THE CAPTURE
Compiegne, on the east bank of the Oise (the river
runs from north-east to south-west at that point), was
one of the most strongly fortified towns in the kingdom.
It was about the size of Orleans and its defences were
even more imposing. Three thousand yards of massive
wall surrounded it, broken by many towers at irregular
intervals, forty-four on the river-side alone. To the
south and east was a thick forest, and across the river
a marshy plain rising gently to the bluffs of Margny,
which abruptly closed the horizon of Picardy. Over
the deep, rapid waters of the Oise was a thirteenth-
century wooden bridge, with houses along two-thirds of
its length, and at the far end an independent redoubt,
with outworks, drawbridge and portcullis.
When Joan arrived on May I4th, the Burgundian
army, led by the duke in person, had already established
itself in Noyon, seized the bridge over the Oise at Pont
PEveque, fifteen miles upstream, and was attacking the
little town of Choisy-au-bac, on the north bank of the
Aisne five miles above its confluence with the Oise. It
was Philip's plan to encircle Gompiegne by throwing
part of his force into the plain across the river to the
west, part into the narrow strip between the city and
the forest. The capture of Choisy was essential to the
second half of this design, for the place commanded the
only road between Noyon and Compiegne on the east
bank of the Oise. The larger town had in consequence
sent help to the smaller in the form of a detachment of
troops and a huge gun, under Louis de Flavy, brother
of William, the captain of CompiŁgne.
The situation was explained to Joan on the 15th, and
she instantly resolved on a feat of arms worthy of a
Montrose or a du Guesclin. Under cover of darkness she
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