ich
had attended the coronation of Charles at Rheims; and the duke of
Bedford expected more effect from an accident, which put into his hands
the person that had been the author of all his calamities.

The maid of Orleans, after the coronation of Charles, declared to the
count of Dunois that her wishes were now fully gratified, and that she
had no further desire than to return to her former condition, and to the
occupation and course of life which became her sex: but that nobleman,
sensible of the great advantages which might still be reaped from her
presence in the army, exhorted her to persevere, till, by the final
expulsion of the English, she had brought all her prophecies to their
full completion. In pursuance of this advice, she threw herself into
the town of Compiegne, which was at that time besieged by the duke
of Burgundy, assisted by the earls of Arundel and Suffolk; and the
garrison, on her appearance, believed themselves thenceforth invincible.
But their joy was of short duration. The maid, next day after her
arrival, headed a sally upon the quarters of John of Luxembourg; she
twice drove the enemy from their intrenchments; finding their numbers to
increase every moment, she ordered a retreat; when hard pressed by the
pursuers, she turned upon them, and made them again recoil; but being
here deserted by her friends, and surrounded by the enemy, she was
at last, after exerting the utmost valor, taken prisoner by the
Burgundians.[*] The common opinion was, that the French officers,
finding the merit of every victory ascribed to her, had, in envy to
her renown, by which they were themselves so much eclipsed, willingly
exposed her to this fatal accident.

* Stowe, p. 371.

The envy of her friends, on this occasion, was not a greater proof of
her merit than the triumph of her enemies. A complete victory would not
have given more joy to the English and their partisans. The service
of Te Deum, which has so often been profaned by princes, was publicly
celebrated on this fortunate event at Paris. The duke of Bedford fancied
that, by the captivity of that extraordinary woman, who had blasted all
his successes, he should again recover his former ascendant over France;
and to push farther the present advantage, he purchased the captive from
John of Luxembourg, and formed a prosecution against her, which,
whether it proceeded from vengeance or policy, was equally barbarous and
dishonorable.

{1431.} There was n