the presence of so courageous and
victorious an enemy; he therefore raised the siege, and retreated
with all the precaution imaginable. The French resolved to push their
conquests, and to allow the English no leisure to recover from their
consternation. Charles formed a body of six thousand men, and sent them
to attack Jergeau, whither Suffolk had retired with a detachment of his
army. The siege lasted ten days; and the place was obstinately defended.
Joan displayed her wonted intrepidity on the occasion. She descended
into the fosse, in leading the attack: and she there received a blow
on the head with a stone, by which she was confounded and beaten to
the ground: but she soon recovered herself, and in the end rendered the
assault successful: Suffolk was obliged to yield himself prisoner to a
Frenchman called Renaud; but before he submitted, he asked his adversary
whether he were a gentleman. On receiving a satisfactory answer, he
demanded whether he were a knight. Renaud replied, that he had not yet
attained that honor. "Then I make you one," replied Suffolk; upon
which he gave him the blow with his sword which dubbed him into that
fraternity; and he immediately surrendered himself his prisoner.

The remainder of the English army was commanded by Fastolffe, Scales,
and Talbot, who thought of nothing but of making their retreat, as
soon as possible, into a place of safety; while the French esteemed the
overtaking them equivalent to a victory; so much had the events which
passed before Orleans altered every thing between the two nations! The
vanguard of the French under Richemont and Xaintrailles attacked the
rear of the enemy at the village of Patay. The battle lasted not a
moment: the English were discomfited and fled: the brave Fastolffe
himself showed the example of flight to his troops; and the order of
the garter was taken from him, as a punishment for this instance of
cowardice.[*] Two thousand men were killed in this action, and both
Talbot and Scales taken prisoners.

* Monstrelet, vol. ii. p. 46.

In the account of all these successes, the French writers, to magnify
the wonder, represent the maid (who was now known by the appellation of
"the Maid of Orleans") as not only active in combat, but as performing
the office of general; directing the troops, conducting the military
operations, and swaying the deliberations in all councils of war. It is
certain that the policy of the French court endeavored to m