Relation du greffier de La Rochelle
Also, La Chronique du greffier de La Rochelle, or Relation inédite sur Jeanne d’Arc, extraite du Livre noir de l’hôtel de ville de La Rochelle.
- relation means rom to "relate" or "tell", thus an "account of"
- inédite means "unedited"
- greffier means "clerk,"
- La Rochelle was an Atlantic port city
- l'hotel de ville is a city hall, or municipal offices
The Chronicle of the Greffier is an important historical source document regarding Saint Joan of Arc, as it provides one of the closest, full accounts of Joan of Arc from her arrival at Chinon to meet with the Dauphin Charles through to her capture and execution in 1831.
The Chronicle was likely written between 1431 and 1435. It is thereby represents the common understanding of events at the time, and notably verifying many details that were not confirmed in the historical record, including the transcript of the Trial of Condemnation from 1431, which was held by the English and allied French clerics. The Trial of Rehabilitation, which is also confirmed in many details by this account, was not conducted until 1450-1456.
1877 edition by Jules Quicherat
Republished by Jules Quicherat, who discovered the document, in Revue Historique May-August 1877: Vol 4, pp. 327–344)
Note: this transcription from the pdf is not necessarily accurate (still to be fully reviewed).
L’an de grâce mil quatre cent vingt et neuf fut maire de La Rochelle honorable homme sire Hugues Guibert.
Item le xxiijᵉ jour dudit mois de février, vint devers le Roy nostre seigᵣ, qui estoit à Chinon, une Pucelle de l’aage de xvj à xvij ans, née de Vaucouleur en la duché de Larrraine, laquelle avoit nom Jehanne et estoit en habit d’homme : c’est assavoir qu’elle avoit pourpoint noir, chausses estachées, robbe courte de gros gris noir, cheveux ronds et noirs, et un chappeau noir sur la teste ; et avoit en sa compagnie quatre escuiers qui la conduisoyent. Et quant elle fut arrivée au dit lieu de Chinon où le Roy estoit, comme dit est, elle demanda parler à luy. Et lors on luy monstra Monsᵍʳ Charles de Bourbon, feignant que ce fust le Roy ; mais elle dit tantost que ce n’estoit pas le Roy, qu’elle le cognoistroit bien si elle le veoit, combien que onques ne l’eust veu. Et après on luy fit venir un escuier, feignant que c’estoit le Roy ; mais elle congnut bien que ce n’estoit-il pas ; et tantost après le Roy saillit d’une chambre, et tantost qu’elle le vit, elle dit que c’estoit il et luy dist qu’elle estoit venue à luy de par le Roy du Ciel, et qu’il luy avoit ordonné parler à luy. Et dit-on qu’elle luy dist certaines choses en secret, dont le Roy fut bien esmerveillé.
Et après, la dicte Pucelle luy dist que, s’il la vouloit faire ce qu’elle luy ordonneroit, qu’il recouvreroit sa seigneurie et que lesdits Anglois s’en iroient hors de son royaume. Et après, pour ce que le Roy nostre dit seigneur fut bien esmerveillé de la venue de dire la dicte Pucelle et de son estat, il la fit interroger d’où elle estoit, de quoy elle estoit venue et pour quelle cause elle estoit venue. Laquelle dist qu’elle estoit dudit lieu de Vaucouleur en Lorraine, et qu’elle avoit tousjours gardé les brebis, et qu’en les gardant luy estoyent venues par plusieurs fois admonestemens et admonestemens de venir par devers le Roy nostre dit seigᵣ, et que pour cette cause elle s’estoit mise en chemin et estoit venue de par ledit Roy du Ciel ; et que si le Roy nostre dit seigneur vouloit faire ce qu’elle luy ordonneroit, que les Anglois s’en iroient tous de son royaume ou mourroient, et recouvreroit tout ce qu’il y avoit perdu.
Item, le Roy la fit aussi interroger par ceux de son conseil, tant clers comme laÿs, pour sçavoir si l’on la trouveroit point enragée ; mais elle fut trouvée en tel estat qu’il n’estoit aucun signe, tel fust-il, qui sceust rien trouver contre elle ne reprendre de chose qu’elle dist. Aussi elle se faisoit à confesser chascun jour et recevoit corpus Domini, et estoit femme de grande devotion et de saincte vie, et ne bouvoit et mangeoit comme rien. Et demeura la dicte Pucelle avecque le Roy nostre seigᵣ audit lieu de Chinon par aucun jour, et après il s’en alla à Poictiers et elle avec luy. Auquel lieu de Poictiers le Roy la fit encores interroger par clers grans et excellens ; mais ils la trouvèrent si ferme et si bien respondant à tout ce que l’on luy demandoit, que ceux qui parloient à elle en estoyent tout esmerveillés et disoient qu’ils tenoient que son fait estoit procedé de Dieu. Et après elle fut baillée en garde à la femme de Me Jean Rabateau, où elle demoura par aucun temps, durant lequel elle disoit de merveilleuses choses en poursuivant chacun jour le Roy qu’il assemblast ses gens pour aller levez le siège de devant la dicte ville d’Orléans.
Auquel lieu de Poictiers, durant qu’elle y fust, le Roy par son ordonnance lui fist faire armes pour son corps ; et après que son dit pourpoint fut fait, elle en fut joyeuse et envoya un escuierchevaulcher à Saincte Katherine de Fierbois quérir une espée qui estant en une certaine chésauve du grand hostel de l’église ; et lequel le Roy y envoya un de ses armeuriers, lequel arma ladicte Pucelle et luy bailla ladicte espée ; mais il ne la peult veoir jusques à tant qu’il l’eust bien fouillée, et lors ladicte espée se manifesta ; et en icelle y avoit cinq croix, l’une à chascun coste. Et lors ladicte Pucelle dist que c’estoit elle. Et lors lesdits escuiers luy respondirent qu’ils sçavoient que c’estoit. Et lors lesdit chevaucheurs leur dist qu’ils fissent dilligence de la trouver, et que le Roy et la Pucelle le leur mandoient ; lesquels fabriquers et chevaucheurs allèrent devers ledit grant autel et en une vieille arche qui n’avoit esté ouverte passé xxi ans, comme disoyent lesdits fabriquers, trouvèrent la dicte espée, laquelle ledit chevaucheur apporta à ladicte Pucelle, qui l’envoya à Tours pour y faire faire un fourreau d’ornement d’église.
Item la dicte Pucelle estant audit lieu de Poictiers et après que son dit harnois fut fait, elle s’en arma et avec des jeunes hommes alloit aux champs et couroît la lance aussi bien et mieulx qu’homme d’armes qui y fust, et chevauchoit les courssiers noirs, de tels et si malicieux qu’il n’estoit nul qui bonnement les osast chevauchier, et fesoit tant d’autres choses merveilleuses que chacun en estoit tout esmerveillé. Et fit faire audit lieu de Poictiers son estandard, auquel y avoit un escu d’azur, et un coulou blanc dedans lequel y estoit ; lequel coulou tenoit un role en son bec où avoit escript de par le roy du ciel. Et ce fait, escript aux Anglois audit siège une lettre de sa main close en forme :
« Roy d’Angleterre, faites raison au Roy du ciel de son sang réal ; randés les clés à la Pucelle de toutes les bonnes villes que vous avez enforcées en France. Elle est venue de par Dieu pour réclamer tout le sang réal, et est toute preste de faire paix si vous luy voulez faire raison, par ainsy que France vous mettiez jus et paiez de ce qui vous l’avez tenu.
« Roy d’Angleterre, si ainsy ne le faites, je suis chef de guerre ; en quelque lieu que je attendray vos gens en France, se ils ne me veulent obéir, je les en feray issir veuillent ou ne veuillent, et se ils ne veulent obéir, je les prendray à mercy. Croyant luy, s’ils ne veulent obéir, la Pucelle vient pour les oster. Elle vient de par le Roy du ciel, corps pour corps, pour vous bouter hors de toute France, et elle vous met en som-
me certaine la Pucelle qu’elle fera si gros haynequas envers y a mil ans que en France le fust si grand, si vous ne luy faites raison. Et croyez fermement que le Roy du ciel luy envoyra plus de force que ne cuydés sçauoir, et quant ce sçaura elle à ses gens d’armes.
« Entre vous, chiens, compagnons d’armes, gens et vilains », qui estes devant Orléans, avez creu en vostre pays de par Dieu. Si ainsi ne le faites, donnez vous en garde de la Pucelle de ce que vous vous souvienne, que vous ne me resistez point en quelconque lieu me trouverez France de par le Roy du ciel, et mais, si la tendrez le Roy Charles le regneray à Paris à son desirer. Et quant ce sçavez que Dieu a pourveu de la Pucelle, en quel lieu que vous me trouverez nous férirons de deulz en deulz, et vous trouverez meilleur droit de Dieu que de vous.
Guillaume la Poule, conte de Sufolc, Jean sire de Tallebot, et vous Thomas sire de Scalles, lieutenant du duc de Bethefort, soy disant régent du royaume de France pour le Roy d’Angleterre, faites responce si voulez faire paix en la cité d’Orléans. Si ainsy ne le faites, de vos dommages vous souviendra brièvement.
« Duc de Bethefort, qui vous dictes régent de France pour le Roy d’Angleterre, la Pucelle vous prie et requiert que vous nous fassez destruire. Si vous ne luy faites raison, encore par vray que en sa compagnie les Françoys feront le plus beau fait qu’encores fust fait en chrestienté.
« Escrit le mardy de la grand sepmaine. Entendez les nouvelles de Dieu de la Pucelle.
Ainsi sousscrites : « au duc de Bethefort qui se dit régent pour le Roy d’Angleterre. »
Item la dicte Pucelle estoit moult de saincte vie, comme dit est, et se confessoit bien souvent et recevoit corpus Domini, et aussy le faisoit faire au Roy nostre seigᵣ et à tous les chefs de guerre et à leurs gens. Et après qu’elle eut escript aux Anglois les dittes lettres closes, elle fit son ordonnance pour aller avitailler ladite ville d’Orléans ellement en personne ; et estoient-ils Monsᵉᵘʳ de Retz, M. le bastard d’Orléans, Lahyre et plusieurs autres seigneurs et gens de guerre avec elle ; et il fit tant qu’elle entra et fit entrer, le mercredi viijᵉ jour de may l’an mil ccccxxix, grand quantité de vivres en ladite ville d’Orléans ; et elle mesme et les dits seigneurs y entrèrent sans ce que les dits Anglois saillissent de leur siège ny y missent aucun empeschement. Et, quant elle fut entrée dans ladite ville d’Orléans, elle fit retourner lesdits seigneurs audit lieu de Bloys querir les demeurants vivres qu’il y estoyent demourez, et leur ordonna qu’ils les amenassent hardiment par Beausse et n’eussent point de paour, car les Anglois ne leur sçauroient nuire à deulx. Lesquels seigneurs y allèrent et amenèrent ledit demeurant de vivres en ladite ville par un chasteau nommé ledit de Beausse sans que les Anglois se apparussent à eulx ; desquels vivres les bonnes gens d’icelle ville d’Orléans furent tenus de l’envoier vers elle par nécessité. Et tous lesdits vivres ainsi entrés, elle et les dits seigneurs firent leur conseil pour adviser comment ils pourroient approcher sur le fait de ladite cité, et y moururent bien ung martir Anglois.
Et le lendemain elle fit faire un assault bien grant, et à l’issue ladite Pucelle et autres gens de ladite ville d’Orléans fist son ordonnance pour aller assaillir le boulevard devant ladite ville d’Orléans par lequel se mist vivres et gens d’armes, auquel endroit estoit un bon nombre de gens d’armes et de la commune desdits Anglois, lesquelz vindrent en bataille contre la Pucelle et ses gens. Et après que ceulx de la dicte ville d’Orléans se furent sçeu l’ordonnance d’icelle Pucelle, elle se mist à tirer et tromper à l’assault, et prièrent tantost
Item, et le vendredi ensuivant, xe jour dudit mois de may, la dicte Pucelle estant en la dicte ville d’Orléans fist son ordonnance pour aller assaillir ledit boullueart du pont et ledit hostel des Augustins ; et de fait y alla avec les dits seigneurs estans en sa compagnie. Et après que eux et leurs gens eurent ouy messe et eux confessé par l’ordonnance d’icelle Pucelle, elle fist crier et tromper à l’assault, et prirent tantost ledit hostel des Augustins. Et le lendemain prirent aussi de bel assault ledit boullueart du bout du pont, où il avoit bien de six à sept cent hommes d’armes d’Anglois, dont estoit chef Glaciadas, lieutenant du conte Salcebery ; lequel Glaciadas en se retirant en une tour cheut en loyer et bien deux ou trois cent en sa compagnie par le moyen d’un pont qui rompit, et se demourant fut mort sur le champ. Et dura l’assault bien cinq heures ; et de nos gens ne mourut que un champion, dont les gens et tout le monde furent bien merveillés, car ladicte tour estoit si fort, que l’on tenoit que tout le monde le peust peu prendre sur les Anglois qui estoyent dedans et quant ils ussent veu un si noir, non ce ne fust par grâce de puissance divine.
Et estoit la dicte Pucelle armée toute à blanc au dit assault, son estandart en une main et son espée en l’autre, et y fut blessée d’un trait en la poictrine ; mais elle n’en parloit pour tant et n’en fit compte, combien que ceux qui la voyent blesser, et qui virent comme elle osta le trait, disoient qu’elle saignait grandement et qu’elle estoit bien blessée ; mais ce nonobstant elle mena au pont de Talbot, qui estoit en la bastide du coste de la Beausse, qu’il s’en alast de par Dieu, et comment qu’il fust, qu’elle ne le trouvast pas le lundi matin ensuivant, ou autrement qu’il n’y en prendroit mal. Lequel Talbot leva ladite bastide le dimanche matin et s’en alla en autres forteresses angloises estans entour la dite ville d’Orléans ; et laissèrent ceux de ladite bastide leurs bombardes, canons, artilleries et autres habilliamens de guerre et grand force de vivres, qui tout fut emmené en la dite ville d’Orléans. Pour occasion de quelles nouvelles, en la ville de La Rochelle furent faites processions générales et dévotes deux fois la sepmaine.
Item, après ces choses ladite Pucelle s’en alla devers le Roy pour le querir et amener en la dicte ville d’Orléans, et ne demoura par aucuns jours avec luy, et après elle s’en retourna de rechief dudit lieu d’Orléans et tantost alla mettre le siège devant Gergeau où estoient le conte de Sufolc, le conte de la Poule et autres seigneurs anglois à grand puissance. Et incontinent que ladite Pucelle fut devant eulx, ledit conte de Sufolc saillit dehors et alla à Monsᵉᵘʳ le bastard d’Orléans et luy dit que l’on ne commençast d’assault audit lieu de Gergeau et qu’il n’a l’arriot ; mais en nonobstant ladite place fut assaillie d’un des costez par ordonnance de ladite Pucelle et fut tantost prise d’assault le vendredi xe jour de juing l’an mil ccccxxix. Et quant ledit conte de Sufolc se venoit rendre, ce que Monᵉˢ d’Alançon qui y estoit et autres seigneurs le voyoyent prendre pour prisonnier, il dist qu’il ne se rendroit point à eux, et ledit seigneur, en criant à haulte voix : « Je me rends à la Pucelle », et s’en vint vers elle, et se jetta à ses pieds, et dist : « Je vous prie que vous ne me laissiez en confusion. » Et de fait vint la dicte Pucelle et le receut, et le dist au dit conte de la Poule fut prisonnier à Monᵉˢ d’Alançon.
La dicte journée mourut messire Alexandre la Poule et bien de cinq à six cent Anglois, et les autres furent prisonniers. Et dit et affirma par serment ledit conte de Sufolc, après ce qu’il fut ainsy rendu, que dedans ledit lieu de Gergeau avoit cinq cent chevaliers, escuiers et autres gens d’armes des meilleurs de toute l’Angleterre, et deux cents archers d’élite aussi des meilleurs d’Angleterre. Et de fait, ladite Pucelle et les siens sur nommés allèrent mettre le siège devant Boyessiens, où avoit de quatre à cinq cents Anglois, lesquels rendirent tantost la place en la main du Roy et s’emparèrent d’icelle à telle condition qu’ils ne se armeroyent contre le Roy jusques à certain temps.
Et si tantost que ladite reddition fut faicte, qui fut le xviiᵉ jour de jung, Talbot, Fastre, Hongerfort, Remiston de Galles et autres capitaines, et plusieurs Anglois qui estoyent nouvellement arrivez sur Laye jusques au nombre de (mille) trois cent combattans ou environ, descampèrent icelle place ; et eux en fuyant furent poursuivis par nos gens tellement qu’il en demeura que pris que morts sur la place plus de deux mil six cent, et n’échappa aucun des dits chefs anglois que tous ne fussent prisonniers. Et estoyent nos dits gens bien xvi mil combatans ou plus, ainsi que des choses là-dessus nos gens ont escrit à Monsᵉˢ le Maire et à Messᵉʳ de La Rochelle, gens d’Église et autres ; lequel M. le Maire, après les dites lettres reçues, s’en alla incontinent en l’église St-Berthemy d’icelle ville, en laquelle la plus grande partie de Messieurs les bourgeois de ladite ville se rendirent, et illec fut ordonné de faire promptement sonner les grosses sonneries par toutes les églises d’icelle ville, et que chacun s’assemblast en l’église de sa paroisse et qu’illec fut remercié nostre Seigneur desdictes nouvelles en chantant solennellement le Te Deum laudamus et autrement en prières et oraisons ; et que celui jour et au soir fussent faits feux nouveaux par les carrefours de ladite ville et le lendemain procession générale et dévote en l’église Nostre Dame de Lences. Et ainsi y fut fait comme il fut ordonné, et fut donné aux petits enfants de la ville à chacun une fouace affin qu’ils criassent devant la dite procession à haulte voix : Noël ! Noël !
Item, après la desconfiture faicte, le Roy nostre Sᵉʳ, la dicte Pucelle et les seigneurs dessus nommés se mirent en chemin pour aller à Reims faire sacrer et couronner le Roy nostre Sᵉʳ. Et arrivèrent devant la ville de Troies le viijᵉ jour de juillet l’an mil ccccxxix, et se passa joignant des murs de la dite ville et alla loger en ses tentes près de la dite ville. Et à l’arrivée ceux de la garnison d’icelle ville jetèrent deux ou trois pierres d’un canon en tirant mal, et la plus part de ceux de la ville estoient sur les murs pour y passer le Roy et leur sembla deffendre. Et en ladicte ville estoient l’évesque de ladicte ville allant vers le Roy, luy faire la révérence et pour excuser ceux de la dicte ville de ce que telles choses estoient faictes. Il n’y avoit entre luy et son plaisir, et que le baillif et ceux de la garnison, qui estoyent de trois à quatre cens, l’avoient faict sans congé de lui et de ses gens ; mais qu’ilz luy plust avoir patience jusques à ce que ledit évesque eust parlé à ceux de la ville, et qu’il espéroit, sitost qu’il auroit parlé à eux, qu’ils feroient ouverture et donneroient toute obéissance en manière que le Roy seroit bien content d’eux. Dont le Roy fust d’accord ; et lors ledit évesque retourna en la ville et remonstra à ceux de dedans comment le Roy leur souverain seigneur estoit en personne devant la ville, accompagné d’une saincte Pucelle que Dieu luy avoit envoyée pour l’accompagner et le mener sacrer et couronner et le remettre en sa seigneurie, et qu’il estoit d’opinion et leur conseilloit qu’ils luy allassent faire ouverture et luy faire et donner toute obéissance, ainsi que raison estoit et qu’ils y estoyent tenus. A quoy ledit baillif et ceux de ladite garnison monstrèrent grande contradiction ; mais néanmoins tous ceux de la ville estouyent d’accord avec ledit évesque.
Et cependant que ledit évesque trettoit avec ledit baillif et ceux de la garnison, un saint prud’homme, cordellier, en plein tous ceux de la ville et de tout le pays ayant grand foy en icelle Pucelle, issit de la ville pour aller devers ladite Pucelle, et quant il fut près elle assez loing, s’agenouilla devant elle ; et quand ladite Pucelle le vit, pareillement s’agenouilla devant luy et s’entrèrent grand chier et s’entre-embrassèrent et parlèrent longuement ensemble. Et après cest départ, ledit cordellier s’en alla en la ville et prescha moult grandement au peuple en leur admonestant de faire leur devoir envers le Roy et leur remonstrant comment Dieu avoit soin de fait et luy avoit baillé pour l’accompagner et le conduire à son sacre une saincte pucelle, laquelle, comme il croioit fermement, sçavoit autant et avoit aussi grand puissance de sçavoir des secrets de Dieu comme saint qui fust en paradis après saint Jean évangéliste, et que si elle estoit bien en sa puissance, si elle vouloit, de faire entrer tous les gens d’armes du Roy en la ville par dessus les murs en quelque manière qu’elle voudroit ; et plusieurs autres choses. Et incontinent crièrent tous à haulte voix : « Vive le Roy Charles de France ! » et les aucuns de ceux de la ville vindrent devers le Roy luy faire obéissance sur toute la ville et luy crier mercy, en luy suppliant qu’il voulust avoir la ville pour recommandée en manière qu’elle ne fust point pillée ny destruicte, en excusant tous les habitans d’icelle par deçà et par dessus, et que toutefois qu’il luy plairroit, il entrerroit dedans à telle puissance qu’il voudroit.
Adonc le Roy fut content de ceux de la ville et ordonna que ceux de la garnison qui s’en voudroient aller s’en allassent, et ceux qui voudroient demeurer demourassent et il leur pardonneroit ; dont les aucuns s’en allèrent et la pluspart demoura en ladite ville, et le Roy, pour éviter tout inconvénient et péril, deffendit que nul n’y entrast sans congé de luy. Et ainsi ledit Roy entra à toute puissance et force et que nul ne seroit sur les murs, sur peine de la mort, et mit gens de guerre en ladite ville pour la garder, et se reposa dedens celle nuit et tout le lendemain ; et se retourna en sa tente où il demeura tout ledit jour. Et ceux de la ville envoyèrent vers luy grands présans de vivres et d’autres choses.
Et le lundy en suivant, qui fut xje de ce mois, il alla ouyr la messe en ladite ville, et là vindrent devers luy ceux de Rains, de Châlons et d’autres bonnes villes luy donner obéissance. Et disoyent ceux de la ville de Rains que pieça ils attendoient sa venue à grand joye. Et incontinent après la messe, le Roy partit sans boire ni manger pour aller à Châlons ; et quand le Roy fut passé et tous ses gens, ceux de la ville qui estoyent sur la muraille virent une grande compagnie de gens d’armes, qui estoyent bien de cinq à six mille hommes, tous armez au chef, devant chacun une lance à un fenon blanc en sa main, et suivoient le Roy aussi comme d’un trait d’arc ; et pareillement les virent à l’arrivée devant ladite ville. Et sitost que le Roy fut bougé, ne sceurent qu’ils devinrent.
Item le xvje jour dudit mois de juillet, le Roy fut sacré et couronné en ladite ville de Rains ; et estoit moult belle chose de voir le mistère, car il fut aussi solennel et trouva toutes ces choses aussi bien appointées pour faire la chose, comme s’il l’eust mandé un an d’avant, comme couronne, habits royaux et toutes autres choses à luy nécessaires ; et y eut tant de gens que c’estoit chose infinie, et la grand joye qu’un chacun en avoit. Messᵉˢ le duc d’Alançon, le conte de Clermont, le conte de Vendosme, les frères de Laval, de la Trimouille et de Gaucourt y furent en habit royal, et mondit seigneur d’Alançon fit le Roy habiller, et lesdits sᵉʳˢ représentèrent les pers de France. Monseigᵣ d’Albret tint l’espée durant ledit mistère devant le Roy. Pour les pairs de l’Église il s’y estouyent avec leurs croix et mitres : messieurs les évesques de Rains et de Châlons, qui sont pris ; en lieu des autres, les évesques de Sens et d’Orléans et deux autres prélats.
Pour aller querir la saincte ampoulle en l’abbaye de St-Remy pour l’apporter à la grande église de Nostre-Dame où fut fait le sacre, furent ordonnez le mareschal de Boussac, les sᵉʳˢ de Rais, Graville et Lahire avec leurs quatre bannières que chacun portoit en sa main, armez iceux quatre de toutes pièces et à cheval bien accompagnez, pour conduire l’abbé dudit lieu qui apportoit ladite ampoulle ; et entrèrent à cheval en ladite grande église et descendirent à l’entrée du cueur, et en tel estat là se rendirent après le sacre en ladite abbaye. Lequel sacre dura depuis ix heures jusques à deux heures après midy. Et à l’eure que le Roy fut sacré et aussi quant on luy assit la couronne sur la teste, toute l’assemblée cria : Noël ! Noël ! et incontinent sonna et trompetta sonnement en telle manière qu’il sembloit que les voutes de l’église deüssent fendre. Et durant ledit mistère, la Pucelle se tenoit tousjours jouxte le Roy tenant son estandart en la main ; et dist qu’il l’avoit porté en la plus belle maniere qu’elle peust au temps que le Roy avoit pris son royaume. Et furent ledit jour pairs ledit Roy contes les frères de Laval, et ledit sᵉʳ de Raitz mareschal ; et aussi… [<< to verify against original text]
le Roy fit plusieurs chevaliers et les seigrs en firent pareillement, tant qu’il y en eut bien trois cents nouveaux.
Le duc de Bourgongne, qui avoit esté à Paris et s’en estoit allé à Laon, envoya ledit xviᵉ jour de juillet ambassade devers le Roy audit lieu de Rains pour traicter son appointement ; mais laditte ambassade n’estoit que dissimulation et pour cuider amuser le Roy qui estoit disposé d’aller tout droit devant Paris.
Item, après ce que le Roy fut ainsy couronné audit lieu de Rains, ladite Pucelle et son ost s’en vindrent devant la ville de Paris, et en y venant plusieurs chasteaux et forteresses se rendirent à luy. Devant laquelle ville de Paris le Roy et sondit ost demeura par aucuns jours ; durant lesquels ladite Pucelle et grant nombre de nos gens entrèrent et passèrent en ladite ville et y donnèrent de grands assaulx ; mais pour cause de la nuict, ils se retraissirent ; et lorsque la dite Pucelle estoit ès dites rues, fut blessée par la jambe ; mais elle fut tantost guérie. Et est vray que c’estoit moult merveilleuse chose du grand nombre de canons et de couleuvrines que ceux de Paris tiroyent contre nos gens ; mais oncques n’en fut blessé ne tué homme que l’on peust sçavoir fors Jean de Villeneuve, bourgois de La Rochelle qui fut tué d’un coup de canon. Et advint que plusieurs de nos gens furent frappés desdits canons, mais ils ne leur fesoient nul mal ; et ramassoient les pierres qui les avoient frappés et les monstroyent à ceux qui estoient sur les murs de ladite ville de Paris, et ne furent ceux d’icelle ville, ne les Anglois et Bourguignons estans dedans, si hardis de faire aucune saillie sur nos dits gens ; ains le Roy nostre dit sr estant devant ladite ville de Paris, ceux d’icelle ville avoient si grande peur que, quant ladite Pucelle et nos dites gens y donnoient ledit assaulx, ils s’enfuyoient ès églises et cuidoient que ladite ville fust prise, ainsi que plusieurs religieux et autres qui lors estoient en icelle ville rapportèrent après au Roy nostre dit sr. Mais pour deffault de vivres, le Roy s’en retourna rafreschir sur la rivière de Loyre et laissa le plus de ses gens en garnison ès villes, chasteaux et places qu’il avoit pris pour mener guerre et tenir bastides à ceux de ladite ville de Paris.
Item tantost après, La Hyre et ses gens prirent d’eschelles le chastel de Gaillart¹, qui est un moult fort chastel, auquel Monseigr de Barbazan estoit prisonnier, qui fut délivré et s’en vint devers le Roy. Mais incontinent après les Anglois y allèrent rompre le siège et pour ce qu’il n’y avoit plus vivres… se rendit en l’obéissance du Roy.
Item après, les Bourguignons et Anglois mirent le siège devant Compiègne, où estoit la Pucelle ; laquelle en une saillie qu’elle fit, fut prise et menée à Mgr Jean de Luxembourg qui la bailla aux Anglois ; lesquels après qu’ils l’eurent tenue par aucun temps en prison, par faux témoignages et accussements la firent arder en ladite ville de Rouen en Normandie.
English Translation
Translate by AI and may contain errors from the above transcription of the original French, as well as errors in the AI translation itself.
Note that "item" means "entry", and marks for medieval chroniclers a new entry. It may also be translated as "furthermore."
In the year of grace 1429, the mayor of La Rochelle was the honorable man, Sir Hugues Guibert.
Also, on the 23rd day of said month of February, there came before our lord the King, who was at Chinon, a Maid of the age of sixteen to seventeen years, born in Vaucouleurs in the duchy of Lorraine, whose name was Jehanne, and she was dressed in male clothing: that is to say, she wore a black doublet, laced hose, a short robe of coarse black-grey cloth, round black hair, and a black hat on her head; and she had in her company four squires who escorted her. And when she arrived at the said place of Chinon, where the King was, as said above, she asked to speak with him. And then they showed her Lord Charles of Bourbon, pretending that he was the King; but she immediately said that he was not the King, that she would well recognize him if she saw him, even though she had never seen him. After that, they brought to her a squire, pretending that he was the King; but she knew well that he was not. And shortly after, the King emerged from a chamber, and as soon as she saw him, she said that it was he and told him that she had come to him on behalf of the King of Heaven, and that He had commanded her to speak to him. And it is said that she told him certain things in secret, at which the King was greatly amazed.
And afterward, the said Maid told him that, if he would do what she ordered him, he would recover his lordship, and that the said English would leave his kingdom. And afterward, because our said lord the King was greatly astonished at the coming of the said Maid and her state, he had her questioned about where she came from, why she had come, and for what cause. And she said that she came from the said place of Vaucouleurs in Lorraine, and that she had always kept the sheep, and that while keeping them she had received on many occasions admonitions and warnings to come before our said lord the King; and for this cause she had set out and had come on behalf of the said King of Heaven; and that if our said lord the King would do what she ordered him, the English would all leave his kingdom or perish, and he would recover everything he had lost.
Item, the King also had her questioned by members of his council, both clerics and laymen, to see whether she might be mad; but she was found to be in such a state that there was no sign whatsoever—however subtle—that anyone could find against her or reproach in what she said. Also, she confessed each day and received the Body of Christ, and was a woman of great devotion and holy life, and she ate and drank almost nothing. And the said Maid remained with our lord the King at the said place of Chinon for some days, and afterwards he went to Poitiers, and she with him. At that place of Poitiers, the King had her again interrogated by clerics, great and learned; but they found her so firm and so well answering everything they asked her that those who spoke with her were all astonished and said they believed that her cause came from God. And afterwards she was entrusted to the care of the wife of Master Jean Rabateau, where she remained for some time, during which she said marvelous things and continued daily to urge the King to assemble his men to go lift the siege before the said city of Orléans.
At that place of Poitiers, while she was there, the King, by his order, had arms made for her person; and after her said doublet was made, she was joyful and sent a squire to ride to Saint Catherine of Fierbois to fetch a sword that was in a certain chest in the great house of the church; and the King sent one of his armorers there, who armed the said Maid and gave her the said sword; but he could not see it until he had thoroughly searched, and then the said sword revealed itself; and on it were five crosses, one on each side. And then the said Maid said that this was the one. And the said squires told her that they knew it was.
And the said messengers told the craftsmen to make haste in finding it, for the King and the Maid had sent them; and the said craftsmen and messengers went to the great altar and, in an old chest which had not been opened in twenty-one years (as the said craftsmen said), they found the said sword, which the said messenger brought to the said Maid, who sent it to Tours to have a church-ornamented scabbard made for it.
Item, the said Maid, being at the said place of Poitiers, after her said armor had been made, armed herself and would go with young men into the fields and ran at the lance as well or better than any man-at-arms there, and rode the black chargers, such as were so vicious that no one dared ride them properly, and did so many other marvelous things that everyone was astonished. And she had made at the said place of Poitiers her standard, on which was a shield of azure, and a white dove within, which held in its beak a scroll on which was written: by command of the King of Heaven. And having done this, she wrote to the English at the siege a letter in her own hand, sealed, in this form:
<< “King of England, render justice to the King of Heaven for His royal blood; give up the keys to the Maid of all the good towns you have taken in France. She has come by God’s will to reclaim all royal blood, and is fully ready to make peace if you are willing to make amends, so that you may lay down France and make payment for what you have held. >>
<< "King of England, if you do not do so, I am chief of war; wherever I meet your men in France, if they will not obey me, I shall drive them out, whether they will or not, and if they will not obey, I shall take them by force. Believe this: if they do not obey, the Maid comes to drive them out. She comes by command of the King of Heaven, body for body, to drive you out of all France, and the Maid lays it plainly before you that she shall raise such a hatred against you as has not existed in a thousand years in France, if you do not do her justice. And believe firmly that the King of Heaven will send her more power than you can imagine, and when that is known, she will come to her men-at-arms. >>
<< “As for you, dogs, soldiers, companions and base men,” who are before Orléans, “you have believed wrongly in your country by God. If you do not yield, beware of the Maid and remember not to resist me in whatever place you find me in France, for I act on behalf of the King of Heaven, and if you hold the King Charles, I shall make him reign in Paris as he desires. And know that God has appointed the Maid, and wherever you may find me, we shall strike blow for blow, and you shall find more justice from God than from yourselves.” >>
<< William la Poule, Earl of Suffolk, John, Lord Talbot, and you Thomas, Lord of Scales, lieutenant of the Duke of Bedford, calling himself regent of the kingdom of France for the King of England, give answer if you wish to make peace in the city of Orléans. If you do not, your harm shall come to mind quickly.>>
<< “Duke of Bedford, you who call yourself regent of France for the King of England, the Maid asks and requests of you that you have us destroyed. If you do not do her justice, then truly, in her company the French shall perform the most glorious deed ever yet done in Christendom. >>
<< “Written on Tuesday of Holy Week. Hear the tidings of God from the Maid.” >>
Thus subscribed: “to the Duke of Bedford, who calls himself regent for the King of England.”
Item, the said Maid lived a very holy life, as has been said, and confessed herself very often and received the Body of the Lord, and had the same done by our lord the King and all the war captains and their men. And after she had written the said sealed letters to the English, she made her plan to go in person to provision the said city of Orléans; and with her were Lord de Retz, the Bastard of Orléans, La Hire, and several other lords and men of war; and it came to pass that she entered, and had enter, on Wednesday the 8th of May in the year 1429, a great quantity of supplies into the said city of Orléans; and she herself and the said lords entered it without the said English leaving their siege or making any hindrance. And when she had entered the said city of Orléans, she had the said lords return to the place of Blois to fetch the remaining supplies that had been left there, and she ordered them to bring them boldly through Beausse and to have no fear, for the English would not be able to harm them. And those lords went and brought the said remaining supplies into the said city by way of a castle called Beausse, without the English showing themselves to them; and of those supplies, the good people of the said city of Orléans were ordered to send them to her by necessity. And all those supplies thus entered, she and the said lords held their council to plan how they might attack the said city [i.e., the English works], and in the action one Englishman died a martyr.
And the next day she launched a great assault, and afterward the said Maid and other people of the said city of Orléans gave orders to attack the boulevard before the said city through which provisions and men-at-arms were being passed; and in that place there was a good number of men-at-arms and commoners of the said English, who came to battle against the Maid and her men. And after those of the said city of Orléans learned of the plan of the said Maid, she began to shoot and rally the assault, and all prayed..
Item, and on the Friday following, the 10th day of said month of May, the said Maid, being in the said city of Orléans, gave orders to attack the said boulevard at the bridge and the hostel of the Augustins; and in fact she went there with the said lords who were in her company. And after they and their men had heard Mass and confessed themselves at the order of the said Maid, she had the assault cried and trumpeted, and they immediately took the said hostel of the Augustins. And the next day they also successfully assaulted the said boulevard at the end of the bridge, where there were six to seven hundred English men-at-arms, whose captain was Glacidas, lieutenant of the Earl of Salisbury; and Glacidas, while retreating into a tower, fell into the moat, and two or three hundred with him, due to a bridge that collapsed, and he died on the spot. The assault lasted a full five hours; and only one of our men was killed, which greatly astonished everyone, for the tower was considered so strong that all the world would have thought it impossible to take it from the English inside, unless by divine grace.
And the said Maid was clad all in white at this assault, with her standard in one hand and her sword in the other, and she was wounded by a crossbow bolt in the chest; but she said nothing of it, nor did she make any complaint, although those who saw her wounded and saw her pull out the bolt said she was bleeding heavily and was badly injured; yet nonetheless she proceeded to the bridge held by Talbot, which was at the bastille on the Beausse side, and warned him in the name of God that he should be gone by the following Monday morning, or else he would suffer for it. And Talbot lifted the said bastille on Sunday morning and retreated to other English fortresses surrounding the said city of Orléans; and those in the said bastille left behind their bombards, cannons, artillery, and other instruments of war, and a great store of provisions, all of which was brought into the said city of Orléans. Because of these tidings, in the city of La Rochelle, general and devout processions were held twice a week.
Item, after these things the said Maid went to seek the King to bring him to the said city of Orléans, and she did not remain many days with him, and then she returned again from the said place of Orléans and soon laid siege to Jargeau, where the Earl of Suffolk, the Count of la Poulé, and other English lords were with great force. And as soon as the said Maid appeared before them, the said Earl of Suffolk came forth and went to the Lord Bastard of Orléans and said that no assault should be begun at Jargeau and that he would negotiate; but notwithstanding, the place was assaulted on one side by order of the said Maid, and was quickly taken by storm on Friday, the 10th day of June, in the year 1429. And when the said Earl of Suffolk came to surrender, as the Duke of Alençon and other lords who were there saw him being taken prisoner, he said he would not surrender to them, and the said lord, shouting in a loud voice, “I surrender to the Maid!” went to her and threw himself at her feet and said, “I beg you, do not leave me to shame.” And indeed the said Maid received him, and she said that the Count of la Poulé was prisoner to the Duke of Alençon.
At the said taking there died Sir Alexander la Poulé and well five to six hundred English, and the others were taken prisoner. And the said Earl of Suffolk said and affirmed upon oath, after he had thus surrendered, that within the said place of Jargeau there had been five hundred knights, squires, and other men-at-arms of the best in all England, and two hundred elite archers, also of the best in England. And thereafter, the said Maid and those above-named went to lay siege before Beaugency, where there were four to five hundred English, who promptly surrendered the place into the King’s hand and agreed that they would not take up arms against the King for a certain time.
And as soon as this surrender was made, which was on the 17th day of June, Talbot, Fastolf, Hungerford, Remston of Wales, and other captains, and several English who had newly arrived upon the Loire to the number of some thirteen hundred combatants, abandoned the place; and as they fled they were so pursued by our men that more than two thousand six hundred were left dead on the field, and not one of the said English captains escaped capture. And our said forces numbered some sixteen thousand combatants or more, according to what our people wrote on the matter to the Mayor and to the clergy and others of La Rochelle; and the said Mayor, after receiving these letters, went immediately to the church of Saint-Barthélemy of the said city, where the greater part of the gentlemen and townsmen of the said city assembled, and there it was ordered that the great bells be rung promptly in all the churches of the said city, and that everyone gather in their parish church and there give thanks to Our Lord for the said news by solemnly singing the Te Deum laudamus, and otherwise in prayers and orisons; and that that day and evening bonfires be lit at the crossroads of the said city, and the next day a general and devout procession be held in the church of Our Lady of Lences. And so it was done as had been ordained, and little children of the city were each given a cake so that they might cry before the said procession in a loud voice: Noël! Noël!
Item, after the defeat was won, our lord the King, the said Maid, and the lords above-named set out to go to Reims to have our lord the King consecrated and crowned. And they arrived before the city of Troyes on the 8th day of July in the year 1429, and came up to the walls of the said city and lodged in tents near the said city. And upon their arrival, those of the garrison of the said city fired two or three shots from a cannon, firing badly, and most of those of the city were upon the walls to resist the King, or so it seemed. And in the said city was the bishop of the said city, who came to the King to pay reverence to him and to excuse those of the said city for such actions; saying that it had been done without his knowledge, and that the bailiff and those of the garrison, who were three to four hundred in number, had done it without his leave or that of his people, and that he prayed the King to have patience until the said bishop had spoken to those of the city, and that he hoped that as soon as he had spoken to them, they would open the gates and render all obedience in such manner that the King would be well pleased with them. The King agreed to this; and then the said bishop returned into the city and showed to those inside how the King, their sovereign lord, was in person before the city, accompanied by a holy Maid whom God had sent to accompany him and lead him to be consecrated and crowned and restored to his lordship, and that it was his opinion and counsel that they should open to him and give him full obedience, as reason required and as they were bound to do. To this, the said bailiff and those of the garrison showed great opposition; but nevertheless, all those of the city agreed with the said bishop.
And while the said bishop was negotiating with the said bailiff and those of the garrison, a holy man, a friar of the Cordeliers, in whom all those of the city and the whole region had great faith in the said Maid, came out of the city to go to the said Maid, and when he was near her, at some distance, he knelt before her; and when the said Maid saw him, she likewise knelt before him, and they greeted each other warmly and embraced and spoke together for a long time. And after this meeting, the said friar went into the city and preached very grandly to the people, admonishing them to do their duty toward the King and showing them how God had so ordered the matter and had given him a holy Maid to accompany him and lead him to his consecration, which Maid, as he firmly believed, knew as much and had as great power to know the secrets of God as any saint in paradise after Saint John the Evangelist, and that if she so wished, in her power she could cause all the King’s men-at-arms to enter the city over the walls in whatever manner she desired; and many other things. And immediately all cried out in a loud voice: “Long live King Charles of France!” and some of those of the city came to the King to render obedience for the whole city and to beg his mercy, beseeching that he would take the city under his protection in such a manner that it would not be pillaged or destroyed, excusing all the inhabitants thereof both within and without, and that nevertheless, whenever it pleased him, he might enter it with whatever force he wished.
Then the King was satisfied with those of the city and ordered that those of the garrison who wished to go might go, and those who wished to stay might stay, and he would pardon them; of whom some went out and most remained in the said city; and the King, to avoid any harm or danger, forbade that anyone enter without his leave. And so the said King entered with all power and force, and that none should be on the walls under penalty of death, and placed men of war in the said city to guard it, and rested therein that night and all the next day; and he returned to his tent where he remained all that day. And those of the city sent to him great gifts of food and other things.
And on the Monday following, which was the 10th of this month, he went to hear Mass in the said city, and there came to him those of Reims, of Châlons, and of other good towns to give him obedience. And those of the city of Reims said that they had long awaited his coming with great joy. And immediately after Mass, the King departed without drinking or eating to go to Châlons; and when the King had passed with all his people, those of the city who were on the wall saw a great company of men-at-arms, who numbered some five to six thousand men, all armed at the head, each bearing a lance with a white pennon in his hand, and they followed the King as though at a bowshot; and in the same way they came at the arrival before the said city. And as soon as the King moved on, they did not know what became of them.
Item, on the 16th day of the said month of July, the King was anointed and crowned in the said city of Reims; and it was a very fine thing to see the ceremony, for it was just as solemn and all things were just as well appointed for the occasion as if it had been ordered a year in advance—such as the crown, royal garments, and all other things necessary to him; and there were so many people that it was without number, and the joy that each one had was great indeed. Lords the Duke of Alençon, the Count of Clermont, the Count of Vendôme, the brothers of Laval, de La Trémoille, and de Gaucourt were there in royal robes, and my said Lord of Alençon dressed the King, and the said lords represented the peers of France. Lord d’Albret held the sword before the King during the said ceremony. For the peers of the Church, there were present with their crosses and mitres: the bishops of Reims and of Châlons, who are prisoners; in place of the others, the bishops of Sens and of Orléans and two other prelates.
To go and fetch the holy ampulla from the Abbey of Saint-Remy to bring it to the great church of Our Lady where the coronation was held, there were appointed the Marshal de Boussac, the Lords de Rais, Graville, and La Hire, with their four banners which each bore in his hand, all four armed in full armor and well-mounted, to escort the abbot of the said place who brought the said ampulla; and they entered on horseback into the said great church and dismounted at the entrance to the choir, and in that state returned after the coronation to the said abbey. The said coronation lasted from nine o’clock until two in the afternoon. And at the hour when the King was consecrated and also when they set the crown upon his head, the whole assembly cried: Noël! Noël!; and immediately there was sounding of bells and trumpets in such a manner that it seemed the vaults of the church would crack. And during the said ceremony, the Maid always stood beside the King, holding her standard in her hand; and she said that she had borne it in the best manner she could at the time when the King had received his kingdom. And on that day the King’s peers were the brothers of Laval, and the said Lord de Rais as marshal; and also…
The King made several knights, and the lords did likewise, so that there were well three hundred new ones.
The Duke of Burgundy, who had been in Paris and had gone to Laon, sent, on the said sixteenth day of July, an embassy to the King at the said place of Reims to treat of his agreement; but the said embassy was only a pretense, to try to distract the King, who was disposed to go straight toward Paris.
Item, after the King was thus crowned at the said place of Reims, the said Pucelle and her army came before the city of Paris, and, in coming, several castles and fortresses surrendered to him. Before the said city of Paris, the King and his said army remained for some days; during which time the said Pucelle and a great number of our people entered and passed into the said city and gave great assaults there; but, because of the night, they withdrew; and when the said Pucelle was in the said streets, she was wounded in the leg; but she was soon healed. And it is true that it was a most marvelous thing, the great number of cannons and culverins that those of Paris fired upon our people; but never was man known to be wounded or killed, except for Jean de Villeneuve, a burgher of La Rochelle, who was killed by a cannon shot. And it happened that several of our people were struck by the said cannons, but they did them no harm; and they gathered up the stones that had struck them and showed them to those who were upon the walls of the said city of Paris; and neither those of that city, nor the English and Burgundians who were within, dared to make any sally upon our said people; but the King, our said lord, being before the said city of Paris, those of that city had so great a fear that, when the said Pucelle and our said people gave the said assault, they fled into the churches, believing that the said city was taken, as several religious and others who were then in the said city later reported to our said lord the King. But, for lack of provisions, the King withdrew to refresh himself upon the river Loire and left most of his people in garrison in the towns, castles, and places that he had taken, to wage war and maintain blockades against those of the said city of Paris.
Item, soon afterward, La Hire and his men took by scaling-ladders the castle of Gaillart, which is a very strong castle, in which Monsignor de Barbazan was a prisoner, who was delivered and came to the King. But soon afterward the English came to break the siege there, and because there were no longer provisions… it surrendered to the obedience of the King.
Item, afterward, the Burgundians and English laid siege before Compiègne, where the Pucelle was; and in a sally that she made, she was taken and brought to Monseigneur Jean de Luxembourg, who handed her over to the English; who, after holding her for some time in prison, by false testimonies and accusations, had her burned in the said city of Rouen in Normandy.