Joan led her soldiers against a gate in Paris called the Porte St. Honoré (On-er-ray). One of the men who fought in the battle tells of it in this manner:
"The fight was long and fierce, and it was wonderful to hear the noise of guns and culverins from the walls, and to see the arrows fly like clouds. Few of those who went down into the dry ditch with the Maid were hurt, though many others were wounded with arrows and stone cannon balls; but, by God's grace and the Maid's favour, there were none but could return without help. We fought from noon till darkness began. After the sun set, the Maid was wounded in the thigh by a bolt from a crossbow, but she only shouted louder, 'Come on and the place was ours.' But when it was dark and all were weary, men came from the King and brought her up out of the ditch against her will."
The next day, when Joan and her followers were riding to attack Paris, King Charles sent messengers forbidding them to do it. So they gave up their plans for the day, planning to seize the city the following day. But the king kept putting off the attack, until finally Joan gave up in despair, and her troops were disbanded.
Later Joan went to Normandy, but in December returned to the court of Charles, where on the 29th her family were ennobled with the surname of du Lis (Lee). She did not care for honors, however, but concentrated all her energies on driving the English from her native country.
In March, 1430, she went away from the court to assist in the defense of Compiègne against the Duke of Burgundy, who was attacking the city.
THE MAID OF ORLEANS, BY ROWLAND WHEELWRIGHT
THE CAPTURE OF THE MAID
Monograph Number Five in The Mentor Reading Course
