the first weeke of March 1428, unto Charles the dolphin, at Chinon as he was in verie great care and studie how to wrestle against the English nation, by one Peter Badricourt capteine of Vaucouleur, (made after marshall of France by the dolphin's creation) was caried a young wench of an eighteene yeeres old, called Jone Arc, by name of hir father (a sorie sheepheard) James of Arc, and Isabell hir mother, brought up poorlie in their trade of keeping cattell, borne at Domprin (therefore reported by Bale, Jone Domprin) upon Meuse in Loraine within the diocesse of Thoule. Of favour was she counted likesome, of person stronglie made and manlie, of courage great, hardie, and stout withall, an understander of counsels though she were not at them, great semblance of chastitie both of bodie and behaviour, the name of Jesus in hir mouth about all hir businesses, humble, obedient, and fasting diverse daies in the weeke. A person (as their bookes make hir) raised up by power divine, onlie for succour to the French estate then deeplie in distresse, in whome, for planting a credit the rather, first the companie that toward the dolphin did conduct hir, through places all dangerous, as holden by the English, where she never was afore, all the waie and by nightertale safelie did she lead: then at the dolphin's sending by hir assignement, from Saint Katharin's church of Fierbois in Touraine (where she never had beene and knew not) in a secret place there among old iron, appointed she her sword to be sought out and brought hir, that with five floure delices was graven on both sides, wherewith she fought and did many slaughters by hir owne hands. On warfar rode she in armour cap a pie

and mustered as a man, before her an ensigne all white, wherin was Jesus Christ painted with a floure delice in his hand.

"Unto the dolphin into his gallerie when first she was brought, and he shadowing himselfe behind, setting other gaie lords before him to trie hir cunning from all the companie, with a salutation (that indeed marz all the matter) she pickt him out alone, who thereupon had hir to the end of the gallerie, where she held him an houre in secret and private talke, that of his privie chamber was thought verie long, and therefore would have broken it off; but he made them a signe to let hir saie on. In which (among other) as likelie it was, she set out unto him the singular feats (forsooth) given hir to understand by revelation divine, that in virtue of that sword she should atchive, which were, how with honor and victorie shee would raise the siege at Orleance. set him in state of the crowne of France, and drive the English out the countrie, thereby he to inioie the kingdome alone. Heereupon he, hartened at full, appointed hir a sufficient armie with absolute power to lead them, and they obedientlie to doo as she bad them. Then fell she to worke, and first defeated indeed the siege at Orleance, by and by encouraged him to crowne himselfe king of France at Rheims, that a little before from the English she had woone. Thus after pursued she manie bold enterprises to our great displeasure a two yeare togither, for the time she kept in state untill she were taken and for heresie and witcherie burned; as in particularities hereafter followeth. But in hir prime time she, armed at all points (like a jolie capteine) roade from Poictiers to

Blois, and there found men of warre, vittels, and munition, ready to be conveied to Orleance."

Page 34. But the doctors found her so honest in appearance and so sage in her speech, &c.

Bernard de Girard, lord de Haillan, historian of France to Henry III., states, that upon the doctors presenting themselves to Jeanne, by order of the king, for the purpose of ascertaining whether she was a virgin or not, she expressed herself in these words:

"Je le crois, je ne sais ni A ni B; je viens de la part du Roi du Ciel, pour faire lever le siège d'Orleans, et mener le roi à Rheims." See Laverdy, CCCXII. and CCCLI.,

note 24.

"I believe it; I know neither A nor B; I come on the part of the King of heaven, to cause the siege of Orleans to be raised, and to conduct the king to Rheims."

Page 35. And he also willed and commanded that she should have a standard.

Jeanne d'Arc caused a banner to be made at Blois conformably to that which she stated to have been indicated to her in her visions; it was her chaplain who conducted this work, which represented our Saviour seated upon clouds, and an angel holding in its hand a flower de luce.

The king being further desirous of giving her a beautiful

sword, &c.

As soon as Charles was satisfied concerning the celestial mission of Jeanne d'Arc, he caused her to appear at court caparisoned cap à pie, the weight of whose armour did not however prevent her from remounting on horseback unassisted, which the most robust knights could with difficulty accomplish. The king being desirous of presenting her with a fine sword, she requested his majesty to expedite a messenger to the church of Saint Catherine de Fiere Bois, in Touraine, stating, that he would there find an old weapon, on whose blade were engraved five crosses, and five fleurs de lys, with which it was decreed that she should conquer the English. Charles inquiring if she had ever visited the said church, was answered in the negative; and upon this, a person being despatched brought back the sword indicated, and whereof she made use during all her rencontres with the British.

Page 36. And he gave to accompany her, a very valiant and sage gentleman named John Daulon, &c.

On consulting the page of history for a description of the Maid of Orleans, we find it stated, that the knight Daulon, who was deputed to arm Jeanne d'Arc, affirmed, that she was young, and rather lusty; that he had seen her fine white bosom, while occupied in the performance of his duty; that he lived with her for the space of one year; during which period he states, in the most ex

pressive terms, that she always pursued the same modest line of conduct; in which assertion he is supported by the testimony of the duke d'Alençon; who sometimes during the war slept in the same apartment as the Pucelle, à la paillasse; that is to say, on a straw mattrass;" and who further attests, that her bosom, which he had seen by chance, was particularly beautiful.

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All the pictorial representations upon which any reliance can be placed, as well as the written documents detailing Jeanne's external appearance, represent her as wearing a small green bonnet turned up round the brim, and adorned with an ample plume of feathers.

Whereat those of Orleans, seeing them depart, were not well content.

At the period when this dissatisfaction was testified by the people of Orleans, the Bastard Dunois, according to Dubreton, page 94, &c. delivered the following energetic speech, which merits well to be recorded.

"Gentlemen;

"I shall say nothing of the opinion of those who call a disgraceful servitude a very honourable agreement; and I think that they should neither be regarded as citizens nor admitted to the council of war. I have nothing to do with those whose advice is, that the city should be abandoned; it seems that your consent would only tend to preserve the recollection of their original valour. It is effeminate courage, and no generosity, not to be able to endure for a short period necessity and hunger. There are more found who will voluntarily brave death than of those who patiently endure misery. For myself, as

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