Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-26
Execution OF Joan OF Are.
BY THOMAS DEQuINCEY.

Having placed the king on his throne, it
was her fortune thenceiorward to be thwarted.
More than one military plan was entered
upon which she did not approve. Too we'll
she felt that the end was now at hand. Still
she continued to expose her person in battle
as before severe wounds had not taught her
caution and, at length, she was made pris-
oner by the Burgundians and finally given
up to the English. The object now ~as TO
vitiate the coronation of Charles VII. as the
work of witch and, for this end Joan was
tried Tor sorcery. She resolutely defended
herself from the absurd accusation.
Never, from the foundation Of the earth.
was there such tIidi as this. if 1t were laid
open in all its beauty of defence and all its
malignity OF attack. o child of France.
shepherdess, peasant-girl! trodden under
foot by all around thee, how | honor thy
flashing intellect. quick as the lightning,
and as true TO its mark, that ran before
France and laggard Europe by many GEN.
tury, contounding the malice of the ensnarer,
and making dumb the oracles of falsehood
Would you examine me as witness against
myself" was the question by which many
times she defed their arts The result Of
this trial was the condemnation of Joan TO
be burn: alive Never did grim inquisitors
doom to death fairor victim by baser
means.
Woman. sister there are some things
which you do not execute well as your
brother, man no, nor ever Will Yet, sister,
woman cheerfully. and with the love that
burns IN depths of admiration, acknowledge
that you can do one thing as well as the
best of men,-you can die grandly! On the
twentieth OF May. li3l. being then about
nineteen years OF age, Joan of Arc under
went her martyrdom. She was conducted be-
Il. IL 4.
spearmen. to platform OF, prodigious height
constructed of wooden billets, supported by
occasional walls of lath and plaster, and
traversed by hollow spaces IN every direc-
ton for the creation of air currents.
With an undaunted soul but n meek and
sanity demeanor the maiden encountered
her terrible fate. Upon her head was placed
a mitre bearing the inscription, "Reidpsed
herstic, apostolic ifoldireSS." Her piety dis
played itself in the most touching manner to
the last, and her angelic forgetfulness of self
was manifested in n remarkable degree. The
executioner had been directed to apply his
torch from below. He did so. The fiery
smoke rose upwards in billowing Volumes
monk WIS then standing at Joan's side.
Wrapt UP in his sublime office. he saw not
the danger. but still persisted in his prayers.
Even then when the last enemy was racing
up the fiery stairs to seize her, even ut that
moment did this noblest of girls think only
for him, one friend that would OF for
sake her. and not for herself bidding him
with her last breath to care tor his own pre-
seryation, but to leave her to God. Go
down, she said ''liit up the cross before
me. that | may see it in dying, and speak to
me pious words TO the end" Then protest.
ing her innocence and recommending her
soul to heaven, she continued to pray as the
flames leaped up and walled her in. Her
last audible word was the name of Jesus.
Sustained by faith in Him, in her last fight
upon the scatlold, she had triumphed glori-
ously victoriously she had tasted death
Few spectators of this martyrdom were 50
hardened AS to contain their tears. All the
English, with the exception Of Il few soldiers
who made a Jest of the affair, We're deeply
moved. The French murmured that the
death was cruel and unjust. She dies q
martyr" "Ah. We are lost, we have burned
Il saint 70 Would to God that my soul were
with hers :" Such wero the exclamations
ON every side. A fanatic English soldier who
had sworn TO throw II fagot on the funeral
pile hearing Joan's last prayer to her Saviour.
suddenly turned away, penitent for life,
saying everywhere that he had seen dove
rising upon white wings to heaven from the
ashes where she stood.