A Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of Arc Read online

  CHAPTER III. HOW THE MAID CAME TO VAUCOULEURS.

  It may yet be remembered by some how early the snow came that year,to the eastern portion of France at least. I think scarce a weekhad passed since our journey to Domremy, before a wild gale fromthe northeast brought heavy snow, which lay white upon the groundfor many long weeks, and grew deeper and deeper as more fell, tillthe wolves ravaged right up to the very walls of Vaucouleurs, andsome of the country villages were quite cut off from intercoursewith the world.

  Thus it came about that I was shut up in Vaucouleurs with my goodcomrade and friend Bertrand, in the Castle of which Robert deBaudricourt was governor, and for awhile little news reached usfrom the outside world, though such news as did penetrate to oursolitude was all of disaster for the arms of France.

  We never spoke to De Baudricourt of our expedition to Domremy, nortold him that we had seen the Maid again. Yet methinks not a daypassed without our thinking of her, recalling something of thatwonderful look we had seen upon her face, and asking in our heartswhether indeed she were truly visited by heavenly visions sent byGod, and whether she indeed heard voices which could reach no earsbut hers.

  I observed that Bertrand was more regular in attendance at theservices of the Church, and especially at Mass, than was usual withyoung knights in those days, and for my part, I felt a strongerdesire after such spiritual aids than I ever remember to have donein my life before. It became a regular thing with us to attend theearly Mass in the little chapel of the Castle; and, instead ofgrowing lax (as I had done before many times in my roving life), asto attending confession and receiving the Holy Sacrament, I nowbegan to feel the need for both, as though I were preparing me forsome great and solemn undertaking. I cannot well express in wordsthe feeling which possessed me--ay, and Bertrand too--for we beganto speak of the matter one with another--but it seemed to us bothas though a high and holy task lay before us, for which we mustneeds prepare ourselves with fasting and prayer; I wondered if,perhaps, it was thus that knights and men in days of old felt whenthey had taken the Red Cross, and had pledged themselves to someCrusade in the East.

  Well, thus matters went on, quietly enough outwardly, till theFeast of the Nativity had come and gone, and with that feast came awonderful change in the weather. The frost yielded, the south windblew soft, the snow melted away one scarce knew how, and a breathof spring seemed already in the air, though we did not dare to hopethat winter was gone for good and all.

  It was just when the year had turned that we heard a rumour in thetown, and it was in this wise that it reached our ears. DeBaudricourt had been out with his dogs, chasing away the wolvesback into their forest lairs. He had left us some business toattend to for him within the Castle, else should we doubtless havebeen of the party. But he was the most sagacious huntsman of thedistrict, and a rare day's sport they did have, killing more than ascore of wolves, to the great joy of the townsfolk and of thecountry people without the walls. It was dark ere he got home, andhe came in covered with mud from head to foot; the dogs, too, wereso plastered over, that they had to be given to the servants toclean ere they could take their wonted places beside the fire; andsome of the poor beasts had ugly wounds which needed to be washedand dressed.

  But what struck us most was that De Baudricourt, albeit sosuccessful in his hunt, seemed little pleased with his day's work.His face was dark, as though a thunder cloud lay athwart it, and hegave but curt answers to our questions, as he stood steaming beforethe fire and quaffing a great tankard of spiced wine which wasbrought to him. Then he betook himself to his own chamber to gethim dry garments, and when he came down supper was already served.He sat him down at the head of the table, still silent and morose;and though he fell with right good will upon the viands, he scarceopened his lips the while, and we in our turn grew silent, for wefeared that he had heard the news of some disaster to the Frencharms, which he was brooding over in silent gloom.

  But when the retainers and men-at-arms had disappeared, and we hadgathered round the fire at the far end of the hall, as was ourwont, then he suddenly began to speak.

  "Went ye into the town today?" he suddenly asked of us.

  We answered him, Nay, that we had been occupied all day within theCastle over the services there he had left us to perform.

  "And have you heard nought of the commotion going on there?"

  "We have heard nought. Pray what hath befallen, good sir? Is itsome disaster? Hath Orleans fallen into the hands of the English?"

  For that was the great fear possessing all loyal minds at thisperiod.

  "Nay, it is nought so bad as that," answered De Baudricourt, "andyet it is bad enough, I trow. That mad girl from Domremy is now inthe town, telling all men that Robert de Baudricourt hath beenappointed of God to send her to the Dauphin at Chinon, and that shemust needs start thither soon, to do the work appointed her ofheaven.

  "Dents de Dieu!--the folly of it is enough to raise the hair onone's head! Send a little paysanne to the King with a wild storylike hers! 'Tis enough to make the name of De Baudricourt thelaughingstock of the whole country!"

  I felt a great throb at heart when I heard these words. Then theMaid had not forgot! This time of waiting had not bred eitherindifference or doubt. The time appointed was drawing near, and shehad come to Vaucouleurs once more, to do that which was required ofher!

  O, was it not wonderful? Must not it be of heaven, this thing? Andshould we seek to put the message aside as a thing of nought?

  Bertrand was already speaking eagerly with his kinsman; but itseemed as though his words did only serve to irritate the Governorthe more. In my heart I was sure that had he been certain the Maidwas an impostor, he would have been in no wise troubled ordisturbed, but would have contented himself by sharply ordering herto leave the town and return home and trouble him no more. It wasbecause he was torn by doubts as to her mission that he was thusperturbed in spirit. He dared not treat her in this summaryfashion, lest haply he should be found to be fighting against God;and yet he found it hard to believe that any deliverance forhapless France could come through the hands of a simple, unletteredpeasant girl; and he shrank with a strong man's dislike from makinghimself in any sort an object of ridicule, or of seeming to givecredence to a wild tale of visions and voices, such as the worldwould laugh to scorn. So he was filled with doubt and perplexity,and this betrayed itself in gloomy looks and in harsh speech.

  "Tush, boy! You are but an idle dreamer. I saw before that you werefooled by a pretty face and a silvery voice. Go to!--your words arebut phantasy! Who believes in miracles now?"

  "If we believe in the power of the good God, shall we not alsobelieve that He can work even miracles at His holy will?"

  "Poof--miracles!--the dreams of a vain and silly girl!" scoffed DeBaudricourt, "I am sick of her name already!"

  Then he suddenly turned upon me and spoke.

  "Jean de Metz, you are a knight of parts. You have sense anddiscretion above your years, and are no featherhead like Bertrandhere. Will you undertake a mission from me to this maiden? Ask ofher the story of her pretended mission. Seek to discover from herwhether she be speaking truth, or whether she be seeking todeceive. Catch her in her speech if it may be. See whether the taleshe tells hang together, and then come and report to me. If she bea mad woman, why should I be troubled with her? She cannot go tothe Dauphin yet, come what may. The melting snows have laid thevalleys under water, the roads are impassable; horses would stickfast in the mire, and we are not at the end of winter yet. She mustneeds wait awhile, whatever her message may be, but I would haveyou get speech of her, and straightly question her from me. Then ifit seem well, I can see her again; but if you be willing, you shalldo so first."

  I was more than willing. I was rejoiced to have this occasion forgetting speech with the Maid. I spoke no word of having had sightof her already, but fell in with De Baudricourt's wish that Ishould go to her as if a mere passing stranger, and only afterwardsreveal myself as his emissary. I slept but little all that night,m
aking plans as to all that I should speak when I saw her on themorrow, and, rising early, I betook myself to Mass, not to theprivate chapel of the Castle, but to one of the churches in thetown, though I could not have said why it was that I was moved todo this.

  Yet as I knelt in my place I knew, for there amongst theworshippers, her face upraised and full of holy joy, her eyesalight with the depth of her devotion, her hands clasped in anecstasy of prayer, was the Maid herself; and I found it hard toturn my eyes from her wonderful face, to think upon the office asit was recited by the priest.

  I did not seek speech of her then, for she tarried long in thechurch over her prayers. I felt at last like one espying onanother, and so I came away. But after breakfast, as the sun shoneforth and began to light up the narrow streets of the little town,I sallied forth again alone, and asked of the first citizen I metwhere could be found the dwelling place of one Jeanne d'Arc, fromDomremy, who was paying a visit to the town.

  I had scarce need to say so much as this. It seemed that all thepeople in the town had heard of the arrival of the Maid. I know notwhether they believed in her mission, or whether they scoffed atit; but at least it was the talk of the place how she had comebefore, and fearlessly faced the Governor and his council, and hadmade her great demand from him, and how she had come once again,now that the year was born and Lent approaching, in the which shehad said she must seek and find the Dauphin. Thus the man was ableat once to give me the information I asked, and told me that thegirl was lodging with Henri Leroyer the saddler, and Catherine hiswife, naming the street where they dwelt, but adding that I shouldhave no trouble in finding the house, for the people flocked to itto get a sight of the Maid, and to ask her questions concerning hermission hither, and what she thought she was about to accomplish.

  And truly I did find that this honest citizen had spoken the truth,for as I turned into the narrow street where Leroyer lived, I sawquite a concourse of people gathered about the house, and thoughthey made way for me to approach, knowing that I was from theCastle, I saw that they were very eager to get sight or speech ofthe Maid, who was standing at the open door of the shop, andspeaking in an earnest fashion to those nearest her.

  I made as though I were a passing stranger, who had just heardsomewhat of her matter from the bystanders, and I addressed her infriendly fashion, rather as one who laughs.

  "What are you doing here, ma mie? And what is this I hear? Is itnot written in the book of fate that the King or Dauphin of Francemust be overcome of England's King, and that we must all becomeEnglish, or else be driven into the sea, or banished from therealm?"

  Then for the first time her wonderful eyes fastened themselves onmy face, and I felt as though my very soul were being read.

  "Nay, sire," she answered, and there was something so flute-likeand penetrating in her tones that they seemed to sink into my verysoul, "but the Lord of Heaven Himself is about to fight for France,and He has sent me to the Governor here, who will direct me to theDauphin, who knows nothing of me as yet. But I am to bring himhelp, and that by Mid-Lent. So I pray you, gentle knight, go tellRobert de Baudricourt that he must needs bestir himself in thisbusiness, for my voices tell me that the hour is at hand when, comewhat may, I must to Chinon, even though I wear my legs to the kneesin going thither."

  "Why should I tell this to the Seigneur de Baudricourt?" I asked,marvelling at her words and the fashion of her speech.

  "Because he has sent you to me," she answered, her eyes still on myface, "and I thank him for having chosen so gracious a messenger;for you have a good heart, and you are no mocker of the things myLord has revealed to me; and you will be one of those to do Hiswill, and to bring me safely to the Dauphin."

  Half confounded by her words I asked:

  "Who is your Lord?"

  "It is God," she answered, and bent her head in lowly reverence.

  And then I did a strange thing; but it seemed to be forced upon mefrom above by a power which I could not withstand. I fell suddenlyto my knees before her, and put up my clasped hands, as we do whenwe pay homage for our lands and honours to our liege lord. And, Ispeak truth, and nought else, the Maid put her hands over mine justas our lord or sovereign should do, and though I dare swear she hadnever heard my name before, she said:

  "Jean de Novelpont de Metz, my Lord receives you as His faithfulknight and servant. He will be with us now and to the end."

  And the people all uncovered and stood bareheaded round us, whilstI felt as though I had received a mandate from Heaven.

  Then I went into the house with Jeanne, and asked her of herself,and of her visions and voices. She told me of them with the gentlefrankness of a child, but with a reverence and humility that wasbeautiful to see, and which was in strange contrast to some of thethings she spoke, wherein she told how that she herself was to beused of Heaven for the salvation of France.

  I cannot give her words as she spoke them, sitting there in thewindow, the light upon her face, her eyes fixed more often upon thesunny sky than upon her interlocutor, though now and again sheswept me with one of her wonderful glances. She told me how from achild she had heard voices, which she knew to be from above,speaking to her, bidding her to be good, to go to the church, toattend to her simple duties at home. But as she grew older therecame a change. She remembered the day when first she saw awonderful white light hovering above her; and this light cameagain, and yet again; and the third time she saw in it the figureof an angel--more than that--of the Archangel Michael himself--thewarrior of Heaven; and from him she first received the message thatshe was to be used for the deliverance of her people.

  She was long in understanding what this meant. St. Michael told hershe should receive other angelic visitors, and often after this St.Catherine and St. Margaret appeared to her, and told her what wasrequired of her, and what she must do. At first she was greatlyaffrighted, and wept, and besought them to find some other for thetask, since she was but a humble country maid, and knew nothing ofthe art of warfare, and shuddered at the sight of blood. But theytold her to be brave, to trust in the Lord, to think only of Himand of His holy will towards her. And so, by degrees, she lost allher fears, knowing that it was not of herself she would do thisthing, and that her angels would be with her, her saints wouldwatch over her, and her voices direct her in all that she shouldspeak or do.

  "And now," she added, clasping her hands, and looking full into myface, "now do they tell me that the time is at hand. Since lastAscensiontide they have bid me wait in quietness for the appointedhour; but of late my voices have spoken words which may not be setaside. I must be sent to the Dauphin. Orleans must be saved fromthe hosts of the English which encompass it. I am appointed forthis task, and I shall accomplish it by the grace of my Lord andHis holy saints. Then the crown must be set upon the head of theDauphin, and he must be anointed as the king. After that my taskwill be done; but not till then. And now I must needs set forthupon the appointed way. To the Dauphin I must go, to speak to himof things I may tell to none other; and the Sieur Robert deBaudricourt is appointed of Heaven to send me to Chinon. Wherefore,I pray you, gentle knight, bid him no longer delay; for I amstraitened in spirit till I may be about my Lord's business, and Hewould not have me tarry longer."

  I talked with her long and earnestly. Not that I doubted her. Icould not do so. Although no voices came to me, yet my heart waspenetrated by a conviction so deep and poignant that to doubt wouldhave been impossible. France had been sold and betrayed by one badwoman; but here was the Maid who should arise to save! I knew it inmy heart; yet I still spoke on and asked questions, for I mustneeds satisfy De Baudricourt, I must needs be able to answer allthat he would certainly ask.

  "How old are you, fair maiden?" I asked, as at length I rose todepart, and she stood, tall and slim, before me, straight as ayoung poplar, graceful, despite her coarse raiment, her feet andhands well fashioned, her limbs shapely and supple.

  "I was seventeen last week," she answered simply, "the fifth ofJanuary is my jour de fete."
r />   "And your parents, what think they of this? What said they when youbid them farewell for such an errand?"

  The tears gathered slowly in her beautiful eyes; but they did notfall. She answered in a low voice:

  "In sooth they know not for what I did leave them. They believed Iwent but to visit a sick friend. I did not dare to tell them all,lest my father should hold me back: He is very slow to believe mymission; he chides me bitterly if ever word be spoken anent it. Isit not always so when the Lord uses one of His children? Even ourLord's brethren and sisters believed not on Him. How can theservant be greater than his Lord?"

  "You fear not, then, to disobey your parents?"

  I had need to put this question; for it was one that De Baudricourthad insisted upon; for he knew something of Jacques d'Arc'sopposition to his daughter's proposed campaign.

  "I must obey my Lord even above my earthly parents," was hersteadfast reply; "His word must stand the first. He knows all, andHe will pardon. He knows that I love my father and my mother, andthat if I only pleased myself I should never leave their side."

  Then suddenly as she spoke a strange look of awe fell upon her; Ithink she had forgotten my presence, for when she spoke, her wordswere so low that I could scarce hear them.

  "I go to my death!" she whispered, the colour ebbing from her face,"but I am in the hands of my Lord; His will alone can be done."

  I went out from her presence with bent head. What did those lastwords signify--when hitherto all she had spoken was of deliverance,of victory? She spoke them without knowing it. Of that I wasassured; and therefore I vowed to keep them locked in my heart. ButI knew that I should never forget them.

  I found Robert de Baudricourt awaiting my coming in the great hall,pacing restlessly to and fro. Bertrand was with him, and I saw bythe tense expression upon his face that he was eager for my report.I gave him one quick glance upon entering, which I trow he read andunderstood; but to De Baudricourt I spoke with caution and withmeasured words, for he was a man whose scorn and ridicule wereeasily aroused, and I knew that Bertrand had fallen into a kind ofcontempt with him, in that he had so quickly believed in themission of the Maid.

  "Well, and what make you of the girl? Is she witch, or mad, orpossessed by some spirit of vainglory and ambition? What has shesaid to you, and what think you of her?"

  "In all truth, my lord, I believe her to be honest; and more thanthis, I believe her to be directed of God. Strange as it may seem,yet such things have been before, and who are we to say that God'sarm is shortened, or that He is not the same as in the days of old?I have closely questioned the Maid as to her visions and voices,and I cannot believe them delusions of the senses. You may ask, arethey of the Devil? Then would I say, if there be doubt, let theAbbe Perigord approach her with holy water, with exorcisms, or withsuch sacred words and signs as devils must needs flee before. Thenif it be established that the thing is not of the Evil One, we maythe better regard it as from the Lord of whom she speaks. At least,if she can stand this test, I would do this much for her--give hera small escort to Chinon, with a letter to the Dauphin. After thatyour responsibility will cease. The matter will be in the hands ofthe King and his advisers."

  "Ay, after I have made myself the laughingstock of the realm!"burst out De Baudricourt grimly; yet after he had questioned meagain, and yet again, and had even held one interview himself withthe Maid, who came of her own accord to the Castle to ask for himone day, he seemed to come to some decision, after much thought andwavering.

  Bringing out one of his rattling oaths, he cried:

  "Then if she can bear the touch of holy water, and the sign of bookand taper and bell--and I know not what beside--then shall she besent to the King at Chinon, and I, Robert de Baudricourt, will sendher--come what may of the mission!"