been lost by the wickedness of a woman, was to be saved by a young woman from the Marshes of Lorraine. 'The woman who lost France,' she said, 'was the Queen Isabella; the woman to save France was herself?

Jeanne's uncle, not understanding the enthusiastic character of his niece, fancied she was somewhat crazy, and put her off with a slight reproof for talking foolishly. But there was method in Jeanne's madness, which told upon the good man at last. She related to him so clearly the story about her voices, and in all she said there was so much good sense, such a strong reliance on Providence, that he was startled, and at length became the first who was convinced that, whether real or imaginary, she was herself firmly persuaded of the truth of all she said. He went so far, that he promised to go and speak for her to Baudricourt. He did so, and all the answer that the Governor vouchsafed to give was, 'Box the girl's ears, and send her back to her home.'

But Jeanne persisted, till at last her uncle conducted her into the presence of the Governor. She addressed him at first with the modest timidity of a peasant girl; but when she proceeded, and touched on the purpose of her coming, she grew bolder, and, nothing daunted by the derisive incredulity with which he heard her tale, - 'My Lord Captain,' she said, 'know that God for some time past has caused to be revealed to me that I should go to the gentle Dauphin, who is, and who ought to be held, the true King of France; that he should give me men-at-arms,

DISCOURAGEMENTS.

99

and that I should lead them to raise the siege of Orleans, and then conduct him to be anointed at Rheims.'

De Baudricourt treated Jeanne as a fanatic visionary girl ; and thinking her folly would divert the young officers o the garrison, sent for them, passing some coarse jokes about her as he did so. But (says the old chronicler 1) though they came in a very light mood, quite willing to make game of her, no sooner were they in her presence than a strong sense of respect possessed them: they had no inclination to laugh.

Jeanne, nothing disheartened by a first refusal, applied again to the Governor to send her to Charles. Again was she refused. Again did she seek him fearlessly: 'Give me the habiliments of a man,' she said; 'give me a horse, give me some men-at-arms to guide me on my way. In the name of God, do this. You make too much difficulty. This very day, whilst you delay to send me, the gentle Dauphin is sustaining a great injury, and he will soon suffer a greater by your delay.'

Baudricourt, though he did not comply with her importunity, years after remembered, and stated it on oath before the Parliament of Paris (at the trial for revision of the sentence respecting Jeanne, to free her memory from the imputation of sorcery), that on the very day she spoke those words, a strong party of Charles's men-at-arms were defeated by the English.

Jeanne became greatly disquieted. Wherever she went,

1 Mémoires de la Pucelle, p. 93.

with every one she met, she now talked of having received a mission which the Governor disregarded. Again she betook herself to the church, to the shrines of the saints, and remained for hours absorbed in her enthusiastic devotion. So remarkable a person coming on so singular an errand, could not do other than excite public attention; and the young officers, the common men, and all the town, talked loudly of the prophecy, and of Jeanne's mission to fulfil it. The report spread far and wide, and was not without effects, as will presently appear. A gentleman named John de Metz heard of her, and, to satisfy his curiosity, determined to see her and lead her to speak of herself. He began by asking, 'What is your purpose in leaving your home to come to Vaucouleurs? We must make up our minds to see the young French King driven from his country, whilst we all of us become English.'

Jeanne replied, 'Ah! the Lord de Baudricourt will not attend to what I tell him. He will not believe me, and yet I speak the truth; for I must be with the gentle. Dauphin before the end of Lent, though to reach him I should wear my legs off to the knees; for no one in the whole world, neither king nor prince, can regain for him the kingdom of France, but only Jeanne: there is no help but in me. And yet, poor simple maiden that I am, I would rather be at home and spinning at my wheel by my mother's side. But I must go and do what I say I must, for my Lord so commands it.'

'And who is your Lord ?'

INTERVIEW WITH DUKE OF LORRAINE.

ΙΟΙ

Her words, her voice,

'God,' she replied reverently. the solemnity of her manner, struck conviction to the heart of the inquirer; and from that hour John de Metz promised that he would himself conduct her to the King.

We have but now noticed that Jeanne's pretensions to divine inspiration by her voices, in an age when superstition formed a part of religion, had caused her to be much talked of. Her fame reached the Court of Lorraine, where the Duke was suffering from a protracted illness. He sent at once to Jeanne, nothing doubting that if her pretensions were of heaven, she could cure him; but she replied in the negative. She had no powers for anything but the one great purpose-deliverance of the Dauphin. But as the Duke had applied to her, with a freedom which perhaps he little relished, she advised him as a Christian prince to put away his mistress, make up his quarrel with his wife, and take her back again; and if he felt disposed to further the cause of France, by giving herself (Jeanne) assistance to seek the Dauphin, she would thank him, and pray to God for his recovery.

Though Baudricourt had treated lightly Jeanne's personal application, it is probable that, hearing her pretensions so much bruited abroad, he began to think some blame might fall upon himself if he withheld the knowledge of them from Charles. But before he communicated with his Prince, he wished to satisfy himself that she was not For this purpose he applied to the curé of the place, and it was agreed to put her to the test.

a sorceress.

He would present to her a part of a sacred vestment— his stole. If possessed by an evil spirit, she would turn aside; but if by an honest one, she would approach it with reverence. She did the latter, threw herself on her knees at the sight of the stole, and so approached it. This was enough; Jeanne was no sorceress. Baudricourt therefore sent an account of her and her pretensions to the Dauphin. He treated Jane, however, with small courtesy ; for he sent her back with her uncle to the village he came from.

Jeanne could not rest there, and in a few days returned to an honest woman with whom she had lodged in Vaucouleurs. There the energy of her character made so strong an impression on a gentleman named Bertrand de Polongi, that he, like John de Metz, gave her his hand, and as he did so, swore 'under the conduct of God' to take her to the King.

Jeanne's parents heard of this, and became greatly alarmed for her safety. They made every effort to withdraw her from her purpose, and induce her to return home; but in vain. She answered that the time was come when she must choose which to obey,-her earthly parents or her Father in heaven: she dared not pause in her choice. Jeanne's mission was devoutly credited at Vaucouleurs, for the inhabitants took on themselves the cost of preparing her for departure. They commenced by cutting off her long hair (cheveux bruns); and instead of the red jacket she wore as a peasant girl, they gave her a suit of man's