The Life of Joan of Arc Part 64

Of the six ecclesiastical peers, three replied to the summons of the king-at-arms,--the Archbishop Duke of Reims, the Bishop Count of Chalons, the Bishop Duke of Laon. For the missing bishops of Langres and Noyon were subst.i.tuted those of Seez and Orleans. In the absence of Arthur of Brittany, Constable of France, the sword was held by Charles, Sire d'Albret.[1505]

[Footnote 1505: Letters from three n.o.blemen of Anjou, in _Trial_, vol.

v, pp. 127, 129. Monstrelet, vol. iv, ch. lxiv. Perceval de Cagny, p.

159. _Relation du greffier de La Roch.e.l.le_, p. 343. _Chronique de Tournai_ (vol. iii of the _Recueil des chroniques de Flandre_), p.

414. _Gallia Christiana_, vol. ix, col. 551; vol. xi, col. 698.]

In front of the altar was Charles of Valois, wearing robes open on the chest and shoulders. He swore, first, to maintain the peace and privileges of the Church; second, to preserve his people from exactions and not to burden them too heavily; third, to govern with justice and mercy.[1506]

[Footnote 1506: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 322, note 1.]

From his cousin d'Alencon he received the arms of a knight.[1507] Then the Archbishop anointed him with the holy oil, with which the Holy Ghost makes strong priests, kings, prophets and martyrs. So this new Samuel consecrated the new Saul, making manifest that all power is of G.o.d, and that, according to the example set by David, kings are pontiffs, the ministers and the witnesses of the Lord. This pouring out of the oil, with which the Kings of Israel were anointed, had rendered the kings of most Christian France burning and s.h.i.+ning lights since the time of Charlemagne, yea, even since the days of Clovis; for though it was baptism and confirmation rather than anointing that Clovis received at the hands of the Blessed Saint Remi, yet he was anointed Christian and King by the blessed bishop, and at the same time and with that same holy oil which G.o.d himself had sent to this prince and to his successors.[1508]

[Footnote 1507: Perceval de Cagny, p. 159. _Journal du siege_, p. 114.

_Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 322. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 97.]

[Footnote 1508: Chifletius, _De ampula Remensi nova et acurata disquisitio_, Antwerp, 1651, in 4to.]

And Charles received the anointing, the sign of power and victory, for it is written in the Book of Samuel:[1509] "And Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head and kissed him, and said, 'Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance and to deliver his people from their enemies round about. _Ecce unxit te Dominus super hereditatem suam in principem, et liberabis populum suum de manibus inimicorum ejus, qui in circuitu ejus sunt._'" (Reg.

1. x. 1. 6.)

[Footnote 1509: The first book of Kings according to the Vulgate (W.S.).]

During the mystery, as it was called in the old parlance,[1510] the Maid stayed by the King's side. Her white banner, before which the ancient standard of Chandos had retreated, she held for a moment unfurled. Then others in their turn held her standard, her page Louis de Coutes, who never left her, and Friar Richard the preacher, who had followed her to Chalons and to Reims.[1511] In one of her dreams she had lately given a crown to the King; she was looking for this crown to be brought into the church by heavenly messengers.[1512] Did not saints commonly receive crowns from angels' hands? To Saint Cecilia an angel offered a crown with garlands of roses and lilies. To Catherine, the Virgin, an angel gave an imperishable crown, which she placed upon the head of the Empress of Rome. But the crown curiously rich and magnificent that Jeanne looked for came not.[1513]

[Footnote 1510: Letter from three n.o.blemen of Anjou, in _Trial_, vol.

v, p. 129. F. Boyer, _Variante inedite d'un doc.u.ment sur le sacre de Charles VII_, Clermont and Orleans, 1881.]

[Footnote 1511: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 104, 300. _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 322. Letter from three n.o.blemen of Anjou, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 129. Varin, D. Marlot, H. Jadart, _loc. cit._]

[Footnote 1512: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 91.]

[Footnote 1513: See _post_, vol. i, p. 476.]

From the altar the Archbishop took the crown of no great value provided by the chapter, and with both hands raised it over the King's head. The twelve peers, in a circle round the prince, stretched forth their arms to hold it. The trumpets blew and the folk cried: "Noel."[1514]

[Footnote 1514: Letter from three n.o.blemen of Anjou, in _Trial_, vol.

v, p. 129.]

Thus was anointed and crowned Charles of France issue of the royal line of Priam, great Troy's n.o.ble King.

Two hours after noon the mystery came to an end.[1515] We are told that then the Maid knelt low before the King, and, weeping said:

[Footnote 1515: Morosini, vol. iii, p. 181. Letter from three n.o.blemen, _loc. cit._]

"Fair King, now is G.o.d's pleasure accomplished. It was His will that I should raise the siege of Orleans and bring you to this city of Reims to receive your holy anointing, making manifest that you are the true King and he to whom the realm of France should belong."[1516]

[Footnote 1516: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, pp. 322, 323. _Journal du siege_, p. 114.]

The King made the customary gifts. To the Chapter he presented hangings of green satin as well as ornaments of red velvet and white damask. Moreover, he placed upon the altar a silver vase with thirteen golden crowns. Regardless of the claims a.s.serted by the canons, the Lord Archbishop took possession of it, but it profited him little, for he had to give it up.[1517] After the ceremony King Charles put the crown on his head and over his shoulders the royal mantle, blue as the sky, flowered with lilies of gold; and on his charger he pa.s.sed down the streets of Reims city. The people in great joy cried, "Noel!"

as they had cried when my Lord the Duke of Burgundy entered. On that day the Sire de Rais was made marshal of France and the Sire de la Tremouille count. The eldest of Madame de Laval's two sons, he to whom the Maid had offered wine at Selles-en-Berry, was likewise made count.

Captain La Hire received the county of Longueville with such parts of Normandy as he could conquer.[1518]

[Footnote 1517: Dom Marlot, _Histoire de la ville de Reims_, vol. iv, p. 175. H. Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a Reims_, p. 107.]

[Footnote 1518: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, p. 322. _Journal du siege_, p. 114. Perceval de Cagny, p. 159. Letter of three n.o.blemen of Anjou, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 129. Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 97.

Vallet de Viriville, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, p. 99, note 2.]

King Charles dined in the archiepiscopal palace in the ancient hall of Tau, and was served by the Duke of Alencon and the Count of Clermont.[1519] As was customary, the royal table extended into the street, and there was feasting throughout the town. It was a day of free drinking and fraternity. In the houses, at the doors, by the wayside, folk made good cheer, and the kitchens were busy; there were that day consumed oxen in dozens, sheep in hundreds, chicken and rabbits in thousands. Folk stuffed themselves with spices, and (for it was a thirsty day) they quaffed full many a beaker of wine of Burgundy, and especially of that wine of delicate flavour that comes from Beaune. At every coronation the ancient stag, made of bronze and hollow, which stood in the courtyard of the archiepiscopal palace was carried into the Rue du Parvis; it was filled with wine and the people drank from it as from a fountain. Finally the burgesses and all the inhabitants of Blessed Saint Remi's city, rich and poor alike, stuffed and satiated with good wine, having howled "Noel!" till they were hoa.r.s.e, fell asleep over the wine-casks and the victuals, the remains of which were to be a cause of bitter dispute between the grim aldermen and the King's men on the morrow.[1520]

[Footnote 1519: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 339. H. Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a Reims_, p. 32.]

[Footnote 1520: Thirion, _Les frais du sacre_, in _Travaux de l'Academie de Reims_, 1894. Dom Marlot, _Histoire de la ville de Reims_, vol. iv, p. 45, n. 1. Varin, _Arch. adm. de la ville de Reims_, vol. iii, p. 39.]

Jacques d'Arc had come to see the coronation for which his daughter had so zealously laboured. He lodged at the Sign of _L'Ane Raye_ in the Rue du Parvis in a hostelry kept by Alix, widow of Raulin Morieau.

As well as his daughter, he saw once more his son Pierre.[1521] The cousin, whom Jeanne called uncle and who had accompanied her to Vaucouleurs to Sire Robert, had likewise come hither to the coronation. He spoke to the King and told him all he knew of his cousin.[1522] At Reims also Jeanne found her young fellow-countryman, Husson Le Maistre, coppersmith of the village of Varville, about seven miles from Domremy. She did not know him; but he had heard tell of her, and he was very familiar with Jacques and Pierre d'Arc.[1523]

[Footnote 1521: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 198; vol. v, pp. 141, 266. H.

Jadart, _Jeanne d'Arc a Reims_, pp. 47, 48. L'abbe Cerf, _Le vieux Reims_, 1875, pp. 35 and 110.]

[Footnote 1522: _Trial_, vol. ii, p. 445.]

[Footnote 1523: _Ibid._, vol. iii, p. 198.]

Jacques d'Arc was one of the notables and perhaps the best business man of his village.[1524] It was not merely to see his daughter riding through the streets in man's attire that he had come to Reims. He had come doubtless for himself and on behalf of his village to ask the King for an exemption from taxation. This request, presented to the King by the Maid, was granted. On the 31st of the month the King decreed that the inhabitants of Greux and of Domremy should be free from all _tailles_, aids, subsidies, and subventions.[1525] Out of the public funds the magistrates of the town paid Jacques d'Arc's expenses, and when he was about to depart they gave him a horse to take him home.[1526]

[Footnote 1524: S. Luce, _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_, pp. 1 _et seq._; proofs and ill.u.s.trations no. li, pp. 97, 100; supplement, pp. 359, 362. Boucher de Molandon, _Jacques d'Arc, pere de la Pucelle, sa notabilite personnelle_, Orleans, 1885, in 8vo.]

[Footnote 1525: _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 137, 139. In the royal records this privilege is described as having been granted at Jeanne's request; in such a request we cannot fail to discern the influence of her father.]

[Footnote 1526: _Ibid._, pp. 141, 266, 267.]

During the five or six days she spent at Reims the Maid appeared frequently before the townsfolk. The poor and humble came to her; good wives took her by the hand and touched their rings with hers.[1527] On her finger she wore a little ring made of a kind of bra.s.s, sometimes called electrum.[1528] Electrum was said to be the gold of the poor.

In place of a stone the ring had a collet inscribed with the words "Jhesus Maria" with three crosses. Oftentimes she reverently fixed her gaze upon it, for once she had had it touched by Saint Catherine.[1529]

And that the Saint should have actually touched it was not incredible, seeing that some years before, in 1413, Sister Colette, who was vowed to virginal chast.i.ty, had received from the Virgin apostle a rich golden ring, as a sign of her spiritual marriage with the King of Kings. Sister Colette permitted the nuns and monks of her order to touch this ring, and she confided it to the messengers she sent to distant lands to preserve them from perils by the way.[1530] The Maid ascribed great powers to her ring, albeit she never used it to heal the sick.[1531]

[Footnote 1527: _Ibid._, p. 103.]

[Footnote 1528: Du Cange, _Glossarium_, under the words _Auriac.u.m_, _electrum_, and _leto_. Vallet de Viriville, _Les anneaux de Jeanne d'Arc_, in _Memoires de la Societe des Antiquaires de France_, vol.

x.x.x, January, 1867.]

[Footnote 1529: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 185, 238. Walter Bower, _ibid._, vol. iv, p. 480.]

[Footnote 1530: _Sanctissimae virginis Coletae vita_, Paris, in 8vo, black letter, undated, leaf 8 on the reverse side. Bollandistes, _Acta sanctorum_, March, vol. i, p. 611.]

[Footnote 1531: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 86, 87.]

She was expected to render those trifling services which it was usual to ask from holy folk and sometimes from magicians. Before the coronation ceremony the n.o.bles and knights had been given gloves, according to the custom. One of them lost his; he asked the Maid to find them, or others asked her for him. She did not promise to do it; notwithstanding the matter became known, and various interpretations were placed upon it.[1532]