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of the Fairies' Tree. Beneath the shade of this beech the youth of both sexes were accustomed to assemble, at certain times of the year, dancing to their own songs, partaking of a rustic repast, and tying crowns and garlands to its branches: of which recreation Jeanne d'Arc partook in early childhood; but, at a riper age, she wholly abandoned these sports, dedicating her time to domestic occupations. Sometimes she would assist in conducting cattle to the meadows, as well as horses, which formed part of the wealth of her father. A cotemporary author relates that Jeanne was well versed in riding and managing steeds, so that she contended with her companions at the race with as much dexterity as any knight would have displayed.*

The fatal divisions which at that period reigned in France had extended their baleful influence to the remotest villages, and the names of the Burgundians and the Armagnacs were familiar to their humblest inhabitants. All the natives of Domremy, with the exception of one solitary individual, were determined Armagnacs, and con

* Monstrelet, adverting to the prowess of Jeanne d'Arc in managing a horse, thus expresses himself:-" Elle estoit hardie de chevaucher chevaux et les mener boire, et aussi de fuire appertises et autres habillitez que jeunes filles n'ont point accoutumé de faire."

sequently devoted to the cause of Charles VII. The inhabitants of Maxey, a neighbouring village, situated between Domremy and Vaucouleurs, had, on the contrary, pronounced themselves advocates for the opposite faction. In consequence of this, frequent battles were fought between the natives of these respective places; and upon one occasion Jeanne d'Arc is stated to have witnessed the return of the boys of Domremy wounded and bleeding from one of those affrays, which excited in her breast such a rooted hatred for the Burgundian name, that she openly avowed a wish, that the only inhabitant of Domremy who had declared himself for that party, might be decapitated, if such were the will of the Lord. This circumstance, which shows to what an extent these inimical feelings were excited, might favour the supposition that Jeanne d'Arc was naturally cruel, did not every subsequent action of her life give evidence to the contrary.

It was about the year 1423 or 1424, that Jeanne d'Arc for the first time conceived herself visited by supernatural agents; at which period the battles of Crevant and of Verneuil took place, which threatened to annihilate the party of Charles VII. who had been previously acknowledged king at Espali, near Puy, the 28th of October, 1422, and then crowned at Poitiers, after the lapse of a few days.

Jeanne d'Arc, then about thirteen years of age, (such is her own account,) at twelve o'clock on a summer's

day, being in her father's garden, suddenly beheld, on the right side of the village church, a dazzling light, while an unknown voice echoed in her ear. These sounds breathed the wisest counsels, telling her to frequent the church, to be always good and virtuous, and to rely upon the protection of Heaven. "La jeune fille oust moult paour de ce: The young girl felt much afraid at this:" as appears from the statements of those who were present at the interrogatories during her trial: but she did not hesitate in believing it was sent from heaven, and in order to testify her gratitude, she voluntarily undertook to consecrate her virginity to the Lord.

Upon a subsequent occasion, when in the open country, the same voice was audible to Jean d'Arc, while an archangel presented itself to La Pucelle, accompanied by other celestial emissaries. This was Saint Michael, who expressed himself to the young girl to the following effect: "That the Almighty felt great pity towards France; and that it was necessary she should go to the king's assistance that she would cause the raising of the siege of Orleans, and deliver Charles from his enemies; that it was necessary she should present herself to Baudricourt, captain of Vaucouleurs, who would cause her to be conducted to the king, where she would arrive without meeting any obstacle; that Saint Catherine and Saint Marguerite would visit

her, they having been chosen to guide and assist her with their advice; and that it was requisite for her to believe and obey them in all they should prescribe, such being the will of the Omnipotent." Jeanne confessed that in the first instance she could scarcely give credit to these apparitions, but that unknown beings again presented themselves at different times, and in particular she stated that the personage who addressed her, was "truly a comely man.” The two Saints, above named, whose images Jeanne had been accustomed to decorate with flowers in the chapel of Domremy, accordingly visited her; and from whatsoever cause these appearances testified by the girl arose, they certainly elevated her mind, which was naturally prone to contemplation.*

In proportion as Jeanne increased in years, the

* In the progress of the interrogatories that took place during the trial, Jeanne affirmed that these revelations and apparitions began when she had attained the age of thirteen, (see Laverdy, 36.) She did not, however, communicate these circumstances to her neighbours. Her belief in such revelations is little to be wondered at, if we take into consideration the superstitious credulity which reigned in that part of the country, of which we will quote one example. It was currently believed that the fairies visited Domremy, assembling under a large tree; wherefore the curate, in order to drive them away, used to repair thither to chant one of the gospels, on the eve of the Ascension, being accompanied thither by the inhabitants; among whom Jeanne followed with the rest; but she was not observed to repair to that spot alone. - See Laverdy, 300; Dartigny, vii. 350.

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.

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