prophesied that he should
die without stroke of sword. There was no fiercer squire in England, and
his men were like himself, being picked and chosen for that post;
moreover their backs were at the wall, for the French and Scots once
within the boulevard, it was in nowise easy for Talbot to bring the
English a rescue, as was seen.

The battle began with shooting of couleuvrines at the palisade, to weaken
it, and it was marvel to see how the Maid herself laid the guns, as
cunningly as her own countryman, the famed Lorrainer. Now, when there
was a breach in the palisade, Xaintrailles led on his company, splendid
in armour, for he was a very brave young knight. We saw the pales fall
with a crash, and the men go in, and heard the cry of battle; but slowly,
one by one, they staggered back, some falling, some reeling wounded, and
rolling their bodies out of arrow-shot. And there, in the breach, shone
the back-plate of Xaintrailles, his axe falling and rising, and not one
foot he budged, till the men of La Hire, with a cry, broke in to back
him, and after a little space, swords fell and rose no more, but we saw
the banners waving of Xaintrailles and La Hire. Soon the side of the
palisade towards us was all down, as if one had swept it flat with his
hand, but there stood the earthen wall of the boulevard, beyond the
fosse. Then, all orderly, marched forth a band of men in the colours of
Florent d'Illiers, bearing scaling-ladders, and so began the escalade,
their friends backing them by shooting of arbalests from behind the
remnant of the palisade. A ladder would be set against the wall, and we
could see men with shields, or doors, or squares of wood on their heads
to fend off stones, swarm up it, and axes flashing on the crest of the
wall, and arrows flying, and smoke of guns: but the smoke cleared, and
lo! the ladder was gone, and the three libbards grinned on the flag of
England. So went the war, company after company staggering thinned from
the fosse, and re-forming behind the cover of the vineyards; company
after company marching forth, fresh and glorious, to fare as their
friends had fared. And ever, with each company, went the Maid at their
head, and D'Aulon, she crying that the place was theirs and now was the
hour! But the day went by, till the sun turned in heaven towards
evening, and no more was done. The English, in sooth, showed no fear nor
faint heart; with axe, and sword, and mace, and with their very ha