injunctions of these heavenly emissaries became more importunate; recommending her to set forward upon her mission and enter France. Notwithstanding the caution which Jeanne observed in not communicating her revelations to any one, she nevertheless found it impossible to execute her project without giving publicity to some circumstances; and it appears that in the course of a conversation which took place with a labouring man of Domremy, residing near her father, she went so far as to state* "that there was a girl residing between Compey and Vaucouleurs, who, before the expiration of a year, would cause the king of France to be crowned," which event certainly did take place within the period so stipulated. Assertions of this description being frequently made, caused considerable uneasiness to Jacques d'Arc and Isabella Romée, who became apprehensive lest their daughter should seek to accomplish her plan by joining some party of soldiers, many of which passed at

Lenglet, vol. i. page 13, says, from the representations made during the interrogatories of Jeanne, that when conversing with the villagers concerning the misfortunes of the kingdom, she frequently affirmed that a young girl of the country would present herself to succour France and the oppressed blood royal, and that she would conduct the Dauphin to be crowned at Rheims; but those to whom she thus addressed herself were far from conceiving that Jeanne intended any allusion to herself by these

statements.

intervals through the village. In consequence of this, the proceedings of the girl were carefully watched by her parents, and upon one occasion, Jacques d'Arc said to his sons in the dialect of that period: "Si je cuidoye que la chose advinsit que j'ai songié d'elle, je vouldroye que la noyissiez, et se vous ne le faisiez, je la noyeroie moi même : If I thought that the circumstance would take place which I have imagined respecting her, I should wish you to drown her, and if you would not do so, I would drown her myself." Jacques d'Arc had previously a dream notifying to him that his daughter would quit her home with a band of armed men.

Such was the situation of Jeanne d'Arc with her family, when a troop of Burgundians suddenly appeared, ravaging the country, in order to punish the natives for their firm adherence to the cause of Charles VII. These troops advanced upon Domremy, and at their approach all the inhabitants took to flight, carrying with them their most valuable effects, and driving their flocks along the banks of the Meuse; seeking refuge within the walls of Neufchâteau. In this town Jeanne d'Arc and her family found an asylum in the dwelling of an honest labouring woman, named La Rousse, who kept a small inn; * and beneath her roof they

It has been surmised that Jeanne d'Arc was for some time servant at an inn; but the most ancient, as well as all her

continued for five days, during which time Jeanne was employed in superintending her father's flock in the neighbouring fields.

In the midst of these domestic avocations, and the embarrassments of her situation, Jeanne nevertheless scrupulously performed all her devotional offices, and went to confess two or three times. The residence, however, at Neufchâteau, became

modern biographers whose statements are worthy of credit, make no mention of her having served in a house of public resort. In the course of her trial it appeared from her own statement, that she was resident at an inn at Neufchâteau for about fifteen days, but that she never mounted horses to lead them to the water, continuing, on the contrary, quiet within the house, and solely occupied in attending to domestic concerns. If this residence at an inn for so short a period escaped the recollection of the witnesses examined during the second process instituted for the justification of Jeanne, it is not to be wondered at, as a lapse of twenty-five years had transpired since her execution. However, in order that the reader may be better enabled to form an opinion as to the confidence that should be placed in the testimony of the persons so examined, the following is an account of the occupations they severally followed, extracted from the lists of Laverdy, page 286, and Lenglet, vol. ii. page 166, &c.

One thatcher; nine labouring men; the wives of four labourers; the wives of a notary, a clerk, and a draper; two notaries; one priest; two curates; two canons who were curates; three esquires; two lords, and one of them a knight; the professions of four other men and one woman are not recorded; making in the whole thirty-four witnesses.

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.