The Washington herald., 1911-07-30
The Maid of Orleans
Page Seven

workmanship. II was embroidered with lilies
on one side was representation of the An
nunciation, and on the other of God seated
on the clouds and holding the world in His
hands.
Joan succeeded in entering Orleans on April
~, 1923, and the attacks Of the French upon
the English became 80 vigorous that, on May
8, the latter raised the siege. Joan followed
up her advantage and pursued the English,
capturing one town after another held by
them, and at last driving them beyond the
Loire. y
When it is remembered that she fought
daily with Suffolk, Talbot and other great
English soldiers, and that Talbot was taken
prisoner at the great victory at Patay, it can
be seen that she must have inspired the
French soldiery with a fanatical enthusiasm.
With all these successes, Charles still show
ed himself weak and without character. IL
was with great difficulty that he was per
suaded to set out toward Rheims; but at
last he put himself at the head of an army
of twelve thousand men and took the field,
Joan accompanying him.
Troves was taken by assault, and on July
10, 1923, the victorious army entered the old
city Of Rheims; Next day Charles was crown
ed King OF France in the cathedral, Joan
, holdIng aloft the white standard that had
led her soldiers SO often to victory.
The King next agreed to attempt the cap
ture of Paris, and made an attack upon that
city On DtpttfnDeT U. buL Ine fre1ch were
driven back, Joan was wounded, and, in spite
OF her earnest pleadings, Charles withdrew
from Paris and disbanded his army.
In March, 1430, Joan, who had meantime
been chatting under her enforced rest, went
the Duke of Burgundy. On May "a she led
an unsuccessful sortie. But it was not il,
her to acknowledge defeat, even in the face
OF overwhelming odds, and SO she kept on
fighting and was taken prisoner, falling into
ha han nd nf he nrbn of l. "a.
of all that she had done for France, Charles
made no effort to effect her ransom and show.
ed no sign Of interest in her fate
Joan was treacherously turned over to the
English, tried, sentenced to death as a sor-
ceress and burned at the stake in the streets
OF Rouen, May 80, 1431.
=, Poets and dramatists have often made her
the subject OF poems and plays, Shakespearp
having been the first to present her in the
references to her he is not Just; his treatmant
OF her is unworthy of his genius, and he ha
made errors Of fact. Thus, for example, h..
first brings Joan and the dauphin togeth,
during during the siege Of Orleans, instead Of >.
Cnmon. Her capture, according to Shake
Rsare, vas at Anglers, her captor being tn
thus:
"Damsel Of France think have you fast.
Onehain your spirits now with spelling
A soodly prize fit for the DEVILS grace.
See how the ugly witch doth bend her brows.
As with Gree she would change my shape"
Louis XI, made his court at the castle OF
Plessis les Tours, though he often came 10
Chinon. After his death the castle was NOT
much treguented by royalty.
In i629 the Princess de Condi who had
come into possession of~the place, sold il tn
Cardinal Rchelieu. just after that time there
seemed to be mania for demolishine ali
the castles Of the Plantagenets and Of the
French monarchs.
For century and half the castle of Chinon
was almost in ruins, and the hall in which
Joan OF Arc promised prosperous France-to
Charies VII was not recognizable. But few
years ago France began to take an interest
IN IN It's relics OF the past, and the castle Of
Chlnon is being cared for.