Nor, indeed, does it appear that this mar- tiers. There, accordingly, Joan underwent vel, if marvel it were, had wrought any a long and learned cross-examination from strong impression on the mind of Charles several doctors of theology. Nothing could himself. Within a very few days he had make her swerve from her purpose, or vary relapsed into his former doubts and misgiv- in her statements. 'I know neither A nor ings as to Joan's pretended mission. In fact, B,' she said, 'but I am commanded by my it will be found, though not hitherto noticed, Voices, on behalf of the King of Heaven, to yet as applying to the whole career of the raise the siege of Orleans, and to crown the Maid of Orleans, that the ascendency which Dauphin at Rheims.' 'And pray what lanshe acquired was permanent only with the guage do your Voices speak?' asked one of mass of the people or of the army, while those the doctors, Father Seguin, from Limoges, who saw her nearer, and could study her and in a strong Limousin accent. Better more closely, soon felt their faith in her de- than yours,' she answered quickly. It is to cline. On further observation they might, be observed, that she never claimed-while no doubt, admire more and more her high the people were so ready to ascribe to herstrain of patriotism and of piety; but they any gift of prophecy or miracle beyond her found her, as was natural, utterly unacquaint- mission. When the doctors asked her for a ed with war or politics, and guileless as one sign, she replied, that it was not at Poitiers, of her own flock in all worldly affairs. Even but at Orleans, that she was appointed to an old chronicler of the time has these words: give a sign, and that her only sign should be 'C'estoit chose merveilleuse comme elle se to lead brave men to battle." comportoit et conduisoit en son faict; veu The general result of these examinations que en autres choses elle estoit la plus sim- was, however, highly favourable to the Maid; ple bergere que on veit oncques." But the and some friars, who had been dispatched for crowd which gazed at her from a distance that purpose to Vaucouleurs, brought back began to espy something more than human, no less satisfactory reports of her early life. and to circulate and credit reports of her Nor did the theological tribunal disdain a miraculous powers. Her journey of one prophecy current among the people, and hundred and fifty leagues, in great part ascribed to Merlin; it purported that the through a hostile country, without being met realm of France should be rescued by a by a single enemy, or arrested by a single maiden. Even in the remote village of obstacle, was urged as a plain proof of Divine Domremy some vague report of this predicsupport. Again, it was pretended that Bau- tion had been heard: it was appealed to by dricourt had not given his consent to the Joan herself, at Vaucouleurs; and was, no journey until she had announced to him that her countrymen were sustaining a defeat even while she spoke, and until he had received news of the battle of Herrings, fought on that very day-a story, we may observe in passing, which a mere comparison of the dates is sufficient to disprove.-Another little incident that befell the Maid at Chinon, greatly added to her reputation. As she was passing by, a soldier had addressed to her some ribald jest, for which she had gently reproved him, saying that such words ill became any man who might be so near his end. It happened that on the same afternoon this soldier was drowned, in attempting to ford the river; and the reproof of Joan was immediately invested by popular apprehension with the force of prophecy.†

doubt, one of the causes to kindle her ardent imagination. But on referring to the very words of the Latin prophecy, they were considered as of striking application to her especial case. The promised heroine was to come E NEMORE CANUTO-and the name of the forest around Domremy was Bois Chenu; she was to ride triumphant over ARCI TENENTES-and this word seemed to denote the English, always renowned in the middle ages for their superior skill as bowmen.

There was another examination, on which great stress was laid by the people, and probably by the doctors also; it being the common belief in that age that the devil could form no compact with a person wholly undefiled. But the Queen of Sicily, mother of Charles's consort, and other chief ladies of the Court, having expressed their satisfaction on this point, the doctors no longer hesitated to give their answers to the King. They did not, indeed, as Hume supposes, pronounce the mission of Joan undoubted and supernatural;' on the contrary, they avoided any Mémoires concernant la Pucelle (Collection, express opinion on that subject: but they

To determine the doubts of his council and his own, Charles resolved, before he took any decision, to conduct the Maid before the University and Parliament at Poi

vol. viii., p. 153.

declared that they had observed nothing in | been clearly defined at Court, whether Joan her but what became a true Christian and was only to cheer and animate, or to control Catholic; and that the King, considering the and direct the troops; but the rising enthusidistress of his good city of Orleans, might asm of the common men at once awarded to accept her services without sin. her an ascendency which the chiefs could Orders were forthwith given for her state not withstand. She began with reforming and equipment. She received a suit of the morals of the camp, expelled from it all knight's armour, but refused any other sword women of ill fame, and called upon the men but one marked with five crosses, and lying, to prepare for battle by confession and as she said, amidst other arms in the churchprayer. Night and morning Father Pasvault of St. Catherine at Fierbois.* A mes- querel, bearing aloft her holy banner, and senger was sent accordingly, and the sword-followed by herself and by all the priests of an old neglected weapon--was found in the Blois, walked in procession through the very spot she had described. Immediately town, chaunting hymns, and calling sinners the rumour spread abroad-so ready were to repentance. Many, very many, obeyed now the people to believe in her supernatu- the unexpected summons. Even La Hire, a ral powers-that she had never been at Fier- rough soldier, bred up in camps from his bois, and that a Divine inspiration had re- childhood, and seldom speaking without an vealed to her the instrument of coming vic-imprecation, yielded to her influence, and tory. A banner for herself to bear had been went grumbling and swearing to Mass !* made under her direction, or rather, as she declared, under the direction of her 'Voices:' it was white, bestrewn with the fleurs-de-lis of France, and bearing the figure of the Saviour in his glory, with the inscription JIESUS MARIA. A brave and tried knight, Jean, Sire d'Aulon, was appointed her esquire; a good old friar, Father Pasquerel, her confessor; she had two heralds and two pages. Nearly all these persons afterwards appeared as witnesses in the second trial.

Amidst all these proofs and preparations, two months had glided away, and it was past mid-April when the Maid appeared before the troops assembling at Blois. She made her entry on horseback, and in complete armour, but her head uncovered; and neither her tall and graceful figure, nor the skill with which she rode her palfrey and poised her lance, remained unnoticed. Her fame had gone forth before her, inspiriting the soldiers with the confidence of Divine support, and consoling them under their repeated reverses. Numbers who had cast aside their arms in despair, buckled them on anew for the cause of France, and in the name of the Maid. Nearly six thousand men were thus assembled. Charles himself had again withdrawn from the cares and toils of royalty to his favourite haunt of Chinon, but in his place his most valiant captains, the Mareschal de Boussac, the Admiral de Culant, La Hire, the Sires De Retz and De Loré, were ready for the field. It had not

The village of Fierbois still remains, and may be seen from the high-road between Paris and Bayonne; but the present church of St. Catherine dates no higher than the reign of Francis I. (Guide Pittoresque de France, vol. i., Dept. Indre et Loire, p. 15.)

So

From Blois the Maid, herself untaught in writing and reading, dictated a letter to the English captains before Orleans, announcing her mission, and commanding them, under pain of vengeance from heaven, to yield to King Charles all the good cities which they held in his realm of France. She afterwards complained at her trial that this letter had not been written according to her dictation, and that while she had said 'Rendez au Roi,' her scribes had made her say, 'Rendez à la Pucelle.' All her letters (one of which, to the Duke of Burgundy, was discovered not many years since amongst the archives of Lille) were headed with the words JHESUS MARIA, and with the sign of the cross. far from paying any regard to this summons, the English chiefs threatened to burn alive the herald who brought it, as coming from a sorceress and ally of Satan. A message from Dunois, however, that he would use reprisals on an English herald, restrained them. But, notwithstanding their lofty tone and affected scorn, a secret feeling of doubt and dismay began to pervade the minds of their soldiery, and even their own. The fame of the marvellous Maid, of the coming deliverer of Orleans, had already reached them, magnified, as usual, by distance, by uncertainty, and by popular tales of miracles. If she were indeed, as she pretended, commissioned from on high, how dreadful would be the fate of all who ventured to withstand her! But if even their own assertion were well-founded, if indeed she wrought by spells and sorcery, even then it seemed no very cheering prospect to begin a contest against the powers of darkness!

The French chiefs at Blois had for some

• De Barante, vol. v., p. 296.

with loud acclamations, eager to touch for a moment her armour, her holy standard, or the white charger which she rode, and believed that they drew a blessing from that touch!

time been collecting two convoys of provi- | citizens, to throw herself into the beleaguer. sions, and their main object was to throw ed city and partake its fortunes. She ac them into Orleans, now reduced to the ut- cordingly made her entry late that same night, most need; but this seemed no easy enter the 29th of April, accompanied by the brave prise, in the face of the English ariny, flushed La Hire and two hundred lances, and having with recent victories, and far superior in num- embarked close under the English bastille bers to their own. Joan, by right of her pro- of St. Jean le Blanc without any molestation phetic mission, insisted that the convoy from the awe-struck garrison. High beat should proceed along the northern bank of the hearts of the poor besieged with joy and the Loire, through the district of Beauce, wonder at the midnight appearance of their while her colleagues proposed the southern promised deliverer, or rather as they wellbank, and the province of Sologne, knowing nigh deemed their guardian angel, heralded that the bastilles of the English were much by the rolling thunders, with the lightning to weaker and worse guarded on that side. Un- guide her on her way, unharmed by a vicable to overcome her opposition, and wholly torious enemy, and bringing long-forgotten distrusting her talents for command when plenty in her train! All pressed around her closely viewed, they availed themselves' of her ignorance of the country, and while passing the river at Blois, persuaded her that they were still proceeding along the northern shore. After two days' march, ascending the last ridge that shut out the view of the be- Late as was the hour, the Maid of Orleans leaguered city, Joan was astonished to find (so we may already term her) repaired first the Loire flowing between her and the walls, to the cathedral, where the solemn service of and broke forth into angry reproaches. But these soon yielded to the necessity of action. She held a conference with Dunois, who had come with boats some way down the Loire to receive the convoy. The night was set ting in, and a storm was raging on high, with the wind directly against them; all the chiefs counselled delay, but the Maid insisted that the supplies should be forthwith put on board, promising that the wind should change; it really did change, and became favourable after the embarkation, and thus the convoy was enabled to reach Orleans in safety, while the English generals kept themselves close to their redoubts, withheld partly by the pelting of the storm and the uncertainty of a night attack, partly by a sally which the citizens made as a diversion on the side of Beauce, and partly by the wish that their soldiers should, before they fought, have an opportunity of seeing Joan more nearly, and recovering from the panic which distant rumour had inspired.

Having thus succeeded with regard to the first convoy, the French captains had resolyed to wend back to Blois and escort the se

Te Deum' was chaunted by torch-light. She then betook herself to her intended dwelling, which she had chosen on careful inquiry, according to her constant practice, as belonging to a lady amongst the most esteemed and unblemished of the place. The very house is still shown: it is now No. 35, in the Rue du Tabourg, and though the inner apartments have been altered, the street-front is believed by antiquaries to be the same as in the days of Joan.* A splendid entertainment had been prepared for her, but she refused to partake of it, and only dipping a piece of bread into some wine and water, laid herself down to rest.

The impression made upon the people of Orleans by the first appearance of the Maid was confirmed and strengthened by her conduct on the following days. Her beauty of person, her gentleness of manner, and her purity of life-her prayers, so long and so devout

her custom of beginning every sentence with the words, 'In the name of God,' after the fashion of the heralds-her resolute will and undaunted courage in all that related to her mission, compared with her simplicity cond, without themselves entering the city. and humility upon any other subject-her This resolution had been kept secret from zeal to reform as well as to rescue the citi Joan, and she showed herself much dis- zens, all this together would be striking pleased, but at length agreed to it, provided even in our own times, and seemed miFather Pasquerel and the other priests from raculous in theirs. Of speedily raising Blois stayed with the army to maintain its the siege she spoke without doubt or morals. She likewise obtained a promise hesitation: her only anxiety appeared to be that the next convoy should proceed accord- to raise it, if she might, without bloodshed. ing to her injunctions through Beauce, instead of Sologne. For herself she undertook, He quotes a History of Orleans, by E. F. V. RoTrollope's Western France, vol. i., pp. 80-83, at the earnest entreaty of Dunois and the

*

magnesi.

She directed an archer to shoot attached Porte Bourgogne, d'où semblait venir le bruit. to his arrow another letter of warning into | Comme elle y arrivait elle vit porter un des the English lines, and herself advancing gens de la ville qu'on ramenait tout blessé. along the bridge unto the broken arch, d'un Français sans que les cheveux se dressent Helas," dit-elle, "je n'ai jamais vu le sang opposite the enemy's fort of Tournelles, sur ma tête !" exhorted them in a loud voice to depart, or they should feel disaster and shame. Sir William Gladsdale, whom all the French writers call Glacidas, still commanded in this quarter. He and his soldiers only answered the Maid with scoffs and ribaldry, bidding her go home and keep her cows. She was moved to tears at their insulting words. But it soon appeared that their derision was affected, and their apprehension real. When on the fourth day the new convoy came in sight by way of Beauce -when the Maid and La Hire sallied forth with their troops to meet and to escort it-not one note of defiance was heard, not seen to proceed from the English bastilles-the long line of wagons, flocks, and herds, passed between them unmolested-and the spirit of the victors seemed already transferred to the vanquished.

one man was

Thus darting full speed through the streets, until she reached the scene of action, Joan plunged headlong into the thickest of the fight. Far from being daunted by the danger when closely viewed, she seemed inspirited, nay, almost inspired by its presence, as one conscious of support from on high. Waving her white banner aloft, and calling aloud to those around her, she urged her countrymen to courage like her own she had found them beaten back and retreating; she at once led them on to a second onset. For three hours the battle raged fiercely and doubtfully at the foot of St. Loup; but Talbot, who was hastening to the rescue, was kept at bay by the Mareschal de Boussac and a body of troops; while those headed by Joan at length succeeded in storming the bastille. Scarce Thus far the success of the Maid had been any prisoners were made: almost every gained by the terrors of her name alone; but Englishman found within the walls was put the moment of conflict was now close at to the sword, notwithstanding the remonhand. That same afternoon a part of the strances of the Maid; only some few, garrison and townspeople, flushed with their having found priests' garments within St. returning good fortune, made a sally in an-Loup's church, put them on in this extremiother quarter against the English bastille of ty, and these men her piety succeeded in St. Loup. Joan, after bringing in the convoy, preserving. had retired home to rest; and the chiefs, distrustful of her mission, and disliking her interposition, sent her no tidings of the fight. But she was summoned by a friendly, or, as she believed, a celestial voice. We will give the story in the words of M. de Barante, as compiled from the depositions of D'Aulon, her esquire, and of Father Pasquerel, her chaplain :

'La journée avait été fatigante; Jeanne se jeta sur son lit, et voulut dormir, mais elle était agitée. Tout-à-coup elle dit au Sire d'Aulon, son écuyer, Mon conseil m'a dit d'aller contre les Anglais; mais je ne sais si c'est contre leurs bastilles ou contre ce Fascot (Fastolf). Il me faut armer." Le Sire d'Aulon commenca à l'armer; pendant ce temps-là elle entendit grand bruit dans la rue; on criait que les ennemis faisaient en cet instant grand dommage aux Français. "Mon Dieu," ait-elle, "le sang de nos gens coule par terre! Pourquoi ne m'a t'on pas éveillée plus tôt? Ah, c'est mal fait!-mes armes! mes armes!-mon cheval!" Laissant là son écuyer, qui n'était pas encore armé, elle descendit; son page était sur la porte à s'amuser. "Ah, méchant garcon," dit-elle, "qui ne m'êtes point venu dire que le sang de France est repandu! Allons vite! Mon cheval!" On le lui amena; elle se fit donner par la fenêtre sa bannière, qu'elle avait laissée; sans rien attendre elle partit, et arriva au plus vite à la

Next morning, the fifth of May, was the festival of the Ascension; and as a festival was it kept at Orleans; no new attack made upon the English; and the whole day devoted to public prayers and thanksgiving. In these Joan as usual was foremost; she earnestly exhorted the soldiers to repentance, and desired that none should presume to join her banner without having been first to confession. Her bidding seemed to them as a call from heaven; and for the first time, perhaps, their untutored lips were heard to pour forth prayers, true and earnest in feeling, though not always duly reverent in expression. One such of the brave La Hire's is recorded; it was uttered just before going into battle :-- Dieu, je te prie, que tu faces aujourd'hui pour La Hire autant que tu vouldrois que La Hire fist pour toi, s'il estoit Dieu, et que tu fusses La Hire.' And, adds the honest old chronicler, Il cuidoit très bien prier et dire!'

That afternoon the chiefs held a council of war to which they did not ask the presence of Joan; another proof how little they confided in her mission. They determined to proceed next to attack the English bastilles on the southern shore, as these

were much the least strong, and as it was Be assured that the council of Messire will most important to free the communication hold good, and that the council of men will between the city and the friendly province perish.' What the chiefs dreaded more of Berri. Joan, when informed of those than her celestial council, she had with her views, urged again that the attack should the hearts both of soldiery and people. be on her favourite side of Beauce, but Entreaties and arguments to prove the at length acquiesced in the decision of the council.

superior advantage of doing nothing were urged on her in vain. They did not leave untried even the slight temptation of a shadfish for her dinner! The story is told as follows, in a chronicle of the time:

'Ainsi que la Pucelle déliberoit de passer on présenta à Jacques Boucher,son hoste, une alose, et lors il lui dit," Jeanne, mangeons cette alose avant que vous partiez." "En nom de Dieu," dit elle, on n'en mangera jusqu'au souper, que nous repasserons par dessus le pont, et ramenerons un Goddam, qui en mangera sa part!" "*

Next morning, accordingly, the 6th of May, Joan took her station before daybreak with La Hire and other chiefs, in a small islet, near the side of Sologne; from thence again they passed to the shore in boats, drawing their horses after them by the bridles. Reinforcements followed as fast as the boats could carry them: but, without awaiting them, Joan began the onset against the Bastille des Augustins. The English made a resolute resistance; to strengthen themselves they withdrew their troops from This nickname of Goddam-which in more another of their bastilles, Saint Jean le angry times than the present we have often Blanc; and the two garrisons thus combin- heard muttered behind our countrymen in ing, put the French to flight. Joan was the streets of Paris-was, we had always borne along by the runaways, but ere long fancied, of very modern origin. Till now turned round upon the enemy; and at the we could not trace it higher than Beaumaraspect of their sorceress, as they believed chais, in his Mariage de Figaro.' We her, close upon them, waving aloft her ban- now find, however, that all future anti-Anner (marked, no doubt, with magical spells) glicans may plead for it, if they please, the they on their part receded, and sought shel- venerable antiquity of four centuries, and ter behind their bulwarks. The French the high precedent of Joan of Arc. reinforcements were meanwhile coming up; Not trusting wholly to persuasion,--or to and in another assault the Bastille des Au- the shad-fish, the Sire de Gaucourt, govgustins was taken, the garrison put to the sword, and the building set in flames. A body of French troops took up their position for the whole night upon the northern shore; but the Maid was induced to return into the city, slightly wounded in the foot by a caltrop, and having fasted (for it was Friday) during the whole toilsome day.

·

ernor of the city, with some soldiers, stationed himself before the Porte Bourgogne, through which Joan would have to pass, and resolutely refused to unbar it. You are an ill man,' cried the Maid; but whether you will or not, the men-at-arms shall come and shall conquer, as they have conquered before.' The people, and even the soldiers By the successes of that day only a single themselves, stirred by her vehemence, rushfort on the opposite shore, the Bastille des ed upon the Sire de Gaucourt, threatening Tournelles, remained in English hands. to tear him in pieces, and he was constrainBut it was the strongest of all-on one side ed to yield. Joan accordingly went forth, confronting the broken bridge with its massy followed by an eager multitude of townsmen and towering wall-on the land side in- and soldiers, and passed the Loire in boats trenched by a formidable bulwark-and a to attack the Tournelles by their bulwark, deep ditch before it, filled with water from on the opposite side. Thus finding the atthe Loire. More than all, it was held by tack inevitable, the French leaders, Dunois, the brave Gladsdale and his best battalions. La Hire, Gaucourt himself, and a host of A spirit of prudence and of misgiving as to others, determined to bear their part in it, the continued success of the Maid became and embarked like Joan for the opposite predominant among the French captains. shore; and all of them by their conduct in They resolved to rest contented with the the engagement most fully proved that their freedom of communication now secured with former reluctance to engage had not flowed their own provinces, and to postpone any from want of valour. farther attacks until they should receive farther reinforcements. But to this resolution it was found impossible to obtain the assent of Joan. You have been to your council,' she said, and I have been to mine.

From the northern shore the English chiefs, Suffolk, Talbot, and Fastolf had be

vol. viii. p. 173.)
* Memoires concernant la Pucelle. (Collection,