Joanof Arc

Joan of Arc, Jeanne D'Arc, or Joanneta Darc, the Maid of Orleans (Fr. La Pucelled'Orleans), was born about 1411 at Domremy on the frontier of Lorraine, her father being a small yeoman or peasant proprietor. From her mother, Isabeau, a pious woman who had made her pilgrimage to Rome, she learned the elements of religion and the duties of the house, becoming very expert with the needle, but she could neither read nor write. Overflowing with animal spirits as a child, she grew more reserved and exalted in early womanhood, spending her time in solitude and prayer, repelling the advances of suitors, but not neglecting her duties to her parents and neighbours. In 1428 the Earl of Shrewsbury on behalf of Henry V., whose claim to the French crown was supported by his mother-in-law, Isabella, to the detriment of her own son, Charles the Dauphin, began the siege of Orleans, the capture of which town was necessary before the English could extend their conquests into the south. This event gave an impulse to the girl's highly-wrought and enthusiastic nature. Legends were already current that the wrong done to France by one woman should be effaced by another, and she aspired to become the instrument of heaven for delivering her country. Soon she fancied she heard saintly voices urging her to her task, and no longer deterred by the remonstrances of her kinsfolk, she persuaded the Governor of Vaucouleurs to send her in February, 1429, to the Dauphin's quarters at Chinon. Recognising the prince at once among a crowd of courtiers, she speedily won his confidence, and she was allowed to take five thousand men to the relief of Orleans. Clad in armour, girt with a miraculously-found sword, bearing her holy banner, she rode at the head of the troops, whom her presence inspired with wild enthusiasm. At the end of April she succeeded in penetrating into the city, and ten days later the siege was raised. A series of victories followed, and on July 17th she stood beside the king at his coronation in the cathedral at Rheims. She then urged the feeble-spirited Charles to attempt the recapture of Paris, but the failure of the first onslaught, in which she was wounded, caused him to abandon the expedition, and Joan went off in 1430 to help the Duc d'Alencon. On May 24th, whilst leading a sortie from Compiegne, she was sur rounded and captured by the Burgandians. The Icing made no effort to ransom her, and the Church did all in its power to destroy her. The Bishop of Beauvais procured her sale. to the English, who handed her over for trial to the Inquisition. This mockery of justice began on January 9th, 1431, when, being found guilty of heresy and sorcery, she submitted and received a nominal pardon. The English,' however, did not release her, but induced her to resume her male attire. She was then oharged with repeating her offence, and condemned to death at the stake. She perished with great fortitude in the market-place at Rouen, May 30, 1431. The Church of Rome revoked the sentence twenty-five years later, and proceedings are now going on with a view to her beatification. No oharacter has been more acrimoniously discussed than hers, but it has withstood the unclean sneers of Voltaire, and the almost as offensive attempts to make her life and death a source of glorification to her destroyers.