PR E FA C E .

e old r e l izo i thi boo tth thos e o e ve k o To ws e p p g i tt h t c ildren or whom was wri en . f

I N I the writing of this little sketch , have u t n been indebted to man y a h ors and to ma y ooks in c ludin b , g the English versions of the original documents collected and translated by Father Wyndham and Mr . T . Douglas

Murray , and the invaluable quotations given by Mr . Andrew Lang from sources not easily accessible to the general reader . To none has my obligation been quite so great as to the last named, by whom, through my friend andtpublisher, Mr . Buchan , I have been per mi te d n W here a d there to take over hole paragraphs in succession which , in their noble simplicity , suited perfectly the minds of children . These have usually embodied ’ either translations of Joan s recorded words , or authentic descriptions of her, or accounts iv Preface . of armour and military incidents, such as my own unaided knowledge might not com pass without fear of blunder . I have tried, wherever it was possible , to indicate my debt by inverted commas ; but occasionally the quotation h as been too closely inter twined for that with modifications of my own a a Elimination is lways tiresome process, and so great was the mass of material heaped c up by various hands , that in aiming at are ful accuracy and lifelike truth , much time and work were Spent over preparing my little a te book ; but without such help s I have it m corded, must either have been much ore meagre or infinitely more laborious, for my c on gemal task has been obviously lightened by the toil of my learned and scholarly pre de c e or sws s . I ill only add one word regarding the lin e s of verse with which the life closes . I wrote them expressly for the children who ” T h e read Story of a Brave Child , because I shrank equally from their thinking of the as earth outside the kingdom of Heaven , or Preface. supposing th e heavenly rest to be dise m bodied passiveness . If it be complained that ll the lines are beyond their inte igence , I reply that I hope they may stir the imagi nation of some who in after years will more fully understand them ; and I think that in the subconscious mind of most they will prevent an y dangerous misunderstanding of the sense in which I have used the word ” M. rest . A .

' LI S T OF YLL US TR A TI ON S .

n t ea a ta e Coron a ti n e o o Cka ri s V1I . A tr j f ( f e S ir

e/zn iie rt. G e R A j , )

Tae Vision ea n o A re A ter en of j f . ( f L epaen )

t - er ten jea n of A re. (Af B as i Lepag e)

tn jea n of A re. (Af er I gres )

’ i t r ium a n n to le . je an s Tr p n E ry i O an s

ne I/Ve eme i en to an e T ie g v je y l a n A ter l en e en e s . ( f p e )

ri tR ne ms . or ton iza e 13 i C on a i of C s V1 a L mep e en )

tm tr Len ea t r on er a C e n e A e e je an aken P is o p i g . ( f p v )

tr ture b . E o e tiz c je a n in Prison . (Af e Pi y G jy)

I O jean of A re.

people that God helps and saves the world, “ and it was on Twelfth Night , the day when we keep the festival in honour of the Wise Men and of the Light that was to shine forth through Mary ’ s Son to all the nations of d u 6 1 12 the worl , that on Jan ary , 4 , nearly five hundred years ago , in one of the small cot li tle i t g , v s tages of a hamlet in Lorraine a ‘ m m n gg ym

o n te eo le g h o f, Eg nog wa beautiful country g g c p p

sim e p l A mai

It was in this hamlet , named Domremy , where She was born that T welfth Night morning in the fresh , sweet air of the country , that the little girl grew up . She ’ d Arc was the daughter of Jacques , and was ’ d Arc named Jeanne , but we usually call her by an English translation of her name and speak of her as Joan of Arc . Domremy was one of those pretty villages through which a little river winds its way , sparkling and singing as it goes . Just outside was the village there a beautiful beech tree near to a flowing spring , where the Sick ’ Tno S tr a o B r /tii o y f a ave C . 1 1 people used sometimes to take of the waters h to eal their fever . Sometimes the tree was ’ ’ th e called Ladies Tree , sometimes the Fairies

T . ree It was told in the village that long , long ago two people who loved one another dearly used to Sit under its branches and enjoy one another ’ s companionship for many a sunshiny hour ; and that made the tree sacred . It belonged now to the lord of the Bourle mon t a ws manor , Sieur de , and rightly ’ L Arbre ou rle mon t named de B ; but every one felt that it belonged most of all to the children and the good people . There is a story that when any of the chil dren of Domremy were far away in distant countries they used to dream of that tree , and if they were about to pass through the gates of pearl into a country more beautiful than saw any on earth , then they always a vision of Sh e the tree . Joan said afterwards , when was “ is questioned about it It a beautiful tree ,

oea a ma . a beech , from which comes the y It belongs to the Seigneur Pierre dc Bourle mont , Knight . I have sometimes been to play with the young girls, to make garlands r 12 jean of A e . for Our Lady of Domremy . Often I h ave heard the old folk— they are not of my

— lineage say that the fairies haunt this tree .

I have also heard one of my godmothers , named Jeanne , wife of the Maire Aubrey of sa n Domremy , y that She has see fairies there whether it be true , I do not know . As for

saw. me, I never them , that I know of If I saw them anywhere else , I do not know . I have seen the young girls putting garlands on the branches of this tree , and I myself have sometimes put them there with my companions . Sometimes we took these garlands away , sometimes we left them . V Above the illage there is an oak wood , and it was remembered that Merlin had fore told the coming of a maiden out of an oak wood in Lorraine . It was said also that n France , which had been lost by a woma that is to say , by the wicked queen of that

— day Should be saved by a maid . I wish I could describe to you how the children of that village of Domremy are said

to have loved the fairies , for whom , we are

told , they used to hang garlands on the beech T/tt e at/a e S ory of a B rav c . 13

’ tree . Among Joan s many godmothers there was one named Dame Aubrey , who , you will sh e remember, told them had seen the fairies dance under the tree but that was the last

V ision any one had of them there .

And I must tell you frankly that , for my ’ r pa t , I think that in Joan s day it is not at sawf all certain that any one the airies with their mortal eyes . But of the beautiful V isions of angels and saints that came to Joan when sh e grew up into girlhood , we have very good proof indeed ; for they Spoke to her words which enabled her to do in twelve short months on e h what no else , eit er man or woman , was was able to do , and Joan ready to die a pain ful death rather than deny the truth of those wonderful Voices of S . Michael and

S . Margaret and the rest .

We are , however, getting on much too ’ fast , and must go back to Joan s earliest days . was She hardy an in spinning and sewing , and in helping her 14 jean of A re.

r f n mother. And she was ve y o d of all the animals, and used to take them across to a

wc astle s a little island here stood the , fortress round which flowed two arms of the river ; for she wanted the poor beasts to be out of the way of the soldiers at a time when all the countryside was disturbed by the war between

France and England , in which the Dukes of

Burgundy and Bedford were taking part . You have heard of the victory of Agin court , won by our own Harry Madcap , King n ou He ry the Fifth , in Perhaps y ’ w have read Shakespeare s play , and kno that the victory was followed by Henry ’ s mar ia r ge with Catherine of France . England rejoiced over both events , but for France they

" were both terrible . That I S one of the awful things about war, that whenever one country is rejoicing over a splendid victory another country is mournting over a terrible defeat . It may be tha when we all have more of Are e the spirit of Joan of , and are more r ady to learn all that will enable us to defend our own home and country instead of hiring soldiers to do it , there will be less of the Tbe tr r ve h ild. 1 S o y of a B a C 5 wrong kind of war that is only vanity and selfishness ; though I hope we Shall never flinch from the right kind when we have to

protect those who trust in us , and strike down cruel injustice that the poor and the helpless may be s taved . wo Joan was only or three years old when

the battle of Agincourt was fought . Lor

raine , where she lived , was just on the edge r of the French kingdom , and ve y loyal to the

French king . But there was much of simple happiness in the little village of Domremy u even in those tro bled times . Once a year there was a custom very much like what our own Derbyshire people call the dressing of the wells ; and then the youn g girls of the ’ village used to go to the Fairies Tree , and to

the Well of the Thorn , as the bubbling spring - r was named taking thei food with them , to spend a long day in the open — and used to adorn these woodland places with wreaths

and garlands, and hold an innocent festival . From the time she was Joan seems 16 jean of A re.

always eager to serve and help others . I have read the records which the lawyers wrote down of what her old companions told

about her , solemnly swearing its truth , and h they all say how good and kind s e was . One of them tells that when sh e was quite sh e little , and they were all playing together, used sometimes to go away by herself and be Sh e quiet , and when they asked what was “ ” was . doing, She said She talking to God Her old playmate says that they laughed at

her for that . But He who had said , through ff the lips of His dear Son , Su er the little ” ones to come unto Me , was teaching little so ove rfl owe d Joan , until the love in her heart to all living things that even the beasts and

the birds were the better for it . And as for

- u the grown p people , there are two very touching traditions to Show us the kind of was child that She , though I have not found i them in the history books . It s told how a poor man came to her father ’ s door one sat winter night , when little Joan surrounded by her pets— dogs and kittens about her

knees , and a little squirrel cracking a nut

18 jean of A re . did not understand that madness may be just

a kind of illness , and that very tender care Should be taken of those who suffer from this ffl most terrible of all a ictions . The story tells how this poor fellow broke loose , and frightened all the children except Joan for he had an axe in his hand , and might have was killed them without knowing what he B i doing . u tJoan conquered the fear n her k heart . She had often been to tal to the in poor madman his cage , and had dressed his hand for him when two fingers had been o cut ff for a reminder not to hurt people .

And , besides, she thought more of the safety of the whole village than of her own safety ; sh e so talked gently and bravely to the man , l sh e unti he let her carry the axe , and then walked quietly hand in hand with him into the village and gave him up to those who could take care of him and prevent h imfrom doing harm That is what the story says , and whether it is true or not , it certainly " does sound just like Joan .

I i r m n for te to m M e e e wak i m n t. e a a kn d e to C e c c owe sh sp l l g s l s h s two trie . s o s Th e tr o a B rave Cniid . 1 S o y f 9

T h e King of France himself was at this time out of his mind , and it soon came to the knowledge of his people that his wife was betraying the kingdom to his enemies , so that it was in danger of passing away from the heir to the throne , the young Dauphin , to whom Joan and her neighbours were all loyal . So you see there was sorrow in the country , of which even the boys and girls gradually came to know ; and Joan , who loved everybody , and loved God most of all , had a

u . good deal to think abott But , then , is there any child who has n o P CHA TER II .

18 sa1d T of the people of Domremy , where

Joan lived , that they seldom die , never ” ’ . was lie Certainly it clear to all Joan s friends that sh e was true in word and in

Q r s wb h AQ QW Q ovedmal o all t p y e? y ears of her w Do you kno what that word splendid P our so really means . We use words carelessly f that We often orget . A splendid thing is a ’ shining , a brilliant thing . And Joan s life shone from beginning to end with an ever

purer, deeper reflection of the heavenly glory . If for one moment towards the last her light did wavered and fell , it but leap out again with a more dazzling splendour for that in

stant of eclipse , when the dark shadow of fear and perplexity had for just one second ’ /z e tr o a B r ve C/i iia . 2 1 T S o y f a passed across it an instant that makes every brave human heart love this noble girl the more ardently , because it brings home to us the fact that , though so courageous and self forgetting— a fit comrade for the angels sh e was ff but a simple girl who could su er and waver and lose her footing like other girls directly sh e lost for a second that divine e t faith which s her among the strongest and greatest of all time . She was true to her country and her God

— true always to those who trusted in her , even to the poor, weak , young Dauphin who m failed her so iserably . Indeed to him perhaps because She had helped to make him king— sh e had always a special tenderness and loyalty . For he was the man to whom the messenger of God sent her with a secret very precious to him , that in the strength of it sh e might cheer him on to rise and do God’ s bidding for the beautiful kingdom of h e France that s loved and saved . InWher first years she seems to have been a gay , insome little thing , singing and dan cing when Sh e was not praying talking to A r 2 2 jean of e.

it- or as Sh e God , called sweeping and wi se ing and help ng her mother about the house , and yet finding time to be kind to u the animals abo t the place , and make friends with the birds , and do kind things for the sick people . She seemed just like other e children , exc pt that She was more unselfish

- and tender hearted and good . sh e Then , when was thirteen years old , a surprising thing happened . Yet , after all , we ought not to be surprised at it in th e m least , when we re ember how the God who had answered Hannah when She prayed to Himtspoke afterwards to her little son in e m le was the p , when he waiting on the old priest there and how the angel of the Lord suddenly appeared once to a man who was threshing corn ; and how the angel broke S . Peter ’ s chains in the prison and how Christ Himself suddenly appeared to Saul in the road to Damascus ; not to speak of all the wonder ful things that happened in the life of our

Lord Himself. T was hen there Socrates too , that wise

Greek teacher, who often heard a Voice warn T t ’ /ze S ory of a B rave Cniia . ing him of the things it would not be well f or him to do or to say. I dare say children often hear and se e more won derful things than grown- up people would ever believe ; but although the Voices that taught Joan so much began to speak to sh e her while was still a child , they did not end with her childhood .

And now , no doubt , you are wondering “ ” was what this surprise that happened, o about which I have made s much talk . f To Joan hersel , at all events , it was a very 1n de e d great surp rl se .

was . Well , I will tell you what it When sh e was a little girl of thirteen She had one day been running races with ~the so so other children , and had run well and lightly that they declared her feet did not seem to touch the ground at all— she just seemed to fly . The prize for the best runner was to be a bunch of flowers . Perhaps they fl owe rs— were to be garden lilies and roses

- and pansies and clove pinks , not the sweet wild things that grew in the meadow where the children were playing at the time— but 2 4 jean of A rc . of that I know not what I do know is that all at once , when the race was over , and Joan was resting and recovering herself at the h w fart er end of the meado , yet hardly cer tain whether sh e was in the body or out of the body , which happens to us now and i n again moments of great excitement , she thought that there stood beside her a lad sh e did not guess at that moment that he might be a messenger from the heavenly country , for I suppose he looked much like the other young shepherds who sometimes e wh e n sh e cross d her path was tending her own sheep “ “ Joan , he said , go home , for your mother says she needs you .

Joan , always helpful to her mother , left her play and hurried home immediately ; was for it not the weather for wolves , and there do not seem to have been any soldiers

so h ad . about , that She no fears for her flock I wonder what would have happened if she had been a less dutiful little daughter , an d whether, if She had not obeyed , the angel visitor who was to meet her in her

' Tne S tr o a rave C/z iia . 2 o y f B 5

’ - father s garden close , finding she did not care

to leave her playmates for her mother , would then have passed on sadly to some

one else , and given his great commission

to some other maiden , or to some man ,

instead .

~ But for the moment , as sometimes hap

- pens to all of us , her right doing seemed only to lead her into unexpected pain ; for

her mother, who had not sent for her at all , on ly gave her a good scolding for running

home and leaving her sheep all alone . She was just thinking that a trick had

been played upon her, and that she would

go back to her companions , the other little

shepherdesses , when a bright cloud floated

across her eyes , and out of the cloud came a Voice telli that Sh e

Q Q h ust. . S e , ear Q - w m “f S ra-wn d aid the King QW ELQ A MW e i ’ man s dress , take up tain in

b .. er . y h advice . m

Three times the Voice came , and the A r 2 6 jean of e. third time sh e knew it for the voice of an angel of God .

Long afterwards, at her trial , when her f very li e hung in the balance , She was ques ’ tion d e very closely about it . Her father s garden- close lay between the cottage that was her home and the village church , where sh e loved to pray , and when the Voice came to her in the garden it seemed that , standing there between her home and her church , a bright light shone , on her right hand, to wards the church , while the Voice was speaking . It was in the bright noonday that the Sh e message came to her first , and for a while could not believe it to be true— itwas so be very , very astonishing . But it kept on ing repeated to her by day and by night until sh e no longer had any doubt at all .

She told no one about it , but pondered and pondered , and at last began to see what step h s e must first take . But even when sh e was quite sure that saw the message came from God , she great ffi th e di culties in way . Yes, even at the ’ Tae S tor a B rave C/z iia . 2 y of 7

u end of fo r years, patient , holy years of pre

aration ta km r r i n s e a ato p for her heavy p p through loving home cares and tenderness as to the sick and poor, and such devoutness made the young men laugh at her— sh e still “ oor irl said , I am a p g , who cannot ride and nursing and praying would seem a very strange way of preparing to save her country by leading armies into the field and advising the great men who were at the head of the nation . But it turned out otherwise ; for She who proved herself faithful and womanly in the little duties close to her hand , proved f aithful and skilful also , when the right time ffi came , in that which was great and di cult . Her gentle and pious home- life kept her un

to live afterwards with rough , coarse , vain sh e so people , was pure of heart , so beautiful i n o body and soul , that the d m ht one of her companions in ar s an a rg y us low soldier , has told how thoughts and feelings did not come into her presence . It is true that when the days of her cruel mar trdom an d y came she was insultedW W rudely handled ; but even then her virtue an d her CHAPTER III .

H u ie tte r a v OAN had a little f iend called ,

who loved her very much , and whom sh e an d as . loved , they grew up girls together Together they made their garlands from the “ beautiful may , when the thorn was white with blossom ; together they rambled about the woods and fields ; and when the day came for Joan to leave her home and go ’ i te H auv e t forth on God s errand , wept “ sorely . She loved her so much for her goodness ; and , indeed , we read of Joan that was She such that , in a way of speaking , all the people of Domremy were fond of her . They used to say that the very wolves never wsh e harmed the Sheep hile watched over them , and we hear that the birds used to come and feed from her lap . She liked to hear the bells of the church rung punctually , and used to please herself by giving the 3 o jean of A re.

bell- ringer little presents to keep him up

to his duty . Giving alms was her joy . But she did many far more self- denying deeds

than the giving of help in money . For

instance , she would lie on the floor all night , that those poorer than herself and more in need of a night ’ s rest might sleep in her

own little bed . And then , too , she seems

to have been a born nurse . Long after wards, when the people of her neighbour hood were questioned about her, Simonin Musn ie r , a labourer of Domremy , in telling Sh e how good and Simple and pious was , added that when he was a child it was sh e who nursed him through illness , for, said he , “ ” she liked to take care of the Sick ; and Me n e tte u g , who married another labo rer o rt a called Jy , and who used often to sit spinning beside Joan while Joan was spinning

too , told of her good manners , and how well h e brought up s was . w In these years of her girlhood , bet een

thirteen and seventeen , there seems to have been a young man who teased her to marry th e him ; but Joan did not love him in least ,

t A c un te n an c in ic ee o e w m h h did ” t. e tre r s ro ses as s e e e c w wo S d , p mi

Through all this time , and up to the day of her death , She found her greatest strength and happiness in that joyful act of worship in which sh e felt her own life fed and strengthened by the life and love of God .

CHAPTER IV . AVE you ever heard of the Song of Roland It is one of the great poems d of the worl , and though Joan lived in Lor th e re 1n raine , She had heard , I doubt not , m many and any a time , those words of the poem that Sing of “ la doulx pays de France h was the sweet land of France and t at wSh e the land for hich lived and died , and of which in her letters sh e often wrote in those very words In the four years of her girlh ood many messages came to her, brought by S . Michael ,

S . Margaret , and S . Catherine , helping her own thoughts an d guiding her in what she had to do ; and when the time came to go f was dire c orth with her armies , it by their u tion that She carried pon her banner, not the names of these messengers of her Master, but that of the Master Himself, Jesus, the 3 3 4 jean of A re.

Son of Mary, or, as it was written in Latin “ ” for all to understand , Jesu Maria . This name was inscribed on the ring Sh e had always worn— a ring such as the country people wore , which her mother and father had given her . The saints were her brothers and sisters ” in Paradise , she said , but her Master was ” Christ , and His name was the last name on h her lips when s e died . She would never describe to any one the precise appearance of S . Michael , but said that S . Margaret and S . Catherine came as she had seen them painted in the windows of the churches, except that they wore what she described as beautiful crowns . It was not till long afterwards , and in answer to questions from her enemies which sh e was obliged to answer, that she spoke at all of what they looked like : what mattered to her was not their appearance but their message . The story ran that long ago an angel had u bro ght to Domremy , the very village where n l — Joa lived , a phia of sacred oil the sacred ' Tlee t B r ve / S ory of a a C eiia . 3 5 amoule — p , as it was called with which ever afterwards every rightful King of France was anointed when he was crowned at

Reims . Joan was led to see that the Dauphin that is, as you will remember , the title given in France to the heir to the throne - must as soon as possible receive this anointing and o g h , M lish gg mg mn g crowning at Reims for thfl g

for lzim claim the whole country . You may by this time very naturally have forgotten that our had married . the th n ath e , , w i , French Princess , Cather ne and

un to doubt 3 6 jean of Are.

quite alone , he prayed very earnestly to have it made clear to him whether this really was so or not , though it was all so painful to him that he told no human being of this prayer .

But , of course , God knew , and because the young Dauphin had prayed in faith , He answered him in a very wonderful way ; for He told Joan about it , through the messengers He sent to her, and said that She must go and se e the Dauphin in pri sa G se t vate and y that og m hadm n her to h i t answer s praye and to tell himwhat his r was for re all was mother lying , he y the

u W0 1 ‘h that if he would follow the directions God would give him through this warrior- maid h i he Should yet save s kingdom . But how was a mere peasant girl to find wa her y into the presence of the young prince and obtain a private hearing P Could anything sound more wildly impossible

Moreover , her father had had a dream to ’ wears oe o s r ta e s it ize to/ n on /za a a e ww y f y size was calle - d to do a dream in which he

3 8 jean of A re .

really bade her go there , and that therefore nothing would prevent her arriving ; though sh e said that had sh e not been certain that the commands were really laid upon her, she would rather have been torn in pieces by horses than attempt an adventure so against the grain with her . Since her mother had told her of her father ’ s dread of any such undertaking from h e e t s s the time of his strange dream , her wits to work as to the best and most peace able way of getting to her journey ’ s end without too much upsetting the feelings of h those S e loved . N ow we have said that the goal of her was i journey four hundred and fifty m les V auc ou away , but at lm which would be th a first step in that direction , w’ tf wéli é iléS fd tf é i fl ‘ ’ ’ taiif R ertf ob O Baudri o t c ur , who had been

fih t1n g g in the wars of Lorraine as long as sh e could remember, and had had dealings with her father about village money matters , her father being one of the most important of the peasants in Domremy . Captain ' Tlee tr a B rave Cniia . S o y of 3 9

Robert would be able to give her help an d escort if sh e could only make him believe in

. was what She had to do But he a blunt , jocular man of the world and of the sword , and would be sure to laugh her to scorn if sh e knocked at his door alone and told him what She had come for . h e t Then s remembered that a ,

m a s s in D uran l is tat sa a ta g e wyém ess a a man so much older than Joan that She so called him uncle ; , knowing that a little help and nursing would soon be required in was their home , where a child expected sh e before long , She asked if might go there

h e for a while and be of what use s could . was Sh e This She allowed to do , and then , ith this so suade d

She never thought about herself, but only so of what She had to do , and it came to pass sh e that , although modest and courteous, was sh neither y nor clumsy , but had always noble and direct manners that se ther at ease in any company alike with peasants and with 40 joan of A re.

kings . All men to her , whether rich or ’ poor, learned or Simple , were just God s children , to be helped and comforted and aroused to do His will . The kingdom of

France , she knew, like all other kingdoms , belonged to God ; the Dauphin was to be just God’ s servant and hold it in trust for B Him . She asked Captain audricourt to tell the Dauphin that God would give him use help in the coming spring , or, to her “ - — own exact words , in Mid Lent that is to say , in March It is not surprising that Captain Robert not only refused to take any such message , but advised Lassois to box h e r ears and take her home to her father . He r first visit to him was and later in the year the English compelled the p e op le of to a l e six m “ Domremy to withdraw p ac , iles away , where lived the young man who had ’ . oan s seczo u pwd wished to marry Joan BeforetJ , o 1 1 h e l w t 1 visit to Captain R ber , fol o ing ’ d f e tr sa o s , m h rwcoun spring She heard news y

a . to a h ic h . - s wn w. wa plight ; for Orleans, , . as th atart it were , the key to p of France , still be S ta B rave cone. 1 T ory of 4

h emme d oun d true to the Dauphin , was mrj by held out If skirts . Orleans surrendered to the foe , there would be little chance that the Dauphin could keep the other cities in which he took

BloiS . pleasure , such as and Tours and Chinon CHAPTER V ROU ND about Orleans were twelve or wthirteen bastilles , tall mounds of earth cro ned with high palisades , into which the o English soldiers were packed , and fr m which they discharged their weapons .

The beautiful city , fronted by the river and crowned with towers , was well found in was guns , and had high strong walls but it believed that the English had mined the outworks, and the French had deserted the “ ” outer boulevard and strong little towers

tre es ( on /l ) that would have protected their bridge from the English armies . To Joan what seemed saddest of all perhaps was the — e t fact that the Duke of Orleans ims lffr h e pfl q warrior z z rwas n as well as a priso er mean

tobe r 0c o is -m m u Things had , c om t th 1 2 8 4 , and Joan had said that in the follow ’ /z e tr a B rave Clz iia . T S o y of 43

that the help was to be th sen t rough her, poor and simple though was sh e She , and She felt that dared no longer delay . It was then that with a full heart sh e tore herself away from home and friends and went forth , knowing from her heavenly messengers that but little more than a year would be hers for the great

deeds She had to do . Never again was sh e to se e the little cottage by the church where all her childhood had been Spent , or the

- flowers in the garden close that lay between , the wheel where sh e satspinning with H auvie te t f , or the oak orest on the hill , or the fairy tree and the great hawthorn where sh e had so often made garlands with

the rest of her playfellows . “ It must be farewell to her dear mother ; to the meadows where She had run races for chaplets of flowers . Hers was to be ‘ ’ the immortal garland , the imperishable ’ crown of divine and undying love ; for h as One said , Be ye faithful unto death , 44 jean of A re.

ou and I will give y that crown , not of

death , but of life .

Often now, except for the comfort of Sh e lon eli God , would have such trial and ness of spirit as would make the hard - n marches and the arrow wounds , and eve the touch of the flames at the last , lighter pain than the pangs of what she endured from misunderstanding and treachery and cow ardic e on the part of those Sh e was trying to lead and uplift and save . Many a time in Sh e that short year was almost worshipped , and many a time there were happy hours of comradeship and success ; but spite and jealousy lay in wait for her, and the young Da Sh e prince , the uphin”, whom loyally loved and served even to the death , was hesitating when he Should have been res

- olute , lazy and pleasure seeking when he r he ought to have da ed all things , and let Slip n1ne- tenths of the glorious chances that at such great cost she was to place in his

hands .

When she set out upon her journey, she had n otthe heart to say farewell to her little

46 jean of A re . One day in the second week of February

th e a hin . mother, and was loyal to D up She “ was wearing , we are told , her poor red ’ ” woman s dress ; but you must picture her to yourself as very tall, and white with the lovely healthful whiteness of a white rose . Her black hair was Short and curly like a ’ boy s , and it has been said of her , in ’ Chaucer s beautiful words , that she was ” ta lt. ta fl o r an d u r as bo wee as we S p igh She had not been cast down by Captain ’ Robert s scorn , for the heavenly messengers had foretold that she would meet unbelief

. . hn and insult On the eve of S Jo , before

se t - c a she out on to _Yau p

’ Le buin leurs , she had said to Michael , a boy own of her age , There is a girl between Coussey and Vaucouleurs who within the year will have the king crowned at Reims , a prophecy which was remembered when early in the following year Sh e led the Dauphin into

Reims for his coronation . And to another ’ Ttie t B v i . a ra e /ta S ory of C i 47 of her comrades she had said that Sh e would ” res tore France and the royal line . She was equally clear and resolved in her conversation with Jean de Metz . “ Ma me He said to her, , what are you doing here Must the king be walked out h is of kingdom , and must we all be Eng lish Sh e I am come , cried , to a royal towtn to ask Robert de Baudricourt to lead o the kmg . But Baudricourt cares nothing N for me and for what I say ; none the less I - if must be with the king by Mid Lent , I

w. 0 wear my legs do n to the knees N man

— in the world kings nor dukes, nor the daughter of the Scottish king— can recover the kingdom of France ; nor hath our king any succour save from myself, though I w. ould liefer be sewing by my poor mother

For this deed is not convenient to my station . u Yet go I must, and this deed I m st do , ” because my Lord so wills it . Who is your Lord

MLod 1s . y r God , said the Maid “ “ h owwe we Oh ll can understand the A r 48 jean of e.

ln l great throb that -. ¥ a soldier’ s heart at the brave faith and cer “ tn ai ty of that reply , as the clear, beautiful eyes looked honestly in his without base fear or foolish consciousness of self. In one of Tennyson ’ s poems there are lines which say of Sir Galahad and the sister of Sir Percival that She

laid h er min d

On an d h e be eve in h er be e f. him, li d li

That was what happened now to Jean de ’ . f h is an d Metz Joan s fervent aith awoke , ” he believed in her belief. “ ” w“ w Then I , Jean , he ans ered , s ear to you , Maid, my hand in your hands, that I ,

God helping me , will lead you to the king , ” and I ask when you will go l

- - sh e Better to day than to morrow, ” - said better to morrow than later . CHAPTER VI .

T had been thought that help would come from Scotland ; for a French poet sent there by the Dauph m had pleaded that the n ete bO d w b e n France and Scotland was ’ written on men s hearts an d traced notin

ttheir b . ink bu in lood He had pleaded well . there followed a betrothal between

Margaret , the infant daughter of the Scotch ’ king James , and the Dauphin s little son

Louis . g g in E s, this very year in which Jean de

Metz swore to help the Maid in her mission , had promised to send a great army of th e men to help the French and accompany little Princess Margaret . This army was to ove arrive in May ; and if that did noMt pr E t ou h h en g to overawe the nglish , en King ames of Scotland himself would follow Joan had learned from the heavenly 4 50 joan of A re .

Voices that the hope was a false one , and that was what she meant when Sh e said there “ would come no aid from the daughter of ” Scotland . n n otar The little Pri cess Margaret did rive {Qi é’ e rm r at a _ n ey e ti zz n years, and the great y , , all Since Captain Robert de Baudricourt seemed determined not to help Joan in any

“ Sh e c walk way , de ided to try to to Chinon ’ to find the Dauphin ; so she pwwman s tand e t ffi of a S t ire , out on that di cult journey

‘ OV CI ndre . Sh e four hu d . miles But wisely saw afterwards that Sh e would do better to return to Vaucouleurs and wait until she had a uffic s ient escort . She did not , therefore , at this time go beyond the Shrine of S .

Nicholas , near Nancy . Meanwhile the Duke of Lorraine heard

9 of her, and sent for her to gq 1 him at tNancy . He sent a letter which would pro e t c her by the way ; a horse was bought for her, and Jean de Metz and Durand de Lassois Lassois rode with her as far as Toul , all the way . This Duke of Lorraine was ’ : t li i a 1 Ta S ory of a B rave C i . 5

- in - law the father of that famous King ” é Ren , of whom you may have heard as surrounded by a gay court of artists and minstrels d a n d i ll The duke was g l , and seems to have looked to Joan for some kind of magic cure ; but of his illness Sh e told him she had

no knowledge , although , if he would lend

- - - t her his son in law René and some men a

sh e e . arms, would pray for his h alth

He gave her a black horse , but not very much other help . Meanwhile it seems that God gave Joan a way by which to convince at last the obstinately unbelieving Captain

de Baudricourt . It is said at least that on February 12

she went to this Captain Robert and said , “ In God ’ s name you are too Slow in send ing me ; for this day near Orleans a great

disaster has befallen the gentle Dauphin , and worse fortune he will have unless you send ” me to him . Now that day was the day on which the Dauphin ’ s friends suffered a great defeat at

Rouvray , though in those times news took 5 2 jean of A re . so long to travel that Robert had not heard of it , and Joan could not possibly know by : was any earthly means he sure of that, even when he did hear of it some days afterwards . Most likely this made him feel certain that was Joan no ordinary country lass , no mere

- on fide n t c vain , self deceiver, but a creature inspired either by God or by some evil power . a R o e rs So while she was st ying with the y , and sh e and Madame Royer were sitting quietly at home together, in came Captain Robert and a certain priest whom he had probably brought for the purpose , and put on ting his stole , the priest exclaimed to the “ Maid , If thou be a thing of evil , begone ” f us i l rom ; if a th ng of good , approach us

And Joan drew near upon her knees . Joan said to Madame Royer that this was ill done of the priest , for he knew from her confessions that sh e was in the service of God and not of the devil ; but it may be was h is c on vin that , after all , it just way of

r . cing Captain Robert of this ve y fact If so , it succeeded entirely ; for it was after this 1n c ide n t that the unbelieving Robert , Captain

54 jean of A re . also the King ’ s messenger and Richard the

Archer . Her friends came forth rejoicing that She so had won over many doubting hearts , yet fearing for her the troublous condition of ” the roads . All the ways , they said , are ” - - beset with men atarms . B t “ u She answered , The way is made clear before me . I have my Lord, who makes the path smooth to the gentle ” Dauphin , for to do this deed was I born . Beside this great and noble faith it was a small thing that as the Maid of France , our brave Joan , rode out of the Gate of

n 1 h t France , ere the g fell through which an d She her little company travelled, the bluff Captain Robert presented her with a sword , saying , Go your ways then , and let come what may V CHAPTER I I . JOAN had all the beauty of perfect health “ health of mind and body , and of a soul ’ lit with God s fire . Her grace was the grace of untiring energy and a young knight , Guy h e r h is de Laval , writing of to mother, said, de s on aiet She seems a thing all divine, f , and to se e and hear her . We read of her : Her courtly man ner of address and salutation sh e seemed to have learned from her crowned and gracious lady saints . She loved a good horse , a good knight , and a good sword , and She loved to go richly clad . We have come now to a very exciting was point in her adventures, for at last She to give God’ s message to the young king h i and arouse him to s duty . You will remember it has already been was said that it in answer to his secret prayer A r 56 jean of e.

"re of faith , known , as thought , only to him self and Him to whom he prayed , that God was sending Joan to him . But although Joan knew before Sh e left Vaucouleurs that she would have aSign from Heaven to con vince . the King , I cannot tell you at what moment the heavenly Voices explained all this to her . I only know that the promise was kept, and that to Charles, the young n — u Ki g the Da phin , as he had hitherto been

— it called seemed very wonderful ; for his prayer , passionate though it was , had not even been put into words, but uttered only

own . in the depths of his soul Therefore you may easily imagine how amazing it was 1t e 1n n 1n to find that was known from b g g to end to a peasant girl who had come four hundred and fiftymiles to bring him God ’ s answer, though he had never in his life seen her before . Captain Robert had bound over the men wh o accompanied Joan on her journey to

Chinon , to guard her and bring her safely to ’ her journey s end . B utthere seems to have

been little need of any such bond , for they JOAN o Afz

’ tr r ve lz iia . Tbe S o y of a B a C 5 7 felt her goodness too deeply to do other wise , and had she been their sister they could not have reverenced her more . But as she approached the Castle of

Chinon , where the young King Charles was dwelling , a man on horseback , seeing a ’ young maid riding up in man s attire , began , with an oath , to insult her . “ ’ Sh e re In God s name , do you swear, so 3 plied , and you near your death Within the hour the man fell into the w— ater probably , according to the latest his

— torian , into the castle moat and he was drowned .

By the way , in the journey to Chinon , the Maid and her friends had stopped at one v of ery interwesting place , the little town Fierbois , here there was a little chapel dedicated to S . Catherine . In this chapel a book has been kept , full of the wonderful stories of those who had been healed and helped . This book contains an account of what happened a little while afterwards to

Michael Hamilton , a Scotsman , who was very devoted to S . Catherine , but had been A re 5 8 jean of .

hanged as a highway robber . In the night the village priest heard a Voice telling him

to go and cut the rope . The priest dis obeyed ; but after his Easter service was over

he sent his servant to take a look round , and ’ the servant dug h is penknife into Michael s f toe . To his amazement he ound the man

kicked , and was certainly alive . He , Michael , was was not only cut down , but nursed and re tended , and , though not without the minder of a box on the ear from some in ie rbois visible power, made a pilgrimage to F

t . and se his name to the tale Joan was not afraid of robbers during her journey . She told her companions they need “ have no fear , for her brothers of Paradise

taught her always what She Should do , and was it now four or five years Since they and her Lord had told her that She must go ” to the war for the recovery of France . was Only it a trouble to her that in this hostile country they could not go to Mass . When She reached Fierbois sh e wrote to n the Dauphi , asking him to grant permission

. h is to her to enter town of Chinon , saying

V CHAPTER III . I CT U RE to yourselves a royal presence

chamber, brilliantly lighted with fifty flaming torches and crowded with a gay assembly— three hundred knights among them— all dazzling in velvet and cloth of gold Slashed with crimson and blue ; alto gether an imposing crowd to one who had spent her life in a little country village m soldiers , statesmen , and bishops , a ong the th e A latter rchbishop of Reims , who after wards injured the Maid so deeply .

Into this throng , from the darkness of the

night , ushered by Louis de Bourbon , the V en dOme Count de , came the tall peasant ’ girl with the sweet , gay smile , in her page s — a dress of gray and black Short, coarse , gray

ic - tun , and a black cap on her close cropped

black hair . We have it from an eye-witness that she ’ n t a i T e S ory of a B r ve C/z i a . 6 1 m did not lose her presence of ind , but came

forward with great humility and simplicity ,

saying to the King, h Most noble Lord Daup in , I come from ” God to help you and your realm . She made her way at once to Charles f himsel , though some accounts say that he had been disguised so that his court might observe for themselves whether it was true Sh e that , as had said , She should know him

Sh e . at Sight , as indeed did w Then the young King dre her aside , and after talking with her apart for a long time , seemed to be refreshed with joy by what he had heard . Well indeed might that be ; for whereas he had in his secret heart solemnly entreated God that if he was the rightful heir to the crown of France— which he himself had privately doubted— h e might be as protected, helped, and saved , Joan came a messenger from Him to whom the prayer ff was had been o ered , to tell him that he indeed that rightful heir , and Should have the aid and protection that he had im~ plore d. But of all these things it was thought best to explain nothing to the court , or , indeed ,

h tk s atm t n h ad h S ou ld n o th oa en g h e w t ag that " y j which th w se n th tom elp wand Sh e ed in ca was lodg the stle of Coudray , ’ S part of the King palace , under the guardian ship of Bellie r an d his wife— people connected with the court .

Louis de Coutes , a boy of fourteen or n fiftee , of poor but noble family , French on ’ ’ the father s Side and Scotch on the mother s , was given her for a page . saw He often her praying alone and weep

an d a lantwawc oura e . m g l g It was now that she first met one who was to be a dear and faithful friend to her .

This was the Duke of Alencon . He had been taken prisoner at Verneuil, and had not s long come back , when , while Shooting quail in the marshes one day , he heard that Joan t a B rave 6 Tli e S ory of 3

s had arrived and was with his kin man , King

Charles . Next day he was introduced to her at the

castle .

Sir, she said , you are welcome . The more of the blood Royal we have together the ” better .

The day afterwards , after Mass , he dined with Joan and the King and a funny fat old T ré moille soldier called La , who had always

a very bad influence over King Charles . I should have liked to hear all that passed

- at that little dinner party of four . It has been well said that the swift changes in Joan ’ s life make a story more wonderful than the

Arabian Nights . After the little party of four had talked

and dined , they went out into the meadows so to try the horses, and Joan won the heart ’ of D Ale n con by the way in which Sh e

managed her lance , and by her graceful

horsemanship , that he made her a present of

a horse . From that time forth they became

. eean due good comrades She called him her , and his wife became one of her best friends . A r 64 jean of e.

Once he owed his life to Joan , and once an even deeper debt , for , being a brave , true man , he was not ashamed to confess that there was a moment when his courage f b tf r would have ailed him u o her. CHAPTER IX . D ’ ALE NCON had heard Joan deliver very

grave orders to her Prince , by the com mand , I suppose , of her heavenly counsellors . was He , the Dauphin , who already regarded as king by those who were loyal , was to h is place country in the hands of God , and receive it back from Him with a new oath

. was of obedience to the King of kings He to live a better life , be merciful , grant a general pardon , and be a good master to rich and poor , friend and enemy alike . S sh e an spoke out boldly , for was

anguish of compassion an d her anxiety were ff all for her downtrodden and su ering country , especially for those who were beleaguered in

Orleans . Certainly both king and country were in 6 6 oan o A re j f .

. was great straits Orleans heavily besieged ; f and if that city fell , all was likely to all into

the power of the enemy .

Joan , who had been warned that her power of helping would be spanned by one short

year or a little more , wept bitterly at the long delays and councils before the over cautious and hesitating King would let her

take action . Even in the beginning of this 1 2 — on year of 4 9 , it was said and no doubt her own authority— that after the relief of Sh e was Orleans to achieve two more feats ,

and then to die .

Yet the King still dallied , and would have her cross- questioned by learned old doctors

at Poitiers, to make clear to everybody con cerned that he was not mixed up with

witchcraft of any kind . Some of these learned men wished to make

her perform a miracle to please them . “ ’ ” “ In God s name , she said , I did not come to Poitiers to work miracles " Take us to Orleans , and I will Show you the Signs me n . few of my sending Give me or many , ” and I go .

6 8 jean of A re.

as ou se e armour, such y in the pictures, with helmet and gorget and corselet all complete , a kind of Skirt of steel open in the centre ” for freedom in riding . We read that the steel sleeves had plates with covered hinges to guard the elbows ; there were steel

- - gauntlets , thigh pieces , knee joints, greaves,

- and steel shoes . The horse , a heavy weight h is carrier, had chamfron of steel , and the saddle rose high at the pommel and behind

. li ne ae the back A g , or cloak of cloth of gold , velvet , or other rich material , was worn over the armour . Can you imagine wh at it must have been to go clothed in all this heavy weight of P or s ix da s on end on c e . steelf y , as Joan did

Strength of body was given to her , and sh e great strength of soul . Often prayed prayed from the depths of hwer being ; and truly from such prayer flo s forth such strength as can never be used up or come to an end . s Ridicule was le s than nothing to her , for v continually her heavenly isitors , with their great courtesy and gentle ways , brought her ’ Ta tr B r ve /z iia . 6 e S o y of a a C 9 such comfort and courage that Sh e kissed the ground where they had stood, and wept when f they le t . She knew that without help from above it would have been madness for her , an ignorant , untrained peasant girl , to ride forth at the head of the army for she had common sense and humour , and saw things as they actually were , not through a rosy mist . sh e lzad Sh e w But the help , and kne that ’ r all the heavenly Voices bade her do She

ould have strength and guidance , whether

life or for death . She had only to do hat sh e was told until Sh e joined her ” brothers in Paradise . CHAPTER X . ND now I am going to tell you a delight ful and wonderful story You remember what we read of the Church ? of S . Catherine at Fierbois box Well , inside a big in the great altar of that church there was a sword , but no one on earth remembered it was there ; for — ff as the big box the great co er, it was respectfully called— had not been opened for twenty years . Joan received a message from Heaven to sa y that it was there , and that it was the Sword She must carry with her all through her battles . ie rbois She wrote to the churchmen at F , asking them to let her have it . Only think how astonished they must have been ' But perhaps they thought that here was a good chance for seeing whether Joan was the ’ l tr r e S o y of a B ave Cniia . 7 1

me s true Maid of France , and whether her sages really came from Him in whose honour s churches and altar were built . h So they set to work to search and searc ,

until the sword was found .

Joan , I think , had not been told that it was inside the altar , but rather expected it to be found in front or behind ; so probably it may have been some time before they dis covered it .

But it was found at last . It was a great , heavy , rusty sword with five crosses on it , and when the churchmen had it rubbed up ff the rust soon came o . They gave Joan a sheath for it , and sent it to her by a mer

of wh o . chant Tours sold armour I suppose the people of Tours may have wanted to have a share in the goodwill and the glory , or , better than that , to give a Sign of th e ir love for the Maid and their trust in h e r sh e us undertaking , for tells that they two gave her sheaths, one of red velvet and one of cloth of gold . But velvet and gold were less fitting than the strong leather sheath f it that She hersel had made for . 72 jean of A re.

- About the twenty second of April , Joan came to know that she Should be wounded at

Orleans , but not mortally , and this she told Fle mm in the King . A g the diplomatic service mentioned it in one of his letters , dated just a fortnight before the event came true , and the letter Still remains for those who care to read it . It was the King ’ s wish that Joan Should have a household of distinguished attendants .

So she had two pages , Louis de Coutes and Pas ue ral Raymond ; a good man named q , of the order of our own S . Augustine , who would in England have been called her ’ d Aulon chaplain perhaps ; and Jean , her equerry , a faithful and loyal servant , ever “ me n at her Side , and one of the best in ” . z the kingdom As for Jean de Met , or N ovelo o t n n p as he was ofte called , he was her treasurer . Joan wished her soldiers to be true knights Sh e of God , and used her powerful influence - for it was very powerful through her great faith and the holiness of her life— to help them to cure themselves of swearing and t ld T/i e S ory of a B rave Chi 73

other bad habits , and become in all ways better men while they se rved under her

banner .

It was a beautiful standard that she bore ,

for S . Catherine and S . Margaret had told

her how it was to be designed , and had bidden her take it and bear it valiantly Our Lord was there represented with the world in His hand , and on each Side there was an angel , not as her guardian , but for the glory of God . Over the pure white linen T h ground were scattered the Fren ch lilies . e u motto , as we have said before , was Jes

Maria .

T h e Maid , who never slew any man , even Sh e in the thickest of the battle , where rode so fearlessly , carried this beautiful standard Sh e in her hand , that might never have to strike any one with the sword . CHAPTER XI . 0 not let it confuse you that throughout

this story , to prevent the continual repetition of her name , Joan is often spoken “ ” as sh e of the Maid , because in history has long been known as the Maid of Or ” leans .

In her company , among her good and true men , there rode with her to Blois one man was who not true to her , and whose spite against her later may have arisen from the fact that it seems likely She discovered him in an action very unworthy of h is religion

- e n a false , self serving action for his own ri h me t c n . This was the Archbishop of

Reims, of whom we shall hear again later . At Blois the Maid’ s company met men and supplies , and were joined by many ’ priests and soldiers inspired by Joan s faith h ar in what s e regarded as a Holy W.

n A re 76 jea of . necessary to explain a little the position of

Orleans , and the plan that had been made . It had been arranged that Joan ’ s forces should not attempt the main gate where T albot and Suffolk were in command of the

u - besieging armies , but march p stream to a point where the French could help them with boats to reach the little V illage of

Checy , which would make easy an attack

on the eastern or Burgundian gate , while the garrison issued forth to surround the

English fortress of S . Loup hard by . Butthere was no use of steam in those

days , and it was perilous to make plans

that were at the mercy of the wind . When

Joan and her people arrived , it was blowing

down - so hard stream that the boats could not ascend the river ; and every moment of in delay was a danger , for if they paused their march the English leaders could easily

cross the river from their main gate , pro tee red by the guns of the Ch arle mayn e f ort . Joan was not inclined to waste time in ceremonies when Dunois rode up to meet tr a B rave cane. Tne S o y of

her at the Tourelles , where there was a B ti sa u t necessary halt . is only fair to y sh e that the title by which addressed him , though it did not sound very polite , was the title he usually bore . He told her how welcome was her com h e Was s ing , and replied , it you who gave counsel to come by this bank of the river, so that I cannot go Straight against Talbot and the English ? I and those wiser than I gave that counsel , and I think it is the wiser way and ” the safer . “ ’ In God s name , the counsel of our Lord is wiser and safer than yours . You think to deceive me , and you deceive yourself ; for I bring you better rescue than ever came to knight or city , the succour of the King of ” Heaven .

behold , in the very moment in which

became favourable— so favourable that the 78 jea n of A re.

- of in two others, such an unheard thing those

days that it was spoken of as a miracle . D unois was most anxious to take Joan

into Orleans at once , where the people were eagerly expecting her ; so Sh e sent back some " of her trusty-leaders to inspirit and guide the

main part of the army , which must needs return to Blois for further convoy of cattle sh e and grain , while entered at last the town

w. where her heart had long d elt

She hated bloodshed, and determined to take every possible step for a peaceful sur ’ render of Orleans into the King s hands .

fl w" ” h the eh e rarm c C waS S b th i , e ause harles tru eir ,

i t h e e d e a d t th Mai re e dm h S v n d tad a , , lgdwa had he would enter Paris in If ’ ' '’ " th e f i td er - e S e th efé ea s st y , l do ; but if they obeyed , they might join the French in glorious deeds— meaning in truth

a crusade . Three times the summons was WW W

all 1n 1 . repeated, but it was m va n “? The fitti o rs me , the letter was carried int tr o B rave Ch ild . Tli e S o y f a 79

the English camp by a herald , whom they

threatened to burn . The h e Maid herself ad dressed leaders in the fort of the Tou relles at the end of the bridge ; but they ” called her Milkmaid , and threatened to

tier . burn as made with an army at the knowledge that o sh e must fight her way tvictory . i th WWr om e F c ng , rench forces within the town had been crippled by fear

lznrralzs and indolence , and the wild of the English round about their walls struck need

less panic into their midst . The Maid brought faith and hope with an d her from the first , and faith hope spell

strength and courage . The night before her entry into the city sh e had slept at

Reuilly , and there her host , Guy de Cailly , saw the three angels who were with her ; and no doubt the news of that would be

carried into the city with her, though in

- deed her own high hearted, self forgetful m spirit was the best enforce ent of all . 8 rc 0 form of A .

Crowds of people came out to meet her , as sh e entered Orleans under cloud of

Sh e was . splendidly mounted On her left e e e sid rod Dunois . Th y were surrounded by troops of men bearing flaming torches, and rode slowly , while round about them the “ people made such joy as if they saw God descend among them ; and not without ff reason , for they hatd su ered sorely , and, what is worse , had lit le hope of succour, but to feared lose their lives and goods . But n ow they were comforted as if the siege a were lready raised , thanks to the divine virtue which dwelt , as they had been told , e a in the simple Maid . Lovingly th y g zed

— wan d . on her men , omen , little children t e to And here was marvellous pr ssing touch ~ sh e so - her as rode , much that a torch bearer came so n e ar her standard that it caught fire . sh e Then struck the spurs into her horse , sh e and lightly turned him on the standard , and crushed out the flame , as one might do ” that had long followed the wars . They all went rejoicingly to the Church JO A N ’ S T R I U M E N T R Y I N T O O R L

CHAPTER XII .

U NOI S , who seems to have been as

businesslike as he was gentle , was care ful to give the people of Orleans a receipt th e for what y had lent him to pay the garrison and the captains who were to serve the Maid in his absence ; and then , having taken care that th e place was well pro ‘ u visioned till his ret rn , he set forth to meet the convoy from Blois , while Joan made a display of cavalry in the meadows to cover his movement .

Meanwhile all the men , women , and chil dren were so eager to see her that they sh e thronged the house where lodged , andt almost broke in the door . Her loving hear prompted her to step forth therefore , and ride through the town surrounded by her “ u sq ires, and we read that the folk , who marvelled to see what a graceful horse ' ’ t B r é r zt Tfie S o y of a avo C a . 8 3

sh e woman was , could not have enough of th e the sight of her . On following day , 2 f May , a great multitude of them ollowed while she reconnoitred the English positions ; and on May 3 the garrisons of neighbouring towns came in , and news arrived of the army f and convoy rom Blois , who were met at dawn by Joan and La Hire and five hundred

fighting men . They skirted the forest at the back of the city , and slipped in through a gap between the two forts of S . Loup and Paris h it te c (not to be confused , of course , with y of that name) . Dunois gave Joan news that Fastolf was bringing help for the English , and in the “ sh e u gayest mood replied to D nois , If you I do not let me know when he arrives , will have your head 1

Then , being tired with her long ride , she lay down to rest . But suddenly she leaped up out of her sleep , sure that her heavenly Voices were calling her forth once more to in labour and to fight , but not yet certain which direction she must ride . ’ D Aulon jumped up— for he was also rest o A rt 84 form f . ing— and in all haste began to help her to put on her armour ; and even while he was so i doing , he heard the people outside cry ng

was Then , while he buckling on his own armour, the Maid slipped out of the room , sh e exclaiming to her page , whom met on the stairs, Ha, you will not tell me when the blood of France is being spilt P— Bring h e my horse . When he came back s called h for her banner also , which he anded to her through the upper window, that no time was might be lost , and she away in a flash to the farthest gate of the town , where the was noise loudest , sparks flying from the ’ stones beneath her horse s shoes .

Her men followed , and in the gateway they met a sorely wounded man , Joan ex se e claiming , I never French blood spilt ” but my hair rises with horror .

The fort was easily taken , and many prisoners fell into their h ands who had put

on priestly vestments found in the steeple .

Joan spared their lives , covering her mercy

8 6 form of A rc . and they thought they would hide from her a little stratagem they were planning ; but it was u se sh e knew of no , for , though none had told her . So they had , after all , to take h er fully into their counsels and follow her r di bidding . There we e with them many s tin i u sh e d g men , one of them with a name which may amuse you , for he was usually called Hugh come with the penny . CHAPTER "III .

S for Joan , whatever the skirmishing or “ sh e fighting , never gave way , unless ” off sh e was carried wounded at nightfall . The next step towards relieving the city

— it be done till the Fort Augustine s advance ’ — h ad e n guard as it were b e stormed . That was successfully done in a very spirited attack led by Joan . She was wounded that day in f was the oot , and though it a Friday , and sh e sh e usually fasted that day , felt it right and wise to take supper with the rest , that sh e might be prepared for the night attack by which the English might have recovered sh e their advantage , and was up very early on the morning of May 7 . - sh e Rise with the dawn to morrow , “ said to those about her, and you will do

- even better than to day . Keep close by me , Ar 88 form of c . becaus e to- morrow I shall have much to do more than ever I had— and blood will flow ” from my body above my breast . Now let us realiz e what had yet to be

done . The flower of the English army , six Mole n s hundred men under De y , Poynings , Glasdalc and , held the remaining forts , the T as of ourelles , they were called , at the end that b ridge over the Loire from which the

English must at all costs be driven out . And these forts were very strong ; such were the moats and walls that they might have been of x held against an onset si thousand . They

might well scorn Joan and her handful , though it is true sh e had brave men with

her and a goodly company . The Tourelles

itself, I must remind you once more , was the name given to a stone fort of two towers on an arch of the bridge which divided the city f th e rom the invading forces , and on city side this had been strengthened by a boule

vard or outwork , and also by a gap made in the bridge itself (through the destruction of

one arch) , the gap being protected by the

outwork , which had high walls , needing to

B r e ot/d 8 e tor o a av C . Tb S y f 9

- be attacked with scaling ladders, and made of earth and fagots . It will give some idea of its strength to mention that in the previous October two hundred and forty Englishmen had been slain in their attempt to take possession of it ; only by mining it had their comrades at last succeeded in gain ing it . th At sunrise on the 7 , Joan heard Mass , “ and seeing a man bring a se a- trout for f “ her break ast , she said to her host , Keep ’ oaon it for supper, for I will bring you a g ’ ” t/ — o ze orio e a later , and will come back y g remarkable thing to say since the bridge had been broken down . All day the townsfolk busied themselves in arranging for the repair of the broken arches and the great assault on the Tou relles .

The Maid had with her, as has been said ,

a brilliant company , but they were more than matched by a more numerous and equally distinguished array of leaders on the s ide of the enemy , who spent their day in s f preparing their powerful gun in the orts , 90 form of A rc.

“ was among which one ancient Long Tom , that could cast stone balls of eighty pounds

weight across the river into Orleans . Of

guns, bows and arrows, and unflinching

courage , they had plenty . Early in the morning the French com c its pani s, each with own assault , were u swarming over the walls in multit des . “ And wwell the English fought ; for the French ere scaling at once in various places , in thick swarms , attacking on the highest parts of their walls , with such hardi

a se e hood and v lour, that to them you would have thought they deemed themselves im mortal . But the En glish drove them back m any times , and tumbled them from high to low, fighting with bowshot and gunshot , with axes , lances , bills , and leaden maces , so and even with their fists, that there was ” some loss in killed and wounded .

r1sm Ladders were g , men were climbing

; them ; the ladders were overthrown , or the climbers were shot , or smitten , or grappled with and dashed into the fosse ; while the air whirred to the flight of arrows and bolts,

2 rt or o A 9 f m f .

to lose heart, and think it might be weeks

was . before the fort taken Then clear and sweet rang forth the voice of that wounded girl Doubt not , ” the place is ours . Yet even the gentle and courageous Dunois all had lost hope of victory that day , and he ordered the recall to be sounded . ” But then , he tells us , the Maid came to me , and asked me to wait yet a little sh e while . Then mounted her horse , and went alone into a vineyard, some way from th e h e s throng of men , and in that vineyard abode in prayer for about half a quarter of T sh e an hour . hen came back , and straight way took her standard into her hands and planted it on the edge of the fosse . When the English saw her of whom they spoke was the wounded witch , standing once more here she had stood since early morn “ ing, they shuddered , and fear fell upon are them These the very words of Dunois ,

saw. who them CHAPTER XIV .

H E T trumpets sounded the recall , and the wso French ere retreating , that the ’ English , after their day s hard fighting , were full of gladness . T h en the standard- bearer tof the Maid o handed on his precious trust a Basque , at the command of De Villars, that it might be borne back with the French host in their withdrawal , though hitherto he had been ’ holding Joan s fl ag aloft in the front of the attack on the boulevard during the short time that sh e herself was absent praying in the vineyard . ’ D Aulon sawa this happen just s Dunois ’ had , at the Maid s entreaty , countermanded the retreat . He felt how much depended for on that glorious standard which , the

ff - at— great a ection the men arms bore to it , might still make possible a rally to storm A rt. 94 form of

th e boulevard , and he cried out to the B “ asque , If I dismount , will you follow me “ I will , was the reply .

At this moment the Maid returned , just ’ D Aulon as , springing from his saddle and holding off a shower of arrows with his

shield , had sprung into the ditch and up the

other side , followed by the Basque , who was now hidden in the ditch , only the flag in his hand being visible . Notwithstanding his s purpose , and fearing that her tandard was lost or betrayed , Joan seized the floating end

of the flag , exclaiming , Ha my standard ” my standard " waving it wildly like a

- at- signal for onset , so that all the men arms ’ D Aulon gathered for attack . , wondering at the delay , for the Basque was out of his sight in the ditch , cried out in blame to the latter, saying , ' “ t P /zzr Is what you promised me . The Basque then tore the flag out of the

hands of the Maid , ran through the ditch , ’ B Aulon th e and stood beside , close to ’ B enemy s wall . y this time her whole

96 joan of A rc. But the drawbridge was cracking under was their feet ; it enveloped in an evil stench of and smoke ; tongues flame licked it , and shot up through the planks ; while the stone bullets of the guns of Orleans lighted on roof and walls of the Tourelles an d th e of splashed in water the Loire . “ saw Joan the fire and the peril, and had Glasdalc compassion on the brave but brutal , who had threatened and insulted her . Glasdalc sh e Glasdalc cried , yield' thee , yield thee to the King of Heaven You called me by the lowest name that can be thrown at a woman , but I have great pity on your soul and the souls of your com ” p an yf She would not humiliate the man by

/zer th e bidding him yield to , Maiden he had scorned , whose spirit he had wounded to the quick sh e only bade him yield to the King of Heaven , careful , because he was the cruellest of enemies , to show him the nobler courtesy . CHAPTER XV .

drawbridge by sending a fire sh ip

Many of the English from the boulevard ourelle s dashed through the smoke to the T , while English leaders like Glasdalc and De Moleyn s held the drawbridge with axe and sword , all fighting magnificently . as s aw But they reached the Tourelles they men crossing as if by miracle across the great gap in the flaming bridge where the arches

— had gone crossing to attack in front , so that now the English fugitives were completely d surrounded and one for, both behind and before . The Orleans people h ad slung an old gutter pipe across the space above the flames , where the broken arches had been , and 7 98 joan of A rc . because it was not long enough to reach all

the way , a carpenter had fastened a beam to

it which just touched the other side .

The Orleans men , who knew just where the thing was weak and could roughly g uess what weight it might bear, leaped lightly

across it , looking to those who watched as if

they were flying across the fire . But when Glasdalc and h is comrades tried

to cross into the fort in their heavy armour , the smouldering drawbridge broke undert their mailed feet , and the weight of tha they bore dragged them down under the water , while the Maid knelt weeping at the pity and the horror of it— weeping and pray

ing for their souls .

As for the harder of the men at her side , they were vexed to think they had lost heavy ransoms ; for of all the brave defenders of n t the Tourelles o one remained to tell the

— tale all were either drowned or slain . But the people so long besieged were te oic in j g at their recovered freedom , and as the joy- bells rang out upon th e night across

the dark river and the crimson flames , the

CHAPTER XVI . S soon as they entered the city the

French knelt in their churches , giving thanks and praise to God . Not until this thanksgiving service was over did the Maid , who had eaten nothing since dawn , have her wound tended by a surgeon , and take a slight supper of four or five slips of bread soaked in weak wine and v ate r v . We read that her great temperance and perfect health alone can account for the absence of any ill effects from a wound caused by the perforation of her body by a bolt or arrow . Her wound was healed within a fortnight .

The day after, the great battle began at dawn for Joan , despite her wound and her weariness . For at sunrise the English came out of t B rave 10 1 TIz e S ory of a

t . their ten s and arrayed themselves for battle

They were in good order of battle , with

flags flying . sh e Joan rose from bed, and since could not bear the weight of her heavy plate

sh e i . armour that day , put on a coat of ma l The n she called together her most daring leaders and collected her troops . Very soon the two armies were facing one another that Sunday morning in

May . Would there be fighting ?

None knew , and perhaps the Maid her self was as yet uncertain . She sent for a movable altar and the vest ments for the priests ; and then there were two Masses, all her army devoutly worship ping . rw Afte ards Joan asked whether the Eng lish were still facing her army . In reply she was told that they had turned

away towards Meun . ” Let them go , she said , our Lord does not wish us to fight them to - day ; you will ” have them another time . n A r joa of e.

Then the enemy withdrew in good order . Ah that other time was yet to was a come , and to be crushing ” defeat .

104 joan of A re. t Early in June the Maid and Dunois o gether visited the Dauphin at Loches , but ’ ’ not being of the King s Privy Council , Joan s power there was but limited . Dunois tells th e how one day , when he and tking and wo Christopher Harcourt and one or others in were all council, the Maid knocked at the door, entered , knelt , and , in the old

Greek fashion of suppliants , embraced the knees of the Dauphin . Sh e used the same o mode of appr ach to her saints . Noble ’ s Dauphin , she “ aid , hold not such long and wordy councils , but come at once to Reims ’ and be worthily crowned . She was asked whether this march on Reims was of the instructions of her unseen “ advisers , and she replied , Yes , they chiefly insist on it . Then she was questioned as to ” h t" o f what s e meantby this come s o ten quoted . “ When , she said, I am somewhat hurt th because I am not readily believed in e things which I speak from God, I am wont to go apart and to pray God , complaining that they are hard of belief ; and after that ’ ’ lz zta . 1 b ta B rave C 0 T e S ory of 5

prayer I hear a Voice saying to me , Fille je serai aton aide ; va When e I hear that Voic I am very glad, and desire ” always to be in that state . Her best and most precise historian was devoted to the House of Alencon , and tells of ’ ’ Joan s visit to the Duke of Alencon s young wife , a daughter of the Duke of Orleans , at “ ” the Abbey of S . Florent . God knows , ” he says, what joy they made for her . It was with the Duke of Alencon in com th e mand that Loire towns were to be cleared

of the English , leaving the way to Reims - t less difli c ul and it was at this time that Joan was joined by Guy de Laval , of whose letter to his mother about her mention has already ’ been made . Joan , who knew his mother s loyalty , sent her a ring of gold . It was at Stelles in Berry that Guy was welcomed by h e Maid . She was about to depart with men- at- arms and archers for

Romorantin . saw I her mount , he says , all in white e rth s armour but unhelmeted , a small steel p

- (a little battle axe) in her hand . She had a 106 jean of A re.

great black horse , which plunged at the door

of her house , and would not permit her to ’ m . ount Lead him to the Cross, she cried .

It stands in the road , in front of the church . There he stood as fast as if he were bound sh e u with cords , and mo nted , and turning sh e w towards the church gate , said in a s eet , womanly voice , Ye priests and churchmen , ’ go in processions and pray to God . Then

Forward, forward she cried , a gracious an d page bearing her standard displayed, she ” s erth n with the little p in her ha d .

108 joan of A re . war . All the captains were amazed by her

u . courage and energy , and her end rance an d In leading arraying , and in encouraging sh e men , bore herself like the most skilled captain in the world , who all his life had been trained to war . All marvelled how cautiously and with what foresight she went to work , as if she had been a captai n with twenty or thirty ” years of experience .

She displayed marvellous energy, doing more work than two or three of the most famous and practised men of the sword could

have done . ’ Now that D Ale n gon - one of the three whose words we have just quoted — was in ’ command of the king s army , Joan became , I n ffi a certain sense , chief o cer of artillery ; th and Jargeau was fixed upon as e next point

of attack , since it was from Jargeau that ff Su olk and his brothers , the De la Poles , had

been annoying the people of Orleans . da Fastlf h o t e The y that , one of English

lac e . leaders , left Paris , Joan set out for this p Others disputed whether it was possible to T/z e tr e S o y of a B rav 109

storm it . But the Maid answered , Success is certain . If I were not assured of this from m God , I would rather herd sheep than put y in self so great jeopardy .

So the army rode on , and after a skirmish u with the English , succeeded in occ pying the suburbs .

Next day the artillery began to play , and a great gun from Orleans , called the Shep herdess , made a hole in the walls . Then Suffolk offered to surrender if he was not relieved within fifteen days ; but the French , h o a tolf h is ws knew that F was on way from ff k Paris to help him with an army , told Su ol that he and his must either depart instantly -they and their horses— or suffer the con tin ue d ff assault . This Su olk refused , and the French heralds therefore cried for an imme ’ B Ale n on diate onset . Joan urged g to the ut assault ; b he doubted whether the attack could succeed . h Doubt not s e cried . The hour is come when God pleases " God helps them ’ em?"aac are who help themselves . Ah , g , you afraid P Do you not know that I prom 1 10 joan of A re. ised your wife to bring you home safe and ” sound ?

So the assault began , and as the skirmishers

advanced, Joan said to the duke , pointing to “ a cannon on the wall , Change your posi

tion . That gun will kill you

She was just in time , for a while later it did kill a gentleman who was standing just ’ where D Ale n gon had stood at that mo

ment .

- The scaling ladders were raised, the French ’ D Alen on assailants climbed over, Joan and c

rushed into the breach . ff Su olk cried out then for a parley , but it

was too late . As - the Maid was climbing a scaling ladder ,

with her standard in her hand , a stone crashed

through the light helmet that she wore , and

sh e was struck to the ground . " t’ U Amtams p she sprang again , crying, , , rar 3 a: " , On , friends, on The Lord has judged the English . Have good heart " Within an hour we take them In an instant the town was taken ; the English fled to the bridges over a thousand

1 12 joan of A re.

’ mont , who was at war with the King s ' f T ré moille avourite , La , had somewhat em ’ barrasse d Joan and D Ale n con by j01n 1n g them s in the siege of Beaugency , although Charle was always against their accepting help from T ré moille the enemy of his dear La . When ,

however, they suddenly heard that Talbot - at- was bringing a thousand men arms , in ’ a tlf s o s addition to F five thousand , and knew that many of their people were afraid to

meet this great English force , they felt justi fi ’ e d in accepting the Constable s aid .

If we piece together two stories , we read that when the Maid and her comrades rode

forth to meet him , the Constable growled “ out , Jeanne , they tell me that you want to

fight me . I know not if you come from — or God elsewhere . If from God , I do not

fear you , for He knows my good will ; if ” fwrom the devil , I fear you still less . And hen the need ctame later, Joan said to him , oeaa oonner ao/e Ah , , you have not come for " but my sake since you are come , you are

welcome . CHAPTER XIX .

h owwas MEANWHILE , it that Talbot tlf an and Fas o thus suddenly were n oun c e d with so considerable an army at their ? ’ w backs Talbot s share in it , of hich such exaggerated news had arrived, was in reality not very great— about forty lances and two astolf hundre d archers . It was F with his five thousand who was the more timorous of the two , and declared that the English were , ” as ou s y might say , all to piece , while the

French were full of confidence . He actually f advised leaving the Loire towns to their ate , and waiting for reinforcements promised by the Duke of Bedford . i e As for Talbot, he vowed, with his l ttl an d om h e company any who chose to j him , ” God e would , so help him and S . G orge , attack the enemy . a a His advice p rev iled , but not without 8 1 1 4 foamof A re. slight delay which proved fatal to their success . They had been lunching together— a it- breakfast they callted and we read that o n e o like Grouchy h m rning of Waterloo , te they dallied over h ir strawberries they did o t “ ? e u t n tm ch s; h h e uns ar toward th nder of g

w. u e n T o ea hey , uld march against B g ncy ext 2 morning, June 7 h h to h ad tc n te wsu n , m t, n But " in ea ime a d t e n d : h e C ha in r ndered , a Joan n onstable v g; a we k a n , a s now, heard exagger ted account

; th e. f c tt e . o o their approa h , advised ha wh l “ " r to . e c h e et Fr n h a my s ould advanc me them

I T h owcc u ie ; oo e French n o p d a very g d i — e a t th r o i position wha t i h st rian l t le ’ n te n i e e i h e u mountain tte , us g doubl dimi t v

outf e d s of little juttinghill ri ing . ; the m a ow

. " i te s t o h t { . 1E o The ngli h ried , tempt them nt

fi tem wou d were three knights who l ght h

n I I 6 joa of A re.

’ ‘ sh e Ride boldly on , said , you will ’ have good guidance . “ They had a strange guide enough , as it proved . ’ Dunois states that D Ale n con asked

Jeanne what they were to do . ’ Have good spurs . What "are we to turn our backs said those who heard her . ‘ No ; but the English will not defend themselves , and you will need good spurs to ’ follow them . She said the Dauphin would have the greatest victory he had won for many a day . “ Some eighty riders, mounted on the ” flower of chargers, galloped in advance as scouts, and Joan , says her page , Louis de

Coutes , then a boy of fourteen , was very angry at not being allowed to lead the advance - probably her friends were determined not to allow her this time to risk her life with the foremost riders .

After riding for a long time , the French scouts came in sight of the little town of Fathay But the English were still n otto ' ’ Tlze tr B r ve Gazla . 1 1 S oy of a a 7

be seen , and the country was thickly wooded .

They were not far away , but were completely ’ hidden by the trees, Talbot s plan being to n post the advanced guard , with the wago s

and guns , along the tall hedges on either side Path a of the road to y, for he knew by this time that the French were advancing upon i him , and he thought this narrow pass m ght be held by five hundred picked archers till

the rearguard joined the main army . m La Hire , one of the French co manders , riding furiously through the beautiful wooded counttry , startled a stag which went rushing righ into the very midst of the main body

of the English , who , never dreaming that

the French were already within earshot , raised a view- halloo which instantly betrayed

them . ’ w La Hire s scouts dre bridle , and quietly sent back to their comrades a brief butsufli

— cient message the one word Found. “The French cavalry of La Hire formed

in order of battle , set spurs to their horses , and charged with such impetus through the h h is pass , which Talbot was lining wit i ' ‘ ’ ‘ ‘ 118 jod;z qf firt.

" “ ; - ar h e h e cuth i1 f e a be pick d c rs , th t t y t em p th eir ' ike s r fore they could fix p o loose their ” s s. haft ' f h e disa te r To complete t s for the English; astolf s for ws F who was purring on all he a d a Was worth to reach their a v nced guard , c m k on of th e a tually ista en by them for e

leaders of th e pursuing army .

" “ T he we a d - wh o u hit st n ard bearer was th s dec eived set off at a gallop for the Paris

in 1 an d astolf road a wild panic , F seeing La ’ Hire and his comrades cutting up Talbot s r archers; accounted the day as lost . Talbot “ ’ was m s was D Ale n l ade pri oner , and led before 011 a C 9 , Jo n,and the onstable . ’ D Ale n on r m h is own c i " c eme bered apt vity ' ” Y ou n ote x e h rn m “ Ct mo did p this t is g ,

he said . answered th e brave Talbot" e th e Many other leaders wer taken , and u was h sla ghter very great , at w ich , De Coutes

us Was ul of . a tells , Joan very f l pity He dds

’ that a Fre nchman was " lead ing ' sorr1e

" ‘ ne . tr k i p riso rs He s uc one of them

CHAPTER XX . WHEN the citizens of Paris heard of ’ Path a Joan s victory at y, they began e x e c tm an to fortify the city , probably p g

immediate attack . But the Maid never flin c h e d from her purpose of getting the

Dauphin crowned at Reims . The dawdling Charles lost her a precious fortnight before she could get him there and meanwhile the Dukes of Burgundy and s Bedford were reconciled , new English troop

were engaged to serve against her, and a new

0 . English army of 3 , 3 5 men was thrown into

Paris . n ow The chief obstacle on the way to Reims was the opposition Joan ’ s army met

with at Troyes .

A wild, strange preacher called Brother Richard had told the people of Troyes that

some mysterious person was coming , and

they must sow plenty of beans ; so , when the T H E C O R O N A T I O C ARL S VI I H E . AT R

A tr f e

“ i f ‘ ‘C ‘ 12 2 i fl -l awn o A mx x f f

. fr n; rz tr1 ai u s t tav b _ certa n o w? h e the o ; i ' ” ' in ci tr . aid . o ti l s h t te M D ub c aid . ' ‘ i wm n d f r : t Sh e bu e she ode . fthrough the ‘ s :sh e o e s Eof f s o ho t ; rganiz d upplies agot , d ors ,

’ fi ” c an zfo h a th d o rts s e h ad d o e tables, English n

u :te s e s r th k at e at Me n , rv as helte s in tac ;

’ ' ’ E to u h . S c a th and guns s e y had : h eavy

. o tn t. guns of p si io hey must have lacked ;

e r u e n d t show d wonde f l ergy, oing more han

:of th :m 3 r i e a td o t e two or three s p c s and famous ' ' tam o ld nh a e Fd n d c a s c u o e c a she sowe p v ; n ork d

" ea 1 i s folk , in f r made the r sub

T h e itiz n h d : c e s a l t os hope they sought re ' could the burgesses do ? ( C

' t fi ; J n wi h a atc h u o t figure in whi e armour p p ' th 1 ~ i ‘ e h ou w. e h er th r we e s lder plat , ar ow had i Tlz e S tf - a B rave 2 oy of

' ‘ th e f she made sign of throwing agots into

' 1 iz th e was h" c te n s s enoug The ent o to n d e b an ish p profess their obedie ce , mak

“ th e b est te rms possible . The bishop was on h id th e tan h ad te s e d of loyalis s, a good deal e of influenc . t t After the king had entered the own wi h ' e of great array , Joan stood godmoth r to one th e as sh e as o d ws . children , often aske to do was it b r It he practice to name the oys afte the King and the girls after herself. Chfilon s to he r now gave itself up , and ' th e o t ” r pe ple of hat place wrote to thei friends at Reims, saying that they had d t an given up the keys of their town , tha th e a an d King was gentle , compassion te; T h e handsome . Archbishop had also r n m h is w itte to Reims fro Troyes, bidding ' town o n . pen its gates to the Ki g a t Atas tlas a l t W s , , the advance on Reims i ’ ’ l md u 1 K s real y a e , and on J ly 7 the ing r k e co onation actually too plaC . T he o o n e h e n Archbish p himselfan i t d tKi g . n rt. 12 4 joa of A This was the Archbishop of whom it has already been mentioned that he was not true

to Joan . At least one historian has a sus pic ion that he had secretly taken possession of a rich and beautiful crown which Joan

demanded for the coronation . He thinks that possibly Joan ’ s knowledge of this gave

the Archbishop evil feelings towards her , which made him her enemy rather than her n friend whe , at a later time , his influence th e might have saved her life ; and said his tori an laughingly names him the Jackdaw of

Reims . He must not be confused with the Arch

bishop of Embrun , who had once spoken of J oan as an angel of the Lord , so that when ,

at the time of her trial , she wanted to keep ’ the King s secret , this led to her telling her accusers a kind of parable about an angel

w. who was to bring the King a cro n She had in mind probably not only the crown

of gold which could be touched and handled , but that power over his kingdomwhich is ” w. often spoken of as the Cro n of France “ The ceremony of the coronation began

12 6 s foam

' a a as e a . Coun t. wh n t de L v l creat d W e he Dauphin had " been crowned fan d c onsec rated; e e n the Maid , kne ling, embrac d his k ees;

f wee m . an d e t h se wr s p g for joy , saying o d ,

? G n owa ~W- entle King , is ccomplished the ill of -t s th e God , who decreed hat I should rai e of r ea ' an t O l n s d ou o i . . t ti siege , bring y h s c y of s s e n : c Reim to receive your ol m sa ring , sh owm ou a re K thereby g that y the true ing, ’ and a be ours . th t Francte should g y And righ great pity came upon a ll ’ s tho e who saw her, and many wept . T h e Maid had saved her country an d her K r r and ing but for he self , remained a ha d

’ t o th é fie r thorny pa h , until, thr ugh yfurnace

' ' “ a - vh ard o te t h e ste e d m s e t o wh the last, pp h eartof God.

’ in a we h ad skirmishing, which Jo n s po r more

“ or s ; the h Of a o f i le s p ssed int ands . pol tical

” s tiSe n lis . an d B a v n ; leader , hat, e u ais havi g ' e ; t m o uP ris n ake n an . e n a b en , attack was ad , i l t te t was e .. h ac k which Joan wound d A as a wh e un il Wo d

” : n - it th n le r e r e n tl o ist e i e f s re in g , was p y. wg f , '

r lz ztd . 12 be tr B ave C T S o y of a 7 there came a message from the King order i n g retreat— a command which had to be reluctantly obeyed . The months that followed were full of

disa o tme s h e sorrow and pp in np 1T guidance of the fighting power of France had passed

th e -w" for She had done ork which she

‘ ’ r - d tf a orn he h ad sai h atsh e wS b fl S he self had ' ‘w toth e f in e r to K th e a given j g mess g s ent usted

ns od , l t we G o her, and the sig h reby set sea

' ‘ 1 ; t 1 . i f nown 3 0111 to be e r And her ow was p ’ fe c te d z 'f b sufl e rin li e r o h t. f wa y g , ruth and ith

‘ ' : f . be . . tth e f i f a th o to tried, so as by fire; hat f r-{ s mi h e " t a te time g f b streng hened by h er

tragic and glorious story . CHAPTER XXI .

d HE tide had turne , but things did not

change all at once .

There was one brilliant success , even after Charles had disperse d an army that he could no longer pay . By her courage and deter m1n at1 n o Joan had taken S . Pierre le Mous tier , after all the storming parties had been repelled . She had only four or five men ’ D Aulon was with her , and her faithful h wounded and crippled . But s e remained beneath the walls , giving loud orders for the bridging of the moat . ’ D Aulon , who had been wounded , and s could walk only with crutche , was a spec tator . He saw the Maid left alone beneath the wall , accompanied merely by her own people , her two or three lances , probably her brothers , who never deserted her, and their ’ i men . D Aulon managed to get nto the

’ Tlz e tr B r ve bil S o y of a a C a . 12 9

d sh e saddle , ro e to her, and asked her why did not retreat but remained alone . She

ralade raised the of her helmet and said , I am not alone ; with me are of my own , and retreat I will not till I have taken ’ this town . sa sh e Whatever she might y, had only ’ four or five men with her , remarks the ’ D Aulon I kn ow literal , as for certain , and so do several others who were looking on ; so I urged her to retire like the rest . Then sh e bade me tell the men to bring fagots and fascines to bridge the moat ; and sh e ’ herself gave the same order in a loud voice .

In a moment the thing was done , whereat ’ D Aulon was was all amazed , and the town stormed , with no great resistance . She may have seen of the heavenly hosts sh e was round about her , but knew that it lzer duty , not theirs , to summon the sappers and miners to bridge the moat

Be that as it may , to our human eyes it seems clear that her resolute bearing won the

On the very day of the King’ s coronation 9 1 A r 3 0 joan of e. an embassy from the D uke of Burgundy had arranged a false peace , a dangerous truce that lasted till Easter, and nought that Joan said could avail against it . I n the early months of 143 0 she visited the towns she had freed , and at Eastertide her unseen counsellors warned her that she would be taken prisoner . Capture to her proud spirit wo uld be a million times worse than death , and over and over again had the enemy told her that it would be followed by burning .

But she was the bravest of the brave , ’ an d not by a hair s- breadth did sh e swerve from her tasks , now that she knew with th e certainty from the heavenly Voices that y th e led to prison , though to her in whom

— love of liberty was so deep her, whose proud spirit was as yet unbroken— imprisonment was especially terrible . What her Master bade her do she would do , though death itself stood in the way . Only she no longer carried her beloved sword of Fierbois into battle— she did not choose that that should be taken by the enemy .

o n r 13 2 j a of A e. and more Burgundians surrounded her until f all her men had fled , except the aithful ’ Aulon D and one or two others . She was by ’ this time close on Compiegne , and her friends within the town raised the drawbridge lest those who pursued should follow into the town with her . h e But s never reached the drawbridge . Forced into th e meadows and dragged from sh e her horse when asked to surrender, refused to promise not to escape . She was too great a prize to be killed out of hand as sh e sh e would have wished , and was carried ’ with shouts ofjoy to the soldiers quarters . CHAPTER XXII .

en ou DEAR childr , I will not harry y with ’ the long, sad story of Joan s imprison ment and the brutality to which she was ex posed . For indeed it might give you bad

— dreams . She suffered suffered bravely and

— patiently that is enough .

She was sent to the Castle of Beaulieu , and then to Beaurevoir forty miles north of it . The long siege of Compiegne and the sufferings of those within that town so dwelt upon her mind that when she heard was it threatened with the slaughter of all , even to the little children , if the storming sf should be succes ul , she tried to escape by leaping from the tower, which was about sixty feet high . It was miraculous that she did not break any bones , but she was found insensible . It was the one occasion so far on which she

had been disobedient to the heavenly Voices . 13 4 joaa of A re.

in on 2 th This was October, and the s of e the same month Compi gne was relieved .

Henry the Sixth of England, it should be said , had arrived at Rouen a month or two before , and in November Jean de Luxem ’ bourg ro/a Joan as a prisoner of war to the in English , though he knew it was their

tention to burn h e r.

She was taken to Rouen , and imprisoned

in an ancient castle . French and English were alike her

destroyers . She had no woman with her ; sh e was

placed in a dark cell , fettered and in ” irons, and guarded only by men , by day

and by night . From this place sh e was led forth daily to her trial— a trial in which her brave truth and loyalty shone forth through all her wise

and simple words . Her enemies tried to prove that sh e was a witch ; but they could prove nothin g except a her entire faith in God, and her cert inty of the help sh e had received from Him through

her heavenly visitants .

13 6 Joan of A rc.

s in e - and throwing of stone the mark t place , t W sten after the rial hen , her r gth ebbing in the exh austion that followed illness in prison , she was all confused by the uproar h and by th e advic e she had received from the clergy, who had told her she was dishonour ing God by refusing her submission . There was a great scaffolding round about th . e e square , crowd d with priests and nobles One of themdenounced her King — her

King who had deserted her , like the coward that he was . She replied with beautiful and loving words in his praise , so noble she was in her d loyalty to those she serve . As for my deeds, she said , I burden no man with them , neither my King nor any other . If f I t18 any ault there be , my own , and no ’ ” other s . She knew , and said quite plainly afterwards If I were to say that God did not send me , I should condemn myself, for true it is that God sent me . My Voices have told me since that I greatly sinned in

f i . that deed , in con ess ng that I had done ill ” f What I said I said in ear of fire .

" CHAPTER "III .

FTER signing the paper, Joan had been taken back to prison but when sh e had revoked and made confession on her last morning there , she was allowed to receive the sacrament .

se e sh e When Maurice came in to her , wh e r said, er Pierre hall I be is e ven ing 3 av op d faith H u , gm fig t wp wfl m w He answered y m n g ” i ~ th ~ n e Lordi

Even so the Voices had told her that it was to be : sh e was to come straight from ” earth to the place of blessed souls .

" m “ M sh eM Ms Jammm two

and all who heard her shed tears . She was led to the Old Market beside the Tlze tr o r vo S oy f a B a 13 9

Church of S . Saviour ; and it is said that Loiselle ur while she was being taken there , , - s the prison py, who had once advised that sh e should be tortured , climbed into the cart where sh e was and begged her forgive ness . ff d There were threetsca ol s, and she was h e taken to the one in middle . She climbed it as bravely as sh e had climbed the scaling- ladders at Orleans and

Jargeau . She asked for a cross to gaze upon in her agonies . An Englishman made a little cross of two pieces of a staff and gave h e it to her . Devoutly s received it and Cruc ifie d kissed it , crying aloud on the ; h e then s placed it in her bosom . She next prayed Massieu to bring the cross from the sh e church , that might look on it through the smoke . She long embraced it , and held

sh e was . it while being chained to the stake ‘ was h 9 5 She heard saying, A , Rouen , I £3 re g r g atthat thou mayst have to w g m g my death To the end she maintained that her o and V ices were from God, all that she had 140 form of A re .

’ done was by God s command ; nor did she ” believe that her Voices had deceived her .

She invoked S . Catherine ; while being bound to the stake she had especially invoked

. . t S Catherine and S Michael , the firs of the Holy Ones who came to her in her ’ father s garden . with a eat voice she called

’ o e daughter of Go went h m to , her Father s ” house . It is true that this beautiful earth is one of His many mansions , but now she had been summoned to one that is more beauti tr b ou ful still, where the wicked cease from ling and the weary at last find rest

uc r stas on er s ar n r e o b S h y d i g i d, I f r tfl n e sta n t c sy o a de igh An d be n all orta or o o w jy y d m l d, Ma in f f in h art s o te e o t y g , h ligh uc re ta r kn ata s ove s t S s ows h l l I l m t n b ssfu e e n on en e i l i g, l g d i d T h atrf all th e eac e te ec ts a e st p h p p ,

on in atsfi . orta s e Imm l l g g i d

T HE E ND .

’ NELSON S RO YAL LIBRARIES . T H E T WO S I I RI H LL NG SE ES.

IN TAUNTON TOWN. ‘ T HE LA D c un t T H M E A hilles .Da E . IN N OF OOS .

E . r retMacd n ald Ma a o TR FOIL g P. . W "E ’ E L E A E . A n ie L u s N S INH RIT NC n ca . ’ E A . n E er tt V R S TRUST E vely v e Green. - T HE A . n E r t E e e tr en . FOR F ITH vely v G e

L WAL . A o ta n . ISON SH C ns ce E velyn B L D L AL IN OY TY. D A DE OROTHY R N.

ALLE ORT NE . E el n t- U S v E ere tr n v ee F N F y G .

FOR HE R A E . ord n S K G o R oy.

A MA E " . rdon t E Go S ables MD JCK CK N I , . ALA E A D A B IN P C N F U OURG. ’ ’ ABE L E E or A ste r s ove . IS S S CR T ; , Si L

A E . r t S i Wl tt. IV NHWO a er S co E L . r ttt i a l er K NI ORTH S W S co .

LEONI E . A n n ie L ucas . ’ MA D ME L LLE - MA AGE . E . rettr E e e U VI S RRI v G en . - L E C E . E e n E erettree ly G n . O IV ROS O v 'v E E C . t .Mr r W/ s zer ll QU HY e e . B E - A AM G . SCHON ”R COTT F ILY E . E e n E eret tr SIST R v ly v G een .

T HE C AND T HE A E . A n n ie L ITY C STL ucas .

T HE "A . D ebora /z Alcock C R . T HE E E WYL - MI T . ttr NG ON E ere een H IR SS OF v G . T HE G T HE R E D E erett- r . G een SI N OF CROSS v .

T HE A B E . D eb r SP NISH ROTH RS o a /z Alcock. T HE E ALL A E H a rold A er TRIPL I NC . v y. T HE A E D L k lta A D on UNCH RT IS N . S e K ppord. T HE WDE WDE W LD I I OR .

T . NE LSON AND SONS London Edin ur h Du i n and NewYork. , , b g , bl , ’ “ NELSON S ROYAL LIBRARIES . T H E E IG N I S HT E E NPE CE SER E .

E E M - C A B E r treen . AT e t E . E ve G S R T CH R CHAD .

E E D M. re i lza F d s w. SONS OF FR O l

T H E . oltn n SONS OF VIKINGS j Gn n . MADGE L STORY OF HI TON . L IN LION AND . MA E G AT T HE A B . E A. R a n d. R I H R OUR LIGHT . ADA A E ND G . Louisa MGray. RTY ' A A T H E E . n ton . W. H Ki s F R IN FOR ST :G. g A G DL E E OO Y H RITAG .

B T HE B E A E . ORIS ” R HUNT R DA L M rn ll /z G. H: Co wa Le . R IN g ’ D L E L LE B E E ere t- reen . v t U CI S ITT ROTH R E . G . ’ E er tt- E E E . STH R S CHARGE . . v e Green E E E A E WA D V R H V N R . ’ - T H E E E . ttr E A E E re FOR QU N S S K . ve G ee n . ’ G Y WE WA W D . 2 n 3 H o ki U PO RS TCH OR p s .

T M . H t HE C A DV. : G. Kin s on . IN. RO KY OUNT INS g - T H E WA E E . t. T H E er tr en E IN RS OF ROS S . v e G e

L E L A T A . . E tt C HE E G . a . ION H R OURT, TONI N W ’ ” MLL E E . Fleur de L s O Y S H ROIN y . NORSE LAND TALE S. ’ A GE L WG . Hon . Mrs reene N . O N S IN S G . M H ONE SU ME R BY T E S EA.

A E . H t P :F. e lzen RTN RS G .

B E A. L . E . m RO IN TT Tidde a n . SALOME . - T HE L D DYNEV OR . E . E veretr n . OR OF tG ee “ - ” HE E . Flewdc . T YOUNG HUGU NOTS Lys T HE YOUNG RAJAH .

WI NNI NG T HE V I CT ORY.

T NE LSON AND NS d n Edin ur h Du in an d Ne wYo k . S O Lon o r , , b g , bl , . S ’ LI BR NEL ON S ROYAL AR I E S .

T H E SHILLI NG SE RIE S.

ACADE MY B OYS IN CAMP. LL’ WE LL D WE A E M a A . iss S TH T N S LL G ye. E STHE R RE ID. M E TI OTHY TATT RS. AM LL W E A . Fos er. PTHI TO RS. t AND AK IVY O .

A E D B . E Wa tt. RCHI IG Y G. . y WE E AS WE S P THROUGH T HE DE E P .

AT T HE B A . E dwa rd R a n d. C C L K RO KS ' t nz L on a n ce .Mil n . A A C s a UNT S LY. ’ f L ME . . IV. Lace CYRI S PRO IS A Tempe ran c e Tale j. y. GE ORGIE ME RTON .

E E T HE L . on . Mrs reen e GR Y HOUS ON HI L H . G .

D BAY. R l an fn e HU SON . MB a l a . JUB ILE E HALL. Hon . Mrs . Green e.

W . r. a kson E LE D D c LOST SQUIR OF ING OO j . AR K E N’ E E MARK M S S S CR T.

LE R . MB all n n e. MARTIN RATT R. a ty ’ A . Pa ull. R HODA S RE FORM. M A T h tof a i lan amil in an a a. or C SHE N C. e S y H gh d F y d ’ t- . eretreen . E E SIR AYLME R S HE IR. v G

H r ld A er . SOLDIE RS OF T HE QUE E N . a o v y R . MB a lla n n e. T H E CORAL ISLAND . ty

R . MB a lla n n e. T HE DOG CRUSOE . ty

r . Woods B aker. T HE GOLDE N HOUSE . Ms T HE GORILLA HUNTE RS. ter A . Fos . T HE ROB B E R BARON. . j a rte . m l B E i C. H T HE WILLOUGHBY OYS. ly y R . MB alla n n e. UNGAVA . ty - MB a lla n n e. E R . WORLD OF I C . ty DE YOUNG FUR TRA RS .

Du in and NewYork. T NE LS ON AND S ONS London Edin ur . , , b gh, bl ,