Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-31
Joan Of Arc.


throng OF Knights, courtiers, men-at-arms
and retainers.
The great oaken door was thrown open
and young girl, dressed as a man, entered.
After looking about for some time, she
made her way through the crowd to where
the king was standing. AS Charles had
not been consecrated, she did not address
him as king, but as dauphin. The monarch
said to her that she was mistaken, that he
was not the king may be mistaken
she said, "God never" al am sent to
guide you to Rheims, where you shall be
consecrated and crowned"
As she had never seen the king before, a kind
of superstitious fear came over the assem-
bly,, and the most accepted the peasant girl as
one sent from God. But some said that she
might be an evil spirit in disguise, and it
was thought best that she should be ques-
toned by some learned priests. To these
grave men she told her simple story. How
she had grown up among humble peasants,
helping her father and brothers in the fields,
or tending the sheep. How one summers
day sitting under an oak near the church,
she had seen a dazzling light and heard
voice saying; "Joan be good and wise, go
often to church." Later she saw the light
again, and in its midst there stood a grand,
commanding figure. and the voice said to
her Joan, go aid the king of France and
restore him his crown" Many times after
this, the vision had come to her, until she
could resist no longer, and leaving her home
and friends had set out to find the king.
The learned judges were at their wits
end. The girl might be inspired, or she
might be in league with the devil. The peo-
pie demanded that she should be placed at
the head of the army, and she was soon es-
tablished like general in his headquarters.
At this time the English were invading
France to gain the crown, if possible, for
their young king Henry VII, then but
eight years old. In France, two rival fac
tons had for some time been engaged in
civil strife, the Orleanists and the Burgun-
dams, the former taking sides with the dau-
phin, the latter supporting the claims of the
English monarch. The English, who, al
most from the first, had been steadily gain
ing ground, were now in possession of
large part of France. The most important
town still held by the French was Orleans,
which was besieged by an English army.
The fortune of France seemed to hang on
the fate of Orleans, if it fell all was lost.
The city was growing weaker day by day,
and there seemed little chance of relief.
The king was in despair, and was thinking
of flying from France; but soon the tide of
fortune turned. Joan of Arc, now but
eighteen years old, was put in command of
the French army. Some of the generals
said the king had gone crazy, and vowed
that they would not serve under a girl.
The soldiers, however, had faith in her, and
we're eager to be led to Orleans. The en-
thusiasm became general, and soon an army
of 1000 men was ready to march. The
maid, clad in bright armor, mounted on a
black horse, rode in advance. She bore a
standard with white ground, strewed with
feur-de-iis, on which was figured the Sa-
vior, seated on his tribunal in the clouds,
and holding the world in his hands, while
two angels knelt before him. By her side
Joan wore a sword, the finding of which
was one of the proofs of her divine mission.
The voices told her that there was sword
behind the altar of the church of st. Cath
arine, marked with five feur-de-lis. The
sword, marked in this way, was found in the
ground, behind the altar.
When the maid entered Orleans, the peo-
pie received her with great outbursts of joy.
The next day, the French were successful
in their attack on the English entrench-
ments. Filled with fresh courage, they con-
tinued to assail the enemy's works and on
the morning of the eighth day, the sentinels
on the walls announced that the English had
broken camp. The people of Orleans could
hardly believe their eyes, as they saw two
divisions of troops moving rapidly across the
plain. The city was saved, and English do
minion in France was broken.
During one of the attacks on the entrench-
ments, while placing ladder against the
wall, the maid received an arrow in the
neck. The enemy surrounded her, but she
kept them at bay with her sword until res
cued by brave knight who felled her as
sailants with his battle-axe.
The spirit of the English was now broken,
and town after town fell into the hands of
the French. On the 10th of July, 1929,
Charles with his conquering army led by the
fearless maid, entered Rheims where the
kings of France were crowned. The next
day, he was consecrated and crowned with
imposing ceremonies. The maid embraced
his knees with many tears and declared
that her mission was ended and that she
wished TO 40 back to her old home to guard
her fathers hocks. Well had it been for
her had the king granted her request. But
Paris was still in the hands of the enemy,
and he would not let her go. A little later,
Joan of Are was taken prisoner by the
Burgundians and given up to the English.
She was tried on the charge of sorcery
and heresy, and condemned to be burned
The sun rose bright and peaceful over the
old city of Rouen on the 3Oth OF May, l43l
Toward noon cart, preceded and followed
by soldiers, wound through the narrow
streets toward the market place. Arrived
at the fatal spot, the maid was placed on 9
scaifold the wood being piled about it, She
was no longer the inspired heroine who hat
lead the armies of France TO victory, but th'
simple peasant girl As the wood was free
her heart gave way, and her outcries wer'
piteous. Even the soldiers shed tears
Higher and higher mounted the flames, un
I'll at last she pronounced the name of he
Savior with loud agonizing cry, and al
was over During her confinement, and OIL
the scaifold, there escaped her lips no wore
Of bitter hate toward her enemies, no re
proach for that king who owed her hi
crown and all there was left him of honor
So persisted the most remarkable woman tn
world has ever seen, the Maid Of Orleans
Was she inspired, or simply an enthusiast
, Who can tell but we remember the word
! of the poet
"Believe that thou art inspired,
Aud thou art"
EDWARD X, RuooLEs.