lUNTINUOUS story READERS EDITED BY P. VAN ROSSUM THE I.IKR OF S$ JKAXXK IiAliC (St. JOAN D'ARC) ' ADAPTED AND ANNOTATED ' FÖR D.UTCH R. C. SCHOOLS. . BY - c van straaten G : J.. B. WÖLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN 'HAAG, 1923 ,, KONINKLIJKE BIBLIOTHEEK Uit de bibliotheek van Prof. Mr. J. van KAN THE LIFE OF ST. JEANNE D'ARC (ST. JOAN D'ARC) CONTINUOUS STORY READERS EDITED BY P. VAN ROSSUM. THE LIFE OF ST. JEANNE D'ARC (ST. JOAN D'ARC) BIJ J. B. WOLTERS' U. M. — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG, 1923. THE LIFE OF ST. JEANNE D'ARC (ST. JOAN D'ARC) ADAPTED AND ANNOTATED FOR DUTCH R. C. SCHOOLS C. VAN STRAATEN BIJ J. B. WÖLTERS' U. M. - GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG, 1923. "And then, after a long, long time, they honoured her, and called her Saint, whom in her lifetime they despised and rejected. Strange fate shared by the holiest and noblest since time began." ST. JEANNE D'ARC. CHAPTER I. Jeanne, daughter of Jacques and Isebeau d'Arc, was born in the little village of Domremy in the West of Franee — on the 5th of January 1412. Her father was aw el 1-tc^do farmer, who had three sons and one other daughter. They all took their share of the work in the field or in the house. Jeanne helped her mother. She learned to spin her wool and to embroider beautiful things to make the little village church more lovely. She loved the church best of all and took pleasure in saying her prayers, kneeling in its dark nave and there was nothing that so delighted her as the music of its bells, chiming angelus at dawn, and noon and nightfall. She was devout, gentle and helpful and always ready to assist the poor welgesteld aandeel borduren schepte behagen bidden, schip in verrukking bracht klokken, kleppend, 's morgens 's avonds godvruchtig bijstaan 6 andthesickwheneveran opportunity gelegenheid presented itself, so that she was aanbood loved by all who knew her. One day, when she was twelve years old, she sat at her needie- naaiwerk work under the whispering sum- suizende mer trees of the garden. It was late in the afternoon and the peals of gekiep (slagen) the angelus thrilled through the air. trilden Jeanne had raised her eyes from her work and was looking towards the church, when she noticed abrilliant merkte op and unearthly light atherrighthand, bovenaardsch a little behind her and shining over her shoulder. Out of the radiance schitterglans there came a voice saying: "Jane be good and obedient. Go oftento church." This was the beginning of her hearing what she ever after callea her 'voices'. CHAPTER II. Only a short time after the radiance appeared to her again, forming verscheen itself into shapes and faces, shecould gestalten see as wéll as hear the Saints, 7 Michael and Catherine and Margaret, who addressed her. toespraken St. Michael with flaming wings vleugelen and sword and crown was at first chief in giving her counsel. In raad quite a simple and clear way he told her of the piteous condition into jammerlijk which the kingdom of France had fallen. /- \ Of fhis she knew something already and young though she was, she feit gevoelde medm. sorry for her native-country, which was made desolate and laid waste ontvolkt, verwoest by the English, destroyed by in- vernietigd ternal warfare and had no one burgeroorlog champion to save or defend her. kampioen "Be good," St. Michael bade he 1', beval and God will help you. You must go to the King of France for it is you who shall give himbackhis kingdom." Strange words spoken at a strange moment, as in 1420 the Dauphin, 'afterwards Charles VII, had lost all hope of ever coming to the rule of regeering his realm. In thatyeartheDauphin's koninkrijk mother had betrayed her own verraden 8 country by delivering over her tmhuwemgeven daughter in marriage and the kingdom with her, to King Henry V of England. What was Jeanne's confusion at verwarring hearing this definite command from bepaald . hemelsch, krijger, the celestial warrior to restore teruggeven the crown to the rightful heir! wettig "I am only a poor girl" she cried, dismayed. "ï cannot ride, nor lead terneergeslagen armed men 1" "Go to Robert de Beaudricourt," continued Michael, who did not pay attention to Jeanne's words, "he will take you to the King. St.Catherineand St.Margaret will come and help you." The frightened chi'ld began to verschrikte weep. Whowasshe,smallandweakand , , , . onwetend, ignorant, that she should attempt beproeven a labour so great, she who had werk never seen anything but the life of her peaceful village, and knew not vreedzaam even how to read, or to write; who knew, in fact, nothing but her inderdaad prayers and the daily, homely tasks set her by her mother? opgedragen 9 But true to the promise of St. trouw, belofte Michael, who thereafter appeared to her , , . , ■ „ ot zeldzaam, gelegen- only on rare and high occasions, M. heden Catherine and St. Margaret with their heavenly countenances and gentle, aangezichten soft voices came to give her direc- . aanwijzing, troost tion and comfort. CHAPTER III. For four years Jeanne thought these things over in her heart, and the message which at first had made her boodschap shed timed and helpless tears sank stau, daalde neer into her soul, and there took root schoot wortel and grew, and filled it with the conviction that she was indeed overtuiging destined by God to fulfil His com- bestemd mand to help the Daughin back to his realm and causehimtobecrowned its king. By this time her parents hadavisit from Jeanne's uncle who stayed logeerde with them for a couple of weeks. Jeanne's simple ways pleased him manieren and he gladly comp lied with her voldeed aan 10 wish to take her with him. Little could he think what the girl's aim was and simply looked upon her as a welcome guest in his house. • As her parents did not object to her going she left Domremy and went off with her unele. On their way to Burly-le-Petit she revealed to him that she wished her unöle to take her to Robert de Beaudricourt, for it was he who was to help her to go to the Dauphin, whom, as the Archangel had told her, she was to conduct to be crowned King of France? What was the good man's amazement, when he heard these words from the lips of agirl of sixteenIHad the poor child lost her senses? Was she quite mad? By some inexplicable means, however, perhaps by the force of her earnestness, and the conviction with which she spoke, ,she convinced him that her errand was commanded by none other than the Archangel Michael, plan beschouwde op tegen hadden openbaarde leiden verbazing haar verstand verloren onverklaarbaar kracht, ernst opdracht gegeven 11 and Laxart, her uncle, accordingly took her to Vaucouleurs, whereRobert de Beaudricourt resided. While Jeanne was waiting without, in the courtyard, her uncle had an interview with Robert de Beaudricourt and revealed to him the purpose of his coming. TheCaptain's answerwas anything but encouraging as he simply advised: "The little fooi! She de li ver France and crown the King? Box her ears, and send her home to her mother!" He consented, however, to see the child, and, as it has been said that the privilege of truth is to make itself believed, Jeanne in her interview convinced Robert de Beaudricourt that she had come to hun on the part of the Lord, the King of Heaven, that her 'voices' had named him as the knight who was to lead her to the Dauphin bef ore the middle of Lent, for she must lead the royal son to be consecrated in spite of all his enemies. dienovereenkomstig verblijf hield binnenplein onderhoud doel alles behalve, bemoedigend bevrijden stemde toe, ontvangen vanwege ridder de Vasten gezalfd 12 CHAPTER IV. When this part of her miss ion was fulfilled, she returned to her parents to whom she disclosed the secrets she had kept for four years. Her. father would not hear of it and even declared that he would rather see her drowned than riding away with men-at-arms! But what could Jacques d'Arc hope to accomplish against commands Jenanne knew to have comev to her from the King of Heaven? In the beginning of Lent she again started for Vaucouleurs, and this time the Captain sent a messenger to the Dauphin at Chinon, asking for instructions as to what he should do With this determined maid. He did so the more promptly as Jeanne informed him that the Dauphin was suffering defeat at Orleans. This fact, which was unknown to the captain as well as' to all the in- zending openbaarde verdrinken doen koerier bevelen vast besloten gereeder de nederlaag leed Hl 13 habitants of Vaucouleurs was like prophecy, but was soon confirmed by the Court at Chinon itself from which word came that such had been the case and that the Dauphin's forces had been defeated at the Battle of Herrings. The French army was in such a pitious condition that any sort of help, whether real and material, or imaginary, was welcome. Instructions reached the Captain that the maid should by all means be conducted to the Dauphin's presence. So, one day in February, escorted by the King's messengers, two young noblemen, chivalrous youths, fired by her enthusiasm and determined to follow her fortunes, Jeanne dressed in man's elothes, set out upon her dangerous journey, föllowed by the prayers and good wishes of the people, of Beaudricourt himself, of every one but her own father, who angrily bade her return home, profetie, bevestigd. Hof bericht beklagenwaardig stoffelijk denkbeeldig tegenwoordigheid begeleid ridderlijk geestdrift lief en leed met haar te deelen ondernam 14 and threatened her with his maled iet ion should she disobey him. As the party was about to start, a voice cried from the crowd gathered to witness the departure: "How, oh, how have you the courage to set forth upon a road so dangerous?" "God will clear the way before me. For this was I bom," answered Jeanne untroubled. CHAPTER V. The journey lasted for eleven days, during which the little group travelled mostly by night, to avoid encounters with chance bands of English or Burgundians, until they arrived at a village near Chinon. In spite of the fact that the Court was surrounded by every danger it was none the less given over to feasting and laughter. From the village a messenger was sent to the Dauphin. He returned in bedreigde, vervloeking op 't punt stond verzameld, getuige te zijn van vertrek kalm duurde vermijden ontmoetingen 'toevallige troepen omringd niet minder feestvieren 15 two days and reported that an audience was granted. When Jeanne was admittedto the royal presénce, all expected her to be confounded, for, by way of jest, the Dauphin had put on the simple costume of a comtnon gentleman, while one of the courtiers wore the royal attire and occupied the throne. Jeanne, however, was not misled by this; she went straight towards the true Dauphin, and kneeling before him, she said: "Gentle Dauphin, God give you long life." "But I am not the King," answered Charles. He is sitting over there." "Gentle Dauphin," the girl simply replied, "I am Jeanne the Maid. The King of Heaven sends me to teil you that you shall be consecrated and crowned at Rheims." On hearing these words Charles became grave, drew her aside and wanted to speak to her privately. He had always had his doubts toestaan toegelaten zich vergissen bij wijze v. grap hovelingen kleedij ware edele hernam ter zijde alleen getwijfeld 16 whether he had the legitimateright to be crowned King. Without a word from him the question was answered by Jeanne. "My Lord has sent me," she said, "to teil you that you are the son of the King, and true heir of France." CHAPTER VI. ett ivettig When the Dauphin got this reply to the most secret question lying close to his heart, he would willingly have let Jeanne have her way, have allowed her to meet the enemy and cleave her way and his to Rheims. But things did not goassmoothly as that! From Ihe first the generals and captains of the army had sneered at the thought of a woman, nay, an ignorant child being entrusted with the waging of war, and the representatives of the Church determined that she should be sent to Poitiers and examined there by na aan, gaarne haar zin hanen zoo gemakkelijk vinnig gespot'met ja zelfs toevertrouwd , oorlog [ voeren vertegenwoordigers besloten ondervraagd 17 the wisest and most learned men of the law and the clergy, who should decide whether she were indeed a true messenger of God. She passed successfully through a long trial, though she got weary of the constant questioning and her ever ready answers showed a little impatience at the end, which may be seen from the föllowing quotation: "You say that God will de li ver France; if that is so. He has no need of men-at-arms." "The men must fight, it is God who gives the victory!" Jeanne ca'lled out. "Words are all very well, but God would not have us believe you uniess you give us some sign." , "I have not come to Portiers to give signs," she answered, "but take me to Orléans. There I will show the signs I am sent to show. Give me as small a band as you like, but let me go!" Orleans was, indeed, ingreatdanger from the besieging English troops, VAN STRAATEN, St. Jeanne oTArc. beslissen geestelijkheid wet verhoor . . . moe werd aanhaling bevrijden noodig tenzij belegerende 2 18 whose positions outside the city were so strong, and whose prestige from long continued victory was so great, as to make it seem that no hope of deüverance could exist for the doomed city. The raising of its siege, and the defeating of the English there,were the first steps that Jeanne declared herself commanded by her Saints to take. So, after her return from Poitiers, Charles determined to make such use of her as he might in this war, if indeed it was for this that she was sent him from Heaven. When he offered to give her a sword, she replied that the weapon destined for her would be found behind the altar of the little church of Fierbois, where she had stopped to pray. A sword was, indeed, found there, which after being polished and sharpened was sent her encased in a crimson and gold scabbard. stellingen ten ondergang gedoemde opbreken verslaan bestemd gepolijst. geslepen gestoken karmozijnrood scheede IBl'MiBIII—l 19 Even dearer than her sword, though this aiso was precious to her, was her Standard of white linen, with its silk fringes, and its embroidery of the figure of Christ holding the world in His hand. The words "Jhesus-Maria" were also embroidered upon it. It had been made according to the description which Jeanne had from the Saints, Catheriné and Margaret, who had bidden her carry it boldly, si nee it had come to her from God. In all the battles she fought, she carried it. Her gentle heart had no wish to shed bloed, and when on rare occasions she drew her sword, it was not to thrust and kill, but to lay on as one might use a stick or rod; never was she known to take a life. She would always rather have spared the lives of her enemies; she exhorted them to surrender be- ' fore she made an attack, giving them the opportunity to save themselves. On one occasion, during the victc- franje volgens beschrijving onverschrokken daar teeder vergieten steken om er mee te slaan iemand doodde Voorde aan, zich overgeven 20 rious battle of Patey, she came upon a Frenchman cruelly maltreating an English captive. Full of indignation she sprang from her horse, and sitting down on the ground, she held the bleeding head of her dying enemy in her lap. She eased his wounds, and comforted .him with her tender pity, while she sent for a priest to give him the solace of the Church during his last moments. ?Crm CHAPTER VII. At the end of April, when all preparations had been made, Jeanne at the head of a small army, set out for Orléans, accompanied by many generals and captains. She was clad in a suit of white armour inlaid with silver, dazzling as the apparel of St. Michael himself. With her was Jean d'Aulon, chief mishandelende krijgsgevangene verontwaardiging schoot verzachtte tróóstte troostmiddelen toebereidselen gekleed, volledige wapenrusting schitterend gewaad 21 of her staff, who never left her until the end of her days of freedom. With her were also Jean de Metz and de Poulangy, and her brother Pierre, who had left home to join her. They were a strange army whom Jeanne led: priests and choristers accompanied them; Mass was regularly celebrated, confession to all at any time it was desired, even though the maren should have to be suspended to perform it. Not an oath nor blasphemy would she permit and many a rough soldier was tamed in that respect. The crew of camp-followers, so common in those days and exerting such a bad influence on an army, she banished and dispersed. When they had arrived at Blois, Jeanne sent a letter to the English generals, bidding them all, from the King down, to listen to the command of God, and leave France. Neediess to say, their one answer, now as always after, was a shower of zich voegen oij zonderling koorknapen, de Mis opgedragen (gelegenheid tot) biechten onderbroken doen vloek godslastering intoomen, opzicht zoetelaars enz, uitoefenden invloed joeg uiteen bevelend bevel onnnodig 22 curses and abusive epithets, for then as later the English considered her an impostor, a witch, and an agent of the devil. Sad to say, also, there were but too many among theFrenchwhonever recognized her as the envoy of God, but looked upon her with distrust, derison or envy. During all her brief career, chief among her powerful enemies were the King's counsellor, La Trémouille, and the Archbishop of Rheims, so that through these two men of influence many both in the Court and the Church were hostile to her. CHAPTER VIII. As she drew near to Orléans, Dunois, known as one of France's bravest and most skilful generals came out to escort her into the besieged city. With a convoy of food for the nea'rly star ving inhabitants Jeanne verwenschingen scheldnamen bedriegster, heks erkende, afgezant wantrouwen, spot afgunst korte, loopbaan raadsheer vijandelijk bekwaam begeleiden, belegerde v. gebrekomkomen 23 entered the town at nightfall, not impeded in any way by the English. All the citizens crowded on her path as she made her way to the church, to see her whom theylooked upon as a miraculous deliverer. Men, women and children tried to get near her and touch her, or the white horse she rode, or her Standard. And as she advanced among them she spoke words of encouragement and promised them to deliver Orléans, if they had faith. It would have been her wish to advance immediately on the following day agamst the besiegers, as the enthusiasm of the citizens at her arrival ran high, but her captains dissuaded her from this plan. While, however, Jeanne lay asleep, exhausted, in the afternoon, she suddenly awoke, and leapingtoher feet declared that she had been roused by her 'voices', and must , immediately go against the English. As she was hurriedly donning her verhinderd burgers bevrijdster bemoediging vertrouwen ten top steeg ontraadde uitgeput opspringend rpwekt aandoen 24 armour, she exclaimed in anguish: "French blood is flowing! Why did they not teil me?" She f lung herself into the saddle, grasped her Standard and darted away, her horse's feet striking sparks from the pavement in her haste. ' Jeanne's 'voices' had indeed warned her aright. The dissatisfied captains, resenting the sudden prestige of this unknown maid, had attempted a sortie and tried to win a victory without her aid. When Jeanne and her föllowers reached the spot where the fighting was occurring, however, it was only to find the French in defeated flight. Without a word she flew past them, leaving to her föllowers to turn the retreat into an advance, and never paused until she had reached the foot of the fort of St. Loup, where for the rest of the day the batt'le raged bitter and furious. Jeanne was everywhere, urging zielsangst wierp greep ijlde weg vonken gebelgd over overwicht beproefd uitval hulp in verwarde vlucht het aan haar volgelingen overlatende, terugtocht woedde aanzettend 25 and encouraging her men, though herself not fighting, but leading them under her Standard and at all times exposing herself in the most dangerous places in the very front of the battle. Finally, towards evening, the bastion was taken and Jeanne returned in triumph to Orléans. Two days later 'the fort of Les Augustins was stormed, and the only important point remaining untaken was Les Tourelles. Early in the morning of the föllowing day, in spite of theeffortsof generals and all in authority to keep her in town, Jeanne dashed out, again föllowed by a flood of enthusiasts who would have let themselves be called to any place by her stirring voice, her radiant armour and the white Standard. When she had reached the foot of the fort's wall, she was placing a ladder against it, bidding her men moünt, and promising that all should blootstellend alle gezaghebbers snelde (O.) uit geestdriftige begeesterende 26 be theirs, when an arrow struck her above her breast, and she feil, the arrow standing a hand's breadth beyond her shoulrier. She had the strength and courage to pull out the arrow herself, and then — she wept with pain, the child of seventeen, even though she was generai-in-chief of the army of France! She was carried to a vineyard close by, where her wound was tended. She made confession to her chaplain, whom on the day bef ore she had requested to keep close to her side during the battle, "for", she had prophesied, "I shall be wounded to-morrow." In the vineyard she rested, but presently realized that the attack of her men (for the battle had continued to rage) had begun to flag. She got up, and mounting her horse went to find Dunois and the generals. "Rest for a while and eat. and when you see my Standard floating pijl uitstekend boven opperbevelhebber unjngaard verzorgde, biechtte aalmoezenier direct daarop werd hethaarhewufit verflauwen 27 agamst the wall, forward, for the place is ours." Then she again went to the vineyard and kneeling prayed for a long time. Returning to the scène of the j- battle, her Standard in hand, shestood on the edge of the moat surrounding Les Tourelles. "Teil me", she said to her squire, "when the pen non touches the wall." So saying she stretched forth the banner, whose white folds unfurled and fluttered out towards the fortress. "It touches", shouted the squire. "Then on-on-on! All is yours!" cried Jeanne. "Enter, de la part de Dieu!" Her föllowers rosé as one man, and advanced like an irresistable tidel wave, while she, standing untouched amidst a shower of arrows, continued to shout encouraging words to them. The mer e sight of her whitearmour struck terror into the hearts of tooncel rand (slot) vrucht schildknaap banier plooien wapperden onweerstaanbaar vloedgolf regen illeen 'ervulden met vrees 28 her enemies, who had been looked upon as invincible for such a long time. Before night the last fort had been taken and no Englishman was left to threaten the city, which had suffered siege for seven months and which Jeanne had set free in as many days. On her return into Orléans she was swept along byacrowd delirious with joy, all pressing about her in the attempt to touch her mailed feet or kiss her hand. She rode in the midst almost like one in a dream, content, to be sure, with the sense of a great task accomplished, but wounded, tired and above all, filled with sorrow for the sou Is of those who, whether friends or enemies, had died that day unconfessed, and without the sweet comfort of the Church. onoverwinnelijk bedreigen beleg meegevoerd dronken, zich verdringend rondom gepantserde gevoel volbracht met droefheid vervuld zielen ;. f^Jfif zonder gebiecht te hebben troostmiddelen 29 CHAPTER IX. After her return to the Court of Charles she, would have been glad to lead the Dauphin immediately to Rheims. But delay followed upon delay, until one day she called out in prolest: "I shall only last a year! Take the good of me, gentle Prince, as long as it is possible." Thus she prophesied the brevity of her career, as she had prophesied her wound. . At last the Dauphin consented to go to Rheims as soon as the way should have been cleared. Jeanne, therefore set out to perform the task. One stronghold after anotherwas taken and the English shamefully driven from the field, villages and towns they had held for years. Returning to Court, helped by public opinion, which was all in her favour, and in spite of the King's counsellors, she induced the uitstel Maak van mijn diensten gebruik voorspelde kortheid sterlde schandelijk te harer gunste haalde over 30 Dauphin to make a beginning of his journey in the di reet ion of Rheims. The towns on their way were not yet all in the hands of the French, but one by one they surrended to Jeanne's spirited attacks and after six weeks, which were like a triumphal procession, Charles found himself at the gat es of Rheims in the middle of July, at the head of a greatly increased army, for Jeanne had attracted adherents to his eau se from all quarters. So far the Maid had fulfilled her promises and had now reached the town where her highest hope would be realized. Even now the King would have hesitated and delayed, had not the citizens of Rheims sent him the keys to the city in token of svelcome, which welcome he could lot refuse. In triump the royal cortège and irmy marched in, Jeanne riding by he King's side. richting gaven zich over bezielde triomf-tocht poorten sterk vermeerderd aanhangers zaak verwezenlijkt geaarzeld uitgesteld burgers ten teeken van hofstoet (Fr.) SffiSH 31 This must have offered a strange sight to her father and uncle Durant, who had come from home to Rheims to convince themselves that what they had heard was reailly true and that their Jeanne was the heroine of the war, companion with the highest and proudest in France. With wonder and open-eyed amazement they saw her sürrounded by the adoring populace, who ever sought to approach and honour her. CHAPTER X. On the following day the great event took place, the climax of the Maid's career. With great ceremony the Sainte ■ Ampoule, the vessel containing the holy oil sent from Heaven at the crowning of Clovis, was brought from the Abbey of Saint-Remi and taken < to the Cathedral. At the hour of the coronation / overtuigen verbazing aanbiddende, bevolking, steeds, zochten (van: to seek) slechtigheid heilige ampul (Fr.) ihdij roning 32 the Cathedral, not to say the town, was filled to overflowing with the nobility of France, all dressed in the most splendid apparel. The night had been spent in decorating the Cathedral and the streets. Jeanne was amoung the dazzling group occupying the raised platform upon which the ceremony took place. In her radiant armour she stood with her Standard, which had played so great a part in bringing about and making possible this occasion. She stood like one in ecstacy, witnessing the fulfilment of her prayers and labours, and when the ceremony was completed and Charly VII stood up the crowned and anointed ruler of France, unable longer to control the emotion of her heart, Jeanne threw herself at the feet of her sovereign, cl as ping his knees: "Gentle King," she called out, in a voice broken with tears, "nowis God's adel kleedij versieren verblindenden verhevenheid schitterende extase (geestverruk- king) getuigen zijnde gezalfde, - heerscher wierp (van: to throw) haar armen slaande om 33 pleasure fulfilled, who willed that I should raise the siege of Orléans and lead you to Rheims to receive your c ons eer ation. Now has He shown that you are the true King, and that France belongs to you alone!" She then begged to be allowed to withdraw. Her mission was accomplished, the duty laid upon her fulfilled.' She wished to return home, to her people and to her peaceful existence. CHAPTER XI. But this, alas, was not permitted. The Maid, hampered as she had been at every step by those who had the power and the will to do so, was still too useful to be allowed to depart. Was not her voice, was not her very name, sufficiënt to strike a superstitious terror into thehearts van straaten, St. Jeanne d'Arc. wil 't beleg doen opbreken wijding verzocht, zich te mogen terugtrekkenzending, vervuld vredig, bestaan bemoeilijkt 'laar naam zelf 'njgeloovige 3 34 of the enemy and to f ill t h o s e of her föllowers with a fiery courage? Besides, the people, whose idol she was, would not have permitted it. But from that hour dated her decline. She had propheticaily said that she should last but one year, and from this time onward she seems to have fought like a marvellously able general, to be sure, but no longerwith her former divine invincible inspiration. And she was aware of the change. Her 'voices' still gave her counsel, but they intimated to her at the same time that disaster was going to befall her. They always assured her, however, that God would be with her and give her eventual victory. On various occasions she was offered rewards, but for herself she wanted nothing. One great boon she secured at this moment for her dear village, which she was never to 'die, (de haften van) vurige afgod 't tanen (v. h. . glorie) af wonderbaarlijk^ ] bekwaam voorzeker Goddelijke onoverwinnelijke begeestering zich bewust raad deden weten ramp, wéldra zou treffen eind belooningen wéldaad verzekeren 35 ! see again. "Because of the Maid." I Domremy was granted perpetual exemption from taxation, which it retained to the time of the I French Revolution. [ CHAPTER XII. The next step after the coronatidn was the taking of Paris, which was not only held by the English and the Burgundians, but was, unlike Orléans, positively hostile to the Ring^' party and whose inhabitants looked upon Jeanne as asorceress. Charles made repeated truces with Philip of Burgundy, who promised to hand over Paris to him, but who, in reality, toyed with the situation and , caused delay after delay. Besides Jeanne, knowing her mission over, could not act with the spirited decision which had, up to i now, overcome all obstacles. * One day, however, in spite of all these adversities Jeanne resölved u eeuwigdurende ^•vrijstelling belasting behield beslist vijandelijk , 'oovenares vapenstilstanden peelde zslistheid inderpalen (fenspoeden 36 to set out for Paris with her men and pushed on to Saint-Denis,under the shadow of Paris. Here she was obliged to make a pause, while the King could hardly be induced 'toleave Compiègne, where he was taking his éase and pleasure! At the moment of Jeanne's arrival at St. Denis Paris was practicaily defenceless and it would not have been difficult to take the place in a comparatively short time. Through the delay at St. Denis, however, the Parisians got a splendid opportunity to fortify the city. On the 8th of September, the Nativity of the Virgin, Jeanne's forces, led by her old and dear friends and supporters made their attack upon the fortifications and quicMy carried the gate of Saint-Honoré. From the height of this it was discovered that the city was surrounded by a doublé ditch, the inner of which was filled with water, the outer one dry. ruide voort gemak feitelijk weerloos betrekkelijk versterken Maria Geboorte versterkingen veroverde, poort ontdekt gracht 37 fin fVio r!/lno H,„„„ f„,„ T stood during the entire afterncon, exposed to the arrows showered upon her from the wall, probing the water of the ditch with her lance, to find places where best her men might cross, and ceaselessly encouraging them with the shouts of her marvellous ringing voice. There she was standing, entirelyunprotected, .when she was wounded in the thigh and her standardbearer killed. She crept down and lay upon the slope of the dry ditch, continuing to urge on her men, assuring them that Paris would be theirs if only they would persever e. But dafkness feil and one of her generals took her, bitterly g r i e v i n g, back to camp. Unwillingly she went, weeping and moaning: "Oh, the pity of it! the pity! Had we but persevered until morning, the city would be oursT On the next day, rested and rug-hoogte blootgesteld pijlen regenende peilend oversteken, zónder ophouden wonderbare klankrijke onbeschermd dij helling aanzetten, verzekerend volharden verdrietig lammerend 38 refreshed, for the wound was not serious, she again led forth the troop s, determined not to leave the spot until the city was taken, but before the attack had fairly begun, messengers arrived from the King to lead the army back to St. Denis. Poor Jeanne, in utter despair, forced to obey, returned rather a prisoner than a leader. And here the attack on Paris ended. CHAPTER XIII. The next winter was almost entirely passed in weary inactivity. Though Jeanne ïived like a prince and could have obtained anything she could dream of: rich clothes, gems, a castte, a great title her one wish and desire was not granted: liberty to drive the English to the last man out of France, giVe to Charles a united kingdom. or immediately return in peace to Domremy.' Just as the populace was always c opgefrischt ernstig vast besloten plek ■ in volslagen wanhoop meer als gevangene vervelende, werkeloosheid verkregen edelgesteenten x verlangen ingewilligd verlof vereenigd rustig bevolking jfriéhdly lo her, so also, at every •point of her career, women from the noblest down to the poorest believed m her, loved her, were devoted to her and glad to be of use to her. Bef ore the end of the winter Charles allowed her, may-be from the fact that he saw her pining over her enforced inactivity, to take some of the towns not yet conquered. It was quite a task for her as her army had been utterly dispersed during the winter and her friends were no longer with her. Her captain was a stranger, named d'Albert, soninJlaw of La Tremoüille, the King's counsellor and her arch enemy. It is easy to understand that little help could be expected from such a man; yet,in spite of these untoward -circumstances Jeanne's ach ie vemen ts were more remarkable than at any period bef ore. The first attack upon Saint PierreJles-Moutier, a town strongly entrenched, well defended, armed tijdstip ' tot verknocht, van dienst wegkwijnend gedwongen geheel en al, verstrooid schoonzoon aartsvijand ongunstige wapenfeiten verschanst 39 40 and provisioned was unsuccessful, the retreat was sounded and the forces hastening back to camp, when Jean d'Aülon, himself wounded, saw Jeanne, still directing the four or five adherents who had remained with her, in construing a bridge across the ditch. In spite of his wounds, d'Aulon vaulted upon his horse andhastened forward, calling to her, asking why she remained there unsupported and unprotected. "I shall not leave," she cried, taking off the heimet the better to reply, "until the tpwn is taken!" "Jeanne, withdraw, I conjure you — you are alone!" "I have still with me fifty thousand men!" she shouted, her face shining in ecstasy, and she continued calling to her men: "To work, to work, to work! All to the bridge!" The sound of that silver-clear and fearles voice, aided by theefforts of the desperate d'Aulon, had the terugtocht werd geblazen leidend aanhangers slaan sprong niet gesteund onbeschermd trek terug bezweer onbeschroomd 'eholpen door togingen lanhopige 41 effect of rallying the scatterins ^ ° 8 zich verspreidende troop s and bringing them again to the charge, and little less than aanval miraculously the town was taken dooreen wonder before nightfall. CHAPTER XIV. But soon Jeanne was contpelled to give up her plans for continuing the campaign, The King not only gave her no assistance but either left her in the cold of winter without provisions and arms, or sent her incomprehensible orders fordelay or retreat. In the meantime the English were not slow in reconquering a great part of the territory before taken for the King and this time they put the towns and villages to the sword. When Jeanne was finally recalled to Court, which was now at Sully, she could only bear inactivity for a couple of weeks and then suddenly left the castle, followed by a small veldtocht hulp onbegrijpelijke bevelen, terugtrekken haastten zich heroveren gebied te vuur en te zwaard verwoesten verdragen 42 band of devoted föllowers, and took her way to Melun, where she assisted in repulsing the English. It was here, while she was slanding on the edge of the moat, that her 'voices' gave her a message, quite unexpected and differing from any she had received up to now. "Before the feast of St. John," they said, "you will be taken prisoner. But," they added, "have no fear be strong and of good courage." In spite of the encouragement contained in the latter part of the message Jeanne's prophetic soul must have warned her of the fate that awaited her, for not long after, when surrounded by a crowd of children" and people, she said: "Dear children and friends I have been söld and betrayed and shall soon be given up to death. Pray for me, I beg you, for soon I shall be powerless to serve the King and the Kingdom." And it was indeed in het same terugdrijven verschillend bemoediging vervat lot omringd verraden machteloos dienen 43 town, at Compiègne itself, that her Me O ver took her. achterhaalde CHAPTER XV. In May shewasatCrespyand Valois, [.when the news reached her that l Compiègne was in gr ave danger of seizure by the combined forces \ of the English and the Burgundians. I Immediately she set out to go to . its aid. ToWards nightfall, after-a day spent in overseeing the defences and Jireparations, she made a sortie upon the enemy. At first all went well, but soon a panic seized part of the French forces, who made a hasty retreat towards the town, so hotly pursued by the English that the city's gates were closed lest the enemy should enter it. So it was that Jeanne's party was cut off from the town. It is said that the governor of Com- ernstig veroverd te worden vereenigde rnethelinspectceren verdedigings- wertcen uitval overijld terugtrokken zóó op de hielen gevolgd afgesneden 44 piègne traitorously shut thetown's gates whither Jeanne was seeking refuge, and Jeanne, her armour covered with a tunic richly embroidered with gold, her white Standard in hand, visible even in the twilight, was surrounded, dragged from her horse and captured. Undaunted, she held her sword above her head, refusingtosurrender it to anyone: "I have it from One higher than any who can claim it!" she cried, "as without struggle or tears she was taken prisoner by a Burgundian archer, who that same night sold her to John of Luxembourg. Meanwhile, though the bells of Compiègne rang out the wild alarm and grief of its .inhabitants at the loss of its defender, no sally was made to deliver her. Charles neither then nor later lifted a finger to recapture or ransom her! All France remained inactive in her eau se. In Paris bonfires were burned verraderlijk, waarheen schuilplaats tunica zichtbaar schemering getrokken, krijgsgevangene gemaakt onbevreesd over te geven strijd 1 'W-iV; boogschutter ontsteltenis, smart uitval los ie koopen' werkeloos ' zaak vreugdevuren 45 in token of rejoicing at her downfa 11. Orléans, it is true, and Blois, made public prayers for her safety. In Tours the populace walked barefoot in sorrowful procession, singing the Miserere and Rheims had to be quieted by a letter from the ArChbishop, who explained that Jeanne, by disobey^ ing the counsels of God and following only her own pleasure, had incurred His punishment. .«vv'y . Otherwise the Maid was left to her tragic fate, uncomforted, unbefriended, unaided by the France she had served and saved, not only by her victories, but by awakening in it a national consciousness. CHAPTER XVI. In John of Luxemburg's castles Jeanne was treated kindly andenjoyed comparative freedom to roam about at will. The wife and aunt ten teeken val behoud barrevoets droeve processie tot rust gebracht ongehoorzaam te zijn cuxnae raadgevingeneigen zin volgend op den hals gehaald overigens droevig zonder vrienden bewustzijn betrekkelijke naar believen rond te dwalen 46 of the Count were friendly and gentle. But how could Jeanne rest under the knowledge that victory mightnow be with the enemy and she powerless to help her country. In despair she tried one night to escape and threw herself from a height of sixty feet. She was stunned by the shock of the fall, but escaped without other harm, only, however, to be seized and sent to the fortress of Crotoy. Here again, she found kind women, who gave her comfort and were friendly to her. But from Crotoy she was söld into the hands of the English for the sum of six thousand francs in that day the price of a prince's ransom. They carried her away to Rouen, in the depths of Normandy, their own undisputed territory, f ar away from any hope of rescue, had any been attempted. Here, in January 1431, 'began onmachtig Uit wanhoop versuft letsel in het hartje van onbetwist bevrijding beproefd Jeanne's martyrdom, to be endu red to the last of her days, May 31st. For six weeks, until the beginning of her trial, she was imprisoned in an iron cage, chained by the hands, feet, waist and throat rto a pillar, under the incessant watch of low and brutal guards. After the trial had begun she was taken from her cage and only chained by one foot to a beam by day, and to her bed-post by night, but of the intolerable presence of the bestial watchers she was never relieved. CHAPTER XVII. Meanwhile, from all sides, scholars, men of law and of the Church, were gathering to form a tribun al to judge the Maid. That her doom was predetermined was unquestionable, but the forms of a trial, even though it were only a mockery, must be martelaarschap dat zij zou moeten verduren 'proces kooi', geketend ■ middel voortdurend bewaking, gemeene, hondsche balk ondragelijke beestachtige bevrijd geleerden wet rechtbank oordeelen (doem) vonnis, vooraf besloten, ontwijfelbaar zeker bespotting 47 48 adhered to before she could be oondemned for sorcery, heresy, or blasphemy. The trial lasted for many days. Jeanne was crossexamined for weary hours by the sharpest and cleverest men, bent, not upon discovering the truth and dealing justly with her, but upon finding her guilty. Yet she, untaught girl of nineteen, carried on her own defence with clear intelligence and in such a clever way that their judges found it difficult to gat her sufficiënt evidence to condemn her. iVbandonedby her friends,lonely, treated with every form of cruelty and contempt, she stood steadfast, simple, dauntless, amazing, miraculous — even more marvellous perhaps at this time of her life than she had been at that of warrior. The voices of her Saints alone gave her comfort and strength, and prcmises of aid and deliverance — aan vastgehouden worden tooverij, ketterij, godslastering aan een kruisverhoor onderworpen afmattende, scherpzinnigste er op uit waarheid rechtvaardig te behandelen schuldig dat geen onderwijs genoten had voerde verdediging verstand ■• verzamelen bewijs veroordeelen Verlaten wreedheid verachting standvastig onbevreesd verbasincnt'ekkend bevrijding 49 aid and deliverance which proved so different from those which she expected. Useless to follow the endless repetitions, the wearisome examinations, so trying to Jeanne's patience, enough to say that on one occasion an English knight among the auditors could not restrain the cry: "Well said! Why was she not English, this brave girl!" In no respects the trial was 1 egitimate. Jeanne was a prisoner of war, which should have ensured her personal safety and protected her against trial as a cr.iminal. It was against the laws of France that she should be judged by her enemies, and also against the laws both of France and of the Inquisition that she should have no counsel to plead her cause. Legal aid she had none nor witnesses for or against. She made her own defence, and VAN STRAATEN, St. Jeanne d'Arc. ondervragingen toehoorders bedwingen wettig verzekerd misdadiger bepleiten bijstand v. e. rechtsgeleerde getuigen 4 50 although it may be that no other could have done it more effectively, still it was against odds, bound to overwhelm her. Had she but known that she had f uil right to appeal to the Pope, she might perhaps have escaped, but of this she was unaware, and although in the course of the trial she made the request, she did not insist upon it. Whenever anything in the examination brought out some point in marked favour of Jeanne the leader of the trial forbade it to be reported, until she sadly exclaimed: "You write what is against me, but you do not write what is for me!" At last the end of the so-called trial was reached and Jeanne was accused of blasphemy, superstition, impiety/cruelty, lying. CHAPTER XVIII. The horror of the sentence of death by fire overcoming her, kraclitdadiger de kansen waren ongelijk zeker, verpletteren zich beroepen op Paus ontsnapt zich onbewust verzoek drong er op aan duidelijk ten gunste verbood, opgerekend bijgeloof goddeloosheid, ■ wreedheid, leugen afschuwelijkheid _ ~~ vonnis overmannend 51 Jeanne had her hour of darkness, of blindness, of despair, in which she recanted, and to save her life denied the divinity of her sacred mission, her spirit being overwhelmed by the . fear that the promises of deliverance held out by her 'voices' were false. If sne was to be conderhned, if she was after all not to be delivered, must it not be that her 'voices' had deceived her? But soon, recovering her courage and faith, she reasserted her conv iet ion that all that she had done' was in obedience to God's commands. She was then sentenced to be burned, and on the 31st of ,May was led to the Old Market Place of Rouen. A huge pyre had been raised, surmounted by the stake. In unconcealed distress she went, weeping, a sight so heartbreaking that at one moment the entire multitude burst into a somberheid verblinding wanhoop herriep loochende in 't vooruitzicht gesteld bedrogen bevestigde opnieuw, overtuiging brandstapel waar bovenop een galg stond met onverholen angst- geheele menigte 52 wail of lamentation; no eyecould witness without tears the sacrifice of a victim so appealing in her innocence and purity. The English guards themselves shed grudging tears (was this suffering child the witch they had sworn to burn?) When she had reached the pyre she asked for a cross'. None beirig there, one of the English soldiers, breaking a stick into two uneven lengths, bound them together in the form of a cross and gave it to her. She elasped it to her breast while she mounted the stake. Then, having been bound to it, she asked that a cross be placed where she might see it. One was hastily fetched from a neighbouring church and held before her dying eyes. When the smoke had risen and hidden her from sight, from its midst arose once more the voice, clear as of old, of Jeanne, crying: "My voices jammerklachten (op) offeren aangrijpend reinheid van split heks, gezworen ongelijke naburige were of God! They did not deceive [ me!" At last she understood the message of the Saints; the promise of deliverance was being fulfilled, her victory was now complete and everlasting. Repeating the name of Jesus until her lips were stopped by the suffocating smoke, the Maid of j France died, more wonderful, more beautiful than any other being who ever trod this earth — save only ONE. IMPRIMATUR. G VOSKUILEN, Censor a. h. d. Culemborg, 30 Mei 1923. eeuwigdurend verstikkende wezen wandelde op, met uitzondering van 53 UITGAVEN VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG. J. KOOISTRA en J. H. SCHUTT, EENVOUDIGE ENGELSCHE SPRAAKKUNST. TWEE DEELTJES. — TWEEDE DRUK. Prijs per deeltje, ingen. f 0,90, geb. . . f 1,10 OEFENINGEN BIJ DE EENVOUDIGE ENGELSCHE SPRAAKKUNST. TWEE DEELTJES. — TWEEDE DRUK. Eerste deeltje, ingen. f 0,90, geb. . . f 1,10 Tweede deeltje, ingen. f 1,25, geb. . . f 1,50 Uit den titel blijkt reeds dat gestreefd is naar eenvoud, en het schijnt ons dat tegelijk daarmede doelmatigheid behartigd is. Langs den weg van de eenvoudige spraakkunst, waarin al het aanvankelijk overtollige vrijgelaten is, voelt de leerling zich al gauw thuis in de geenszins droge oefeningen. Overal is de uitspraak in fonetische teekens bijgevoegd, en een los blaadje met die teekens maakt het mogelijk zich telkens te vergewissen wat de omgekeerde of versierde letters beduiden. Het Nieuws, van den Dag. ■ Deze twee deeltjes geven juist wat we voor onze leerlingen moeten hebben. Museum. A NEW READER Eerste deeltje, ingen. f 1,50, geb. . . f 1,75 Tweede deeltje ter perse UITGAVEN VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG. UITGAVE VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG. Of Olden Times and New ONDER REDACTIE VAN L. VAN DER WAL, DIRECTEUR DER R. H. B. SCHOOL TE STEENWIJK. Charles Dickens, The Chimes, door K> ten Brug- gencate, geïllustr., gebonden .... 4e drufc f 1,45 Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, door K. ten Bruggencate, geïll. met gekleurde en zwarte plaatjes, gebonden . . 18e druk - 1,45 Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, door H. Weersma, geïll., gebonden 3e druk ■ 1,45 Charles Dickens, The Cricket on the Hearth, door IC ten Bruggencate, geïll. met gekleurde en zwarte plaatjes, gebonden .... 5e drufc - 1,45 A. Conan Doyle, Uncle Bernac, door J. Coster, geïllustreerd, gebonden . . . 3e drufc - 1,45 O. Goldsmith, She stoops to conquer, door L. van der Wal, geïll., gebonden 3e dtnk ■ 1,45 Mrs. Oliphant, The Fugitives, door R. R. de Jong, gebonden - 1 45 W. Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, door K. ten Bruggencate, geïll., gebonden . 9e drufc - 1,45 W. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, door K. ten Bruggencate, geïllustreerd, gebonden . .8e deuk - 1,45 W. Shakespeare, A Midsummer-night's Dream, door W. van Doorn, geïll., gebonden, 2e drufc - 1,45 Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, door H. Weersma, geïllustreerd, gebonden . . 2e drufc - 1,45 &* AUe deeltjes worden thans in modern linnen bandje verkrijgbaar gesteld. UITGAVE VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG. UITGAVEN VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG. 3X. TT. L. O. BOSWLTK's REPETITIE-BOEKEN VOOE DE MULO-DIPLOMA'S. I A. D. BoswijkenC. Hettema, REKENEN. Vijfhonderd en zestig rekenkundige vraagstukken en opgaven, ing. f 0,90, geb 12e druk ƒ 1,10 1 I B. D. BoswijkenC. Hettema, HANDELSREKENEN. Tweehonderd vijf en zeventig handelsrekenkundige opgaven met verklarende aanteekeningen, ing. f 1,40, geb. . ^ .... - 1,60 II A. D. Boswijk en Dr. C. S. Jolmers, FRANSCH. Honderd zes en veertig thema's met eenvoudige taaloefeningen, ing. f 0,90, geb. ... 8e druk - 1,10 II B. A. Lobstein, DUITSCH, voor schriftelijk en mondeling examen ter perse II C. C. van Straaten, ENGELSCH, voor. schriftelijk en mondeling examen, ing. f 1,20, geb. ... ƒ 1,40 LTJ. d. Boswijk en Dr. C. S. Jolmers, NEUERLANDSCH. Ruim driehonderd taal- en stijloefeningen, ing. f 0,90, geb. ... 13e druk - 1,10 IV. D. Boswijk en A. Blonk, ALGEMEENE en VADERLANDSCHE GESCHIEDENIS. Twaalfhonderd vijftig vragen en opgaven, ing. f 0,90, „gj^ 7e druk - 1,10 V. D. Boswijk en A. Blonk, AARDRIJKSKUNDE. Zestienhonderd vragen en opgaven, Ing. f 0,90, geD< 7e druk - 1,10 UITGAVEN VAN J. B. WOLTERS — GRONINGEN, DEN HAAG.