[Footnote 1191: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 261.] The town of Jargeau, which was shortly to be taken after a severe siege, had surrendered to the English without resistance on the 5th of October in the previous year.[1192] The bridge leading to the town from the Beauce bank was furnished with two castlets.[1193] The town itself, surrounded by walls and towers, was not strongly fortified; but its means of defence had been improved by the English. Warned that the army of the French King was coming to besiege it, the Earl of Suffolk and his two brothers threw themselves into the town, with five hundred knights, squires, and other fighting men, as well as two hundred picked bowmen.[1194] The Duke of Alencon with six hundred horse was at the head of the force, and with him, the Maid. The first night they slept in the woods.[1195] On the morrow, at daybreak, my Lord the Bastard, my Lord Florent d'Illiers, and several other captains joined them. They were in a great hurry to reach Jargeau. Suddenly they hear that Sir John Fastolf is at hand, coming from Paris with two thousand combatants, bringing supplies and artillery to Jargeau.[1196] [Footnote 1192: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 258.] [Footnote 1193: Berry, in the _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 45.] [Footnote 1194: _Journal du siege_, p. 96. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 299. _Chronique de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 295. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 82. Berry, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 44. Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 325.] [Footnote 1195: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 94. Perceval de Cagny, pp. 150, 151.] [Footnote 1196: _Journal du siege_, _Chronique de la Pucelle_, Berry, Jean Chartier, _loc. cit._ Wavrin du Forestel, _Anciennes chroniques_, vol. i, p. 284. Falconbridge, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 452.] This was the army which had been the cause of Jeanne's anxiety on the 4th of May, because her saints had not told her where Fastolf was. The captains held a council of war. Many thought the siege ought to be abandoned and that the army should go to meet Fastolf. Some actually went off at once. Jeanne exhorted the men-at-arms to continue their march on Jargeau. Where Sir John Fastolf's army was, she knew no more than the others; her reasons were not of this world. "Be not afraid of any armed host whatsoever," she said, "and make no difficulty of attacking the English, for Messire leads you." And again she said: "Were I not assured that Messire leads, I would rather be keeping sheep than running so great a danger." She gained a better hearing from the Duke of Alencon than from any of the Orleans leaders.[1197] Those who had gone were recalled and the march on Jargeau was continued.[1198] [Footnote 1197: Perceval de Cagny, p. 148, _passim_. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 300.] [Footnote 1198: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 95.]