What was the condition of the garrison?
What were the armies of England doing?
What was the disposition of the beleaguering force?
Was any project of relief on foot amongst the Dauphin's soldiers?
Did they understand how much depended upon the rescue of the devoted town?
Guy de Laval was able to answer these questions, for he had himself ridden from Chinon to Orleans with messages to the Generals in the beleaguered city.

He reported that the blockade was not perfected; that provisions could still find their way--though with risk, and danger of loss--into the town, and that messengers with letters could pass to and fro by exercising great caution, and by the grace of Heaven.

He told her of the great fortresses the English had built, where they dwelt in safety, and menaced the town and battered its walls with their engines of war.
The garrison and the city were yet holding bravely out, and the Generals Dunois and La Hire were men of courage and capacity.

But when the Maid asked how it came about that the English--who could not be so numerous as the French forces in the town--had been suffered to make these great works unmolested, he could only reply with a shake of the head, and with words of evil omen.
"It is the terror of the English which has fallen upon them.

Since the victory of Agincourt, none have ever been able to see English soldiers drawn up in battle array without feeling their blood turn to water, and their knees quake under them.