The life of Joan of Arc, the maid of Orleans

Preface

The present volume is not an elaborate essay upon the Maid of Orleans, — neither is it a minute history of France from her birth to her death. • I have, in preparing it, had principal reference to the popular mind. The first thing necessary was to consult closely and carefully all the proper authorities ; next, to write a plain history of the life of Joan. With the reliable facts before me, and the tragical story in my heart,. I have endeavored to relate it naturally, very likely, in passages, reflecting the language as well as the facts of my authorities. I claim credit only as a compiler. I have in no instance used any but the most reliable authorities ; and this little story of one whose name will ever be one of the brightest on the page of history, may be relied on as true in every particular.

In the introductory chapters of the book I have quoted at some length from Froissart, for the double

Vlll PREFACE.

purpose of giving the reader an impression of the state of France at that time, politically and socially, and to show him the causes which made the English master? of Orleans, Rheims, Paris, and nearly all the great cities of France.

There has recently been some dispute in reference to the name of the Maid of Orleans. The London Literary Gazette^ under date of October 16, 1652, says :

" We have this week to correct a blunder of considerable historical importance, which has remained unexposed, and in fact undetected, for the last four hundred years. The name of Joan of Arc, the heroine of France, has always heretofore been wrongly written, not only by English and other foreigners, but by the French themselves. Her real name, it appears, was Dare, not d'Arc: — that is to say, plain Joan Dare ; not Joan of Arc. To be called c?'Arc, Joan should have been of noble family, whereas she was the daughter of a common peasant, and served as waitress in an inn; or she should have belonged to a place called Arc, whereas she was born at the village of Domremv in Champagne, commenced her career at

PKEFAOE. IX

Vaucouleurs, and never, so far as it appears, did any exploits at Arc. The mistaken way of writing the name no doubt arose from the folly of some of the early French historians wishing to make her appear of sufficiently good descent to be entitled to the aristocratic de. But it is nevertheless a great wonder that this erroneous spelling should have become universal, and should never have been discovered • by any later historian, foreign or French. And the wonder becomes greater still when we call to mind that Joan Dare has been for so long a period the most marked figure in French history, has been the cherished idol of the French' people, has been the subject of histories, and plays, and poems, and novels iimumerable, and has had pictures and statues by the score executed in her honor. It is the descendant of one of her brothers, a gentleman named Haldat, now living at Nancy, who has brought to light the fact that the heroine has never yet been called by her right name ; and it is a little publication of his entitled " Examen Critique de I'Historia de Jeamia Dare," which has just fallen into our hands, that has called our attention to the subject. The proofs that M. Haldat cites are to our mind perfectly clear. Amongst them is the patent by which A*

X PREFACE.

King Charles VII. conferred nobility on Joan's family; and in this document the name is written Dare. In fact, if the correct way of writing it had at that time been d' Arc, the patent would not have been required at all, as the family would have been already noble. M. Haldat shows too, very clearly, that Joan's father was named Jacques Dare, that he was a common laborer, and that he originally belonged to the village of Septfond. M. Haldat concludes by saying, 'I hope that the name will be henceforfch v/ritten Dare, and that the heroine will be left in undisputed possession of the plebean origin.' We fear, however, that the wish will not be regarded. However plain an error may be proved to be, it becomes so venerable by four centuries' duration, that it is almost certain to last forever."

Mahon says : " Joan's brothers and their issue took the name of Du Lis, from the Lily of France, which the King had assigned as their arms. It is said by a writer of the last century that their lineage ended in Coulomb e du Lis, Prior of Coutras, who died in 1760. Yet we learn that there is still a family at Nancy, and another at Strasburg, which bear the name of Du Lis, and which put forth a pedigree to prove themselves

PREFACE. XI

the relatives — not, as a modern traveler unguardedly expresses it, the descendants ! — of the holy Maid.

De Quincey says : " Modern France, that should know a great deal better than myself, insists that the name is not d'Arc, i. e. of Arc, but Dare. Now it happens sometimes, that if a person whose position guarantees his access to the best information, will content himself with gloomy dogmatism, striking the table with his fist and saying in a terrific voice, " It is so, and there's an end of it," — one bows deferentially and submits. But if, unhappily for himself, won by this docility, he relents too amiably into reasons and arguments, probably one raises an insurrection against him that may never be crushed ; for in the fields of logic one can skirmish perhaps as well as he. Had he confined his position to dogmatism, he would have enshrouded himself in darkness, and have hidden his own vulnerable points. But coming down to base reasons, he lets in light, and one sees where to plant the blows. Now the worshipful reason of modern France for disturbing the old received spelling, is — that Jean Hordel, a descendant of La Pucelle's brother, spelled the nanae BwTQ in 1612. But what of that % Beside the chances that M. Hordel might be a gigantic blockhead, it is

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notorious that what small matter of spelling Providence had thought fit to disburse amongst men in the seventeenth century, was all monopolized by printers : in France, much more so."

I prefer to cling to the old name, Joan d'Arc, or Joan of Arc, because usage has schooled the ear to like it better tLan the one of Dare; besides, it is by no means yet clear that Dare is the proper name.

The Author.

Hartford^ Conn.^ Jan. 1, 1854.

Chapter I. Page

Charles the Sixth — De Clisson — The Duke of Brittany

— Sir Peter De Craon — The Duke and Sir Peter conspire to ruin De Clisson — Sir Peter meditates assassination — Comes to Paris, where De Clisson resides — Attacks him at night — Wounds him — Narrow escape

— Sir Peter flies to the Duke of Brittany — The King

is indignant and vows vengeance, It

CHAPTER 11.

The Provost of Paris is ordered to pursue Sir Peter —

The Duke of Brittany is commanded to deliver him up 411

— He refuses — The King sets out to punisji him — Strange accident at the forest of Mans — The King becomes deranged — He attacks his friends — The party return — Ministers unpopular — The King's uncles administer the government, 32

CHAPTER HI.

The result of the frenzy of the King — Disputes arise — His brother, the Duke of Orleans, claims the right to rule — The King's uncles, De Berry and Burgundy, also claim it — Council called — Decided that Burgundy and De Berry administer the government — Burgundy's death — The young Duke of Burgundy claims the right to occupy his father's place — Orleans sup-

XIV CONTENTS.

PAQB

ported by the Queen-Dowager — "War — Burgundytriumphs — Orleans is assassinated — The succeeding Duke of Orlean-s and Count Armagnac take up arms — "War of the Burgundians and Armagnacs — English influence and aid sought by both factions — Henry V. — Resolves upon a war of- conquest, 51

CHAPTER IV.

Battle of Agincourt — The terrible encounter — Courage of the English — French lines broken — A panic — Utter defeat — ■ The English masters of the field — Death of the Duke of York, 65

CHAPTER V.

The English King lacks wisdom — Duke of Orleans taken prisoner and carried to England — Charles, the Dauphin — English invade Normandy — The French Queen — Siege of Rouen — Conference of Biu-gundy and the Dauphin — Treaty of Troyes — King Henry and Princess Katharine married — His death — Henry VI. — Orleans taken by the English — The Dauphin's fortunes at a low ebb — The English victorious everywhere, '73

CHAPTER VI.

Joan of Arc — Extract from De Quincey — Joan's birth-place, Domremy — Her early days — Piety — Modesty — The Beech Tree — Her dreams — The ill-fortune of the Dauphin fires her heart — She sees strange sights — The Spirits whisper to her — She reveals to her uncle the command of the Voices — They set out to see the Governor of Vaucouleurs — Repulsed — The Maid not discouraged — Sets out upon her lone journey to the Dauphin — Interview with him, 8'7

CONTENTS. XV

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE.

The Dauphin convinced that Joan's mission is divine — Relapses into -unbelief — She is examined by a council — She inspires faith, and is declared to be in communication with Heaven — She is placed at the head of the army — Enthusiasm of the soldiers — Provisions sent to the people of Orleans — Joan enters the city at dead of night — battle is given — the Maid conquers, 120

CHAPTER YIII.

The siege of Orleans raised — Description of the conflict — Joan wounded — ^Bravery of the English — Their defeat — A day of Thanksgiving and Praise — Joan urges the Dauphin to follow up his victory with further action — Personal appearance of Joan — The Dauphin unwilling to go on towards Rheims — Siege of Jargeau -^Falls into the hands of the French — Other towns conquered — Troy es taken — Rheims — The Dauphin is crowned at Rheims — Joan's two great predictions accomplished — See asks leave to return to Domi^emy — * Is persuaded to remain at Court, 136

CHAPTER IX.

Joan is honored — Domremy made free from Impost — Joan begins to doubt her further communication with the Yoices — The army marches on Paris — Joan wounded and deserted — She is discouraged — King Charles shows the White Feather — Returns to his castle — Joan during the winter — Spring returns — She attempts the rescue of De Flary — Is made a prisoner, 162

CHAPTER X.

Joan is taken to Rouen — Put into a dungeon — She is insulted — Cruel treatment — Her enemies determine

XVI CONTENTS.

PAGE.

to crush lier — Her trial resolved -upon -r- The Bisnop of Beauvais — Attempt made to deceive Joan — Unsuccessful, ». 183

CHAPTER XI.

The trial commenced — Joan's attire — The trial — Conduct of the Bishop of Beauvais — Nothing proved against the Maid — Yet she is brought in guilty of "Witchcraft — Listens to a Public Sermon — She is deceived by her tormentors — Signs a paper, the contents of which she misunderstands — Is taken back to prison — Attempted outrage — She assumes male attire — Is discovered — Doomed to die, 190

CHAPTER XII.

Joan's execution — The Market-Place — Sympathy of the Spectators — Her triumphant end, . . . « 208

CHAPTER XIII.

The Bishop of Beauvais — Extract from De Quincey-— Review of the career of the Maid, 212

CHAPTER XIY.

The news of Joan's death reaches Domr^my — Death of her father — Further history of the family — Domremy in modern times — The end 220

LIFE OF JOAN

CHAPTER i

CHARLES THE SIXTH — DE CLISSON — DUKE OF BRITTANY — SIR PETER

DE CRAON THE DUKE AND SIR PETER CONSPIRE TO RUIN DE

CLISSON SIR PETER MEDITATES ASSASSINATION GOES TO PARIS,

WHERE DE CLISSON RESIDES ATTACKS HEM AT NIGHT NARROW

ESCAPE SIR PETER FLIES TO THE DUKE THE KING IS INDIG- NANT, AND VOWS VENGEANCE.

It will be necessary, in order to understand and appreciate properly the events in the life of Joan of Arc, to review the history of France for a quarter of a century preceding the date of her birth. Charles the Sixth was upon the throne of France, and reigned prosperously. He was on terms of peace with the English, who at this time possessed Calais, Bayonne and Bordeaux. The king gave the most important office in his cabinet to the Constable De Clisson, who was lite himself, a Breton. He w^s a brave and bold lb THE LIFE OF

man, and possessed many enemies. Among tliem was one of the most powerful men in France — tlie Duke of Brittany. Froissart clironicles tlie history of their hatred and qnarrels ; and as the story will give the reader a good idea of France at this period, we will quote it here :

"Yon have heard before how Sir Peter de Craon, a knight of high birth and great wealth, was disgraced by the King of France and his brother, as well as the reasons for it ; and that having retired to the court of Brittany, the duke had assured him Sir Oliver de Clisson was at the bottom of this business. Some supposed the duke had been instigated to say this from his hatred to the constable, whom he wished to dishonor and destroy. While Sir Peter de Craon was with the Duke of Brittany, they had frequent conversations on what means they could employ to put Sir Oliver to death ; for they said that if he were but destroyed, no one would seek to revenge his loss ; and the duke expressed his regret he had not put him to death when in his castle of Ermine, adding he would willingly give one hundred thousand francs if he could once more have him in his possession. Sir Peter de Craon observing the mortal hatred of the duke to Clisson, tlioiiglit of an extraordinary expedient, when meditating alone upon this subject, for it is from appearances we must judge. He resolved, whatever might be the consequences, that he would himself assassinate the constable, or have it done under his own eyes, and not attend to anything until the deed were performed, when he would afterward treat for his pardon. He was no way afraid of what John of Blois, or the Yiscount de Rohan, who had married the constable's two daughters, could do against him : he held them very cheap, for, with the assistance of the duke and his family connections, he could withstand them both. The house of Blois was much weakened, and the Count Guy de Blois had just sold the reversion of that county to the Duke of Touraine, which by succession ought to have descended to John of Brittany, who had in this sale been very unkindly treated by the Count de Blois. Now, if the constable were slain, by degrees he would soon get the better of the favorites of the king and the Duke of Tou

raine

'' Sir Peter persevered in his abominable designs, urged on by that enemy who never sleeps, and who delights in the heart of the wicked man that is inclined towards him. He regularly formed his whole plan in the manner I shall mention ; but had he foreseen the great evils and mischiefs that ensued from them, it is to be hoped that reason and temperance would have ruled in his heart, to prevent them from being put into execution. It is truly said, that a too great desire to accomplish an object clouds the understanding, and that vicious inclinations overrule virtue. Thus it happened to Sir Peter de Craon, whose eagerness to destroy the constable made him listen to the counsels of folly and madness. He had secured a safe retreat with the Duke of Brittany, after the deed should be done and the constable dead, without fear of any search being there made for him, for the duke had promised him an asylum ; and should the King of France follow him with a powerful army to Brittany, in one night he could embark and sail for Bayonne, Bordeaux, or England, where he could not come after him. The English mortally hated Clisson, for his great severity to them from the time he had turned to the French. . . .

" Sir Peter de Craon long brooded over this intended deed without mentioning it to any one ; I know not if he ever told it to the Duke of Brittany. Some tliink he must have disclosed it to him, but others thought the contrary ; the first opinion, however, was strengthened if not confirmed by Sir Peter and his accomplices returning by the shortest road, and as expeditiously as possible, to Brittany, instantly after the assassination, as to a place of refuge. . . . .

" You must know that at this period Sir Peter de Craon had a very handsome house near the churchyard of Saint John at Paris, like other great lords, to receive him when he came to that city. This hotel was, in his absence, under the care of a house-steward; and during the last Lent season he had sent varlets thither for his service, with orders to lay in a large store of wines and all sorts of provisions. He had likewise written to the steward to purchase for him armor, such as coats of mail, gauntlets, steel helmets, and other things sufficient for forty men, and to let him know when they were provided, that he might send for them ; but to observe the greatest secresy in the business. The steward, thinking no harm, obeyed the orders and provided the armor ; during which time Sir Peter resided at a handsome castle of his in Anjou, called Sable, from whence he sent at different times, four or more determined fellows, in the most secret manner possible, to Ms hotel in Paris. He said to them nothing more when he left them, but ' When you arrive at my house in Paris, make yourselves comfortable, and ask the house-steward for whatever you may want, who will instantly give it to you ; but do not on any account pass the gates or show yourselves. I will one day satisfy you well for your obedience, and pay you handsome wages.'

" Upon this they departed and journied to Paris, which they entered at their pleasure ; for in those days the gates were never shut, night nor day. At length they amounted to forty courageous bravos, for such were what Sir Peter wanted. There were several among them who, had they known the business they were engaged in, would not have come ; but Sir Peter took good care not to betray his secret. About the feasts of "Whitsuntide, Sir Peter de Craon came to his hotel in Paris, not in state, but as privately as his men had done. On his arrival he asked for the porter, and said — ' I command thee, under pain of having thy eyes thrust out, not to admit either man or woman into the hotel, nor to permit any one to go out without my special orders.' The porter as well as the house-steward promised obedience. He shut up in their chambers the wife -of the latter, her children and the chambermaid. He was in the right to do this. Had these women or children gone into the street, his arrival would have been known ; for young children and women naturally tell all they see, and what is intended to be concealed.

" Thus, as I have related, were the whole of his people confined within the walls of the hotel, until the feast of the holy sacrament. You may suppose that Sir Peter had his spies fully employed, to bring him intelligence, but it was not until the eve of this feast he found a fit opportunity to execute his scheme, which had vexed him much.

"It happened that on the feast of the holy sacrament, the King of France kept an open court at the hotel de St. Pol, where he entertained all barons and lords who were in Paris. He was in high enjoyment, as were the queen and the Duchess of Touraine : to add to their amusements, after the dinner, lists were prepared within the courts of the hotel, and young knights and squires, ready armed and mounted for tilting, came thither and justed very gallantly.

24 THELTFEOF

The tiltings were well performed, to tlie delight of the king, queen, ladies and damsels, and lasted until the evening. The prize for the best tilter was adjudged by the queen, the Duchess of Touraine, and the ladies and heralds appointed to the office, to Sir William de Flanders, Count de l^amur. The king entertained at supper, in the hotel de St. Pol, every knight who wished to partake of it ; and afterward the dancings continued until one o'clock in the morning. "When they were over, every one retired to his home without guard and without suspicion. Sir Oliver de Clisson remained the last ; and when he had taken leave of the king, he returned to the apartment of the Duke of Touraine, and asked, 'My lord, shall you stay here to-night, or do you go to Poulain's ? ' This Poulain, was treasurer to the Duke of Touraine, and lived at the Croix du Tiroir, near the Silver Lion. The duke replied — ' Constable, I am not determined whether I shall stay or not, but do you g®, for it is high time to retire.' ' My lord, God give you a good night,' said Sir Oliver, and went away. He found his servants and horses waiting for him in the square before the hotel ; but they had not mor^than eight or ten torches, which the varlets lighted. When the constable was mounted, and the torches were borne before him, he rode down the broad street of St. Catharine.

" Sir Peter de Craon's spies had this day exerted themselves, and he knew every particular relative to the constable — of his staying behind the rest of the company, the exact number of his horses and attendants. He had in consequence quitted his hotel with his men all mounted and secretly armed ; but there were not six of them who knew what his real intentions were. He had advanced to the causeway, near the place of St. Catharine, where he and his people lay hid, waiting for the constable to pass. As soon as the constable had left the street of St. Pol, and turned into the square of the great street, advancing a foot's pace, with a torch on each side to light him, he began a coitversation with one of his squires, saying — ' I am to have at dinner to-morrow my Lord of Touraine, the Lord de Coucy, Sir John de Yienne, Sir Charles de Angers, the Baron de Ivry, and several more : be sure take care they have all things comfortable, and let nothing be spared.' As he said

this. Sir Peter de Craon and his company ad- B vancecl, and witliout saying a word fell on the constable's attendants and extinguislied the torches. The constable hearing the clatter of the horses behind him, thought it was the Duke of Touraine who was playing him a trick, and cried out — ' My lord, by my faith, this is very ill done ; but I excuse it, for you are so young you make a joke of everything.' At these words, Sir Peter de Craon, drawing his sword from the scabbard, said, — ^ Death, death ! Clisson, you must die ! ' ' "Who art thou,' said Clisson, ' that utterest such words ? ' 'I am Peter de Craon, thy enemy, whom thou hast so often angered, and thou shalt now pay for it.' Then calling to his people, he said, — ^ Advance, advance ! I have found him I was in search of, and whom I have long wanted to seize.' He then struck him several blows, and his men, drawing their swords, fell on him. Sir Oliver was quite unarmed, having only a short cutlass, not two feet long, which, however, he drew, and defended himself with it as well as he could. His servants being quite defenceless were soon dispersed. Some of Sir Peter's men asked if they were to murder all? 'Yes,' replied he, ^ all who put themselves in a posture of defence.' They could not resist the attack, for they were but eight, and without armor. Sir Peter's men fully intended to murder the constable, and their master wished nothing more than to see it done ; but as I heard from some of those who had been in this attack, the mo- . ment that they learnt that the person they were assassinating was the Constable of France, their arms became as it were nerveless through surprise, and their blows were given weakly, and through fear ; for in perpetrating wickedness none are bold.

"The constable parried the blows tolerably well with his short cutlass ; but his defence would have been of no avail if God's providence had not protected him. He kept steady on horseback sometime, until he was villainously struck on the back part of the head, which knocked him off his horse. In his fall he hit against the hatch of a baker's door, who was already up to attend to his business and bake his bread. Having heard the noise of horses on the causeway and high roads, the baker had, fortunately for the constable, half opened the hatch, and Sir Oliver falling against it burst it quite open and rolled into the shop. Those on horseback could not follow him, as the entrance was neither wide nor high enough, besides they did work like cowards. It must be owned for truth, that God showed great favor to the constable : if he had not exactly fallen against the hatch, or if it had been closed, he would in falling lost his life, and have been trampled to death by the horses, for they were afraid to dismount. Several of them imagined, even Sir Peter de Craon and the person who had hit him, that the blow on his head which unhorsed him must cause his death ; Sir Peter therefore said, — ' Come, let us away ; we have done enough : if he be not dead he can never recover from the last blow, which was given by a lusty arm.' On saying this they collected together and left the place at a good trot, and were soon at the gate of Saint Anthony, which they passed and gained the fields, for since the battle of Kosebecque the gates were never shut. The Parisians had then their mallets taken from them by the constable, and many of the citizens punished and fined for their imprudent conduct, as I have fully narrated."

Sir Peter fled to the Duke of Brittany, who received him with open arms. Froissart thus describes tlie manner in which the news was broken to the king :

" News of this was carried to the king at the hotel de Saint Pol, just as he was going into bed. In much alarm they said, ' Ah, sire ! we dare not conceal from you a shocking event that has just happened in Paris.' 'What event?' asked the king. ' Your constable, Oliver de Clisson, is murdered.' ' Murdered ! ' repeated the king. 'How, and who has done it?' 'Sire, that we do not know ; but tliis misfortune has befallen him hard by, in the great street of St. Catharine.' ' Come, quickly light torches, for I will go and see him,' replied the king. The torches being ready, the varlets bore them before ; and the king threw only a cloak over him while the shoes were putting on his feet. The men at arms and ushers of the guard of the palace escorted him. Those who were gone to bed, on hearing what had passed, instantly dressed themselves to follow the king, who had left the hotel de St. Pol in such haste that Sir Walter Martel and Sir John de Lignac were the only chamberlains that attended him, for he would not wait for others, and thus he walked at a good pace, with torches before and behind him.

30 THELIB^EOF

In this manner he arrived at the baker's shop, which he entered, bnt the chamberlains with many torches staid without. The king found his constable nearly in the state he had heard him to be in, except that he was not dead ; for his servants had stripped him to see if he had many wounds, and where they had been given. The first words the king said were, ' Constable, how fares it with you ? ' ' Dear sire,' replied he, ^ but so so, and very weak.' '• And who has put you in this state ? ' ' Sire, Peter de Craon and his accomplices have traitorously and without the smallest suspicion attacked me.' ' Constable,' said the king, ' nothing shall ever be more severely punished than this crime, nor can any sufferings make amends for it : run quickly,' added the king, ' for doctors and surgeons.' These were before sent for, and they arrived from all quarters, particularly those attached to the king's person. On their arrival the king was well pleased, and said, — ' Attend well to my constable, and tell me what state he is in, for I am sorely grieved at his misfortune.' The doctors having declared they would, examined him all -over, the king being present, who was greatly angered at this event : he asked, ' If there was any danger of death ? ' The doctors imanimoiTslj replied, 'Sire, certainly not, and in fifteen days we will restore him to yoii w^ell enough to ride on horseback.' This answer pleased the king, who said, ' God be praised, this is excellent news.' Then addressing himself to the constable, he said, 'Take care of yourself, and do not think of this or any other business ; no crime shall be more rigorously punished than that of these traitors ; they shall pay for it as if it were done to myself.' The constable faintly answered, ' May God repay you all, and for your kindness in this visit.' "