ow I bethink me, you scarce will care
to pass all the night in the Puzel's company. Hast thou paper or
parchment?"

I set paper and ink before him, who said--

"Nay, write yourself; I am no great clerk, yet I can sign and seal."

Therewith, at his wording, I set down an order to the Castle porter to
let me forth as early in the night as I would. This pass he signed with
his name, and sealed with his ring, bearing his arms.

"So I wish you joy of this tryst and bonne fortune," he said, and
departed.

I had two hours before me ere curfew rang, and the time was more than I
needed. Therefore I went first to the Church of St. Ouen, which is very
great and fair, and there clean confessed me, and made my orisons that,
if it were God's will, this enterprise might turn to His honour, and to
the salvation of the Maid. And pitifully I besought Madame St. Catherine
of Fierbois, that as she had delivered me, a sinner, she would deliver
the Sister of the Saints.

Next I went back to my lodgings, and there bade the hostler to have my
two best steeds saddled and bridled in stall, by point of day, for a
council was being held that night in the Castle, and I and another of Sir
Thomas's company might be sent early with a message to the Bishop of
Avranches. This holy man, as then, was a cause of trouble and delay to
the Regent and Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, because he was just,
and fell not in with their treasons.

Next I clad myself in double raiment, doublet above doublet, and hose
over hose, my doublets bearing the red cross of St. George. Over all I
threw a great mantle, falling to the feet, as if I feared the night
chills. Thereafter I made a fair copy of my own writing in the pass
given to me by John Grey, and copied his signature also, and feigned his
seal with a seal of clay, for it might chance that two passes proved
better than one. Then I put in a little wallet hanging to my girdle the
signet of Sir Thomas Grey, and the pass given to me by John Grey, also an
inkhorn with pen and paper, and in my hand, secretly, I held that phial
which I had bought of the apothecary in Tours. All my gold and jewels I
hid about my body; I sharpened my sword and dagger, and then had no more
to do but wait till curfew rang.

This was the weariest part of all; for what, I thought, if John Grey had
forgotten his promise, the wine being about his wits. Therefore I walked
hither and thither in my chamber, in much misdoubt; bu