Part 81 (1/2)

[Footnote 1853: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 108, 109.]

[Footnote 1854: _Ibid._, p. 107.]

Then was Jeanne constrained to cry: ”That is just what I thought.”

The strife between these two prophetesses was brief but bitter. Jeanne always maintained the opposite of what Catherine said. When the latter was going to make peace with the Duke of Burgundy, Jeanne said to her:

”Me seemeth that you will never find peace save at the lance's point.”[1855]

[Footnote 1855: _Ibid._, p. 108.]

There was one matter at any rate wherein the White Lady proved a better prophetess than the Maid's Council, to wit, the siege of La Charite. When Jeanne wished to go and deliver that town, Catherine tried to dissuade her.

”It is too cold,” she said; ”I would not go.”[1856]

[Footnote 1856: _Ibid._]

Catherine's reason was not a high one; and yet it is true Jeanne would have done better not to go to the siege of La Charite.

Taken from the Duke of Burgundy by the Dauphin in 1422, La Charite had been retaken in 1424, by Perrinet Gressart,[1857] a successful captain, who had risen from the rank of mason's apprentice to that of pantler to the Duke of Burgundy and had been created Lord of Laigny by the King of England.[1858] On the 30th of December, 1425, Perrinet's men arrested the Sire de La Tremouille, when he was on his way to the Duke of Burgundy, having been appointed amba.s.sador in one of those eternal negotiations, forever in process between the King and the Duke. He was for several months kept a prisoner in the fortress which his captor commanded. He must needs pay a ransom of fourteen thousand golden crowns; and, albeit he took this sum from the royal treasury,[1859] he never ceased to bear Perrinet a grudge. Wherefore it may be concluded that when he sent men-at-arms to La Charite it was in good sooth to capture the town and not with any evil design against the Maid.

[Footnote 1857: ”Perrinet Cra.s.set, mason and captain of men-at-arms.”

_Chronique des cordeliers_, fol. 446 verso. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 117. Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 174. Vallet de Viriville, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. i, p. 328.]

[Footnote 1858: S. Luce, _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_, p. cclxxviii. A. de Villaret, _Campagne des Anglais_, p. 109. Le P. Ayroles, _La vraie Jeanne d'Arc_, vol. iii, pp. 20, 21, 373 _et seq._ J. de Freminville, _Les ecorcheurs en Bourgogne_ (1435-1445); _etude sur les compagnies franches au XV'e siecle_, Dijon, 1888, in 8vo. P. Champion, _Guillaume de Flavy_. Proofs and ill.u.s.trations, x.x.x.]

[Footnote 1859: Sainte-Marthe, _Histoire genealogique de la maison de la Tremolle_, 1668, in 12mo, pp. 149 _et seq._ L. de La Tremolle, _Les La Tremolle pendant cinq siecles_, Nantes, 1890, vol. i, p.

165.]

The army despatched against this Burgundian captain and this great plunder of pilgrims was composed of no mean folk. Its leaders were Louis of Bourbon, Count of Montpensier, and Charles II, Sire d'Albret, La Tremouille's half-brother and Jeanne's companion in arms during the coronation campaign. The army was doubtless but scantily supplied with stores and with money.[1860] That was the normal condition of armies in those days. When the King wanted to attack a stronghold of the enemy, he must needs apply to his good towns for the necessary material. The Maid, at once saint and warrior, could beg for arms with a good grace; but possibly she overrated the resources of the towns which had already given so much.

[Footnote 1860: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 149. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. iii. _Journal du siege_, p. 129. Monstrelet, vol. v, chap, lxxii.

A. de Villaret, _Campagne des Anglais_, p. 108.]

On the 7th of November, she and my Lord d'Alencon signed a letter asking the folk of Clermont in Auvergne for powder, arrows and artillery. Churchmen, magistrates, and townsfolk sent two hundredweight of saltpetre, one hundredweight of sulphur, two cases of arrows; to these they added a sword, two poniards and a battle-axe for the Maid; and they charged Messire Robert Andrieu to present this contribution to Jeanne and to my Lord d'Albret.[1861]

[Footnote 1861: _Trial_, vol. v, p. 146. F. Perot, _Un doc.u.ment inedit sur Jeanne d'Arc_, in _Bulletin de la Societe archeologique de l'Orleanais_, vol. xii, 1898-1901, p. 231.]

On the 9th of November, the Maid was at Moulins in Bourbonnais.[1862]

What was she doing there? No one knows. There was at that time in the town an abbess very holy and very greatly venerated. Her name was Colette Boilet. She had won the highest praise and incurred the grossest insults by attempting to reform the order of Saint Clare.

Colette lived in the convent of the Sisters of Saint Clare, which she had recently founded in this town. It has been thought that the Maid went to Moulins on purpose to meet her.[1863] But we ought first to ascertain whether these two saints had any liking for each other. They both worked miracles and miracles which were occasionally somewhat similar;[1864] but that was no reason why they should take the slightest pleasure in each other's society. One was called _La Pucelle_,[1865] the other _La Pet.i.te Ancelle_.[1866] But these names, both equally humble, described persons widely different in fas.h.i.+on of attire and in manner of life. _La Pet.i.te Ancelle_ wended her way on foot, clothed in rags like a beggar-woman; _La Pucelle_, wrapped in cloth of gold, rode forth with lords on horseback. That Jeanne, surrounded by Franciscans who observed no rule, felt any veneration for the reformer of the Sisters of Saint Clare, there is no reason to believe; neither is there anything to indicate that the pacific Colette, strongly attached to the Burgundian house,[1867] had any desire to hold converse with one whom the English regarded as a destroying angel.[1868]

[Footnote 1862: _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 147-150. Lanery d'Arc and L. Jeny, _Jeanne d'Arc en Berry_, ch. viii.]

[Footnote 1863: S. Luce, _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_, p. cclxxix.]

[Footnote 1864: Acta Sanctorum, March, i, 554, col. 2, no. 61. Abbe Bizouard, _Histoire de sainte Colette_, pp. 35, 37. S[ilvere], _Histoire chronologique de la bienheureuse Colette_, Paris, 1628, in 8vo.]

[Footnote 1865: _The Maid_ (W.S.).]