CHAPTER VIII 

 LORD OF THE FISHES 



IN value and renown the herring takes an unassailable 

 position as the lord of fishes. Joan of Arc is associated 

 with that famous " Battle of the Herrings" which in the 

 fifteenth century crowned the English victories over the 

 armies of France. That combat, one of the outstanding 

 features of the Hundred Years' War, took place at 

 Roncray-St.-Denis on I2th February 1429. Sir John 

 Fastolfe was convoying salted herrings for the English 

 army before Orleans, when news reached him of the 

 coming of a French force under the Bastard of Orleans 

 the Due de Bourbon and he entrenched himself at 

 Roncray. The French attacked him, and were driven 

 off with heavy loss, the Bastard being badly wounded. 

 It was at that time, when Orleans had been forced by 

 famine to propose surrender, that Joan, prompted, as 

 she believed, by Divine inspiration, presented herself at 

 the French Court and begged to be allowed to relieve 

 the beleaguered city. She was given permission, and 

 raised the siege triumphantly. She entered the city 

 with supplies, and the English force withdrew ; but, later, 

 Joan was captured and burnt by the English at Rouen 

 as a witch. 



Barrelled herrings changed the destinies of the world 



