have had a son like you." "Since he's fighting, he's like me." "Go, have no fear." "That's how it is." "Children leave their mothers." "Jesus also did." "It must be done." " It's strange you should say that." " Why?" "I didn't want to tell you." "Mother didn't want us to tell you." "We're in this together now." "It's about Father." "In a dream, he saw you by a leafless forest." "You were leaving without a bac_ard glance." "You were leaving forever with a band of men in armour." " That's almost it." " Yes, but then he told Jean and me that if ever it should really happen, we should both go and drown you in the Meuse." "Would you have done it?" "He also said that if we didn't have the nerve to do it, he would." "Have you ever seen any drowned people?" "I A deer in the freezing water near Burey." "He was as bloated as a full wineskin." "And I haven't seen an Englishman in that state yet." "Go along." "And before you fall asleep, pray Father recovers trust in me." "On the Wednesday, the fourth day of May, the Bastard of Orléans came back with the soldiers and provisions he'd gone to seek in Blois to support the town." "As soon as she heard they had arrived, the Maid got on her horse and went to meet them, with her men, to give them assistance, should they have needed it." "And at dusk, the army went into the town, in full sight of the enemy, unopposed." "Have you ever fought, Louis?" "No, Madame Jeanne, never." " Will we fight tomorrow?" " Tomorrow?" "No." "Tomorrow's Ascension Day." "You don't want to fight on Ascension Day?" "I just do as you say." "You can go to your room." "Go and rest." "Wake up, quickly!" "You nasty boy, you didn't tell me the blood of France was being spilled." "We're fighting." "We're fighting, but I don't know where." "Hurry, get up." "Go and get my horse." " Can I help with your armour?" " There's no time." "Hurry." "Pierre, hurry." "Get up." "There's a fight on." "Get up!" "Help Pierre with his armour." "What's going on?" "What's happening?" "There's a fight on." "My voices tell me to attack the English." "Can you help me with my armour?" "Charlotte, go and get the legs." "No, it's the other leg." " Does it hurt?" " No." "What hurts me is that I'm not already there." "My sword." "My sword." "Louis, my banner, where is it?" "Pay attention, will you?" "It's in Saint-Loup, before the Burgundy gate." " Who's attacking?" "The English or us?" " It's us." "We decided to take it." "I don't know who gave the order." "Perhaps nobody did." "Louis, hand it to me through the window." "Through the window there." "Saint-Loup, on the evening of May 4th " "Don't cry, Jeannette." "They're English." "I'd never seen..." " It's ugly." "It's war." " It's horrible." "We won the day." "Yes, we won the day." "Bless them, Lord." "Take pity on them." "Gather them into your heart." "Amen." "We were asleep last night." "They've cleared the Burgundy gate." " We should take advantage of that." " Why go there?" "They're all on the other side." "Exactly." "Let's attack from the west." "The Paris gate." "You fool, we'd be one against 50." "You're dreaming." "It would be suicide." "No, we keep coming back to it." "The south bank." "Les Tourelles." "The fortress at the end of the bridge." "It can't be done." "There are too few of us there too." "Who says there are too few of us?" "It's me, Gaucourt." "And many would agree with me." " You came." " The dauphin gave me a command." "Should I not be involved?" "We thought you were praying." "It's Ascension Day." " You said you'd not do anything." " I went to Communion." "I attended my council." "Is that a good reason to keep me away from yours?" "What do you fear from me?" "We don't seek an adventure." "You've been here four days." "We've been under siege for six months." "Who ever mentioned an adventure?" "I'm here to fight." "The soldiers will follow me." "They'll obtain what they did elsewhere." "Tell me where to go and I'll follow you." "I'm the one with the most men." "Jeanne, Gaucourt is right." "There are more Englishmen around than there are rats." " I know because I've eaten some." " Some Englishmen?" "You should have asked me around." "They outnumber us five to one, and they're expecting reinforcements." "I know one of their greatest captains, Fastolf, was in Janville yesterday." "And you were hiding this from me?" "Bastard, Bastard, in God's name I command you to tell me where he is as soon as you know." "Because if he comes without my being informed of it, I'll have you beheaded." "You scare me." "You'll be told." "By the blood of Christ, we'll kill them all!" "Be quiet!" "You poison the air with your blasphemy." "If I hear you take our Lord's name in vain again, I'll have you cut in three!" "How will you manage, La Hire?" "Should we put a muzzle on you?" " It would suit you." " Shut up." "You owe me 20 livres." "By blood and mucus..." "I don't know how to speak without swearing." "Say what I say - by my stam." " Isn't that enough?" " By my stam." " The men will piss themselves." " I want them to be as pure as lilies." "You want to win?" "Then you must be pure." "That's the message I bring you." "Don't laugh." "Listen to her." "We've been punished for our sins." "She's our redeemer." "I agree, but we're here to act." "How far had you got?" "Here." "If we can seize back Les Tourelles, the fortress at the end of the bridge, then we open up the southern route and their siege falls into disarray." " But that's unrealistic." " Why?" "There are over 300 of them in there, armed to the teeth." "Glasdale is their leader." "He's a pig, but not a donkey." "Here's the fortress of the Augustins." "Before that, St Jean-le-Blanc." " We'll never make it there." " We will." "The island?" "We must be able to do what our pages did." "By my arse, if..." "By my stam, if we can't get these buggers from the rear..." "I'll become a monk." "What do you think?" "It's a big risk." "We don't know how many of them are there." "Well, this way we'll find out." "Where are you going?" "To tell them the news." "If they don't leave quietly, their defeat will be remembered forever." "Wait." "Add something." ""And what's more..." ""I could have sent you my letter a better way," ""but you hold captive my messenger, Guienne." ""Give him back to me and I will return some of your men" ""captured at Saint-Loup," ""seeing as they didn't all die."" "Allow me, Madame Jeanne." "Read it!" "It contains news!" "What are they saying?" "I don't know." "News from the whore!" "The Armagnacs' whore!" "The Armagnacs' whore!" "That's not true!" "I'm nothing of the sort!" " Come on, calm down." " I'd rather they throw stones at me" " than call me that." " That's why they do it." "Don't show you're upset." "Come along." "What you did was horrible!" "You'll be punished for it!" "They know that now." "The following day, as planned, the Maid and our men left the town to cross certain islands of the Loire." "And to cross the other arm of the river they brought along two boats which they used as a bridge to reach the fortress of St Jean-le-Blanc." "We found it deserted, because the English, seeing us coming, retreated to a stronger and bigger fortress, that of the Augustins, and we followed them there." "Soon after that, we stormed the Augustins." "Most of the enemy soldiers were taken and killed there." "Those who could, sought refuge by the bridge, at Les Tourelles." "And we remained outside the large fortress, with the Maid, for the whole of that night." "The people of Orléans made great haste to bring us bread, wine and other provisions." "They sharpened our axes, brought torches, sewed bags, and prepared ladders." "I remember having paid two livres for a pheasant and a wine cask for the Maid." "For though she fasted on Fridays, she was very tired, and dined that night." "Father, stay close to me at all times." "Fear not, Jeanne." " Havert you slept enough?" " My horse slept in my stead." " I worry about your feet, Father." " God made me as poor as can be, but I'm not barefoot." "Louis, take good care of my standard." "What's wrong?" "You don't look well." "No, Madame Jeanne, I'm fine." "If you say so." "He had the runs all night." "Keep out of it." "It's not true." "You can count on me." "I know, Louis." "We'll see if you're still laughing later on." "Who's laughing?" "The Tth of May, 1429, in the morning " "See how pure this water is, Jeanne." "Like you, it is pure and transparent." "Have you been struck by an arrow?" "By divine grace, you mean." "He thinks he's a reliquary." "It is a relic." "It's part of the true cross on which our merciful Lord died." "Touch it." "Touch it, that way you'll be invincible." "You don't believe me?" "It comes from the Holy Land." "You bought that too?" "I gave 30,OOO gold écus to a Lombard merchant." "It wasrt enough." "Come over here with me." "We'll let the infantry attack first." "If they get through, we rush in." "Not before." "Fine." " Then?" " We'll do it again," " as many times as it takes." " And I say, in God's name, we will enter the town this night, by the bridge." "Bastard, I want to be part of the first onslaught." "As you wish." "Lord God, do for La Hire what you would like La Hire to do for you, if you were La Hire and La Hire were God." " What were you saying?" " Nothing." "It's my personal prayer." " La Hire." " What?" "Find me a prayer." "Pull." "Come on, pull." "Pull, for God's sake!" "Quick, the ladder!" "FoM/ard!" "FoM/ard!" "By the middle of the day, after many assaults " " Can you give me a hand?" " Coming." "That's good." "Lift the end a bit." "That's good." "Let's make something sturdy, lads." "Ten men will be climbing up this later." "It hurts." "Be gentle." "It hurts." "Hurry." "Hurry, please." "Pierre!" "Where's Pierre?" "What are you going to do?" "I'm going to hurt you." "Set your teeth." "Go and fetch some lard and olive oil." "Take this." "Put it on the wound." " It'll stop the bleeding." " What is it?" " It's a charm." " No, no." "I don't want to use charms." "I'd rather die." "Have you got nothing better to do?" "Bunch of layabouts." "Get back!" "Have you never seen a wounded person?" " Is it bad?" " No, I don't think so." "She's bleeding, but nothing vital's been hit." "Hurry, I feel as if I'm losing all my blood." "Stay calm." "Breathe slowly." " Feeling better now?" " It's horrible." "Pierre, I'm cold." " Is it serious?" " No, she'll be fine." "Pierre, do you think I'll die?" "No, you won't die." "Tell me, Father." "Do you think I'll die?" "No, you won't die." "When you're done, leave us alone." "There were many more onslaughts." "But without Jeanne, our men had lost their strength and their courage." "The English were rejoicing, as they were sure they'd killed her." "What's going on, Bastard?" "Have we come to a halt?" " What about your wound?" " I can move my arm." "Answer me." "Are we withdrawing?" "We've lost a lot of men." "They're exhausted." " We must stop." " But the day isn't over." "Look, it's dusk." "Look at you, you won't hold out." "We'll start again tomorrow." "Tomorrow..." "You're right." "You're right." "We must recover strength." "Go and rest." "Drink, eat." "But don't let anyone leave." "Ask them to wait." "Wait for what?" "Give me a bit of time." "Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, archangel Michael, patron saint of fighters..." "I no longer know what to do." "I have no strength left." "I'm in pain." "I feel like throwing up." "The blood of France is flowing." "Should any more be shed?" "They want to stop." "They always want to stop." "I don't know what to answer." "I don't know what to tell them." "Give me the word." "I can't find the words." "Tell me what to tell them." "Give me the word." "Show me the sign of divine help." "I have always obeyed you." "You can't abandon me." "Answer me, I beg of you." "Answer me." " Can't you hold it up?" " I'm worn out." "Look at my hands." "Hey, you!" "Do you recognise this?" "Hold it up high, so the men can see it." " Like this?" " No, higher." "Give it some movement." "Everyone must be able to see it." " Are you tired or something?" " I'm Basque." "It takes more than this to tire me out." "Are you the Maid's intendant?" "Is it true what they're saying, that she's dead?" "No, not at all." "She'll be with us later." "It churns me up that we've stopped." " They must be laughing in there." " Concentrate on your standard." "Hold it higher." "Make sure it catches the light." "Hey..." "What if we went a bit closer to see if they find less to laugh a'bout." " Do you feel up to it?" " Just the two of us?" "Arert you Basque?" "Hey, when you draw up the accounts for the day, don't forget me." "I promise, but don't let go of that." "I promise." "I promise." "Higher." "I want to hear it flapping in the wind." "Go, by the bridge." "Go!" "Higher." " How's your shoulder, Jeanne?" " It's fine." "Get ready, we're going back." "Already?" "Will the two of you carry that ladder?" " Yes, with a bit of help." " Jeanne!" "Jeanne!" "Get ready." "When the post of my standard touches the wall, attack." "Victory will be yours." "Louis, my standard, what have you done with it?" "They asked me for it." "Who are you?" "Give me my standard." "Is that how you keep your promises?" "Don't you want your money?" "FoM/ard!" "Victory is yours!" "Victory is yours!" "FoM/ard!" "And that evening, Jeanne entered the town, and Glasdale drowned in the Loire " "I can make you a nice herb omelette, Jeanne." "No, thank you." "I'm not hungry." "You must do like the others, eat and rest." "Because tomorrow, the Goddamns, after all you've done to them, will fight back hard." "The surgeon said that after all you've done, you must eat a lot and sleep well." " He said it was a miracle." " He said that, thanks to your words, the captains had no choice but to advance." "It was as if they'd climbed the steps of heaven." "He also said something about the God's grace." "Yes, he said only God's grace could have moved them to act that way." "Move!" "Go and get her brother." "Hurry!" "Don't worry." "She's sleeping."