in order that he might be crowned there; and that Catherine and Margaret would accompany her as guides and monitors, whom it was her duty to obey.

She was appalled at the idea of such a mission. But her "voices," as she called them, repeated the command, and reproved her for her disobedience. She feared that any longer delay might be a sin which would endanger her salvation, and therefore began to make ready to go on a visit to the Dauphin.

On horseback, with an escort of seven persons, she arrived on the tenth day at Chinon,' where the Dauphin was then sojourning. An hour was named for her admission to the royal presence, and she was ushered into a spacious hall lighted up with fifty torches and filled with some hundreds of knights and noblemen. Among these the Dauphin himself was moving, unnoticed and in plain attire.

Joan entered without embarrassment. The glare of the light, the gaze of the spectators, did not disconcert her. Singling out the Dauphin, she walked up to him with a firm step, bent her knee, and said, "God give you good life, gentle king!"

He was surprised, but replied, "I am not the king; he is there," pointing to a different part of the hall. "In the name of God," she exclaimed, "it is not they,

1 For the pronunciation of this and other difficult proper names, see the list of words at the end of the volume.

but you are the king. Most noble Lord Dauphin, I am Joan the maid, sent on the part of God to aid you and the kingdom. By His order I announce to you that you will be crowned in the city of Rheims."

The following day "the maid" (as she was now called) made her appearance in public and on horseback. From her look she was thought to be in her sixteenth or seventeenth year. Her figure was slender and graceful, and her long black locks fell in ringlets on her shoulders. She ran a course with the lance, and managed her horse with ease and dexterity. The crowd burst into shouts of admiration. They saw in her something more than human. Some declared that she was a knight descended from heaven for the salvation of France.

The English were at that time besieging Orleans. They had erected a circle of forts round the city, and had effectually intercepted all communication with the country. The horrors of famine were already felt within the walls when the French resolved to make a desperate effort to relieve the besieged by carrying a supply of provisions to them. A strong body of men, under some of the bravest officers in France, were assembled, and "the maid" obtained permission not only to join but also to direct the expedition.

She was received as an envoy from heaven, and began the exercise of her authority by calling on the

Day after day sallies of the English forts

men to engage in exercises of devotion. To the English commanders she sent orders in the name of God to withdraw from France and return to their native country. To the chiefs of her own nation she promised complete success if they would march boldly through the quarters of the enemy. The promise was verified. The besiegers did not stir from their intrenchments, and the maid with her little army entered the city. From that moment it became dangerous to dispute the celestial mission of Joan. Her presence created in the soldiers a spirit of daring. were made, and the strongest fell into the hands of the French. On every occasion "the maid" was to be seen in the foremost rank, encouraging her countrymen by her voice and gestures. But at the storming of one of the forts, whilst she was in the act of planting the first ladder against the wall, an arrow passed through an opening in her corslet, and fixed itself between the chest and the shoulder. Her companions conveyed her out of the crowd; the wound was dressed; and the heroine, after a few minutes spent in prayer, rejoined the combatants. At her appearance the assailants redoubled their efforts, and the fort was won.

The English commander, discouraged by his repeated losses, at length determined to raise the siege. Next day, at dawn, the English army was seen at a short

distance from the walls, drawn up in battle array, and braving the enemy to fight in the open field; but "the maid" forbade any man to pass the gates of the city. The English waited some hours in vain. At length they set fire to the long line of forts, the fruits of so many months' labor; and the soldiers, with feelings of shame and regret, turned their backs on the city. The French pursued, and town after town fell into their hands, till at last, as was promised, the Dauphin entered the city of Rheims.

The coronation was performed in the usual manner. During the ceremony "the maid of Orleans," with her banner unfurled, stood at the king's side. As soon as it was over she threw herself on her knees, embraced his feet, declared her mission accomplished, and with tears solicited his leave to return to her former station. But the king was unwilling to lose the services of one who had hitherto proved so useful; and at his earnest request she consented to remain with the army.

But in trying to raise the siege of Compiègne "the maid" fell into the hands of the Burgundians, who sold her to their allies, the English. She was then thrown into prison, where she was treated with neglect by her friends and with cruelty by her enemies. At last she was tried and condemned for witchcraft.

The captive was placed at the bar, and when the judge was prepared to pronounce sentence, she yielded

to a sudden impulse of terror, signed an act of abjuration, and, having promised upon oath never more to wear male attire, was remanded to her former prison.

Her enthusiasm, however, revived. Her cell was again peopled with celestial visitants, and new scenes of military glory opened to her imagination. The cruelty of her judge condemned her, on the charge of having relapsed into her former errors.

She was led sobbing and struggling to the stake; nor did the expectation of a heavenly deliverer forsake her till she saw the fire kindled at her feet. She then burst into loud exclamations, protesting her innocence, and invoking the aid of the Almighty; and, just before the flames enveloped her, she was seen embracing a crucifix, and calling on Christ for mercy.

Adapted and abridged from JOHN LINGARD.

II. HER BEATIFICATION

In Rome, on the eighteenth of April, 1909, occurred the beatification of Joan of Arc. Nearly all the bishops of France, many cardinals and other distinguished prelates, and more than thirty thousand French pilgrims witnessed the solemn ceremonies which were performed in St. Peter's. The Pope, as a mark of special devotion, assisted at the solemn benediction.

Soon after daybreak streams of pilgrims began to arrive in every imaginable conveyance. They crowded