Fierbois.* It is most probable that the king's answer to her letter was favourable; for she very soon left Fierbois, and arrived at Chinon the same day, taking up her abode at an inn, kept by a female, near the castle of Chinon.

The arrival of Jeanne d'Arc was at a favourable juncture for giving publicity to the wonderful promises which she conveyed to the king. Orleans, the only remaining rampart of the monarchy, was reduced to the last extremity, and there appeared no possibility of yielding assistance to that determined and faithful city. Money and troops were both wanting-all was despair; and the only assistance to be hoped for, was from Heaven.

Jeanne d'Arc was not admitted to Charles VII. without much precaution being observed; since the court manifested great irresolution as to the steps that should be taken in regard to her, and many were of opinion that she ought to be dismissed without having an audience.† After deliberating

Novelompont testifies how much he was edified by the piety and the charity of Jeanne d'Arc, who, notwithstanding all the difficulties incidental to the journey, uniformly sought every opportunity of attending mass, and never failed to distribute charity.

+ Charles does not appear to have been biassed by the first impulses of his mind; but was, on the contrary, particularly reserved, having refused to see Jeanne until after he had consulted the council.

for two days, it was decided that Jeanne should be admitted; but she underwent an examination before the commissioners previous to her interview with the king. In the first instance she refused to make any answers to interrogatories, merely stating that her desire was to communicate with the Dauphin.*

The maid, being lodged at the castle Ducoudray, was visited by such persons as the king deputed. The members of the council were divided in their opinions, some being adverse to, and others in favour of Jeanne's admittance to the king. The former, in particular, advised Charles not to pay attention to the phantasies of a bewildered girl, who was very probably suborned by the enemy; and that he should, above all, take heed not to be made the dupe of the English.

Jeanne was in the first instance examined by the bishop of Meaux and Jean Morin, to whom La Pucelle stated, as usual, that she came from Le Roi du ciel, that she had heard celestial voices which gave her advice, and that she was to be guided by those supernatural emissaries.

Charles, having compared the contents of Baudricourt's letter with the statements made by Jeanne at this preliminary examination, and being in particular struck with the account of her dangerous journey, so miraculously effected, was led to wish for an interview with the maid. These circumstances being equally made known to the council, the major part acquiesced, and her introduction to the royal presence was in consequence decided upon.-Chaussard, part first, pages 10, 11, & 12.

It was particularly asked of Jeanne, why she did not apply the title of King, in lieu of Dauphin, to Charles VII.; to which she made answer, that he would not be king and the absolute possessor of his kingdom until he had been crowned at Rheims; after which event his affairs would continue to prosper, in i

VOL. I.

At length, being pressed to reply on the part of the monarch, she stated: "Qu'elle avait deux choses à accomplir de la part du Roi des cieux; la première de faire lever le siége d'Orléans, et la deuxième de conduire le Roi à Rheims, et de l'y faire sacrer et couronner. That she had two things to accomplish on the part of the King of heaven; first, to cause the siege of Orleans to be raised; and secondly, to conduct the king to Rheims, there to be anointed and crowned."

Charles VII. feeling dissatisfied with the report made by the first commissioners appointed for that purpose, ordered a second examination of Jeanne

proportion as those of the English declined.-Lenglet, vol. i. page 41.

The persons deputed to examine La Pucelle, were, Regnaut de Chartres, archbishop of Rheims, who had been three months nominated chancellor of France; Christophe de Harcourt, bishop of Castres, the king's confessor; Guillaume Charpentier, bishop of Poitiers; Nicolas le Grand, bishop of Senlis; the bishop of Montpellier; Jean Jourdain, a doctor in theology of Paris, together with many other doctors. Jeanne d'Arc was interrogated in presence of Jean II. duke d'Alençon, a prince of the blood, who was bound upon his faith and his religion.-Lenglet, vol. i. page 33.

Luchet, at page 9, speaking of this examination, says, that the ambiguous answers of La Pucelle gave rise to fresh doubts; that a second commission was nominated; and the following five questions addressed to Jacques Gelu, archbishop of Tours, for the purpose of ascertaining his opinion upon each.

Ques. Does it appertain to the Supreme Being to concern him

d'Arc; and resolved upon sending into her native country to ascertain the life she had led, her character, and her morals. During this interval, a

self with the actions of a simple individual, or even with the concerns of a kingdom?

Ans. Sometimes, and always for the good of the concern in question.

Ques. Is it not more fitting for God to employ his angels in accomplishing his will than to have recourse to man?

Ans. If God in ancient times thought fit to depute a crow, in order to give sustenance to Paul and Anthony the hermits, with much more semblance of reason might he resort to the agency of men.

Ques. Is it more fitting that the Almighty should employ a woman than a man?

Ans. The Virgin knew the mystery of the Incarnation, and the Sibyls taught men secrets which they acquired from the Divinity.

Ques. May it not be an artifice of the devil?

Ans. That will be ascertained by the good that results.

Ques. In such case is it not necessary to employ prudence and wisdom?

Ans. That costs nothing.

M. Luchet then continues to state, "that notwithstanding these answers of archbishop Gelu, and the revelations made to the king respecting the prayer addressed to the Divinity in his oratory at Loches, where he was not at the time she specified, Jeanne acquired no great reputation. The kind of insensate rapture with which we frequently hail momentous occurrences failed to denote any grand success that might accrue to our heroine in future, as the only conclusion was, that Jeanne should undergo a second interrogatory."

lodging was assigned for her in the castle Ducoudray. Many noblemen went thither to see the maid, who were astonished at her natural eloquence, the tone of inspiration that reigned throughout her discourse, and the extraordinary piety she manifested. It appears that Jeanne spent nearly the whole of the day in prayers, and was frequently found upon her knees bathed in tears. After watching all her actions with scrupulous care, no symptoms of imposture were discoverable; every thing on her part announced a self-conviction of supernatural agency, which she insensibly infused into the minds of all those who approached her.

The king, still undecided, nevertheless wished to see Jeanne before the return of the agents whom he had forwarded to Domremy; but at the very time when she approached his residence, being overcome by fresh doubts, he was not prevailed upon to admit her until the journey she had so recently performed was represented to him as miraculous. This expedition, which, on account of the circuitous routes that were traversed to avoid the enemy, had extended to a hundred and fifty leagues, was accomplished in eleven days. In the course of this march it was found necessary to cross the rivers Ornain, Marne, Aube, Armançon, Yonne, Loire, Cher, Indre, and many other streams, rendered dangerous on account of the inundations which regularly occur at the season when this journey