Joan’s plan was to go straight per causeway against Marguy, carry it by assault, then turn swiftly upon Clairoix, up to the right, and capture that camp in the same way, then face to the rear and be ready for heavy work, for the Duke of Burgundy lay behind Clairoix with a reserve.  Flavy’s lieutenant, with archers and the artillery of the boulevard, was to keep the English troops from coming up from below and seizing the causeway and cutting off Joan’s retreat in case she should have to make one.  Also, a fleet of covered boats was to be stationed near the boulevard as an additional help in case a retreat should become necessary.

It was the 24th of May.  At four in the afternoon Joan moved out at the head of six hundred cavalry—­on her last march in this life!

It breaks my heart.  I had got myself helped up onto the walls, and from there I saw much that happened, the rest was told me long afterward by our two knights and other eye-witnesses.  Joan crossed the bridge, and soon left the boulevard behind her and went skimming away over the raised road with her horsemen clattering at her heels.  She had on a brilliant silver-gilt cape over her armor, and I could see it flap and flare and rise and fall like a little patch of white flame.

It was a bright day, and one could see far and wide over that plain.  Soon we saw the English force advancing, swiftly and in handsome order, the sunlight flashing from its arms.

Joan crashed into the Burgundians at Marguy and was repulsed.  Then she saw the other Burgundians moving down from Clairoix.  Joan rallied her men and charged again, and was again rolled back.  Two assaults occupy a good deal of time—­and time was precious here.  The English were approaching the road now from Venette, but the boulevard opened fire on them and they were checked.  Joan heartened her men with inspiring words and led them to the charge again in great style.  This time she carried Marguy with a hurrah.  Then she turned at once to the right and plunged into the plan and struck the Clairoix force, which was just arriving; then there was heavy work, and plenty of it, the two armies hurling each other backward turn about and about, and victory inclining first to the one, then to the other.  Now all of a sudden thee was a panic on our side.  Some say one thing caused it, some another.  Some say the cannonade made our front ranks think retreat was being cut off by the English, some say the rear ranks got the idea that Joan was killed.  Anyway our men broke, and went flying in a wild rout for the causeway.  Joan tried to rally them and face them around, crying to them that victory was sure, but it did no good, they divided and swept by her like a wave.  Old D’Aulon begged her to retreat while there was yet a chance for safety, but she refused; so he seized her horse’s bridle and bore her along with the wreck and ruin in spite of herself.  And so along the causeway they came swarming, that