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course to him. "Gentle Dauphin, it is to you I speak, why are you unwilling to believe me? I tell you that God has pity on you, your kingdom, and your people; for St Louis and Charlemagne are on their knees before him, praying in your behalf. Besides, I can tell you such things as will force you to give me credit." She then, in the presence of the duc d'Alençon, the siegneur de Treves, Christophle de Harcourt, and Gerard Machet his confessor, after having made them swear they would not reveal what the fhould tell the king, informed him of some particular facts which were only known to himself; this so much surprised him, that he determined on granting her request; and after taking other necefsary precautions to avoid being a dupe, resolved to furnish her with a proper equipage, and send her to the afsistance of Orleans.

During this time, the queen of Sicily, to be afsured of her virtue, placed her in the hands of matrons, who, after a most scrupulous examination, gave their testimony so much in her favour, that fhe acquired and afterwards preserved the sirname of Maid.

The king however judged it expedient that she fhould first be taken to Poitiers, where his parlia ment then was; he himself went there; and as they were conducting her, the inquired where they were taking her. Upon being told it was to Poitiers, the replied, "In the name of God! I know I fhall have much to do there, but he will aid me; therefore in his name let us go on." She lod

269 ged in Poitiers at the house of one Jean Rabateau, and was put under the care of his wife, a woman of an unblemished character. She was drefsed as a man, and would not change her drefs. Many doctors in theology, and other learned men, assembled at the house where fhe was, and upon asking them what they wanted with her, she was told that they came to her because they heard that he had told the king fhe was an ambassadrefs from heaven, and advanced many weighty reasons why fhe ought not to be believed. They were upwards of two hours with her, and much astonished at the answers fhe made, and how a simple fhepherdefs could make such prudent replies. Among them was a Carmelite doctor, very learned in theology, who having told her that the Holy Writ forbids any faith being given to such afsertions without other signs; the replied, that she did not wish to tempt God, but that the sign which God had given her, was the raising of the siege of Orleans, and the crowning of the king at Rheims ; if they would come there, they fhould see the truth of it. This was at that time scarcely credible, and thought impofsible, considering the forces the Englifh had before Orleans; and that from Blois to Rheims not one place belonged to the French. Another doctor then said to her; 66 Jane, you ask men and arms to afsist you; now if it is as you say, that it is God's will that the English quit the kingdom of France, and return to their own country, if this is so, then there needs not any men or arms, because his will alone is sufficient." To which the answered, that the only required a small number VOL. Xiv

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who would fight, and God would give them the victory.

After this the theologians consulted together what advice they should give the king, and they unanimously agreed, so strange did her answers appear to them, that his majesty ought to put confidence in her, and attempt to execute what he had proposed.

The next day many of the principal persons of the parliament visited her, who before they saw her exclaimed it was deceit and fancy, but returned with quite contrary opinions. She received also visits * from the principal ladies. They wished to persuade her to lay aside her man's drefs. Her answer was, "No doubt it appears strange to you; and not without cause but it must be so; for I must arm myself and serve the gentle dauphin in arms; therefore I must suit my drefs to the occasion. Besides, when I am in this dress among the men they will not have any improper desires; and I trust by this means to preserve my purity of mind as well as of body." Among her visitors was the master of requests of the king's household, who said to her, "Jane they are about to try your courage, and see whether you will be able to victual Orleans. This appears to me a difficult job, considering the fortifications about the town, and the great strength and power of the English." In God's name, (says fhe,) we will do it, and at our ease; for not one of the English will make a sally or even attempt to Her equipage was completed, and Jean Dolon was her squire; as famous for his courage as

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for his prudence ; Louis de Comptes, sirnamed Imerguet, her page; and many other attendants.

During these preparations, Jane asked for a sword which had been more than a century in the tomb of a knight, behind the altar of St Catherines at Feirbois. She pretended to have had knowledge of it by revelation, and that it was only with this fatal sword fhe could extirpate the English. The first use the made of it was to drive away the girls of loose behaviour who followed the army; but in the heat of the action, this marvellous sword, which was half eaten through with rust, broke in her hand. She ordered a banner to be made for her, on which was represented God coming out of a cloud, holding a globe in his hand; it was sprinkled over with flower de luces. Her helmet was surmounted with a plume of white feathers; her horse was of the same colour, and fhe surpassed all by her beauty, and the address and skill with which the managed him.

To be continued.

FRAGMENTS BY LORD BACON.

For the Bee.

Art of life. Continued from p. 122.

As in the honest practice of that branch of the art of life which procureth abiding reputation in our families, in our stations, and in the commonwealth, there is great joy and satisfaction, so the reflection on such a conduct, and the sweet remem

brance of having done what is decent and right affordeth a real and a natural complacency, that will cast a gleam of refreshing comfort upon the cloudy days of our sickness and distrefs.

But although it be true that the considering and recording inwardly that a man is clear and free from wilful fault and just imputation, and standeth fair in the esteem of his fellows, doth attemper outward calamities; yet it will require especial diligence and painful rumination for every man to form within himself a true judgement and a well refined and pro-> portionate taste in life and manners, that he may not foolishly commend himself, nor expect the commendation of others for that which is not truly excellent and worthy.

If the sense of honour and reputation be directed by right reason, so as to have regard only unto the judgement of the wise and good, obtained by real good practices, it will furnish a most powerful spur unto vertue; and contrariwise, if it is a vehement lust of the good opinion of those we converse with indiscriminately, it will lead into dangerous excentricities, and shameful enormities. For in many persons the sense of what is proper is very much depraved; and they have learned to measure right and wrong, not by the true standard of morality, but from false and partial rules, devised for other purposes than such as doe promote the happiness of mankind. Now men are hereby insensibly accustomed to admire and esteem many things which are not morally good, and to condemn others that are no way evil.

Thus when corruption and mal practices prevail in a state, and the constitution of the body politic

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