A Monk of Fife

by Various

  CHAPTER XXXI--HOW NORMAN LESLIE SAW THE MAID IN HER PRISON

  On arriving in the town of Rouen, three things were my chief care,whereof the second helped me in the third. The first was to be lodged asnear as I might to the castle, wherein the Maid lay, being chained (sofell was the cruelty of the English) to her bed. The next matter was topurvey me three horses of the fleetest. Here my fortune served me well,for the young esquires and pages would ever be riding races outside ofthe gates, they being in no fear of war, and the time till the Maid wasburned hung heavy on their hands. I therefore, following the manner ofthe English Marchmen, thrust myself forward in these sports, and wouldchange horses, giving money to boot, for any that outran my own. Mymoney I spent with a very free hand, both in wagers and in feasting men-at-arms, so that I was taken to be a good fellow, and I willingly letmany make their profit of me. In the end, I had three horses that, witha light rider in the saddle, could be caught by none in the wholegarrison of Rouen.

  Thirdly, I was most sedulous in all duty, and so won the favour of SirThomas Grey, the rather that he counted cousins with me, and reckonedthat we were of some far-off kindred, wherein he spoke the truth. Thus,partly for our common blood, partly for that I was ever ready at call,and forward to do his will, and partly because none could carry a messageswifter, or adventure further to spy out any bands of the French, he keptme close to him, and trusted me as his galloper. Nay, he gave me, onoccasion, his signet, to open the town gates whensoever he would send meon any errand. Moreover, the man (noble by birth, but base by breeding)who had the chief charge and custody of the Maid, was the brother's sonof Sir Thomas. He had to name John Grey, and was an esquire of the bodyof the English King, Henry, then a boy. This miscreant it was often myfortune to meet, at his uncle's table, and to hear his pitiless and cruelspeech. Yet, making friends, as Scripture commands us, of the Mammon ofunrighteousness, I set myself to win the affection of John Grey bylaughing at his jests and doing him what service I might.

  Once or twice I dropped to him a word of my great desire to see the famedPuzel, for the trials that had been held in open hall were now done inthe dungeon, where only the bishop, the doctors of law, and the notariesmight hear them. Her noble bearing, indeed, and wise answers (which wereplainly put into her mouth by the Saints, for she was simple andignorant) had gained men's hearts.

  One day, they told me, an English lord had cried--"The brave lass, pityshe is not English." For to the English all the rest of God's earth isas Nazareth, out of which can come no good thing. Thus none might seethe Maid, and, once and again, I let fall a word in John Grey's earconcerning my desire to look on her in prison. I dared make no show ofeagerness, though now the month of May had come, which was both her goodand ill month. For in May she first went to Vaucouleurs and prophesied,in May she delivered Orleans, and in May she was taken at Compiegne.Wherefore I deemed, as men will, that in May she should escape herprison, or in May should die. Moreover, on the first day of March theyhad asked her, mocking her--

  "Shalt thou be delivered?"

  And she had answered--

  "Ask me on this day three months, and I shall declare it to you."

  The English, knowing this, made all haste to end her ere May ended,wherefore I had the more occasion for speed.

  Now, on a certain day, being May the eighth, the heart of John Grey wasmerry within him. He had well drunk, and I had let him win of me, at thedice, that one of my three horses which most he coveted.

  He then struck me in friendly fashion on the back, and cried--

  "An unlucky day for thee, and for England. This very day, two yearsagone, that limb of the devil drove us by her sorceries from beforeOrleans. But to-morrow--" and he laughed grossly in his beard. "Storey,you are a good fellow, though a fool at the dice."

  "Faith, I have met my master," I said. "But the lesson you gave me wasworth bay Salkeld," for so I had named my horse, after a great Englishhouse on the Border who dwell at the Castle of Corby.

  "I will do thee a good turn," he said. "You crave to see this Puzel, erethey put on her the high witch's cap for her hellward journey."

  "I should like it not ill," I said; "it were something to tell mygrandchildren, when all France is English land."

  "Then you shall see her, for this is your last chance to see her whole."

  "What mean you, fair sir?" I asked, while my heart gave a turn in mybody, and I put out my hand to a great tankard of wine.

  "To-morrow the charity of the Church hath resolved that she shall be hadinto the torture-chamber."

  I set my lips to the tankard, and drank long, to hide my face, and forthat I was nigh swooning with a passion of fear and wrath.

  "Thanks to St. George," I said, "the end is nigh!"

  "The end of the tankard," quoth he, looking into it, "hath already come.You drink like a man of the Land Debatable."

  Yet I was in such case that, though by custom I drink little, the greatdraught touched not my brain, and did but give me heart.

  "You might challenge at skinking that great Danish knight who was with usunder Orleans, Sir Andrew Haggard was his name, and his bearings were . .. " {39}

  So he was running on, for he himself had drunk more than his share, whenI brought him back to my matter.

  "But as touching this Puzel, how may I have my view of her, that yougraciously offered me?"

  "My men change guard at curfew," he said; "five come out and five go in,and I shall bid them seek you here at your lodgings. So now, farewell,and your revenge with the dice you shall have when so you will."

  "Nay, pardon me one moment: when relieve you the guard that enters atcurfew?"

  "An hour after point of day. But, now I bethink me, you scarce will careto pass all the night in the Puzel's company. Hast thou paper orparchment?"

  I set paper and ink before him, who said--

  "Nay, write yourself; I am no great clerk, yet I can sign and seal."

  Therewith, at his wording, I set down an order to the Castle porter tolet me forth as early in the night as I would. This pass he signed withhis name, and sealed with his ring, bearing his arms.

  "So I wish you joy of this tryst and bonne fortune," he said, anddeparted.

  I had two hours before me ere curfew rang, and the time was more than Ineeded. Therefore I went first to the Church of St. Ouen, which is verygreat and fair, and there clean confessed me, and made my orisons that,if it were God's will, this enterprise might turn to His honour, and tothe salvation of the Maid. And pitifully I besought Madame St. Catherineof Fierbois, that as she had delivered me, a sinner, she would deliverthe Sister of the Saints.

  Next I went back to my lodgings, and there bade the hostler to have mytwo best steeds saddled and bridled in stall, by point of day, for acouncil was being held that night in the Castle, and I and another of SirThomas's company might be sent early with a message to the Bishop ofAvranches. This holy man, as then, was a cause of trouble and delay tothe Regent and Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, because he was just,and fell not in with their treasons.

  Next I clad myself in double raiment, doublet above doublet, and hoseover hose, my doublets bearing the red cross of St. George. Over all Ithrew a great mantle, falling to the feet, as if I feared the nightchills. Thereafter I made a fair copy of my own writing in the passgiven to me by John Grey, and copied his signature also, and feigned hisseal with a seal of clay, for it might chance that two passes provedbetter than one. Then I put in a little wallet hanging to my girdle thesignet of Sir Thomas Grey, and the pass given to me by John Grey, also aninkhorn with pen and paper, and in my hand, secretly, I held that phialwhich I had bought of the apothecary in Tours. All my gold and jewels Ihid about my body; I sharpened my sword and dagger, and then had no moreto do but wait till curfew rang.

  This was the weariest part of all; for what, I thought, if John Grey hadforgotten his promise, the wine being about his wits. Therefore I walkedhither and thither in my chamber, in much misdoubt; but at the c
hime ofcurfew I heard rude voices below, and a heavy step on the stairs. It wasa man-at-arms of the basest sort, who, lurching with his shoulder againstmy door, came in, and said that he and his fellows waited my pleasure.Thereon I showed him the best countenance, and bade my host fill apannier with meat and cakes and wine, to pass the hours in the prisonmerrily. I myself ran down into the host's cellar, and was very busy intasting wine, for I would have the best. And in making my choice, whilethe host stooped over a cask to draw a fresh tankard, I poured all thedrugs of my phial into a large pewter vessel with a lid, filled it withwine, and, tasting it, swore it would serve my turn. This flagon, suchas we call a 'tappit hen' in my country, but far greater, I bore with meup the cellar stairs, and gave it to one of the guard, bidding him spillnot a drop, or he should go thirsty.

  The lourdaud, that was their captain, carried the pannier, and, laughing,we crossed the street and the moat, giving the word "Bedford." To theporter I showed my pass, telling him that, though I was loath to disturbhim, I counted not to watch all night in the cell, wherefore I gave him agold piece for the trouble he might have in letting me go forth at anhour untimely. Herewith he was well content, and so, passing the word tothe sentinel at each post, we entered.

  And now, indeed, my heart beat so that my body seemed to shake with hopeand fear as I walked. At the door of the chamber wherein the Maid lay wemet her guards coming forth, who cried roughly, bidding her good even,and to think well of what waited her, meaning the torments. They tumbleddown the stairs laughing, while we went in, and I last. It was a darkvaulted chamber with one window near the roof, narrow and heavily barred.In the recess by the window was a brazier burning, and casting as muchshadow as light by reason of the smoke. Here also was a rude table,stained with foul circles of pot-rims, and there were five or six stools.On a weighty oaken bed lay one in man's raiment, black in hue, her facedownwards, and her arms spread over her neck. It could scarce be thatshe slept, but she lay like one dead, only shuddering when the lourdaud,the captain of the guard, smote her on the shoulder, asking, in English,how she did?

  "Here she is, sir, surly as ever, and poor company for Christian men. Seeyou how cunningly all her limbs are gyved, and chained to the iron boltsof the bed? What would my lady Jeanne give me for this little master-key?"

  Here he showed a slender key, hung on a steel chain about his neck.

  "Never a saint of the three, Michael, Margaret, and Catherine, can takethis from me; nay, nor the devils who wear their forms."

  "Have you seen this fair company of hers?" I whispered in English,crossing myself.

  "No more than she saw the white lady that goes with that other witch,Catherine of La Rochelle. But, sir, she is sullen; it is her manner.With your good leave, shall we sup?"

  This was my own desire, so putting the pannier on the table, I carved themeat with my dagger, and poured out the wine in cups, and they fell to,being hungry, as Englishmen are at all times. They roared over theirmeat, eating like wolves and drinking like fishes, and one would sing alewd song, and the others strike in with the over-word, but drinking wastheir main avail.

  "This is better stuff," says the lourdaud, "than our English ale. Faith,'tis strong, my lads! Wake up, Jenkin; wake up, Hal," and then he roareda snatch, but stopped, looking drowsily about him.

  O brothers in Christ, who hear this tale, remember ye that, for now fourmonths and more, the cleanest soul in Christenty, and the chastest lady,and of manners the noblest, had endured this company by night and by day!

  "Nay, wake up," I cried; "ye are dull revellers; what say ye to thedice?"

  Therewith I set out my tablier and the dice. Then I filled up the cupafresh, pretending to drink, and laid on the foul table a great shiningheap of gold. Their dull eyes shone like the metal when I said--

  "Myself will be judge and umpire; play ye, honest fellows, for I crave nogains from you. Only, a cup for luck!"

  They camped at the table, all the five of them, and some while theirgreed kept them wakeful, and they called the mains, but their droughtkept them drinking. And, one by one, their heads fell heavy on thetable, or they sprawled on their stools, and so sank on to the floor, sopotent were the poppy and mandragora of the leech in Tours.

  At last they were all sound on sleep, one man's hand yet clutching a pileof my gold that now and again would slip forth and jingle on the stonefloor.

  Now all this time she had never stirred, but lay as she had lain, herface downwards, her arms above her neck.

  Stealthily I took the chain and the key from about the neck of thesleeping lourdaud, and then drew near her on tiptoe.

  I listened, and, from her breathing, I believe that she slept, as extremelabour and weariness and sorrow do sometimes bring their own remede.

  Then a thought came into my mind, how I should best awake her, andstooping, I said in her ear--

  "Fille De!"

  Instantly she turned about, and, sitting up, folded her hands as one inprayer, deeming, belike, that she was aroused by the voices of herSaints. I kneeled down beside the bed, and whispered--"Madame, Jeanne,look on my face!"

  She gazed on me, and now I saw her brave face, weary and thin and white,and, greater than of old, the great grey eyes.

  "I said once," came her sweet voice, "that thou alone shouldst stand byme when all had forsaken me. Fair Saints, do I dream but a dream?"

  "Nay, Madame," I said, "thou wakest and dost not dream. One has sent mewho loves thee, even my lady Elliot; and now listen, for the time isshort. See, here I have the master-key, and when I have unlocked thybonds . . . "

  "Thou hast not slain these men?" she asked. "That were deadly sin."

  "Nay, they do but sleep, and will waken belike ere the fresh guard comes,wherefore we must make haste."

  "When I have freed thee, do on thy body, above thy raiment, this doubletof mine, for it carries the cross of England, and, I being of littlestature, you may well pass for me. Moreover, this cloak and its hood,which I wore when I came in, will cover thee. Then, when thou goestforth give the word 'Bedford' to the sentinels; and, to the porter in thegate, show this written pass of John Grey's. He knows it already, havingseen it this night. Next, when thou art without the castle, fare to thehostelry called 'The Rose and Apple,' which is nearest the castle gate,and so straight into the stable, where stand two steeds, saddled andbridled. Choose the black, he is the swifter. If the hostler be awake,he expects me, and will take thee for me; mount, with no word, and rideto the eastern port. There show to the gate ward this signet of SirThomas Grey, and he will up with portcullis and down with drawbridge, forhe has often done no less for me and that signet.

  "Then, Madame, ride for Louviers, and you shall break your fast with theBastard and La Hire." Her white face changed to red, like the morninglight, as on that day at Orleans, before she took Les Tourelles.

  Then the flush faded, and she grew ashen pale, while she said--

  "But thou, how shalt thou get forth?"

  "Madame," I said, "fear not for me. I will follow after thee, and shamethe sleepy porter to believe that he has dreamed a dream. And I havewritten this other pass, on seeing which he will needs credit me, beingadrowse, and, moreover, I will pay him well. And I shall be at thestable as soon almost as thou, and I have told the hostler that belike Ishall ride with a friend, carrying a message to the Bishop of Avranches.For I have beguiled the English to believe me of their party, as MadameJudith wrought to the tyrant Holofernes."

  "Nay," she answered simply, "this may not be. Even if the porter were tobe bought or beguiled, thou couldst not pass the sentinels. It may notbe."

  "The sentinels, belike, are sleeping, or wellnigh sleeping, and I have adagger. O Madame! for the sake of the fortune of France, and the honourof the King"--for this, I knew, was my surest hope--"delay not, nor reckat all of me. I have but one life, and it is thine freely."

  "They will burn thee, or slay thee with other torments."

  "Not so," I said; "I shall not
be taken alive."

  "That were deadly sin," she answered. "I shall not go and leave thee todie for me. Then were my honour lost, and I could not endure to live.Entreat me not, for I will not go forth, as now. Nay more, I tell theeas I have told my judges, that which the Saints have spoken to me. 'Bearthis thy martyrdom gently,' they say, 'tu t'en viendras en royaume duParadis.' Moreover, this I know, that I am to be delivered with greatvictory!"

  Here she clasped her hands, looking upwards, and her face was as the faceof an angel.

  "Fair victory it were to leave thee in my place, and so make liars of mybrethren of Paradise."

  Then, alas! I knew that I was of no more avail to move her; yet one lastart I tried.

  "Madame," I said, "I have prayed you in the name of the fortune ofFrance, and the honour of the King, which is tarnished for ever if youescape not."

  "I shall be delivered," she answered.

  "I pray you in the dear name of your lady mother, Madame du Lys."

  "I shall be delivered," she said, "and with great victory!"

  "Now I pray thee in my own name, and in that of thy first friend, mylady. She has made a vow to give her virginity to Heaven unless eitherthou art set free, or she have tidings from thee that thou willest her towed me, without whom I have no desire to live, but far rather this verynight to perish. For I am clean confessed, within these six hours,knowing that I was like to be in some jeopardy."

  "Then," she said, smiling sweetly, and signing that I should take herhand--"Then live, Norman Leslie, for this is to me an easy thing and ajoyous. Thou art a clerk, hast thou wherewithal to write?"

  "Yes, Madame, here in my wallet."

  "Then write as I tell thee:--

  "JHESU MARIA"

  "'I, Jehanne la Pucelle, send from prison here in Rouen my tidings of love to Elliot Hume, my first friend among women, and bid her, for my sake, wed him who loves her, Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, my faithful servant, praying that all happiness may go with them. In witness whereto, my hand being guided to write, I set my name, Jehanne la Pucelle, this ninth day of May, in the year Fourteen hundred and thirty-one.'

  "So guide my hand," she said, taking the pen from my fingers; and thusguided, while my tears fell on her hand, she wrote JEHANNE LA PUCELLE.

  "Now," quoth she, smiling as of old, "we must seal this missive. Cut offone lock of my hair with your dagger, for my last gift to my firstfriend, and make the seal all orderly."

  I did as she bade, and, bringing a lighted stick from the brazier, Imelted wax. Then, when it was smooth, she laid on it two hairs from thelittle sundered lock (as was sometimes her custom), and bade me seal withmy own signet, and put the brief in my wallet.

  "Now, all is done," she said.

  "Nay, nay," I said, "to die for thee is more to me than to live in love.Ah, nay, go forth, I beseech thee!"

  "With victory shall I go forth, and now I lay my last commands on thelast of all my servants. If in aught I have ever offended thee, in wordor deed, forgive me!"

  I could but bow my head, for I was weeping, though her eyes were dry.

  "And so, farewell," she said--

  "As thou art leal and true, begone; it is my order, and make no tarrying.To-morrow I have much to do, and needs must I sleep while these men arequiet. Say to thy lady that I love her dearly, and bid her hope, as Ialso hope. Farewell!"

  She moved her thin hand, which I kissed, kneeling.

  Again she said "Farewell," and turned her back on me as if she wouldsleep.

  Then I hung the chain and key again on the neck of the lourdaud; I putsome of the fallen coins in the men's pouches, but bestowed the dice andtablier in my wallet. I opened the door, and went forth, not lookingback; and so from the castle, showing my pass, and giving the porteranother coin. Then I went home, in the sweet dawn of May, and castingmyself on my bed, I wept bitterly, for to-day she should be tormented.

  * * * * *

  Of the rest I have no mind to tell (though they had not the heart totorture the Maid), for it puts me out of charity with a people who have aname to be Christians, and it is my desire, if I may, to forgive all menbefore I die.

  At Rouen I endured to abide, even until the day of unjust doom, and myreason was that I ever hoped for some miracle, even as her Saints hadpromised. But it was their will that she should be made perfect throughsuffering, and being set free through the gate of fire, should win hervictory over unfaith and mortal fear. Wherefore I stood afar off at theend, seeing nothing of what befell; yet I clearly heard, as did all menthere, the last word of her sweet voice, and the cry of JHESUS!

  Then I passed through the streets where men and women, and the veryEnglish, were weeping, and, saddling my swiftest horse, I rode to theeast port. When the gate had closed behind me, I turned, and, lifting myhand, I tore the cross of St. George from my doublet.

  "Dogs!" I cried, "ye have burned a Saint! A curse on cruel English andcoward French! St Andrew for Scotland!" The shafts and bolts hailedpast me as I wheeled about; there was mounting of steeds, and a clatterof hoofs behind me, but the sound died away ere I rode into Louviers.

  There I told them the tale which was their shame, and so betook me toTours, and to my lady.