The twenty-sixth of April, 1429, was fixed as the day of departure. Joan had previously sent her herald Guienne with a letter to the Duke of Bedford[22], which she had dictated to her chaplain. It ran thus:
“[Jesus, Maria]
“King of England, account to the Queen of Heaven for the blood you have shed. Surrender to the Maiden the keys of all the good towns you have captured. She offers you peace in the name of God if you make reparation and honestly return what you have taken. If you fail to do this she will everywhere attack your troops and drive them out of the country. And you, archers and soldiers before Orleans, go quietly back to your own country, or protect yourselves against the Maiden. France has not been given by Holy Mary’s Son to you, but to the true heir, King Charles, who will enter Paris in good company. You shall see who has the better right, God or you, De la Pole, Count of Suffolk, Talbot and Thomas, who have taken the field for the Duke of Bedford, the so-called regent of the Kingdom of France for the King of England. If you do not leave the city of Orleans peacefully, Duke of Bedford, you will force the French to achieve the most glorious exploit ever known in Christendom.
“Written on Tuesday in Passion Week.”
This letter, however, never was answered. The herald did not come back.
On the day appointed the expedition set out from Blois. At its head was a procession of priests singing hymns, Joan’s chaplain leading them with his banner. Next followed the leaders, Duc d’Alençon, Marshal de Retz, Admiral de Coulent, De la Maison, Laval, Potou de Saintrailles, Count Dunois and La Hire, in whose retinue was Jean Renault. Then came two hundred horsemen, and a long train of wagons loaded with supplies brought up the rear. Joan in full armor, wearing a shining helmet which covered her closely cropped locks, and carrying a sword whose hilt and scabbard were ornamented with lilies, rode among the leaders. Upon one side of her banner, which was thickly sprinkled with lilies, was a picture of the Saviour with the orb in His hand and an angel on either side of Him; on the other, the inscription, “Jesus, Maria.”[23] Her demeanor was serious and dignified, serene confidence shone in her beaming eyes. Her only regrets were the profanity of the soldiers and La Hire’s loud prayer every morning and evening: “Dear God! do for La Hire as he would do for Thee if he were the dear God and Thou wert La Hire.”
On the third day they were before Orleans, but the city was on the other side of the Loire, and there was no bridge. They occupied a redoubt on their side of the river, which the English had abandoned because it was of no use to them. At this juncture the Bastard of Orleans,[24] commander of the city, came in a barge to meet them. By his advice they went two leagues farther up the river and made a halt near Castle Chécy, where they found a French garrison. Count Dunois agreed to send a fleet for the transportation of the supplies, but at three in the afternoon it had not come. The sky was overcast, thunder growled in the distance, and the waves of the Loire were lashed by fierce winds. The courage of the soldiers began to waver.
“When this storm subsides,” said the Duc d’Alençon, “the English vessels will be here instead of ours, and then all will be lost.”
“Ah, you forget,” said the Maiden, “that I promised you in the name of God we should enter Orleans successfully.”
“H’m! it does not look as if you could keep your promise,” replied the Duke.
“Have a little patience,” said Joan, as she closely scanned the sky. “Before a quarter of an hour passes the wind will change.” She retired a little distance to pray, but hardly had she knelt before a favoring wind sprung up and the vessels which had been detained by the storm arrived.
“Now what do you think of that, Jean?” said La Hire, as they began loading the supplies.