Saint Joan of Arc (Jeanne la Pucelle): Difference between revisions
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It's an interesting point, there, about protecting the modesty of others. Modern historians denigrate -- mock, even -- the testimony of men who slept by Joan or saw her in the flesh when injured, who attested to feelings of chastity around her. Jean de Metz, who accompanied her to Chinon said,<ref>Murray, p. 225</ref> | It's an interesting point, there, about protecting the modesty of others. Modern historians denigrate -- mock, even -- the testimony of men who slept by Joan or saw her in the flesh when injured, who attested to feelings of chastity around her. Jean de Metz, who accompanied her to Chinon said,<ref>Murray, p. 225</ref> | ||
<blockquote>On the way, Bertrand and I slept every night by her — Jeanne being at my side, fully dressed. She inspired me with such respect that for nothing in the world would I have dared to molest her ; also, never did I feel towards her — I say it on oath — any carnal desire.</blockquote> | <blockquote>On the way, Bertrand and I slept every night by her — Jeanne being at my side, fully dressed. She inspired me with such respect that for nothing in the world would I have dared to molest her; also, never did I feel towards her — I say it on oath — any carnal desire.</blockquote> | ||
Were she in that worn red dress, would he have felt differently? Well, no, because she would never have been in that dress, as her Voices had instructed her to put on a pair of pants. She told the Rouen court,<ref>Testimony, Feb 22, 1431. From the transcript: "'Who counselled you to take a man's dress?' To this question she several times refused to answer. In the end, she said: 'With that I charge no one.' Many times she varied in her answers to this question. Then she said: 'Robert de Baudricourt made those who went with me swear to conduct me well and safely. 'Go,' said Robert de Baudricourt to me, 'Go! and let come what may!' I know well that God loves the Duke of Orleans; I have had more revelations about the Duke of Orleans than about any man alive, except my King. It was necessary for me to change my woman's garments for a man's dress. My counsel thereon said well.'" (Murray, p. 12)</ref> | Were she in that worn red dress, would he have felt differently? Well, no, because she would never have been in that dress, as her Voices had instructed her to put on a pair of pants. She told the Rouen court,<ref>Testimony, Feb 22, 1431. From the transcript: "'Who counselled you to take a man's dress?' To this question she several times refused to answer. In the end, she said: 'With that I charge no one.' Many times she varied in her answers to this question. Then she said: 'Robert de Baudricourt made those who went with me swear to conduct me well and safely. 'Go,' said Robert de Baudricourt to me, 'Go! and let come what may!' I know well that God loves the Duke of Orleans; I have had more revelations about the Duke of Orleans than about any man alive, except my King. It was necessary for me to change my woman's garments for a man's dress. My counsel thereon said well.'" (Murray, p. 12)</ref> | ||
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<blockquote>Jeanne appears to have been a good horse-woman; she rode “horses so ill tempered that no one would dare to ride them.” The Duke de Lorraine, on her first visit to him, and the Duke d’Alençon, after seeing her skill in riding a course, each gave her a horse; and we read also of a gift of a war-horse from the town of Orleans, and “many horses of value” sent from the Duke of Brittany. She had entered Orleans on a white horse, according to the Journal du Siège d’Orléans; but seems to have been in the habit of riding black chargers in war; and mention is also made by Châtelain of a “lyart” or grey.</blockquote> | <blockquote>Jeanne appears to have been a good horse-woman; she rode “horses so ill tempered that no one would dare to ride them.” The Duke de Lorraine, on her first visit to him, and the Duke d’Alençon, after seeing her skill in riding a course, each gave her a horse; and we read also of a gift of a war-horse from the town of Orleans, and “many horses of value” sent from the Duke of Brittany. She had entered Orleans on a white horse, according to the Journal du Siège d’Orléans; but seems to have been in the habit of riding black chargers in war; and mention is also made by Châtelain of a “lyart” or grey.</blockquote> | ||
Murray continues the discussion with "A story, repeated in a letter from Guy de Laval," that I will relate from the source, as in the letter, dated June 8, 1429, and sent to his mother, de Laval says he personally saw it. He is stunned by the moment as he watches Joan display not just horsemanship, but command of people as well, and holiness:<ref>Letter of Guy de Laval, June 8, 1429, related by M. François Guzot in | |||
[https://archive.org/details/popularhisfrance03guizrich/page/112/mode/2up? A popular history of France; from the earliest times : Guizot, M. (François), 1787-1874 (Archive.org); Vol III], p. 113</ref> | [https://archive.org/details/popularhisfrance03guizrich/page/112/mode/2up? A popular history of France; from the earliest times : Guizot, M. (François), 1787-1874 (Archive.org); Vol III], p. 113</ref> | ||