eld to ransom, but Fastolf fled as fast as his horse
could carry him.

Thus in one week, between June the eleventh and June the eighteenth, the
Maid had delivered three strong towns from the English, and had utterly
routed them in fair field. Then, at Orleans, on June the nineteenth, the
army went to the churches, thanking God, and the Blessed Virgin, and all
the saints, for such great signs and marvels wrought through the Maid
only.

Sorrow it is to me to write of such things by report, and not to have
seen them done. But, as Talbot said to the Duc d'Alencon, when they took
him at Patay, "it is fortune of war."

But, as day by day messengers came, their horses red with spurring, to
the cross in the market-place of Tours, and as we that gathered round
heard of some fresh victory, you may consider whether we rejoiced,
feasted, filled the churches with our thanksgivings, and deemed that, in
a few weeks, there would be no living Englishman on French soil. And of
all that were glad my lady was the happiest, for she had believed in the
Maid from the very beginning, when her father mocked. And a hard life
she now led him with her sallies, day by day, as more and ever more glad
tidings were brought, and we could hear Elliot singing through the house.

Yea, I found her once dancing in the garden all alone, a beautiful sight
to look upon, as the sun fell on her and the shadow, she footing it as if
to music, but the music was made by her own heart. Leaning against an
apple-tree, I watched her, who waved her hand to me, and still danced on;
this was after we had heard the news of Beaugency. As she so swayed and
moved, dancing daintily, came a blast of a trumpet and a gay peal from
the minster bells. Then forth rushed Elliot, and through the house, and
down the street into the market-place, nor did I know where I was, till I
found myself beside her, and heard the Maire read a letter to all the
folk, telling how the English were routed at Pathay in open field.
Thereon the whole multitude fell a-dancing, and I, for all my malady, was
fain to dance with them; but Elliot led me home, her head high, and blue
rays darting from her eyes. From that day my life seemed to come back to
me, and I was no longer the sick man. So the weeks went by, in all
delight, my master working hard, and I helping him in my degree, for new
banners would be wanted when the Dauphin went for his sacring to his good
town of Reims. As we all deemed, t