The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 6, Issue 1, Winter 2017 | Page 24

through me, Joan the Maiden, to leave your fortresses and go back to your own
country; or I will produce a clash of arms to be eternally remembered. And this is
the third and last time I have written to you; I shall not write anything further.” 6
She gave this letter to a crossbowman and he shot the letter into the English
fortress of Les Tourelles. In the fortress, an archer retrieved the message and said,
“Read, here is the news!” The English commander replied, “Here is news from the
Armagnac whore!” 7 Joan is said to have wept after hearing their reply.
Figure 6. Fortifications around Orléans at the time of the siege. English forts are
depicted in red, French forts are depicted in blue. Map by Milo Tatch, published
under GNU Free Documentation License.
The English Downfall
On 6 May, the French set off and reached Fort Saint-Jean-le-Blanc.
However, they found it empty. The Armagnacs continued to advance. The English
appeared outside the fort and attempted a cavalry charge but were defeated and
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