I have said that some of the knights had but a scanty respect for the
gallant Maid. A few, no doubt, objected to the assumption of heavenly
inspiration on her part. One, at least, was not so particular. I
allude to the Baron De Richemond, who had been exiled from court for
the little misdemeanor of having assassinated Cannes de Beaulieu. The
Baron had recovered his good name by an actively religious exercise,
manifested by his hunting after wizards and witches, and burning
them alive, to the delight and edification of dull villagers. This
pious personage paid a visit to Jeanne, hoping to obtain, by her
intercession, the royal permission to have a share in the war. The
disgraced knight, who brought with him a couple of thousand men, when
these were most wanted, was not likely to meet with a refusal of
service, and the permission sought for was speedily granted. Jeanne
playfully alluded to her own supernatural inspiration and the Baron’s
vocation as “witch-finder.” “Ah well,” said De Richemond, “with regard
to yourself, I have only this to say, that it is difficult to say
anything; but if you are from Heaven, it is not I who shall be afraid
of you; and if you come from the devil, I do not fear even him, who, in
such case, sends you.” Thereupon, they laughed merrily, and began to
talk of the next day’s battle.
That battle was fought upon the field of Patay, where the gallant
Talbot was made prisoner by the equally gallant Saintrailles. When the
great English commander was brought into the presence of Jeanne, he was
good-humoredly asked if he had expected such a result the day before.
“It is the fortune of war,” philosophically exclaimed the inimitable
John; and thereby he made a soldier’s comment, which has often since
been in the mouths of the valiant descendants of the French knights who
heard it uttered, and which is frequently quoted as being of Gallic
origin. But, again, I think that “fortuna belli” was not an uncommon
phrase, perhaps, in old days before the French language was yet spoken.
And here, talking of origin, let me notice a circumstance of some
interest. Jeanne Darc is commonly described as Jeanne D’Arc, as though
she had been ennobled. This, indeed, she was, by the King, but not
by that name. To the old family name was added that of _du Lys_, in
allusion to the Lily of France, which that family had served so well.
The brothers of Jeanne, now Darc du Lys, entered the army. When Guise
sent a French force into Scotland, some gallant gentlemen of this name
of Lys were among them. They probably settled in Caledonia, for the
name is not an uncommon one there; and there is a gallant major in
the 48th who bears it, and who, perhaps, may owe his descent to the
ennobled brothers of “The Maid of Orleans.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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