DAUPHIN, hold no more so any and such long councils, but come as quickly as you can to Reims to take the crown.
Whenever I am unhappy, because men will not believe me in the things that I say at God’s bidding, I go apart and pray to God, complaining to him that those to whom I speak do not easily believe me. And when I have made my prayer to God, I hear a voice that says to me: “Child of God, go, go, go! I shall be with you to help you. Go!” And when I hear that voice I feel a great joy. Indeed, I would that I might ever be in that state.
TO JEAN D’AULON
My counsellors are three. There is one who remains with me always, another comes and goes and visits me often, and the third is he with whom the other two take counsel.
The Loire Campaign
June, 1429
Capture of Jargeau, June 11-12
THE LEADERS OF OUR PARTY answered the English that they could not have the two weeks’ delay for which they had asked, but that they must leave, they and their horses, that very hour. As for me, I said, “Let the garrison in Jargeau go in their small-clothes with their lives safe, if they will. Otherwise they will be taken by assault.”
TO THE FRENCH CAPTAINS
Fear not, however many they be! Neither weigh difficulties. God guides our work. Were I not certain that God guides this work, I would rather keep sheep than expose myself to such perils.
TO D’ALENÇON
Fear not. The hour is ripe when God pleases. We must work when God wills. “Toil and God will toil.”
Ah, noble Duke, are you afraid? Do you not know that I have promised your wife to bring you back safe and sound?
On, noble Duke, to the assault!
TO HER SOLDIERS
Friends, friends, on, on! Our Lord has condemned the English. This very hour they are ours. Be of good heart!
Battle of Patay, June 18
TO THE CAPTAINS
In God’s name! we must fight them. Did they hang from clouds we should have them! For God is sending them to us for us to punish. And today our noble King shall have the greatest victory he has won in many days. My council has told me that they are all ours.
Ride bravely, and we shall have good leading!
Orléans, June 24
TO THE CAPTAINS
Sound trumpets and to horse!
It is time to rejoin our noble King Charles and set him on the road to his anointing at Reims.
Letter, June 25
To the loyal Frenchmen of Tournai
JHESUS MARIA
Noble loyal Frenchmen of Tournai town, the Maid sends you news from these parts: that in one week she has chased the English out of all the places that they held along the River Loire, either by assault or otherwise, in which encounters many English were killed and captured, and she has routed them in a pitched battle. Know too that the Earl of Suffolk, his brother La Pole, Lord Talbot, Lord Scales, with Sir John Fastolf and many other knights and captains have been captured, and a brother of the Earl of Suffolk’s and Glasdale were killed.
Keep yourselves loyal Frenchmen, I pray you. I pray you too and beg you to be ready, all of you, to come to the anointing of noble King Charles at Reims, where we shall shortly be. And come out to meet us when you hear that we are near. I commend you to God. God keep you and give you grace to maintain the good cause of the Kingdom of France.
Written at Gien, the xxvth day of June
The March to Reims
June-July, 1429
Gien, June 25-27
TO THE COUNCIL
WE MUST GO TO REIMS. When once the King is crowned and anointed, his enemies’ strength will steadily grow less, and finally they will have no power to harm him or the Kingdom.
TO THOSE WHO SPOKE OF THE DANGERS OF THE WAY
All this I know well, but I account it as nothing. By my staff! I shall lead noble King Charles and his company safely, and be shall be anointed in Reims!
TO CHARLES AND THE CAPTAINS
Go bravely: all will be well. Have no fear. We shall find none who can harm us; indeed, we shall meet with no resistance. I have no fear for lack of men. There will be many to follow me.
Letter, July 4
To the nobles and burgesses of Troyes
JHESUS MARIA
Very dear and good friends (if you do not prevent it), nobles, burgesses, and townsmen of the town of Troyes: Jehanne the Maid, on behalf of the King of Heaven, her rightful and sovereign Lord, in whose royal service she daily goes, sends this and bids you render true obedience and fealty to the noble King of France, who will very shortly be at Reims and Paris, whoever may come against him, and in his good towns of this holy Kingdom, by the help of King Jesus.
Loyal Frenchmen, come out to meet King Charles and let there be no defaulting. Nor if you do this, fear for your bodies or your goods. And, if you do not, I promise and declare to you, upon your lives, that by God’s help we shall enter into all the towns which should be of his holy Kingdom, and there make good and firm peace, whoever may come against us.
To God I commend you. God keep you if it be his pleasure. Make answer shortly.
Before the town of Troyes, written at Saint-Phal, Tuesday the fourth day of July.
Siege of Troyes, July 5-11
The people of Troyes, I think, sent Friar Richard out to me, saying that they doubted whether I was sent by God. And when he came out, he came towards me making the sign of the cross and sprinkling holy-water. And I said to him, “Come on bravely, I shall not fly away.”
TO CHARLES
Noble Dauphin, bid your men go and lay siege to Troyes, neither draw out further these overlong councils. In God’s name! within three days, I shall bring you into the town, either by friendship or by force. And false Burgundy will be much astonished.
HER SUMMONS
Yield you to the King of Heaven and to noble King Charles!
Châlons, July 14–15
TO GÉRARDIN D’ÉPINAL, OF DOMREMY
I fear nothing but treachery.
TO CHARLES
Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. If you will go forward like a man, you shall have your whole Kingdom!
Letter, July 17
To the Duke of Burgundy
JHESUS MARIA
High and redoubted prince, Duke of Burgundy: Jehanne the Maid begs you on behalf of the King of Heaven, my rightful and sovereign Lord, that the King of France and you make a good and firm peace which shall long endure. Forgive each other heartily and wholly, as loyal Christians should do; and, if it is your pleasure to make war, then go against the Saracens. Prince of Burgundy, I pray and beseech and beg you, as humbly as I can beg, to make war no longer in the holy Kingdom of France, and now and at once to order away your men who are in any places or fortresses of the said holy Kingdom. And for his part, the noble King of France is ready to make peace with you, saving his honor, if you do not prevent it.
And I give you to know on behalf of the King of Heaven, my rightful and sovereign Lord, for your good and honor and upon your life, that you will win no battle in France against loyal Frenchmen, and that all those who