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that day; and soon after, the sound of trumpets summoned the troops from all directions to the combat. Jeanne d'Arc, hearing this warlike clangour, placing the helmet on her head, cried out to the duke d'Alen çon with the air of one inspired, and in energetic tones, "En avant, gentil duc, à l'assaut! Forward, comely duke, to the assault!" The prince hesitated, thinking it necessary to await supplies; upon which La Pucelle continued, "N'ayez doute, l'heure est prête quand il plait à Dieu; il est temps d'agir quand Dieu veut que l'on agisse, et qu'il agit luimême :" and perceiving that he was still undecided, she said: 66 Ah, gentil duc! as-tu peur? Ne sais-tu pas que j'ai promis à ton épouse * de te ramener sain et sauf? Do not doubt, the hour is come when it pleases God; it is time to act when God wills that one should act, and when he acts himself. Ah, comely duke! art thou afraid? Dost thou not know that I promised thy wife to conduct thee back safe

*“The duke d'Alençon, who had recently returned from a long captivity in England, was declared generalissimo of the army destined to conduct the king to Rheims; but the duchess, his wife, a princess of the house of Orleans, wished to dissuade the duke from accepting this commission, apprehending that some fresh misfortune might befall him. She, in consequence, addressed herself to La Pucelle, who promised to bring the duke back from the expedition sain et sauf; he (the duke) having orders from the king to be governed in all things by the advice of the Maid.”—Lenglet, vol. i. p. 81.

have imagined that, after these memorable events, his confidence in Jeanne d'Arc would have been unbounded; but such did not prove the case. Instead of taking advantage of the first impulse of enthusiasm to lead his armies on from one victory to another, he became a prey to his wonted listlessness. Time moved with celerity; each day idly spent seemed an irreparable loss to Jeanne d'Arc, and that more particularly, as she frequently remarked to the king, because her mission was circumscribed to about a year, and it was therefore essential to place that period to the best account. Charles VII. being one day engaged with his council in close consultation, Jeanne d'Arc, giving way to impatience, knocked at the door of the apartment in which the ministers were assembled, when the king, on hearing that it was La Pucelle, ordered her to enter. Jeanne, advancing with humble and modest demeanour, knelt before the monarch, and thus addressed him: "Noble Dauphin, ne tenez plus tant et de si longs conseils; mais venez au plutôt à Rheims prendre votre digne couronne: Noble Dauphin, do not con

interview" with Jeanne d'Arc" produced more effect upon the mind of the king than all the reasons previously adduced by his counsellors, to whom he sent word that he should proceed to Rheims, notwithstanding the difficulties that presented themselves, and that they were to prepare to follow him."

tinue these long councils, but rather proceed with expedition to Rheims and receive your rightful crown." The bishop of Castres inquired whether it was by order of her counsel that she spake in this manner to the king, whereto she answered in the affirmative; adding, that her celestial adviser pressed her very much to make this communication to his majesty. The bishop then demanded if she would further explain herself, when La Pucelle replied, blushing deeply, "I know very well all - that you are desirous of learning, and I will freely tell you."-" Will it please you, Jeanne," said the king, "to declare what has passed in the council?" La Pucelle, without hesitation, immediately said, that whensoever she felt displeased on account of what she uttered on the part of God being discredited, she retired to a bye-place to offer prayers to the Divinity, and to complain to him of the want of faith that was manifested in respect to her mission; and that she then heard a voice uttering the following words: "Fille de Dieu, va! va! Je serai à ton aide. Va! Daughter of God, go, go! I shall be ready to assist thee. Go!" That when she heard this voice she felt excessive joy, and that she was desirous of always continuing in that state. While delivering these words, her countenance beamed with the most lively satisfaction, and she raised her eyes to heaven.

Notwithstanding this, several princes of the blood

royal, and among the rest the duke d'Alençon, who was very desirous of being put into possession of his ducal territories, gave it as his opinion, that Charles ought not as yet to undertake the expedition to Rheims, but that the conquest of Normandy should be attempted. These plans were the result of common-place policy: it was not understood that in following the advice of Jeanne d'Arc, and adopting a vigorous and daring line of conduct, all the calculations of the enemy would be frustrated. La Pucelle, however, more deeply embued with the subject, uniformly persisted in her entreaties, in opposition to the king's generals and counsellors, that Charles should proceed to Rheims, there to be anointed and crowned; adding that,

Lenglet, (p. 79,) makes La Pucelle address Charles in the following words, differing from those of our text: "Noble Dauphin, ne tenez plus de si longs conseils, mais préparez vous pour vous acheminer à Rheims, recevoir une digne couronne, symbole et marque de la réunion de votre état et de tous vos sujets à votre obéissance: Noble Dauphin, desist from holding such long councils, but prepare for your journey to Rheims, to receive a rightful crown, the symbol and mark of the return of your state and subjects to your obedience." Luchet, (p. 19,) in adverting to the above, shrewdly remarks: "We are not acquainted with the author of this little harangue !" and certainly the concluding sentence is very unlike the style of delivery usually attributed to Jeanne d'Arc.

Hume, speaking of the proposition to repair to Rheims, remarks, that had it been made a few weeks before, it would have

this solemn act once performed, the prosperity of the English would gradually decline. At length Charles VII., in compliance with the desires of Jeanne, promised to undertake the expedition to Rheims as soon as the English should be driven from the posts which they still occupied on the Loire above and below the city of Orleans. About this period one of the brothers of Jeanne d'Arc joined the maid, in order to share the glory of her warlike operations. This was in all probability Jean d'Arc; for Pierre d'Arc was already in company with his sister, and we do not find from history that Jacquemin d'Arc ever quitted the paternal roof.

Every thing was soon prepared for the expedition, and the forces set forward in order to lay siege before Jargeau. The duke d'Alençon, count Dunois, admiral Culan, La Hire, and Florent d'Iliers, accompanied La Pucelle. The whole united forces were then passed in review, consisting of three

He then adds, that

been deemed the height of extravagance. Charles resolved to follow the inspirations of the prophetess."Hume," says M. de Saint Prix, (p. 211,) "frequently attributes to Charles a line of policy which his conduct belies. Smollett also follows his example, in stating that the king marched to Beaugenci to take the command of the troops at Patay, &c. "The English," says Saint Prix, "generally speaking, confound periods, and represent Charles as a very skilful monarch; in order, no doubt, to infer that Jeanne was made an instrument to forward his designs."