A culverin firer, a Lorrainer living at Angers, had been sent by the King to Orleans, where he was paid twelve _livres_[533] a month.

His name was Jean de Montesclere.

He was held to be the best master of his trade.

He had in his charge a huge culverin which inflicted great damage on the English.[534] [Footnote 531: _Journal du siege_, pp.

16, 17.] [Footnote 532: _Ibid._, p.17.