A Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of Arc

by Evelyn Everett-Green

  CHAPTER VI. HOW THE MAID CAME TO THE KING.

  So Guy de Laval had fallen beneath the spell of the Maid, even aswe had done. He spoke of it to me afterwards. It was not because ofher words, albeit she had plainly shown knowledge of that which hehad been saying before her approach. It was not the beauty of herserene face, or the dignity of her mien. It was as though somepower outside of himself urged him to some act of submission. Anovershadowing presence seemed to rest upon him as with the touch ofa hand, and he who had laughed at the idea of the restoration ofmiracles suddenly felt all his doubts and misgivings fall away.

  We rode together back to our camp, and there we talked long andearnestly of many things. The Maid had much to ask of Sir Guy, buther questions were not such as one would have guessed. She neverinquired how the Dauphin (as she always called him) had first heardof her, how he regarded her, what his Ministers and the Courtthought of her mission, whether they would receive her in goodpart, what treatment she might expect when she should appear atChinon.

  No; such thoughts as these seemed never to enter her head. She wasin no wise troubled as to the things which appertained to herself.Not once did a natural curiosity on this ground suggest suchinquiries; and though we, her followers, would fain have asked manyof these questions, something in her own absence of interest, herown earnestness as to other matters, restrained us from puttingthem.

  It was of the city of Orleans she desired to know. What was thecondition of the garrison? What were the armies of England doing?What was the disposition of the beleaguering force? Was any projectof relief on foot amongst the Dauphin's soldiers? Did theyunderstand how much depended upon the rescue of the devoted town?

  Guy de Laval was able to answer these questions, for he had himselfridden from Chinon to Orleans with messages to the Generals in thebeleaguered city. He reported that the blockade was not perfected;that provisions could still find their way--though with risk, anddanger of loss--into the town, and that messengers with letterscould pass to and fro by exercising great caution, and by the graceof Heaven. He told her of the great fortresses the English hadbuilt, where they dwelt in safety, and menaced the town andbattered its walls with their engines of war.

  The garrison and the city were yet holding bravely out, and theGenerals Dunois and La Hire were men of courage and capacity. Butwhen the Maid asked how it came about that the English--who couldnot be so numerous as the French forces in the town--had beensuffered to make these great works unmolested, he could only replywith a shake of the head, and with words of evil omen.

  "It is the terror of the English which has fallen upon them. Sincethe victory of Agincourt, none have ever been able to see Englishsoldiers drawn up in battle array without feeling their blood turnto water, and their knees quake under them. I know not what thepower is; but at Rouvray it was shown forth again. A small force ofsoldiers--but a convoy with provisions for the English lines--overcameand chased to destruction a French army ten times its own strength.It is as though the English had woven some spell about us. We cannotface them--to our shame be it spoken! The glorious days of old arepast. If Heaven come not to our aid, the cause of France is lost!"

  "Heaven has come to the aid of France," spoke the Maid, with thatcalm certainty which never deserted her; "have no fear, gentleknight. Let the Dauphin but send me to Orleans, and the Englishwill speedily be chased away."

  "It will need a great army to achieve that, fair Maid," spoke SirGuy; "and alas, the King has but a small force at his disposal, andthe men are faint hearted and fearful."

  "It is no matter," answered the Maid, with shining eyes; "is itanything to my Lord whether He overcomes by many or by few? Is Hisarm shortened at all, that He should not fulfil that which He haspromised? France shall see ere long that the Lord of Hosts fightsfor her. Will not that be enough?"

  "I trow it will," answered De Laval, baring his head.

  It was not until the evening was drawing on that we entered thefortress of Chinon, where the King held his Court. A very splendidcastle it was, and when, later in my life, I once visited the realmof England, and looked upon the Castle of Windsor there, it didbring back greatly to my mind that Castle of Chinon, with itstowers and battlements overhanging, as it were, the river, and thetown clustered at its foot.

  We had delayed our approach that our wearied and way-worn men mightrest and give a little care to their clothes and arms, so that wepresented not too travel-stained and forlorn an appearance. Wedesired to do honour to the Maid we escorted, and to assume an airof martial pomp, so far as it was possible to us.

  Sir Guy had ridden on in front to announce our coming. He told methat the King was full of curiosity about the Maid, and that theladies of the Court were consumed with wonder and amaze; but thatthe Prime Minister, De la Tremouille, was strenuously set againsthaving aught to do with that "dreamer of dreams," as he slightinglycalled her, whilst the King's confessor was much of the same mind,in spite of what was reported about her from the priests who hadseen and examined her.

  There was no mistaking the sensation which our approach occasionedwhen at last we reached the walls of the Castle. Soldiers andtownspeople, gentlemen and servants, were assembled at every coignof vantage to watch us ride in; and every eye was fixed upon theMaid, who rode as one in a dream, her face slightly raised, hereyes shining with the great joy of an object at last achieved, andwho seemed unconscious of the scrutiny to which she was subjected,and unaware of the excitement which her presence occasioned.

  For the most part deep silence reigned as we passed by. Noacclamation of welcome greeted us, nor did any murmurs of distrustsmite upon our ears. There was whispering and a rustling ofgarments, and the clank of arms; but no articulate words, eitherfriendly or hostile, till, as we passed the drawbridge, one of thesentries, a great, brawny fellow, half French half Scottish,uttered an insult to the Maid, accompanying his words by a horribleblasphemy.

  My hand was upon my sword hilt. I could have slain the man where hestood; but I felt the Maid's touch on my shoulder, and my hand sankto my side. She paused before the sentry, gazing at him withearnest eyes, full of mournful reproach and sorrow.

  "O Lord Jesu, forgive him!" she breathed softly, and as the fellow,half ashamed, but truculent still, and defiant, turned upon her asthough he would have repeated either his insult or his blasphemy,she held up her hand and spoke aloud, so that all who stood bymight hear her words:

  "O, my friend, speak not so rashly, but seek to make your peacewith God. Know you not how near you stand to death this night? MayGod pardon and receive your soul!"

  The man shrank back as one affrighted. It was scarce two hourslater that as he was crossing a narrow bridge-like parapet, leadingfrom one part of the Castle to another, he fell into the swollenand rapid stream beneath, and was heard of no more. Some called itwitchcraft, and said that the Maid had overlooked him; but the morepart regarded it as a sign that she could read the future, and thatthings unknown to others were open to her eyes; and this, indeed,none could doubt who were with her at this time, as I shallpresently show.

  I had expected that Sir Guy would come to lead us into the chamberof audience, where we were told the King would receive us. But hedid not come, and we were handed on from corridor to corridor, fromroom to room, first by one richly-apparelled servant of the Court,then by another.

  Our men-at-arms, of course, had been detained in one of thecourtyards, where their lodgings were provided. Only Bertrand and Iwere suffered, by virtue of our knighthood, to accompany the Maidinto the presence of royalty; and neither of us had ever seen theKing, or knew what his outward man was like.

  But she asked no questions of us as to that, nor how she was tocomport herself when she reached the audience chamber. Neither hadshe desired to change her travel-stained suit for any other,though, in truth, there was little to choose betwixt them now; onlymethinks most in her case would have provided some sort of gayraiment wherewith to appear before the King. But the Maid thoughtnought of herself, but all of her mission, and she
held that thiswas a matter which could be touched by no outward adorning orbravery of apparel.

  None who passed through the galleries and corridors of the Castleof Chinon in these days would have guessed to what a desperate passthe young King's affairs had come. Music and laughter resoundedthere. Courtiers fluttered about in gorgeous array, and fine ladieslike painted butterflies bore them company. Feasting and revelryswallowed up the days and nights. No clang of arms disturbed thegaieties of the careless young monarch.

  If despair and desperation were in his heart, he pushed them backwith a strong hand. He desired only to live in the present. Hewould not look beyond. So long as he could keep his Court abouthim, he would live after this fashion; and when the English hadswept away the last barriers, and were at the very gates, then hewould decide whether to surrender himself upon terms, or to fly tosome foreign land. But to face the foe in gallant fight was analternative which had never been entertained by him, until suchtime as he had received the message from the Maid; and then it wasrather with wonder and curiosity than any belief in her missionthat he had consented to receive her.

  A pair of great double doors was flung open before us. We stoodupon the threshold of a vast room, lighted by some fifty torches,and by the blaze of a gigantic fire which roared halfway up thevast chimney. This great audience chamber seemed full of dazzlingjewels and gorgeous raiment. One could scarce see the faces andfigures in the shifting throng for the wonder of this blaze ofcolour.

  But there was no dais on which the King was seated in state, as Ihad expected. No figure stood out conspicuous in the throng as thatof royalty. I gazed at one and another, as we stood in the doorway,our eyes still half dazzled by the glare of light and by thebrilliance of the assembled company, but I could by no meansdistinguish the King from any of the rest. Many men, by theirgorgeous raiment, might well be the greatest one present; but howto tell?

  All were quiet now. They had fallen a little back, as though togaze upon the newcomer. Smiling faces were turned upon us. Eagereyes were fastened upon the Maid's face. She stood there, with theglare of the torches shining over her, looking upon the scene withher calm, direct gaze, without tremor of fear or thought of shame.

  One of the great Seigneurs--I know not which--came forward with asmile and a bow, and gave her his hand to lead her forward.

  "I will present you to the King," he said; and made in a certaindirection, as though he would lead her to a very kingly-lookingpersonage in white and crimson velvet, blazing with diamonds; butere he had taken many steps, the Maid drew her hand from his, andturning herself in a different direction, went forward without theleast wavering, and knelt down before a young man in whose attirethere was nothing in any way gorgeous or notable.

  "Gentle Dauphin," she said, in that clear voice of hers whichalways made itself heard above other sounds, though at this momenta great hush prevailed throughout the audience chamber, andwondering eyes were fixed full upon the Maid, "God give you goodlife, and victory over your enemies!"

  Astonishment was in the young man's face; but he took the Maid bythe hand, and said:

  "You mistake, fair damsel; it is not I that am the King. See, he isthere; let me take you to him."

  But she would not be raised; she knelt still at his feet, and thehand which he had given her she held to her lips.

  "Gentle Dauphin, think not to deceive me. I know you, who you are.You are he to whom I am sent, to win you the victory first, andthen to place the crown of France upon your head. It is you, andnone other, who shall rule in France!"

  The young man's face had changed greatly now. A deep agitationreplaced the former smile of mockery and amusement. Several of thecourtiers were exchanging meaning glances; in the hush of the hallevery spoken word could be heard.

  "Child, how dost thou know me?" asked the King, and his voice shookwith emotion.

  Her answer was not strange to us, though it might have been so toothers.

  "I am Jeanne the Maid," she replied, as if in so saying she wassaying enough to explain all; "I am sent to you by the King ofHeaven; and it is His Word that I have spoken. You shall be crownedand consecrated at Rheims, and shall be lieutenant of the King ofHeaven, Who is King of France, but Who wills that you shall reignover that fair realm!"

  "Have you a message from Him to me?" asked the King, speaking likea man in a dream.

  "Ay, verily I have," answered the Maid, "a message which none butyou must hear; for it is to you alone that I may tell it."

  Then the King took her by the hand, and raised her up, gazing ather with a great wonder and curiosity; and he led her behind acurtain into a deep recess of the window, where prying eyes couldnot see them, nor inquisitive ears overhear her words.

  And so soon as they had disappeared there, a great hum and buzz ofwonder ran throughout the hall, and we saw Sir Guy detach himselffrom a knot of gay courtiers, and come hastily towards us.

  "Is it not wonderful!" he cried. "And I had feared that she wouldbe deceived, and that the mockers would have the laugh against herin the first moment. Though how they looked for her to haveknowledge of the King's person I know not. Surely none can doubtbut that she is taught by the Spirit of God."

  "It was done to prove her!"

  "Ay, it was the thought of De la Tremouille, who has ridiculed herpretensions (the word is his) from first to last. But it was athought welcomed by all, as a passing merry jest. Thus was it thatI was not permitted to come and lead you in. They did fear lest Ishould tell what was intended, and describe to the Maid the personor the dress of the King. And now none can doubt; and, in sooth, itmay be a wondrous thing for His Majesty himself, and take from himfor ever that hateful fear which I always do declare has helped toparalyse him, and hold him back from action."

  I lowered my voice to a whisper as I said:

  "You mean the fear lest he was not the true son of the King?"

  "Yes; his wicked mother hinted away her own honour in her desire torob him of his crown. He has known her for an evil woman. Was itnot likely he would fear she might speak truth? Those who know himbest know that he has often doubted his right to style himselfDauphin or King; but methinks after today that doubt must needs beset at rest. If the Maid who comes from the King of Heaven putsthat name upon him, need he fear to take it for his own?"

  As we were thus speaking the Sieur de Boisi joined us. He wasperchance more fully in the King's confidence than any other personat Court, and he was kinsman to De Laval, with whom he had plainlyalready had much talk upon this subject. He drew us aside, andwhispered a story in our ears.

  "His Majesty did tell it me himself," he said, "for there be nightswhen he cannot sleep, and he calls me from my couch at his bed'sfoot, and makes me lie beside him, that we may talk at ease; and hetold me, not long since, how that this trouble and doubt were sogrowing upon him, that once he had fasted for a whole day, and hadpassed the night upon his knees in the oratory, praying for a signwhereby he might truly know whether he were the real heir, and thekingdom justly his. For that were it not so, he would sooner escapeto Spain or Scotland to pass his days in peace; but that if theLord would send him a sign, then he would seek to do his duty bythe realm."

  With awe we looked into each other's faces.

  "The sign has come!" whispered Bertrand.

  "Truly I do think it," answered De Boisi.

  "Surely His Majesty will recognise it as such!" said Sir Guy.

  "I see not how it can be otherwise; and it will be like a greatload lifted from his heart."

  "And he will surely hesitate no more," I said, "but will forthwithgive her a band of armed men, that she may sally forth to the aidof the beleaguered Orleans!"

  But De Boisi and De Laval looked doubtful.

  "I know not how that will be. For there are many who will even nowseek to dissuade the King, and will talk of witchcraft, and I knownot what beside. The Abbes and the Bishops and the priests arealike distrustful and hostile. The Generals of the army openlyscoff and jeer. Some say that if the Maid be sent t
o Orleans, bothLa Hire and Dunois will forthwith retire, and refuse all furtheroffice there. What can a peasant maid know of the art of war? theyask, and how can she command troops and lead them on to victory,where veterans have failed again and again? And then the King knowsnot what to reply--"

  "But she hath given him wherewith to reply!" broke out Bertrand,with indignation in his tones. "She comes not in her own strength,but as the envoy of the King of Heaven. Is that not enough?"

  "Enough for us who have seen and heard her," answered Sir Guy; "butwill it prove enough for those who only hear of her from others,and who call her a witch, and say that she works by evil spells,and has been sent of the Devil for our deception and destructionand undoing?"

  "Then let them send for one of the Generals from Orleans, and lethim judge for himself!" cried Bertrand hotly; "you say the city isnot so closely blockaded but that with care and caution men may getin or out? Then let some one send and fetch one of thesecommanders; and if he be not convinced when he sees her, then hewill be of very different stuff from all else who have doubted, butwhose doubts have been dispelled."

  "In faith, that is no bad thought," spoke De Boisi thoughtfully,"and I trow it might be possible of accomplishment. I willcertainly speak with the King of it. He is young; he is not firm ofpurpose; his own heart has never before been set upon his kingdom.One cannot expect a man's nature to change in a day, even thoughhis eyes may have been opened, and his misgivings set at rest. Ifone of the Generals were won to her side, the troubles that besetus would be well-nigh overcome."

  A great clamour of sound from the larger audience chamber, fromwhich we had retired to talk at ease, warned us now that the Kingand the Maid had appeared from their private conference. His facewas very grave, and there was more of earnestness and nobility inhis expression than I had thought that countenance capable ofexpressing. The Maid was pale, as though with deep emotion; but aglorious light shone in her eyes, and when the Court ladies andgallants crowded round her, asking her questions, and gazing uponher as though she were a being from another sphere, she seemedlifted up above them into another region, and though she answeredthem without fear, she put aside, in some wonderful way, all thosequestions which were intrusions into holy things, speaking sofearlessly and so simply that all were amazed at her.

  She came to us at last, weary, yet glad at heart; and her firstquestion was for her followers, and whether they had been lodgedand fed. We supped with her at her request, and in private, and herface was very calm and glad, though she spoke nothing of what hadpassed between her and the King.

  Only when Bertrand said:

  "You have done a great work today," did she look at him with asmile as she replied:

  "My work hath but just begun, and may yet be hindered; but have nofear. The Lord has spoken, and He will bring it to pass. He willnot fail us till all be accomplished."