Charles wished to reward her and asked what she wanted. She said that her only wish was that Domrémy, her native village, should ever after be free from taxes. Her wish was granted. The next plan of the Maid was to capture Paris from the English. But she received no assistance from the king and his followers. He did not want to make war; for he hoped to gain the friendship of the Duke of Burgundy. Finally, however, Charles was persuaded to go to a little town called St. Denis (Song-Den-ee), which is near Paris. But he was not much help. Joan led her soldiers against a gate in Paris called the Porte St. Honoré (On-er-ray). One of the men who fought in the battle tells of it in this manner: "The fight was long and fierce, and it was wonderful to hear the noise of guns and culverins from the walls, and to see the arrows fly like clouds. Few of those who went down into the dry ditch with the Maid were hurt, though many others were wounded with arrows and stone cannon balls; but, by God's grace and the Maid's favour, there were none but could return without help. We fought from noon till darkness began. After the sun set, the Maid was wounded in the thigh by a bolt from a crossbow, but she only shouted louder, 'Come on and the place was ours.' But when it was dark and all were weary, men came from the King and brought her up out of the ditch against her will." The next day, when Joan and her followers were riding to attack Paris, King Charles sent messengers forbidding them to do it. So they gave up their plans for the day, planning to seize the city the following day. But the king kept putting off the attack, until finally Joan gave up in despair, and her troops were disbanded. Later Joan went to Normandy, but in December returned to the court of Charles, where on the 29th her family were ennobled with the surname of du Lis (Lee). She did not care for honors, however, but concentrated all her energies on driving the English from her native country. In March, 1430, she went away from the court to assist in the defense of Compiègne against the Duke of Burgundy, who was attacking the city. [Illustration: THE MAID OF ORLEANS, BY ROWLAND WHEELWRIGHT] THE CAPTURE OF THE MAID Monograph Number Five in The Mentor Reading Course Joan had often prophesied that her mission would last but a year, and this year was now fast drawing to a close. Her Voices also spoke to her about this time, saying that she would be taken prisoner soon. They would never tell her when. Joan prayed that she might die before she was captured; for the English had often threatened that they would burn her as a witch if they caught her. She fought on bravely, however, and did not allow her fear to overcome her courage. When the Duke of Burgundy began to besiege Compiègne, Joan, before dawn, on May 23, 1430, stole into the city with two or three hundred men. The people were overjoyed to see her.