insupportable to her, as she was thereby removed to a greater distance from Vaucouleurs, and consequently prevented from fulfilling the mission which she conceived herself delegated to perform. At length the Burgundian troops quitted the country, when Jacques d'Arc and his family, yielding to the strenuous remonstrances of the girl, were among the first to return to their native village. Upon this occasion Jeanne was led to contemplate the direful ravages which the country had sustained from the recent effects of warfare; she gazed on the profanation offered to that sacred spot where formerly she had been wont to offer up her fervent orisons to the Most High. The spectacle no doubt was afflicting to her heart, and tended to animate her mind with the noble idea of re-establishing the monarch upon the throne of his ancestors, and thereby terminating such a dreadful scene of crimes and impiety.

Jeanne d'Arc was incessantly occupied with the idea of her journey to Vaucouleurs, when a new incident occurred to retard the accomplishment of her ardent wishes. A young man, whose name has not reached posterity, captivated with the virtuous conduct and personal attractions of the maid, demanded her in marriage, but his proposals were rejected by Jeanne. It appears that Jacques d'Arc and Isabella Romée anxiously wished to bring about this union, which would have put a period to their uneasiness; and that they made unsuccess

ful efforts to obtain the consent of their child. The lover, however, was not so easily deterred from his purpose; but in order to bring the maid to an acquiescence with his wishes, he insisted that she had promised to become united to him, and in consequence cited her before the magistracy of Toul. In this instance Jeanne displayed the unalterable resolution of her conduct, and appeared before the judge determined to defend her own cause in person; when she swore to pronounce the truth, and declared she never had uttered such. promise to any man, much less to the individual who had so summoned her; upon which the magistrate, satisfied as to the veracity of her statement, gave his decision in her favour.*

After this occurrence, Jeanne d'Arc, in all probability to escape the discontent of her parents, testified a desire of visiting Durand Laxart,† her maternal uncle, who resided at Petit Burey, a village situated between Domremy and Vaucouleurs. In consequence of this Laxart repaired to the family, and requested permission of Jeanne's father that she might spend some time with him, alleging as a pretext, the services which his niece might afford his wife, who was then in a state of pregnancy; and

This curious event in the life of Jeanne was made public during the interrogatories that took place upon her trial at the sitting of the 12th March, 1439.

+ Some historians call him Jean-la-Part.

in consequence Jacques d'Arc gave his consent. Scarcely had eight days elapsed, when Jeanne informed her uncle that it was necessary she should go to Vaucouleurs, being desirous to proceed from thence into France, to join the Dauphin (such was the title she gave the king) for the purpose of effecting his coronation. Jeanne spoke to Laxart respecting her project with so much assurance, and insisted with such perseverance, that in the end she persuaded him to acquiesce.

Durand Laxart, in the first instance, proceeded alone to the lord de Baudricourt, in order to explain the wishes and the projects of his niece; but he met with a very bad reception. When Jeanne ascertained the ill success which had attended his mission, she declared that it was her intention to set out immediately for Vaucouleurs, for which purpose she had already obtained possession of her uncle's attire, being desirous of wearing man's apparel in order to facilitate her journey, when Laxart, aware of this determined resolution, resolved to accompany her.

Jeanne d'Arc arrived at Vaucouleurs on the festival of the Ascension, being the 13th of May, 1428; and lodged with her uncle at the house of a blacksmith named Henri, whose residence in that town is still pointed out to the traveller: the wife of this man, Catherine, imbibed a great partiality for Jeanne d'Arc. The governor was

immediately apprized of her arrival, and the object of her journey; but the only answer La Pucelle received was a second refusal to send her to the king. Notwithstanding this, however, she was admitted to the presence of Baudricourt, to whom she announced, "That she came on the part of the Lord; who, through her, advised the Dauphin to conduct himself virtuously; that he had not given the battle to his enemies, because the Lord would accord him succour towards the middle of Lent." Jeanne stated, that the kingdom did not belong to the Dauphin, but to the Almighty; that nevertheless the Lord was willing that he should become king, and receive the realm as a deposit; adding, that in spite of his enemies he should become king, and that she would conduct him to be crowned. Robert then made inquiry respecting this Lord to whom she so constantly alluded, when Jeanne replied," that it was the King of heaven:" upon which, Baudricourt, not knowing whether to regard the whole as a cheat, or if the young girl was deranged in her mind, would listen to no further statements, and so dismissed Jeanne without acceding to any thing she required.

La Pucelle was sensibly touched at this ill success; but she had recourse to her accustomed consolation, repairing to confess and giving herself up to prayer; a great portion of her time being spent in the chapel of Saint Mary, at Vaucouleurs, where she

prostrated herself with the greatest humility before the image of the Virgin.

The uniform tenour of Jeanne's discourse was, that she must proceed to the presence of the Dauphin; and such was her impatience, that she with difficulty submitted to the long delays that occurred ere she found means of compassing her intention. "It is absolutely necessary that I should go thither," she incessantly cried, "for so wills my Lord. It is on the part of the King of heaven that this mission is confided to me; and were it necessary that I should repair thither on my knees, I would go." She exhorted all those whom she saw to conduct her to the Dauphin, adding, that it was for his special benefit.

At length public opinion, which was pronounced in favour of Jeanne from the incessant conversations and reiterated promises she made, began to produce some impression even on the mind of the lord de Baudricourt. Agitated by opposing interests and passions, he adopted a measure conformable to the prejudices of that period; and accompanied by the curate of Vaucouleurs, proceeded to the apartment of Jeanne, when the priest, carrying his stole, spread it out before the young girl, by way of an exorcism.*

Lenglet, vol. i. p. 22, states that the priest thus addressed Jeanne: "If you come in behalf of the enemy of men, begone