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29 chapters
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
In presenting this story for the young the writer has endeavored to give a vivid and accurate life of Jeanne D’Arc (Joan of Arc) as simply told as possible. There has been no pretence toward keeping to the speech of the Fifteenth Century, which is too archaic to be rendered literally for young readers, although for the most part the words of the Maid have been given verbatim. The name of this wonderful girl has been variously written. In the Fifteenth Century the name of the beloved disciple was
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A Children’s Festival
A Children’s Festival
“ There is a fountain in the forest called The Fountain of the Fairies. An ancient oak, The goodliest of the forest, grows beside. ” Southey. “ Joan of Arc, ” Book II. “Who-oo-ee!” The gleeful shout came from the lips of a little girl who stood, with her hands cupped about her lips, on the edge of a streamlet which divided the village of Domremy into two parts. She was a slight little maiden, of some twelve summers, and as she gave the call she danced about in the warm sunshine as though u
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The Knight’s Story
The Knight’s Story
“ By a Woman Shall France Be Lost; By a Maid Shall It Be Redeemed. ” Old Prophecy. Merlin, The Magician. The house where Jeanne D’Arc lived was a stone cottage with the roof sloping from a height on one side half way to the ground on the other. In front there were but two windows, admitting but a scanty light. Close by the door, as was usual in that country, were piles of faggots and farm tools covered with mud and rust. The enclosure served also as kitchen garden and orchard. Beyond the cot
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The Waves of War Reach Domremy
The Waves of War Reach Domremy
“ Bright shone the sun, the birds sang cheerfully, And all the fields seemed joyous in the Spring: But to Domremy wretched was that day; For there was lamentation, and the voice Of anguish, and the deeper agony That spake not. ” Southey . “ Joan of Arc. ” Book I. The condition of France in this year of grace, 1424, was deplorable in the extreme. For more than one hundred years war had raged between England and France. The kingdom which had been strong and splendid under the great Cha
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The Aftermath
The Aftermath
“ Sweet she is in words and deeds, Fair and white as the white rose. ” “ La Mystère du Siège d’Orléans. ” There was anguish in the eyes of Isabeau Romée as she crossed the drawbridge from the castle, and went slowly with her children to the ruined village. Other women about her wept, or gave vent to their despair in loud outcries; hers was the deeper grief that knows not tears. And in what a state of desolation was the hamlet and its surroundings! The men-at-arms had plundered, ravaged, and bu
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Jeanne’s Vision
Jeanne’s Vision
“ Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes. ” St. Matthew 11:25. The summer gave place to winter; winter in turn was succeeded by spring, and again it was summer. Though there were raids in distant parts of the valley, and wild rumors and false alarms, Domremy was mercifully spared a second visitation. A strict watch was still kept, however, for glitter of lance along the highroad, or gleaming among the trees of the forest, but life resumed its tranqu
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Jeanne’s Harsh Words
Jeanne’s Harsh Words
“ The miracle of this girl’s life is best honored by the simple truth. ” Sainte-Beuve. So, half from shyness, half from fear of ridicule, the child told no one of her strange experience, but often did the thought of the happening come to her, and she wondered what it could mean. Indeed so much did she dwell upon it that Mengette rallied her upon her abstraction. “What has come over you, Jeanne?” asked the latter one day when she and Jeanne in company with other girls and women were at the ri
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Further Visions
Further Visions
“ Angels are wont to come down to Christians without being seen, but I see them. ” Jeanne D’Arc’s Own Words. J. E. J. Quicherat , “ Condamnation et Réhabilitation de Jeanne d’Arc. ” Vol. I. , p. 130. From this time forth the Voice became frequent. Again and again she heard it; chiefly out of doors, in the silence and freedom of the fields or garden. In time the Heavenly radiance resolved itself into the semblance of a man, but with wings and a crown on his head: a great angel, surrounded b
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Jeanne Receives a Gift and an Announcement
Jeanne Receives a Gift and an Announcement
“ Great hearts alone understand how much glory there is in being good. ” A Saying of Old France. Isabeau glanced toward the man who was nearing the cottage. He was clad in the frock of the Order of Saint Francis, and was carrying a heavy staff. “’Tis one of the Grey Friars,” she exclaimed; “and supper is not yet started. I must hurry to get it upon the table, for he may be hungry.” “If it is a Grey Friar let him get on to Neufchâteau,” grumbled Jacques. “They have a house there, and ’tis but
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The Charge is Accepted
The Charge is Accepted
“ I, too, could be content to dwell in peace, Resting my head upon the lap of love, But that my country calls. ” Southey. “ Joan of Arc ,” Book I. “Thou art the Maid.” Over and over the young girl repeated the words in a maze of incredulity and wonder. That she, Jeanne D’Arc, should be chosen for such a divine commission was unbelievable. She was poor, without learning, a peasant girl who had no powerful friends to take her to the Court, and ignorant of all that pertained to war. Her judgm
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The First Step
The First Step
“ On the subject of Jeanne’s sincerity I have raised no doubts. It is impossible to suspect her of lying; she firmly believed that she received her mission from her Voices. ” Anatole France. “ Joan of Arc. ” From this time forth Jeanne’s family could not fail to notice the change that marked her bearing and appearance. Her eyes glowed with the light of a steadfast purpose, and the serene thoughtfulness of her countenance was illumined by a brightness that was like the rosy flush of dawn stea
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A Trying Time
A Trying Time
“ A Prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. ” St. Matthew 13:57. At the end of the week Lassois took Jeanne home. It was a return fraught with unpleasantness. The girl’s visit to Sire Robert and her claim that she would lead the Dauphin to his anointing had been discussed and made a matter of sport by the soldiers of the garrison. From them it passed to the townspeople; from the townspeople to the country, and thence to Domremy. The whole valley buzzed w
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A Worsted Suitor
A Worsted Suitor
“ Whatsoever thing confronted her, whatsoever problem encountered her, whatsoever manners became her in novel situations, she understood in a moment. She solved the problem, she assumed the manners, she spoke and acted as the need of the moment required. ” Andrew Lang , “ The Maid of France. ” So the days sped. Presently rumours of another and more startling nature ran through the valley. Interest in Jeanne D’Arc, her mission, and Colin’s wooing paled before the news. It was noised that Anto
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Farewell to Home
Farewell to Home
“ I am by birth a shepherd’s daughter, My wit untrained in any kind of art. Heaven, and our Lady gracious, hath it pleased To shine on my contemptible estate: ... God’s mother deigned to appear to me; And, in a vision full of majesty, Willed me to leave my base vocation, And free my country from calamity. ” Shakespeare , First Part , “ Henry Sixth. ” To Jeanne’s surprise she was welcomed warmly. Certain of the Domremy people who had been Colin’s witnesses preceded her into Neufch
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Victory Over Doubting Hearts
Victory Over Doubting Hearts
“ Yet the true Poetry––herself, like thee, Childlike; herself, like thee, a shepherd maid–– Gives thee her birthright of Divinity, And lifts unto the stars thy starry shade. Thy brows receive the aureole of her sky; The Heart created thee––thou canst not die. ” Schiller , “ The Maid of Orléans. ” Jeanne stayed at her uncle’s house with Aveline until the latter was quite well. Then, there being nothing further to hinder, she asked Lassois to take her to Vaucouleurs. “Jacques won’t lik
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Starting the Great Adventure
Starting the Great Adventure
“ The character of Joan of Arc is unique. It can be measured by the standards of all times without misgiving or apprehension as to the result. Judged by any of them, judged by all of them, it is still flawless, it is still ideally perfect; it still occupies the loftiest place possible to human attainment, a loftier one than has been reached by any other mere mortal. ” Mark Twain. Preface ––“ Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. ” And so began this strange ride; the strangest that was ever
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Jeanne Comes to Her King
Jeanne Comes to Her King
“ Be not dismayed, for succor is at hand: A holy maid hither with me I bring, Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven, Ordained is to raise this tedious siege. And drive the English forth the bounds of France. ” Shakespeare. Henry Sixth, First Part. The King lay at Chinon, just six leagues from Fierbois, and Jeanne decided to write to him, asking permission to come to the town, for neither of the knights dared go further without his consent. Accordingly Sire Bertrand procured a scri
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The Impossible Happens
The Impossible Happens
“ To pray, we do not say with the lips, but to pray with the whole sincerity of the heart, is to win an inexhaustible source of moral strength. This we say simply from the point of view of a man of science who only concerns himself with the effects of a fact, and only considers truths of observation and experience. ” M. Siméon Luce . “ Jeanne d’Arc à Domremy. ” The next day, as Jeanne sat with the two knights discussing the audience of the evening before, here came the Sire de Gaucourt, form
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The Warrior Maid
The Warrior Maid
“ Her helm was raised, And the fair face revealed, that upward gazed, Intensely worshipping––A still, clear face, Youthful, but brightly solemn!––Woman’s cheek And brow were there, in deep devotion meek, Yet glorified with inspiration’s trace On its pure paleness; while enthroned above, The pictured virgin with her smile of love Seem’d bending o’er her votaress. ” Mrs. Hemans. A wave of enthusiasm swept over the land as the news of the verdict of the Doctors spread. Cowed France threw off he
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The Hour and the Girl
The Hour and the Girl
“ By Esther, Judith and Deborah, women of high esteem, He delivered His oppressed people. And well I know there have been women of great worship. But Jeanne is above all. Through her God hath worked many miracles. ” Christine de Pisan. Poem in honour of the Maid. July 31st, 1429. Jeanne was eager to engage the enemy the next day, and the citizens would gladly have followed her, but Dunois and the captains of the garrison did not wish it. Their argument was that they ought to await the retu
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Jeanne Shows Her Sign
Jeanne Shows Her Sign
“ But never a son of Adam, since the song of man was scrolled, Has followed the golden lily, by wood or wave or wold, To triumph after triumph for which the people prayed In vain through years of anguish, as has the matchless Maid, The girl with the soldier spirit shrined in the angel mould–– ” Justin Huntly McCarthy. “ The Flower of France. ” For fear that the men would fall into disorder while plundering the fortress Jeanne had the buildings of the Augustins burned. On the morrow t
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A Week of Wonders
A Week of Wonders
“ The goodness of her life proves that Jeanne possesses the grace of God.... She goeth forth capturing towns and castles. She is the first captain of our host. Such power had not Hector or Achilles. But God, who leads her, does all. ” Jacques Gélu , Archbishop of Embrun. 1429 After a few days’ rest Jeanne set forth for Chinon, where the King still remained. To raise the siege of Orléans and to lead the Dauphin to his crowning and anointing were the two charges laid upon her. She had performed
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The Culmination
The Culmination
“ Along this square she moved, sweet Joan of Arc,–– With face more pallid than a day-lit star Half-seen, half-doubted; while before her, dark Stretched the array of war. ” Maria Lowell. The next day, which was Sunday, Jeanne and her men returned to Orléans in triumph, and were “nobly received.” The streets were crowded with people who were wild with joy at sight of the Maid, and who gave her a tempestuous welcome. They formed processions and went to the churches, where “they thanked God an
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The Turning of the Tide
The Turning of the Tide
“ If France deserts her, and she fails, she is none the less inspired. ” Jean Gerson. 1429. There was feasting in Reims after the coronation. In the Archbishop’s palace the King was served with the princes of the blood and the nobles. The tables stretched to the streets that the people might be served also; all Reims ate, drank, and made merry. But Jeanne, always exceedingly temperate in the matter of eating and drinking, soon slipped away from the festivities. She had other work on hand. Th
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Jeanne’s Last Field
Jeanne’s Last Field
“ I fear naught but treachery. ” Jeanne’s own words . “ Saith each to other, ‘Be near me still; We will die together, if God so will.’ ” John O’Hagan. “ The Song of Roland. ” No longer buoyed up by hope Jeanne began to feel her wound to faintness, and was compelled to seek her room for rest. As she lay on her bed, despondent and heavy-hearted, her Saints came to her with words of comfort. Daily they appeared, but since the crowning of Charles at Reims they had given the maiden no specific
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In Prison Cells
In Prison Cells
“ It was fit that the savior of France should be a woman. France herself is a woman. She has the fickleness of the sex, but also its amiable gentleness, its facile and charming pity, and the excellence of its first impulses. ” Michelet. “ Joan of Arc. ” There were shouts of triumph and exultation as the Maid was led back over the causeway to Margny. The sun had long since set, and the dusk was dying down into darkness. All along the causeway the earth was stained with blood, and sown with br
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On Trial
On Trial
“ Great in everything as she was we here see her at her greatest. ” Andrew Lang. “ The Maid of France. ” The days passed drearily enough in the prison cell, but Jeanne endured the chains, the irons, and the hideous company of the guards rather than give her parole not to attempt an escape. The monotony of her misery was varied by visitors who came to stare at her and to banter her. In the castle in which she was confined there were many people: Bedford, the Regent, Beaufort, the Cardinal of
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For Her Country
For Her Country
“ There was grandeur in that peasant girl,––in her exalted faith at Domremy, in her heroism at Orléans, in her triumph at Reims, in her trial and martyrdom at Rouen. But unless she had suffered, nothing would have remained of this grandeur in the eyes of posterity. ” Lord. “ Great Women” in “Beacon Lights of History. ” In the afternoon the Duchess of Bedford sent a tailor to Jeanne with a woman’s dress. She put it on without a word, allowed her hair to be dressed in feminine fashion, and to
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At Domremy
At Domremy
“ To our Holy Father, the Pope, to whom, and to God first, I appeal. ” Jeanne’s own words in the Square of St. Ouen . There were many signs and wonders told of the execution after Jeanne’s death. It was said that a dove was seen to fly upward toward Heaven at the moment that her spirit took its flight; that the executioner later in the day went weeping to Friar Isambard, confessing that he was lost, for he had burnt a saint; that an English soldier who had sworn to light a faggot on the pyre
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