If I were relating a mere fable, I should so far honour good old custom, as to point out a 'Moral,' for the benefit of country cousins; but as the dank weeds of superstitious ignorance have long since ceased to flourish with noxious luxuriance, and are succeeded by the fruits of reason and education, I must not incur the risk of having my good breeding questioned, by venturing to cast a doubt on the moral, the pure feelings and accomplished minds of the Ladies' Cabinet readers, will inevitably dictate, on a perusal of the Maid of Orleans.

Neither will I indulge a Sancho Panza's foible of speaking in proverbs, and though they are, doubtless, puffs of highpressure wisdom, I should be thought some cross satirical old fellow, were I to say that "women and cats are most useful at home," or that "a house is badly managed, when the spindle commands the sword," or that, "whoever puts on another's garment, may chance to return home naked,' or that, but hold," enough is as good as a feast," I must now my tale unfold, of the

CHRONICLES OF THE MAID OF ARC.

"And the bells were rung,

And the tapers lighted,
And mass was sung,
And prayers recited.

to

"And in these sad times there befel our lovely kingdom of France, many grievous things, and much sorrow the poor people. And these were caused by the misdeeds of the nobles and others, that is to say, their lordly pride, their covetousness after riches, their cruelty, dishonesty, and their lust. And the people said, it was God's punishment upon the poor of the land, that they should be thus misgoverned. And prelates, and priests too, were raised above themselves, and lorded it with the most mighty of the land, spending in riot the taxes they wrung from their vassals and peasants. Murder and famine stalked through this fair country, and fire and sword spread desolation on all around.

"And thus it was, especially since King John was taken prisoner by the English, by cause of his having been abandoned at the battle of Poictiers, by three of his sons, who were the first to flee, and his being badly defended by the nobility, who were then good for nothing. And from this period, to the time of the demented Charles VI., who sold the kingdom to the English king, there was nothing but misfortune to France.

JANUARY, 1842.

D

"The powerful lords of the land had been constantly fighting and killing each other. Thus afterwards did also the Duke of Normandy, son of King John, and Charles King of Navarre, Louis Duke of Orleans, and Philippe Duke of Burgundy, the Count d'Armagnac, and John of Burgundy, and finally Dauphin, Duke of Touraine, and Philip of Burgundy, son of the said John, who was executed in presence of the dauphin, and there always existed the vengeance of their relatives against these assassinations.

"And the others of the nobility were nothing better, the common people accused them of not having defended either the king or the kingdom, and of having run away in the battles against the English, and of their being the cause of all the misery that overwhelmed the peasants, whom they did not defend, against the armed companies and brigands, who pillaged their barns and cottages. Thus the said peasants, to whom the nobility had given the name of 'good man James,' in derision, took arms to the number of thousands, crying aloud, Shame to him, wherever he lives, that will not help to destroy our destroyers.' And they set fire to the castles of barons, knights, and squires, and put these to death with all sorts of torments.

"Moreover, the citizens were not more friendly to the nobility, than were the peasants. They had sustained great grievances from the bad counsellors of the kings and regents, since the time of Etienne Marcel, provost of the merchants, and of the bishop of Laon, who wished to unite all the good towns of the kingdom between themselves, in order that the aids and taxes, with which the people were heavily grieved, might not be dilapidated by the said princes, in favour of their domestic lords. Thus, since Marcel was traitorously murdered, until the time of Charles VI., when the provostship of merchants was abolished, in consequence of the popular commotion called the Maillets; a great number of citizens had been put to death, for having wished like Marcel, to extend the aids and taxes contributed by the people, who were already heavily mulcted by the mutations of money.

"Thus the common people pillaged, massacred, and abandoned by all, knew not what next to do, and when they saw the Queen Isabeau and Philippe of Burgundy, the children of those dukes who had often remonstrated with the kings, in favour of the poor people, place themselves on the English side, they thought these matters would go on better.

"But in the city of Paris, there always were citizens and others, that sided with the Dauphin, Duke of Touraine, who

was just recognized under the name Charles VII. And some there were, who conspired against the English to give up the city to the king of France, all of which being brought to light, some of these were decapitated, and others had their property confiscated.

"Now it came to pass in the year 1429, that the Earl of Salisbury, having in his company the Lord Talbot, the Earl of Suffolk, and several other Englishmen of great note, laid siege to the city of Orleans, and built up before it several towers, in such fashion, that the city was surrounded entirely, and scarcely could provisions be conveyed into it, either by land or by water, and great was the misery of those within side.

"Those within the city defended themselves vigorously, for all the cities above and below the Loire, round about Orleans, were in possession of the English, and only this one remained to be taken for them to have all the country. Within it were the bastard of Orleans, the Marshal of France, Lord de Broussac, Etienne de Vignolles, called Lahire, and also several other captains who performed great feats of valour in defence of the said city; thus during the space of seven months the siege had been carried on by the English, and the city was reduced to the greatest straits, so that it could not longer hold out for want of provisions, and it was commonly reported that the city was lost.

"At this time there came news to the king of France, that there was a peasant maid, near Vancouleurs in the marshes of Lorraine, aged twenty years or thereabouts, who had several times said to Robert de Baudricourt, commandant of the said town, that it was necessary she should be taken before the king of France, to whom she was sent by God, to be of great service to him in his wars; this she several times repeated, but the said Robert only laughed at her, and accounted her a foolish person.

"She then went to Jean de Novelompont, called of Metz, and said to him, Robert of Baudricourt takes no account of me or my words, nevertheless, I must be taken before the king before Christmas is half over, even if I walk my legs off to the knees, for none in the world, nor king, nor duke, nor son of the king of sects, can raise the kingdom of France, but I. Nevertheless, I should prefer to remain and spin for my poor mother, for that is my work, but I must go and do as the Lord God directs.' Then John of Metz consulted with Bertrand de Poulengy, another gentleman, who finding that this

maiden spoke by the word of God, they promised to lead her to the king, and agreed upon it with Robert de Baudricourt. But having great fear of the English and Burgundians, she said to them, 'In the name of God conduct me before the gentle Dauphin, and have no fear that either you or I shall meet with any impediment.'

"And in fact they encountered none during their journey, when being come before the king, who was then at Chinon, she went straight to him, although she had never before seen him, and making a reverence before him, thus spoke, ' God give you a good life, gentle 'King.'

"Now the king was surrounded by many nobles richly dressed, and he said to her, I am not the king, Joan, but this other man.' Whereupon she answered, 'by my God you are the gentle king, and none other.' Then she said that God had sent her to assist and succour him, that she must have men to raise the siege of Orleans, and that she would conduct him to be crowned at Rheims, for that it was God's pleasure, that his enemies the English, should return to their own country, that the kingdom should remain his, and if they did not quit, they would dearly repent it.

"As the king still seemed to doubt her words, she said to him, 'Gentle Dauphin, why do you not believe me? I say that God has taken pity upon you, your kingdom, and your people, for saint Louis and Charlemagne are kneeling before him, and praying for you. And I will tell you if you please, something that will induce you to put faith in my truth;' and in fact, she went into a corner with the king, and told him something that caused him great astonishment, for he returned to the company, saying that nobody knew that thing, but God and himself.'

"Then Joan was conducted to Poitiers, to be examined and interrogated diligently by several learned clerks and other persons of high degrees. And as a learned preacher told her, 'that if it pleased God to save France, he needed no help from man nor woman,' she answered, that she would not doubt God; that the sign he had given to her, was to raise the siege of Orleans, and to conduct the king to be crowned at Rheims, that she would do so, and they would see it, that she wanted armed men, but not many, who would combat with her, and gain the victory.'

"All they who questioned her, and who heard her, said 'that she was God's creature, that no one was more honest, or better learned in pious, decent words.' With regard to

war, she appeared well experimented, and astonished many old captains with her answers touching these matters. When she was asked why she had assumed a man's garb, she replied, I dare say it seems strange to you, and not without cause, but it is necessary, that in order to be armed and serve the gentle Dauphin, I should take the proper and fitting dress for that purpose. And also that being among men, they may not have improper thoughts towards me, and I be better enabled to preserve my own modesty of thoughts and actions.'

When she affirmed that the pleasure of God was spoken to her in voices, a Limousin Friar asked in what language these voices spoke, she answered. In a better than yours, master priest.'

"The learned doctors telling her their want of faith in her words, and arguing against her, she said to them, 'I neither know A nor B, neither can I write, but I am commanded by the King of Heaven to raise the siege of Orleans, and conduct the king of France to be crowned at Rheims. And when they shewed her the books that taught them not to believe her words, she answered, God's words are stronger than your

books.'

"The king and his councillors were then of opinion that she should go to Orleans, to do as God commanded of her; and the king ordered that she should be obeyed in all things, as they would obey him himself. Being come to Blois, in company with the Sire de Rayz, the Sire de Lore, and several other notable men of arms, she ordered search to be made for a sword marked with five crosses, which was buried in the earth behind the altar of St. Catharine of Fierbois, and which no one had ever heard was there. Then she caused to be made a banner of white, sprinkled with gold lilies, on which was figured our Saviour seated on the clouds, holding the world in one hand, on the right hand and on the left hand an angel; and on the other side was written Jesus Maria.' "She now sent by a herald to the English before Orleans, a letter which she dictated, for she could neither read nor write, and was nothing learned, and thus she began :

"X. Jesus Maria. King of England, and you Duke of Bedford, who call yourself regent of the kingdom, and you Thomas Lord Scales, who call yourself the lieutenant of the said Bedford, obey the King of Heaven. Give back to the king of France all the keys of the cities that you have taken and violated in France. The Maid' is consecrated by God to uphold the royal blood. She is quite ready to make peace with you, if you