Wherefore, if you want your part in what is toward, you do well to make no long tarrying here." I was of the same mind, and as the King was shortly to be looked for at St.Denis, we rode thither early next morning, with what speed we might.
On our left, like a cloud, was the smoke of Paris, making me understand what a great city it was, much greater than Orleans.

Before us, far away, were the tall towers of the chapel of St.Denis, to be our guide! We heard, also, the noise of ordnance being fired, and therefore made the greater haste, and we so rode that, about six hours after noon, on the Eve of the Nativity of our Blessed Lady, we reached the gates of the town.

Here we found great press of folk, men coming and going, some carrying the wounded, for there had been a skirmish that day, at one of the Paris gates, whence came the sound of cannon and culverins, and we had won little advantage.
At the gates of St.Denis we asked where the quarters of the Scots men-at- arms might be, and were told in the chapel, whither we needed no guide.
But, as we went up the street, we saw women leaning forth from the windows, laughing with the men-at-arms, and beckoning to them, and by the tavern doors many were sitting drinking, with girls beside them, and others were playing dice, and many an oath we heard, and foul words, as is customary in a camp.

Verily I saw well that this was not the army of men clean confessed and of holy life who had followed the Maid from Blois to Orleans.

In place of priests, here were harlots, and, for hymns, ribald songs, for men had flocked in from every quarter; soldiers of the robber companies, Bretons, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, all talking in their own speech, rude, foul, and disorderly.