[Footnote 532: _Ibid._, p. 17. J.L. Micqueau, _Histoire du siege d'Orleans par les Anglais_, translated by Du Breton, Paris, 1631, p. 27. Abbe Dubois, _Histoire du siege_, p. 287. Lottin, _Recherches_, vol. i, pp. 209, 210.] [Footnote 533: _Livre_, if it were of Paris, was equivalent to one shilling, if of Tours, to ten pence (W.S.).] [Footnote 534: _Journal du siege_, p. 18. S. Luce, _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_, p. clxxxv. Loiseleur, _Compte des depenses faites par Charles VII pour secourir Orleans_, in _Mem. Soc. Arch. de l'Orleanais_, vol. xi, pp. 114, 186.] A jovial fellow was Maitre Jean. When a cannon-ball happened to fall near him he would tumble to the ground and be carried into the town to the great joy of the English who believed him dead. But their joy was short-lived, for Maitre Jean soon returned to his post and bombarded them as before.[535] These culverins were loaded with leaden bullets by means of an iron ramrod. They were tiny cannon or rather large guns on gun-carriages. They could be moved easily.[536] And so Maitre Jean's culverin was brought wherever it was needed. [Footnote 535: _Journal du siege_, p. 28. Lottin, _Recherches_, vol. i, p. 214.] [Footnote 536: Loiseleur, _Comptes_, p. 114. P. Mantellier, _Histoire du siege_, p. 33.] On the 25th of December a truce was proclaimed for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. Of one faith and one religion, on feast days the hostility of the combatants ceased, and courtesy reconciled the knights of the two camps whenever the calendar reminded them that they were Christians. Noel is a gay feast. Captain Glasdale wanted to celebrate it with carol singing according to the English custom. He asked my Lord Jean, the Bastard of Orleans, and Marshal de Boussac to send him a band of musicians, which they graciously did. The Orleans players went forth to Les Tourelles with their clarions and their trumpets; and they played the English such carols as rejoiced their hearts. To the folk of Orleans, who came on to the bridge to listen to the music, it sounded very melodious; but no sooner had the truce expired than every man looked to himself. For from one bank to the other the cannon burst from their slumber, hurling balls of stone and copper with renewed vigour.[537] [Footnote 537: _Journal du siege_, pp. 15, 18.]