Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of FranceEdwards, George Wharton
History
Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of France
Edwards, George Wharton
Cathedrals -- France; Cities and towns -- France; France -- Description and travel
Whatever may have been her outward behavior, "Gentle dauphin," she said
to the King (for she did not think it right to call him king, so long as
he had not been crowned), "my name is Joan the maid; the King of Heaven
sendeth you word by me that you shall be anointed and crowned in the
city of Rheims, and shall be lieutenant of the King of Heaven, who is
King of France. It is God's pleasure that our enemies, the English,
should depart to their own country; if they depart not, evil will come
to them, and the kingdom is sure to continue yours."
Charles was impressed without being convinced, as so many others had
been before, or were as he was on that very day. He saw Joan again
several times. She did not delude herself as to the doubts he still
entertained.
Gentle dauphin, she said one day, "why do you not believe me? I say unto
you that God hath compassion on you, your kingdom and your people; St.
Louis and Charlemagne are kneeling before Him making prayer for you, a
thing which will give you to understand that you ought to believe me."
Charles gave her audience on this occasion in the presence of four
witnesses, the most trusted of his intimates, who swore to reveal
nothing, and according to others, completely alone. "What she said to
him there is none who knows," wrote Allan Chartier a short time after
(in July, 1429) "but it is quite certain that he was all radiant with
joy thereat, as at a revelation from the Holy Spirit."
M. Wallon continues this fascinating and intimate account of the Maid's
mission with most minute detail through her early triumphs and ordeal,
down to the days of her capture, confinement at Rouen, the capital of
the English in France, and her trial and execution in that town.
She arrived (in Rouen) on the 23rd of December, 1430. On the 3rd of
January the following year, an order from Henry VI, King of England,
placed her in the hands of the bishop of Beauvais, Peter Cauchon.
Some days afterwards, Count John of Luxembourg accompanied by his
brother, the English Chancellor, and his Esquire, the Earl of Warwick,
and Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, the King of England's constable in
France, entered the prison where Joan was confined.
Had John of Luxembourg come out of sheer curiosity, or to relieve
himself of certain scruples by offering Joan a chance for her life?
"Joan," said he, "I am come hither to put you to ransom, and treat for
the price of your deliverance; only give us your promise here no more to
bear arms against us."
"In God's name," answered Joan, "are you making a mock of me, Captain?
Ransom me? You have neither the will nor the power; no, you have
neither."
The Count persisted.
"I know well," said Joan, "that these English will put me to death; but,
were they a hundred thousand more 'Goddams' than have already been in
France, they shall never have the kingdom."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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