on arriving at the town of Fierbois, not far from Chinon, she sent to request admission to the king, announcing herself as one expressly commissioned by Heaven to raise the siege of Orleans, and conduct him to Rheims, there to be crowned and anointed with the holy oil kept there, and which was believed to have been brought from heaven by a dove, and was used only at the coronation of the French monarchs.

CHAPTER XI.

Joan declares her Mission to King Charles-Goes to Orleansand forces the English to raise the Siege.

On the 24th of February, 1429, Joan of Arc was commanded to attend King Charles at Chinon. It is said, that in order to make trial of the truth of her asserted miraculous inspiration, he laid aside every thing by which he might be distinguished from others, and mingled with the courtiers standing around; but she not only immediately singled him out from the crowd and paid him the honours due to him as king, but, as a further proof of her truth, told him in private a secret unknown to all the world besides himself. It has been doubted whether these circumstances are true; but it is certain that she convinced King Charles, and almost all who were of his party, of the reality of her mission. She was questioned by several

bishops as to her visions, and was examined by an assembly of all the chief men of King Charles's party, who met at Poictiers. They sent messengers to Domremy, to make inquiries concerning her former life, and, after much deliberation, they all determined that she had really had communication with messengers from heaven; that the king might safely trust her; and that, under her guidance, his affairs were certain to prosper.

The spirits of King Charles's friends began to rise. Every honour was paid to the Maid, and she at once prepared to lead them on to victory. Servants and attendants were appointed to wait on her; besides menials, she had a squire, two pages, two heralds, and an almoner. She caused a standard to be made, which she either carried herself, or caused to be carried near her when she went into battle. It was of white, fringed with silk; on it our Saviour was represented seated on a throne, holding a globe in his hands; two angels ap

peared in adoration, one holding a fleur-delis, the emblem of France, which Jesus seemed to bless. On the border the words JESUS MARIA were displayed, and all the white surface was scattered over with golden fleurs-de-lis. A complete suit of armour was made for Joan, and she now wanted nothing but a sword. This she said would be found behind the altar of St. Catharine, in the Church of Fierbois; and she particularly described it as being marked with five crosses on the blade-and she refused to carry any other. On sending to Fierbois the sword was found as she had said, and so ready were all now to believe in Joan's supernatural power, that this was declared to be a miracle. But when we recollect that she had stopped at Fierbois, that Baudricourt had given her a sword, which it seems she did not take to Chinon, and that St. Catharine was one of her favourite saints, it does not appear very extraordinary that she should have in secret placed her sword on the altar, in the belief

that some extraordinary virtue would be imparted to it. The priests at Fierbois declared she had never been in the church; but unless a very close watch were kept they could not tell who entered a place, the doors of which, as is the case with most Roman Catholic churches, are seldom closed.

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As soon as all these things had been provided, Joan was mounted on horseback, and here a fresh cause of wonder was found in the skill she displayed in the management of her steed. They forgot she had long been used to ride horses to water without any saddle; but all these wonders served to increase the courage and confidence of the soldiers. Her first expedition was to Blois, where an army was collecting for the relief of Orleans. From hence she caused letters to be written in her name (for she herself could neither read nor write) to the commanders of the English army, ordering them, in the name of the Omnipotent Creator, to abandon the siege,