348 POLITICAL HERESY. — THE STATE. trains. But enthusiasm was rising to fever heat, and human pru- dence was distrust of God. Volunteers came pouring in as soon as the king's intentions were noised abroad, and gentlemen too poor to arm and mount themselves were content to serve as simple archers and retainers. La Tremouille, the royal favorite, thinking his own position endangered, caused the services of multitudes to be rejected, but for which, it was said, an army sufficient to drive the English from France could readily have been collected. On went the ill-conditioned forces. Auxerre, though not garrisoned, refused to open its gates, but gave some provisions, and in spite of Joan's desire to take it by assault the king went forward, in- duced, it was said, by La Tremouille, who had received from the town a bribe of two thousand livres. At Troves there was a strong English and Burgundian garrison ; it could not be left behind, and the army encamped before it for five or six days, with no artillery to breach its walls. There was neither money nor victual, and the only subsistence was ears of corn and beans plucked in the fields. The situation was discouraging, and a council of war under the impulse of the Chancellor Renaud de Chartres, Archbishop of Reims, advised retreat. Joan was sent for and declared that within two days the town would surrender. She was given the time she asked, and at once proceeded to gather material to fill the trenches, and to mount some small culverins. A panic seized the inhabitants and they demanded to surrender; the garrison was allowed to march out, and the city returned to its allegiance. f When Joan entered the town she was met by a Frere Richard, whom the people had sent to examine her and report what she was. The worthy friar, doubtful whether she was of heaven or hell, approached her cautiously, sprinkling holy water and making the sign of the cross, till she smiled and told him to come boldly on, as she was not going to fly away. This Frere Richard was a noted Franciscan preacher who had recently returned from a pil- grimage to Jerusalem, and in April had made the deepest impres- sion on Paris with his eloquence. From April 16th to the 26th he had preached dahV to audiences of five and six thousand souls, and had excited such a tempest of emotion that on one day a hundred
- Chronique, pp. 442-5.— Jean Chartier, pp. 29-31.— Jacques le Bouvier
(Godefroy, p. 378).
