She had but her own company, and a great rude throng of footmen of the town that would not be said nay.

They carried clubs, and they looked, as I heard, for no less than to take prisoner the Duke of Burgundy himself.

Certain of these men also bore spades and picks and other tools; for the Maid, as I deem, intended no more than to take and hold Margny, that so she might cut the Burgundians in twain, and sunder from them the English at Venette.

Now as the night was not far off, then at nightfall would the English be in sore straits, as not knowing the country and the country roads, and not having the power to join them of Burgundy at Clairoix.

This, one told me afterwards, was the device of the Maid.
Be this as it may, and a captain of hers, Barthelemy Barrette, told me the tale, the Maid rode gallantly forth, flowers raining on her, while my heart longed to be riding at her rein.