And seeing him lack confidence, she reminded him of the promise she had recently made concerning him in the Abbey of Saint-Florent-les-Saumur. "Oh! Fair Duke, can you be afraid? Do you not remember that I promised your wife to bring you back safe and sound?"[1210] [Footnote 1210: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 95-96.] In the thick of the attack, she noticed on the wall one of those long thin mortars, which, from the manner of its charging, was called a breechloader. Seeing it hurl stones on the very spot where the King's fair cousin was standing, she realised the danger, but not for herself. "Move away," she said quickly. "That cannon will kill you." The Duke had not moved more than a few yards, when a nobleman of Anjou, the Sire Du Lude, having taken the place he had quitted, was killed by a ball from that same cannon.[1211] The Duke of Alencon marvelled at her prophetic gift. Doubtless the Maid had been sent to save him, but she had not been sent to save the Sire Du Lude. The angels of the Lord are sent for the salvation of some, for the destruction of others. When the French King's men reached the wall, the Earl of Suffolk cried out for a parley with the Duke of Alencon. No heed was paid to him and the assault continued.[1212] [Footnote 1211: _Ibid._, pp. 96, 97. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 301. _Journal du siege_, p. 97.] [Footnote 1212: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 97.] The attack had lasted four hours,[1213] when Jeanne, standard in hand, climbed up a ladder leaning against the rampart. A stone fired from a cannon struck her helmet and knocked it with its escutcheon, bearing her arms, off her head. They thought she was crushed, but she rose quickly and cried to the fighting men: "Up, friends, up! Messire has doomed the English. They are ours at this moment. Be of good cheer."[1214] [Footnote 1213: _Journal du siege_, p. 100.] [Footnote 1214: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 97. _Journal du siege_, p. 98. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, pp. 301-302. Perceval de Cagny, pp. 150-151.] The wall was scaled and the French King's men penetrated into the town. The English fled into La Beauce and the French rushed in pursuit of them. Guillaume Regnault, a squire of Auvergne, came up with the Earl of Suffolk on the bridge and took him prisoner. "Are you a gentleman?" asked Suffolk. "Yes." "Are you a knight?" "No." The Earl of Suffolk dubbed him a knight and surrendered to him.[1215] [Footnote 1215: _Journal du siege_, p. 99. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 302. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 82. Berry, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p. 65.] Very soon the rumour ran that the Earl of Suffolk had surrendered on his knees to the Maid.[1216] It was even stated that he had asked to surrender to her as to the bravest lady in the world.[1217] But it is more likely that he would have surrendered to the lowest menial of the army rather than to a woman whom he held to be a witch possessed of the devil.