The Life of Joan of Arc Part 68

She gave them to the dogs, who ate from them and died forthwith.

Then, pointing to a knight, who was near the King and to two other guests: "Those persons," she said, "wished to poison you."

The knight straightway confessed that it was true; and he was dealt with according to his deserts.[1591]

[Footnote 1591: _Ibid._, p. 97.]

It was borne in upon her that a certain priest kept a concubine;[1592]

and one day, meeting in the camp a woman dressed as a man, it was revealed to her that the woman was pregnant and that having already had one child she had made away with it.[1593]

[Footnote 1592: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 146.]

[Footnote 1593: Eberhard Windecke, p. 97.]

She was likewise said to possess the power of discovering things hidden. She herself had claimed this power when she was at Tours. It had been revealed to her that a sword was buried in the ground in the chapel of Saint Catherine of Fierbois, and that was the sword she wore. Some deemed it to be the sword with which Charles Martel had defeated the Saracens. Others suspected it of being the sword of Alexander the Great.[1594]

[Footnote 1594: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 76, 234. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 277. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, pp. 69, 70.

_Journal du siege_, pp. 49, 50. _Relation du greffier de La Roch.e.l.le_, pp. 337, 338. Morosini, vol. iii, pp. 108, 109. Abbe Boura.s.se, _Les miracles de Madame Sainte Katerine_, Introduction.]

In like manner it was said that before the coronation Jeanne had known of a precious crown, hidden from all eyes. And here is the story told concerning it:

A bishop kept the crown of Saint Louis. No one knew which bishop it was, but it was known that the Maid had sent him a messenger, bearing a letter in which she asked him to give up the crown. The bishop replied that the Maid was dreaming. A second time she demanded the sacred treasure, and the bishop made the same reply. Then she wrote to the citizens of the episcopal city, saying that if the crown were not given up to the King, the Lord would punish the town, and straightway there fell so heavy a storm of hail that all men marvelled. Wizards commonly caused hail storms. But this time the hail was a plague sent by the G.o.d who afflicted Egypt with ten plagues. After which the Maid despatched to the citizens a third letter in which she described the form and fas.h.i.+on of the crown the bishop was hiding, and warned them that if it were not given up even worse things would happen to them.

The bishop, who believed that the wondrous circlet of gold was known to him alone, marvelled that the form and fas.h.i.+on thereof should be described in this letter. He repented of his wickedness, wept many tears, and commanded the crown to be sent to the King and the Maid.[1595]

[Footnote 1595: Morosini, vol. iii, pp. 160, 163.]

It is not difficult to discern the origin of this story. The crown of Charlemagne, which the kings of France wore at the coronation ceremony, was at Saint-Denys in France, in the hands of the English.

Jeanne boasted of having given the Dauphin at Chinon a precious crown, brought by angels. She said that this crown had been sent to Reims for the coronation, but that it did not arrive in time.[1596] As for the hiding of the crown by the bishop, that idea arose probably from the well-known cupidity of my Lord Regnault de Chartres, Archbishop of Reims, who had appropriated the silver vase intended for the chapter and placed by the King upon the high altar after the ceremony.[1597]

[Footnote 1596: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 91.]

[Footnote 1597: Dom Marlot, _Histoire de l'eglise de Reims_, vol. iv, p. 175. H. Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a Reims_, appendix xvii.]

There was likewise talk of gloves lost at Reims and of a cup that Jeanne had found.[1598]

[Footnote 1598: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 104.]

Maiden, at once a warrior and a lover of peace, _beguine_, prophetess, sorceress, angel of the Lord, ogress, every man beholds her according to his own fas.h.i.+on, creates her according to his own image. Pious souls clothe her with an invincible charm and the divine gift of charity; simple souls make her simple too; men gross and violent figure her a giantess, burlesque and terrible. Shall we ever discern the true features of her countenance? Behold her, from the first and perhaps for ever enclosed in a flowering thicket of legends!

END OF VOL. I.

THE LIFE OF JOAN OF ARC

BY ANATOLE FRANCE

A TRANSLATION BY WINIFRED STEPHENS

IN TWO VOLS., VOL. II

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LONDON: JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD NEW YORK: JOHN LANE COMPANY: MCMIX

_Copyright in U.S.A., 1908, by_ MANZI, JOYANT ET CIE

_Copyright in U.S.A., 1908, by_ JOHN LANE COMPANY

THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Duke of Bedford

from The Bedford Missal]

CONTENTS

VOL. II

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE ROYAL ARMY FROM SOISSONS TO COMPIeGNE.

POEM AND PROPHECY 1

II. THE MAID'S FIRST VISIT TO COMPIeGNE. THE THREE POPES. SAINT-DENYS. TRUCES 34

III. THE ATTACK ON PARIS 54

IV. THE TAKING OF SAINT-PIERRE-LE-MOUSTIER.

FRIAR RICHARD'S SPIRITUAL DAUGHTERS. THE SIEGE OF LA CHARITe 78

V. LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF REIMS. LETTER TO THE HUSSITES. DEPARTURE FROM SULLY 103

VI. THE MAID IN THE TRENCHES OF MELUN. LE SEIGNEUR DE L'OURS. THE CHILD OF LAGNY 122

VII. SOISSONS AND COMPIeGNE. CAPTURE OF THE MAID 138

VIII. THE MAID AT BEAULIEU. THE SHEPHERD OF GeVAUDAN 156

IX. THE MAID AT BEAUREVOIR. CATHERINE DE LA ROCh.e.l.lE AT PARIS. EXECUTION OF LA PIERRONNE 170