Scott Alexander (author/host)

And if you replace spiritual gains with gains in morale, she is clearly right.

The French army marches off with the king ready to gamble everything on this one stroke.

They take an elaborate, circuitous route to avoid the main English strongholds and attack minor English strongholds, each reduced one by one.

In each fight, the French engage the English garrison, attack it and drive it from its fortifications in the town.

In each, they are victorious and the English fall back.

As they advance, volunteers flood to them, providing them with supplies, and captains long absent, including the exiled Constable of France, join the campaign, spirits revitalised and ready to return to the fray.

Footnote.

On the Constable of France, entertainingly, everyone still had orders never to work with him ever, so the Duke d'Alencon said they'd have to withdraw if his reinforcements were coming to join them.

Joan vetoed this because it was incredibly stupid, and they negotiated something better.

My favourite bit is where the two meet.

The constable's chronicler says that when they saw each other, quote, he, the constable, spoke to her and said, Joan, I've been told that you want to fight me.

I do not know if you are from God or not.

If you are from God, I fear nothing from you, for God knows my goodwill.

If you are from the devil, I fear you even less.

End quote.

At which point the Duke d'Alencon says, quote,

Joan said to the Lord Constable, Ah, good Constable, you are not come for my sake, but because you are come, you will be welcome.

End quote.

I like these people.

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