[Footnote 1018: Robert Blondel, _De reductione Normanniae_, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 347. _Journal du siege_, p. 13. _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 286 _et seq._] [Footnote 1019: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 109, 127. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 295. Clerk of the Chambre des Comptes de Brabant, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 426. Eberhard Windecke, p. 172.] When he heard that the fort of Saint-Loup was being attacked, Sir John Talbot sallied forth from the camp of Saint-Laurent-des-Orgerils. In order to reach the threatened bastion he had some distance to go down his lines and along the border of the forest. He set out, and on his way was reinforced by the garrisons of the western bastions. The town watchmen observed his movements and sounded the alarm. Marshal Boussac passing through the Parisis Gate, went out to meet Talbot on the north, towards Fleury. The English captain was preparing to break through the French force when he saw a thick cloud of smoke rising over the fort Saint-Loup. He understood that the French had captured and set fire to it; and sadly he returned to the camp of Saint-Laurent-des-Orgerils.[1020] [Footnote 1020: Perceval de Cagny says: "Soon after [the arrival of the Maid on the edge of the entrenchments] those in the fort wished to surrender to her: she would not take them for ransom and said she would capture them in any event, and redoubled the attack. And straightway the fort was taken and almost all put to death." This is hard to believe. The English would sooner have surrendered to the humblest menial in the Armagnac host than to the Maid: and it is not likely that she would have refused to hold them as prisoners for ransom. Besides, Perceval de Cagny has not the remotest idea of what happened on the 4th of May. For example, he believes that the Maid opened the attack. Perceval de Cagny, pp. 144 _et seq._ _Journal du siege_, p. 82. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 289. _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 294.] The attack had lasted three hours. After the burning of the bastion the English climbed into the church belfry. The French had difficulty in dislodging them; but they ran no danger thereby. Of prisoners, they took two score, and the rest they slew. The Maid was very sorrowful when she saw so many of the enemy dead. She pitied these poor folk who had died unconfessed.[1021] Certain _Godons_, wearing the ecclesiastical habit and ornaments, came to meet her. She perceived that they were soldiers disguised in stoles and hoods taken from the sacristy of the Abbaye aux Dames. But she pretended to take them for what they represented themselves to be. She received them and had them conducted to her house without allowing any harm to come to them. With a charitable jest she said: "One should never question priests."[1022] [Footnote 1021: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 106.] [Footnote 1022: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 289.]