reduced to extremities, he had besought Heaven either for safety from impending ruin, or for a secure retreat in Spain or in Scotland.' Though Charles was now convinced that she had a divine mission, yet, being resolved to do nothing rash in so important a concern, he required her to go before the Parliament then sitting at Poictiers. With some reluctance she consented; and the result of a long and searching interrogation by the lawyers and churchmen was the establishment of a general belief in her miraculous powers and divine mission."

2

It is of course manifest that if the Maid delivered all the statements which are related, and ascribed her knowledge of events to supernatural communication, she only affords another instance of the facility with which imposture allies itself with enthusiasm, so as to make zealots half believe the fables which they half invent, and to leave us always in some doubt how far they are the dupes, how far the contrivers of delusion. But those who give entire credit to the relations of that age, finding it impossible to explain such passages as the discovery of Charles's somewhat remarkable prayer, have had recourse to the supposition that he was himself party to a fraud which he conceived might be practised with success to raise the drooping spirit of his troops, or even quicken their loyal devotion by a belief in assistance from above. It certainly seems difficult to

MS. Bib. du Roi, cit. Langlet, Hist. de la Pucelle, ii. 149.

2 Note LVII.

avoid some such conclusion, unless we discredit portions of the story; and the care with which the Maid's promises were promulgated, and all that concerned her made public, appears to favour the supposition of concert, while, on the other hand, the searching scrutiny to which she was subjected at Poictiers would lead to a contrary inference, unless we suppose that the leading men of the Parliament were in the secret of the plot. But whatever may have been the origin of this singular affair, and whatever the circumstances that accompanied its development, no sooner had Charles and his Court resolved to patronize the Maid and avail themselves of her agency, than they performed their part of entire acquiescence in her pretensions to a divine mission, and spared no pains to render her services effectual by clothing her with whatever respect could best secure her sway over the minds of men.

She was immediately provided with a complete suit of armour, a charger, a squire, a page, and two valets. She desired that the armour should be that of a man. For a sword, she required that one should be brought her from the Church of St. Catharine de Fierbois, near Tours, describing it as having five small crosses near the hilt. Being asked if she had ever seen it, she said she knew such a sword was there. On sending messengers to the place, a sword was found answering her description, and it was given to her; but she had been at the village, and in the Church of Fierbois, on her way to Chinon. She

desired a banner to be made after the fashion directed by "her voices," as she called the supernatural communications she imagined she received; it was of white silk, studded with fleur de lys, and had in the centre a figure of God holding a globe in his hand, with the Saviour and the Virgin supporting him. After it had been solemnly blessed in the Church of St. Saviour, this standard was always borne before her. She now made her appearance before the assembled court, fully armed, and mounted upon her charger, which she rode and managed with perfect ease, to the wonder of all the bystanders, who forgot, or perhaps had never been suffered to know, that she had for a short time been servant at an inn, and might have had some care of the strangers' horses.

It was now resolved to try how far she had the means of performing her promises. She began by sending a formal summons to Bedford, announcing her divine mission, requiring him to raise the siege and quit the country, and threatening him with the displeasure of Heaven if he refused to comply. Her menaces were, as might be expected, laughed at by the English army, who regarded Charles as only showing to how desperate a state he was reduced when he placed confidence in the ravings of a mad-woman. A few days, however, sufficed to change their sentiments, and to strike their minds with the superstitious awe that had seized the French-a feeling ever contagious among the vulgar, but especially in those days of ignorance and enthusiasm. The town being

April 28,

1429.

reduced to extremities for want of provisions, it became of the greatest importance to secure the arrival of a considerable convoy, which was then waiting at Blois for an opportunity either to pass or elude the besieging army. The Maid was detached to that town at the head of a large force, represented by some authorities as not less than 10,000 men. The first order she gave on arriving there was that the soldiers should all be confessed; the next that all the women of bad fame who followed the army should forthwith leave it. She then marched from Blois, and with so much despatch that the convoy arrived in sight of Orleans on the following day. Dunois, who commanded, caused a well-timed sally to be made on the opposite side of the town in order to engage the enemy and cover the Maid's approach, who protected the operation of loading the provisions in boats, while the English, astonished at what they saw, did not venture to attack. This panic was regarded by the besieged as a new manifestation of divine favour, and tended greatly to increase their confidence. They wished the Maid to enter the town and undertake its defence; and although her own desire was to remain in the open country, she yielded to their entreaties, was suitably lodged with a person high in office, and required that his wife and daughter should constantly attend her while in his house; a precaution which she always took when lodging in any town, having the protection of her brothers as often as she slept in the country.

In a few days a second convoy from Blois approached. To protect it the garrisons of the neighbouring towns were assembled. The Maid, attended by Dunois, sallied forth from Orleans at the head of such troops as could be spared from the works, never doubting that a formidable opposition would be offered; but none whatever was attempted, although they passed in full day with colours flying before the English posts. They joined the convoy, and with it regained the town in safety. Another sally made by the besieged to attack one of the English towers was unsuccessful. Joan had retired to take some repose, and knew nothing of the movement. She no sooner heard of its discomfiture than she started up, met the flying troops, encouraged them by placing herself at their head, led them back to the charge, and the fort being speedily taken, all the English were put to the sword, or made prisoners.

The confidence with which these operations inspired alike the inhabitants and the troops was soon turned to account. It may be observed that, although the French commanders deemed it politic to make much of the Maid's gifts, they did not submit blindly to her guidance, and took care that she should always be attended by the most skilful of their own number. Thus she had insisted on the first convoy entering Orleans by the side of Beauce; but as the besiegers were in great force in that quarter, Dunois stood firm to the more rational course of entering by Sologne, where comparatively few of the English