Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 5.djvu/184

116 WORKMEN AND HEROES Just at this epoch the people of Domremy were obliged to fly before an invad ing troop of soldiers. When they returned to their village they found theii church burned and their homes pillaged. Joan regarded this as a direct punish- ment for her hesitation m heeding the "voices." She would hesitate no longei, and after repeated delays and disheartening rebuffs, she succeeded in winning her way, with a few believers in her mission, to the king's castle. When Charles finally consented to an interview, he disguised one of his court- iers as king, and he was disguised as a courtier ; but Joan was not deceived by clothing ; she fell at his feet, clasped his knees, and exclaimed, " Gentle king, God has taken pity on you and your people ; the angels are on their knees prav in for you and them." The king was impressed with her lofty enthusiasm, and plied her with ques- tions. Her responses astonished him. One reliable authority tells us that she revealed to him something known only to himself and answered a question which he had that day demanded of God in the privacy of prayer the question of his legitimate right to the throne. Joan told him that he had asked this question of God, and that she was able to reply to it in the affirmative. The king was so astonished and overjoyed at this proof of the maiden's powers, that he expressed belief in her divine mission ; but he quickly relapsed into doubt again, and Joan was obliged to endure a very critical examination before a parliament, where she confused and confounded the learned doctors by her simple words : " I know not A or B, but I am commanded by my voices to raise the siege of Orleans and crown the dauphin at Rheims." When one ag- gressive doctor, with a bad accent, asked sarcastically, " what language her voices spoke," she replied, " Better than yours, sir." which brought the laughter of the whole parliament upon him. A messenger sent to Domremy, to ascertain the early conduct of the maid, returned with accounts of her piety and benevolence. A.11 this worked in her favor, together with the strong faith which the masses reposed in her ; for the people remembered the old prophecy and believed that the maiden had come to deliver France. Even the doctors of theology were affected by this prophecy, and the result was the final equipment of Joan for battle. When arrayed in a knight's armor she refused to accept a sword. " The voices told me," she said, " that in the church vault at Fierbois there lies a sword marked with five crosses which I mus*. carry, and no other." A messenger was sent, who found the sword exactly as she had described it This naturally swelled the faith of the people in her divine mission. She ordered a white banner made, covered with the lilies of France, and with the inscription, " Jesus Maria," emblazoned upon it. At the end of two months she entered the town of Blois, where the army was stationed, seated upon a fine horse, her head bare, her dark curls streaming in the wind, an air of triumph and joy on her face. Six thousand soldiers were drawn up to receive her. But the pleasure-loving young dauphin, be it said to his shame, was enjoying himself in his castle and was not there to meet her Nothing had yet been decided about the position