The Life of Joan of Arc Part 86

a.s.sisted by the judges of Lagny, he himself conducted the trial. The accused confessed that he was a murderer, a thief, and a traitor. We must believe him; and yet we cannot forbear a doubt as to whether he really was, any more than the majority of Armagnac or Burgundian men-at-arms, any more than a Damoiseau de Commercy or a Guillaume de Flavy, for example. He was condemned to death.

Jeanne consented that he should die, if he had deserved death, and seeing that he had confessed his crimes[1964] he was beheaded.

[Footnote 1964: _Ibid._, p. 159.]

When they heard of the scandalous treatment of Messire Franquet, the Burgundians were loud in their sorrow and indignation.[1965] It would seem that in this matter the Bailie of Senlis and the judges of Lagny did not act according to custom. We, however, are not sufficiently acquainted with the circ.u.mstances to form an opinion. There may have been some reason, of which we are ignorant, why the King of France should have demanded this prisoner. He had a right to do so on condition that he paid the Maid the amount of the ransom. A soldier of those days, well informed in all things touching honour in war, was the author of _Le Jouvencel_. In his chivalrous romances he writes approvingly of the wise Amydas, King of Amydoine, who, learning that one of his enemies, the Sire de Morcellet, has been taken in battle and held to ransom, cries out that he is the vilest of traitors, ransoms him with good coins of the realm, and hands him over to the provost of the town and the officers of his council that they may execute justice upon him.[1966] Such was the royal prerogative.

[Footnote 1965: _Ibid._, p. 254. Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 385. E.

Richer, _Histoire ma.n.u.scrite de la Pucelle_, book i, folio 82.]

[Footnote 1966: _Le Jouvencel_, vol. ii, pp. 210, 211.]

Whether it was that camp life was hardening her, or whether, like all mystics, she was subject to violent changes of mood, Jeanne showed at Lagny none of that gentleness she had displayed on the evening of Patay. The virgin who once had no other arm in battle than her standard, now wielded a sword found there, at Lagny, a Burgundian sword and a trusty. Those who regarded her as an angel of the Lord, good Brother Pasquerel, for example, might justify her by saying that the Archangel Saint Michael, the standard-bearer of celestial hosts, bore a flaming sword. And indeed Jeanne remained a saint.

While she was at Lagny, folk came and told her that a child had died at birth, unbaptized.[1967] Having entered into the mother at the time of her conception, the devil held the soul of this child, who, for lack of water, had died the enemy of its Creator. The greatest anxiety was felt concerning the fate of this soul. Some thought it was in limbo, banished forever from G.o.d's sight, but the more general and better founded opinion was that it was seething in h.e.l.l; for has not Saint Augustine demonstrated that souls, little as well as great, are d.a.m.ned because of original sin. And how could it be otherwise, seeing that Eve's fall had effaced the divine likeness in this child? He was destined to eternal death. And to think that with a few drops of water this death might have been avoided! So terrible a disaster afflicted not only the poor creature's kinsfolk, but likewise the neighbours and all good Christians in the town of Lagny. The body was carried to the Church of Saint-Pierre and placed before the image of Our Lady, which had been highly venerated ever since the plague of 1128. It was called Notre-Dame-des-Ardents because it cured burns, and when there were no burns to be cured it was called Notre-Dame-des-Aidants, or rather Des Aidances, that is, Our Lady the Helper, because she granted succour to those in dire necessity.[1968]

[Footnote 1967: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 105.]

[Footnote 1968: A. Denis, _Jeanne d'Arc a Lagny_, Lagny, 1896, in 8vo, pp. 4 _et seq._ J.A. Lepaire, _Jeanne d'Arc a Lagny_, Lagny, 1880, in 8vo, 38 pages.]

The maidens of the town knelt before her, the little body in their midst, beseeching her to intercede with her divine Son so that this little child might have his share in the Redemption brought by our Saviour.[1969] In such cases the Holy Virgin did not always deny her powerful intervention. Here it may not be inappropriate to relate a miracle she had worked thirty-seven years before.

[Footnote 1969: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 105.]

At Paris, in 1393, a sinful creature, finding herself with child, concealed her pregnancy, and, when her time was come, was without aid delivered. Then, having stuffed linen into the throat of the girl she had brought forth, she went and threw her on to the dust-heap outside La Porte Saint-Martin-des-Champs. But a dog scented the body, and scratching away the other refuse, discovered it. A devout woman, who happened to be pa.s.sing by, took this poor little lifeless creature, and, followed by more than four hundred people, bore it to the Church of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, there placed it on the altar of Our Lady, and kneeling down with the mult.i.tude of folk and the monks of the Abbey, with all her heart prayed the Holy Virgin not to suffer this innocent babe to be condemned eternally. The child stirred a little, opened her eyes, loosened the linen, which gagged her, and cried aloud. A priest baptized her on the altar of Our Lady, and gave her the name of Marie. A nurse was found, and she was fed from the breast.

She lived three hours, then died and was carried to consecrated ground.[1970]

[Footnote 1970: _Religieux de Saint-Denis_, vol. ii, p. 82. Jean Juvenal des Ursins, in _Coll. Michaud et Poujoulat_, p. 395, col. 2.]

In those days resurrections of unbaptized children were frequent. That saintly Abbess, Colette of Corbie, who, when Jeanne was at Lagny, dwelt at Moulins with the reformed Sisters of Saint Clare, had brought back to life two of these poor creatures: a girl, who received the name of Colette at the font and afterwards became nun, then abbess at Pont-a-Mousson; a boy, who was said to have been two days buried and whom the servant of the poor declared to be one of the elect. He died at six months, thus fulfilling the prophecy made by the saint.[1971]

[Footnote 1971: _Acta Sanctorum_, 6th of March, pp. 381 and 617. Abbe Bizouard, _Histoire de Sainte Colette_, pp. 35, 37. Abbe Douillet, _Sainte Colette, sa vie, ses oeuvres_, 1884, pp. 150-154.]

With this kind of miracle Jeanne was doubtless acquainted. About twenty-five miles from Domremy, in the duchy of Lorraine, near Luneville, was the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-des-Aviots, of which she had probably heard. Notre-Dame-des-Aviots, or Our Lady of those brought back to life, was famed for restoring life to unbaptized children. By means of her intervention they lived again long enough to be made Christians.[1972]

[Footnote 1972: Le Cure de Saint-Sulpice, _Notre-Dame de France_, Paris, in 8vo, vol. vi, 1860, p. 57.]

In the duchy of Luxembourg, near Montmedy, on the hill of Avioth,[1973]

mult.i.tudes of pilgrims worshipped an image of Our Lady brought there by angels. On this hill a church had been built for her, with slim pillars and elaborate stonework in trefoils, roses and light foliage.

This statue worked all manner of miracles. At its feet were placed children born dead; they were restored to life and straightway baptized.[1974]

[Footnote 1973: For the etymology of Avioth see C. Bonnabelle, _Pet.i.te etude sur Avioth et son eglise_, in _Annuaire de la Meuse_, 1883, in 18mo, p. 14.]

[Footnote 1974: Le Cure de Saint-Sulpice, _loc. cit._, vol. v, pp. 107 _et seq._ Bonnabelle, _loc. cit._, pp. 13 _et seq._ Jacquemain, _Notre-Dame d'Avioth et son eglise monumentale_, Sedan, 1876, in 8vo.]

The folk, gathered in the Church of Saint-Pierre de Lagny, around the statue of Notre-Dame-des-Aidances, hoped for a like grace. The damsels of the town prayed round the child's lifeless body. The Maid was asked to come and join them in praying to Our Lord and Our Lady. She went to the church, and knelt down with the maidens and prayed. The child was black, "as black as my coat," said Jeanne. When the Maid and the damsels had prayed, it yawned three times and its colour came back. It was baptized and straightway it died; it was buried in consecrated ground. Throughout the town this resurrection was said to be the work of the Maid. According to the tales in circulation, during the three days since its birth the child had given no sign of life;[1975] but the gossips of Lagny had doubtless extended the period of its comatose condition, like those good wives who of a single egg laid by the husband of one of them, made a hundred before the day was out.

[Footnote 1975: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 105, 106.]

CHAPTER VII

SOISSONS AND COMPIeGNE--CAPTURE OF THE MAID

Leaving Lagny, the Maid presented herself before Senlis, with her own company and with the fighting men of the French n.o.bles whom she had joined, in all some thousand horse. And for this force she demanded entrance into the town. No misfortune was more feared by burgesses than that of receiving men-at-arms, and no privilege more jealously guarded than that of keeping them outside the walls. King Charles had experienced it during the peaceful coronation campaign. The folk of Senlis made answer to the Maid that, seeing the poverty of the town in forage, corn, oats, victuals and wine, they offered her an entrance with thirty or forty of the most notable of her company and no more.[1976]

[Footnote 1976: Arch. mun. of Senlis in _Muse des archives departementales_, pp. 304, 305. J. Flammermont, _Histoire de Senlis pendant la seconds partie de la guerre de cent ans_, p. 245. Perceval de Cagny, p. 173. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 294, note 5.]

It is said that from Senlis Jeanne went to the Castle of Borenglise in the parish of Elincourt, between Compiegne and Ressons; and, in ignorance as to what can have taken her there, it is supposed that she made a pilgrimage to the Church of Elincourt, which was dedicated to Saint Margaret; and it is possible that she wished to worship Saint Margaret there as she had worshipped Saint Catherine at Fierbois, in order to do honour to one of those heavenly ladies who visited her every day and every hour.[1977]

[Footnote 1977: Ma.n.u.script History of Beauvais by Hermant, in _Trial_, vol.

v, p. 165. G. Lecocq, _etude historique sur le sejour de Jeanne d'Arc a Elincourt-Sainte-Marguerite_, Amiens, 1879, in 8vo, 13 pages. A. Peyrecave, _Notes sur le sejour de Jeanne d'Arc a Elincourt-Sainte-Marguerite_, Paris, 1875, in 8vo. _Elincourt-Sainte-Marguerite, notice historique et archeologique_, Compiegne, 1888. Ch. vii, pp. 113, 123.]

In those days, in the town of Angers, was a licentiate of laws, canon of the churches of Tours and Angers and Dean of Saint-Jean d'Angers.

Less than ten days before Jeanne's coming to Sainte-Marguerite d'Elincourt, on April 18, about nine o'clock in the evening, he felt a pain in the head, which lasted until four o'clock in the morning, and was so severe that he thought he must die. He prayed to Saint Catherine, for whom he professed a special devotion, and straightway was cured. In thankfulness for so great a grace, he wended on foot to the sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Fierbois; and there, on Friday, the 5th of May, in a loud voice, said a ma.s.s for the King, for "the Maid divinely worthy," and for the peace and prosperity of the realm.[1978]

[Footnote 1978: _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 164, 165. _Les miracles de Madame Sainte Katerine de Fierboys_, pp. 16, 62, 63.]

The Council of King Charles had made over Pont-Sainte-Maxence to the Duke of Burgundy, in lieu of Compiegne, which they were unable to deliver to him since that town absolutely refused to be delivered, and remained the King's despite the King. The Duke of Burgundy kept Pont-Sainte-Maxence which had been granted him and resolved to take Compiegne.[1979]

[Footnote 1979: P. Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_. Proofs and ill.u.s.trations, pp. 150, 154. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 276, note 3. Note concerning G. de Flavy, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 176.]

On the 17th of April, when the truce had expired, he took the field with a goodly knighthood and a powerful army, four thousand Burgundians, Picards and Flemings, and fifteen hundred English, commanded by Jean de Luxembourg, Count of Ligny.[1980]

[Footnote 1980: Monstrelet, ch. x.x.x. Note concerning G. de Flavy, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 175. P. Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_. Proofs and ill.u.s.trations, xliv, xlv.]

n.o.ble pieces of artillery did the Duke bring to that siege; notably, Remeswelle, Rouge Bombarde and Houppembiere, from all three of which were fired stone b.a.l.l.s of enormous size. Mortars, which the Duke had brought and paid ready money for to Messire Jean de Luxembourg, were brought likewise; Beaurevoir and Bourgogne, also a great "_coullard_"

and a movable engine of war. The vast states of Burgundy sent their archers and cross-bowmen to Compiegne. The Duke provided himself with bows from Prussia and from Caffa in Georgia,[1981] and with arrows barbed and unbarbed. He engaged sappers and miners to lay powder mines round the town and to throw Greek fire into it. In short my Lord Philip, richer than a king, the most magnificent lord in Christendom and skilled in all the arts of knighthood, was resolved to make a gallant siege.[1982]

[Footnote 1981: "In this country the Emperor [of Constantinople] has a city called Capha, which is a seaport belonging to the Genoese and whence is obtained wood for the making of bows and cross-bows, likewise wine called Rommenie." _Le Livre de description des pays de Gilles le Bouvier._ Ed. E.T. Hamy, Paris, 1908, p. 90.]

[Footnote 1982: De La Fons-Melicocq, _Doc.u.ments inedits sur le siege de Compiegne de 1430_ in _La Picardie_, vol. iii, 1857, pp. 22, 23. P.

Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_. Proofs and ill.u.s.trations, p. 176.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: PHILIP, DUKE OF BURGUNDY]

The town, then one of the largest and strongest in France, was defended by a garrison of between four and five hundred men,[1983]

commanded by Guillaume de Flavy. Scion of a n.o.ble house of that province, forever in dispute with the n.o.bles his neighbours, and perpetually picking quarrels with the poor folk, he was as wicked and cruel as any Armagnac baron.[1984] The citizens would have no other captain, and in that office they maintained him in defiance of King Charles and his chamberlains. They did wisely, for none was better able to defend the town than my Lord Guillaume, none was more set on doing his duty. When the King of France had commanded him to deliver the place he had refused point-blank; and when later the Duke promised him a good round sum and a rich inheritance in exchange for Compiegne, he made answer that the town was not his, but the King's.[1985]

[Footnote 1983: Lefevre de Saint-Remy, vol. ii, p. 178. H. de Lepinois, _Notes extraites des archives communales de Compiegne_, in _Bibliotheque de l'ecole des Chartes_, 1863, vol. xxiv, p. 486. A.

Sorel, _La prise de Jeanne d'Arc devant Compiegne et l'histoire des sieges de la meme ville sous Charles VI et Charles VII, d'apres des doc.u.ments inedits avec vues et plans_, Paris, 1889, in 8vo, p. 268.]

[Footnote 1984: Jacques Duclercq, _Memoires_, ed. Reiffenberg, vol. i, p. 419. _Le Temple de Bocace_ in _Les oeuvres de Georges Chastellain_, ed. Kervyn de Lettenhove, vol. vii, p. 95. P. Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy, capitaine de Compiegne, contribution a l'histoire de Jeanne d'Arc et a l'etude de la vie militaire et privee au XV'ieme siecle_, Paris, 1906, in 8vo, _pa.s.sim_.]

[Footnote 1985: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 125. _Chronique des cordeliers_, fol. 495 recto. Rogier, in Varin, _Arch. de la ville de Reims_, 11th part, Statuts, vol. i, p. 604. A. Sorel, _loc. cit._, p. 167. P. Champion, _loc. cit._, p. 33.]