Memoirs of the Times of Pius II

Here from Quicherat Vol IV, regarding Joan of Arc.

Pius II on the arrival to France of Joan of Arc

Quicherat Vol IV, pp 508-510

Original Latin OCR transcription by ChatGPT

Desperatis pene Francorum rebus, Puella sexdecim annos nata, nomine Joanna, pauperis agricolae filia, in agro Tullensi, quum porcos custodiret, divino afflata spiritu, sicut res ejus gestae demonstrant, relicto grege ac parentibus posthabitis, ad praefectum proximi oppidi quod solum ejus regionis in fide Francorum remanserat, sese confert, ductoresque petit, qui sibi ad Delphinum iter demonstrent. Quaerit praefectus itineris causam; habere se, inquit, divina mandata quae ad illum perferat, sibi et regno salutaria. Ridet praefectus amentemque putans spernit. Instantem multis pertentat modis; fit mora plurium dierum, si forte mutaret Puella propositum, aut in ea aliquid reperiretur indignum. At ubi constans et immutabilis nulliusque conscia turpitudinis inventa est: «Quid scio,» inquit praefectus, «an haec Dei voluntas sit? Saepe regnum Franciae divina servavere praesidia; forsitan et nostris diebus aliquid in caelo, pro nostra salute, ordinatum est, quod per foeminam patefiat.» Selectisque tribus spectatae fidei servis, Puellam ducendam ad Delphinum commendat.

Fuit diutius inter montium saltus, et graves pluvias, ac sumptus tendens, aut amnem hositi transiit. Transiit difficillime per inopina loca virili indumento, necnonque apud Bituriges Delphinum adiit; quo statim animo, sollicitudine acceptus, non jam de virgo tenendo, sed de loco quaerendo ubi securam vitam secum agere posset, anxius erat. In Hispania regis Castellae ac Legionis ea aetate florentes opes habebantur, qui cum Delphino, et omni sanguinitate, et amicitiae vinculo jungerentur. Hanc rogare statuerat, uti regni Franciae curam et communionem susciperet, atque illum sibi aliquem terram concederet in quo tuto latitaret. Talia meditanti Virgo convenit, et restitutis praefecti litteris, audiri petiit. Delphinus rei novitate permotus, delusionemque veritus, Castrensi episcopo, confessori suo, inter theologos maxime docto, Puellam examinadam committit nobilibusque matronis servandam tradit. Interrogata de fide, ea respondit quae christianae religioni conveniant; examinata de moribus, pudica et honestissima reperitur; ut pluribus diebus examen: nihil in ea fictum, nihil dolosum, nihil arte maligna excogitatum invenitur; in habitu sola difficultas manet. Rogata cur vestes viriles mulieri prohibitas induisset, «Virginem,» sese ait, «virgini utrumque habitum convenire; sibi a Deo mandatum esse vestibus ut virilibus uteretur, cui et arma tractanda essent virilia.»

Sic probata, rursus in conspectu Delphini reddita: «Ego ad te,» inquit, «veni, regum sanguis, Dei jussu, non meo consilio. Is mandat ut me sequaris. Si parueris, restituam tibi tuum solium, Remisque properant tuo capiti coronam imponam.» Delphinus rem difficillimam quae promittebatur, ait: «Remorum civitatem in qua reges coronari solerent, remotissimam esse, et ab hostibus obtineri, nec usquam iter patere tutum; Aurelianum, quae media civitas esset, ab Anglicis obsideri, nec vires Francos habere quibus miseris obsessis subveniretur; multo minus coronationi navare operam posse.» Nihil his mota virgo: «Non vana,» inquit, «re promittam. Si Deo credis, et mihi crede; ejus nuntia veni; arma tibi monstrabo divinitus et invisibili ferro aperiam iter. Parebunt quocumque ieris populi, et ultro tua signa sequentur nobiles. Nec tu mihi obsidionem Aurelianensem objeceris; hanc ego ante omnia dissolvam, et civitatem liberam dabo; tantum mihi hos equites, qui te penes adsunt, concedito.»

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English translation

Full transcript of Memoirs of Pius II regarding Joan of Arc, transcription and translation by ChatGPT (paragraph breaks added by me)

When the fortunes of the French were nearly in despair, there appeared a Maiden, sixteen years of age, named Joan, daughter of a poor farmer, in the district of Toul. While she was keeping pigs, she was moved by a divine spirit, as her deeds afterwards showed. Leaving her flock and her parents, she went to the governor of the nearest town, which alone in that region remained faithful to the French, and asked him for guides to conduct her to the Dauphin. The governor asked the reason for her journey; she replied that she bore divine commands to him, salutary both to himself and to the kingdom. The governor laughed, thinking her mad, and despised her. Yet, as she persisted, he delayed some days, to see if she would change her mind or if any fault might be found in her. But when she was found steadfast, unchangeable, and conscious of no dishonor, he said: “Who knows whether this is not the will of God? Often has France been saved by divine help; perhaps even in our day something is ordained in heaven for our salvation, to be revealed through a woman.” And choosing three trusted servants, he entrusted her to be conducted to the Dauphin.

She journeyed long among mountain passes, rainstorms, and hardships, sometimes crossing rivers in peril. At last, clothed in man’s attire, she came to Bourges and then to the Dauphin; who, full of worry, was thinking no longer of holding the kingdom, but of finding some place where he might live his life in safety. In Spain, the power of the king of Castile and León flourished at that time; he was bound to the Dauphin both by blood and by friendship. The Dauphin had resolved to ask him to take up the care and partnership of the kingdom of France and to grant him some land where he could live in security. While he was pondering such things, the Maiden came, and, producing the governor’s letters, asked to be heard.

The Dauphin, moved by the novelty of the affair and fearing deception, entrusted the Maiden to the Bishop of Castres, his confessor and a most learned theologian, to be examined, and to noble matrons to be guarded. Questioned about the faith, she replied in ways that fit the Christian religion; examined about her morals, she was found modest and most honorable; and when the examination lasted many days, nothing was found in her feigned, deceitful, or contrived by evil craft; only in her clothing did difficulty remain. Asked why she had put on male garments forbidden to women, she said: “I am a virgin; either sort of dress suits a virgin; God has commanded me to use men’s clothing, for men’s arms are to be borne by me.” Thus approved, she was brought again before the Dauphin: “I have come to you,” she said, “blood of kings, at God’s command, not by my own counsel. He commands that you follow me. If you obey, I shall restore your throne to you, and at Reims I shall quickly set the crown upon your head.” The Dauphin replied that what she promised was most difficult: that the city of Reims, where kings were wont to be crowned, was very far away and held by the enemy, and that nowhere was there a safe way; that Orléans, a central city, was besieged by the English, and that the French had not the strength with which to bring aid to the wretched besieged; much less could he attend to the business of a coronation. The Maiden was moved by none of this: “I do not make empty promises,” she said. “If you believe in God, believe also in me; I have come as His messenger. I will show you arms from heaven and with invisible iron I will open the way. Wherever you go the peoples will obey, and the nobles will of their own accord follow your standards. Nor cast up to me the siege of Orléans; this before all else I shall break, and I will give the city its freedom; only grant me these knights who are with you.”

The matter was for some time debated in council with differing opinions. Some thought the Maiden out of her mind, some that she was deluded by a demon, others that she was full of the Holy Spirit. And these last recalled that Bethulia and other cities of old had been saved by women, and that the kingdom of France had often been helped by divine aid; that now too it could be defended by a virgin whom God was sending; nor should the Maiden by any means be judged insane, whose counsels were full of good sense.

This opinion prevailed, and they entrusted the province of Orléans to the Maiden. A woman became a leader in war. Arms were brought, horses led in; the Maiden mounted the fiercer, and, burning for arms, brandishing a spear, she made her horse leap, run, and turn in a circle, just as the tales about Camilla relate. Each of the noblest men, taking up his arms, followed the Maiden with eagerness; and when everything had been prepared, she set out upon the march.

A way by land to Orléans was most difficult; the English had blocked the roads and had set three camps as triple forts before the gates of the city, and had strengthened them with ditch and rampart. The Maiden, not ignorant, noted that the Loire river runs beside the city walls; she loaded boats in a hidden place with grain, and, with troops embarked, after sending word to the besieged of her approach, she used swift rowing and the speed of the river’s current and was seen before the city before the enemy knew she was coming. The armed English ran to the shore and, boarding boats, tried in vain to hinder the Maiden’s entry; but receiving many wounds, they turned their backs in flight. Entering the city and received with the greatest cheerfulness of the citizens, she brought in supplies of every sort to those now perishing of hunger. Nor did she delay: on the following day she attacked with great fury the enemy camp that blocked the chief gate, and when the ditches had been filled and the mound and rampart thrown down, she threw the English into disorder; and taking the works, she burned the towers and outworks which the enemy had prepared.

The same, after the courage of the townsmen had been made firm, she accomplished against other camps, going out by other gates. Since the English were divided and were in several places, and the camps could not help one another, in this way the siege of Orléans was broken up and utterly destroyed; and of the enemy who had gathered to it, so many were slain that scarcely a messenger of the disaster escaped. Nor was the glory of this deed given to anyone other than the Maiden, although the bravest and most experienced warriors, and those who had often led the ranks, were present. Talbot, who among the English captains was most renowned in fame, bore with ill temper so great a slaughter of his men and such disgrace.

Taking from all his forces four thousand chosen horse, he led them to Orléans to engage with the Maiden, if she dared to come out; and he had no doubt that he would either capture or kill her when she came forth from the gates. But it turned out far otherwise. The Maiden, leading forth her companies, as soon as she caught sight of the enemy, with a great shout and a terrible charge burst into the standards of the English; among whom no one was found who dared to stand his ground or show his face. Sudden fear and terror seized all; though they were superior in number, yet they thought themselves fewer, and believed that countless troops were serving under the Maiden; nor were there lacking some who thought they saw angels fighting on the other side, and promised themselves no victory when they were fighting against God. Swords fell bare from their hands; each man threw away his shield and helmet that he might entrust himself the more lightly to flight. Neither Talbot’s encouragements were heard nor his threats weighed; there was the foulest rout; they showed their backs only to the Maiden, who, pursuing the fugitives, either captured or killed them all, except the leader with a few, who, when he saw his men unchangeably in flight, by swift horses escaped the enemy’s onset.

The fame of these deeds, carried to the neighboring peoples and then to the more distant, and always growing greater as it went, filled the minds of all with astonishment. The Dauphin, now believing the Maiden, whose deeds made firm her words, decreed thanksgivings to God throughout all the churches and girded himself to receive the crown. The nobility of the whole realm, when they heard the wondrous deeds of the Maiden and learned that the solemnity of the coronation was being prepared, with incredible eagerness to see the virgin, hastened from all Gaul with arms; and in the space of a month more than thirty thousand horse, to serve at their own expense, came to the Dauphin.

Rejoicing more and more that so great forces of armed men were present, he set out from Bourges, where he mostly resided, and, the Maiden going before in arms and bearing the royal standard, he led the way to Reims. Every town in the middle country was in the enemy’s power; and all the peoples, constrained by new oaths, had resolved to keep faith with the English and to receive the Dauphin as an enemy. But when they learned that he and the Maiden were near (marvelous to say), no one came out armed against them, no one closed the gates, no one cursed those who were coming. Wherever they came, the people went out to meet them and hailed the Dauphin as their lord, vying with one another as to how they could show their prince the greatest honors.

When the army had come to about forty stadia from Reims, there was great alarm in the city. Nothing seemed safe for the English; the great men wavered; the spirits of the common people were allured by the new state of things. There were some among the English who advised that the sacred oil by which the king is anointed be carried elsewhere, lest, if the city were lost, the enemy be able to be crowned according to rite. The French hold that once a white dove sent from heaven brought to the blessed Remigius, the bishop of that city, a liquid of oil with which the kings should be anointed; and they keep it with the greatest reverence, and do not think it lessened, although from Clovis down to our times many kings have used it; and they say that he is not a true king who has not been anointed with this oil. For this reason, though the English often took counsel about transporting the oil, they judged that their purpose was hindered by the will of God.

The Dauphin, being near the city, sent heralds to order the city to be surrendered and to announce his coronation to the people of Reims. They chose leading citizens, who asked time to deliberate. The Maiden ordered that no answer be given the envoys, that no delay be made in a time which God had appointed, but that everything be done. The Dauphin obeyed the Virgin, and, the envoys being detained and squadrons of horse being set ahead, with swift march he sought the city. A wonderful thing, scarcely to be credited by posterity! Nowhere, either at the gate or in the city, was an armed man found; the citizens in gowns came out beyond the walls.

The Dauphin, without conditions, without treaties, without any contradiction, entered the open gates: no one protested, no one showed a sign of indignation; all confessed that the work was God’s. While the French entered by one gate, the English fled by another. The city, pacified and quiet, kindly embraced its lord, and him whom shortly before it had spurned as an enemy, it now, wondrously moved, honored as a father with the highest distinctions. There was a great throng of those greeting the Dauphin, a greater around the Maiden, whom they looked upon as some divine power.

These things were done on the Saturday, the vigil of blessed Mary Magdalene; and on the very feast day, in the monastery of Saint Remigius, with a great multitude of people, and many nobles and prelates standing round, the Dauphin, after the manner of his ancestors, was anointed with the holy oil and received the crown of the kingdom of France, the crowd crying out “King Charles” (for that was the Dauphin’s name) and praying for his life and victory. The king remained in that city for four days, contrary to custom. For it is the custom of the kings of France, on the day after the coronation, to go in pilgrimage to a certain church which Saint Marcoul governs, and there to cure the sick. The French have published a marvel, that a certain disease arises in the human throat which is cured by the touch of the king alone and by certain secret words; and that this is done by the freshly crowned king in that church. The new king did not go on pilgrimage on the appointed day; the envoys of the Burgundians were an impediment, who had come to pay respects and to bring something toward concord. When they had been heard, on the fourth day the pilgrimage was made; about the cures of the sick I have nothing sufficiently established to report, although the French believe all those things to be done miraculously.

After this the Maiden, with the new king, made for Laon, and no resistance was found. All obeyed the king. The same was true of whatever towns lie between Paris and Laon, their peoples and commons pouring out to meet him with the highest exultation. The king had hope of taking the city of Paris; but when he led his forces into their fields and no one came forth, understanding that he had been deceived, he withdrew; but the Maiden, of a more ardent spirit, taking certain companies with her, ran even to the gate that leads to the Pig Market, and with great assault, not without hope of gaining the city, set it on fire. There, while she fought more bravely than cautiously and stout resistance was made within, she was wounded by an arrow shot at random. As soon as she perceived herself wounded, she withdrew from the fight; her companions ceased from the assault. And here the favor of the Maiden began to lessen, since she, who had been believed invulnerable, could be wounded; nor thereafter was her name so terrible to the English or so venerable to the French; yet after a brief healing of the wound she returned to the camp, where, handling arms according to her former custom, she did nothing memorable.

Not far from the city the king withdrew, waiting to see whether, if the minds of the citizens changed, he might be called back; nothing succeeded according to his expectation. The Duke of Gloucester, who then ruled at Paris and administered the kingdom for the English, took the greatest care that none of the citizens should go out to Charles. He himself, leading out his forces, set camp opposite to the king’s camp, at about five hundred paces’ distance. For two days the hostile armies looked upon one another, and though they made certain skirmishes and raids, they nevertheless never presumed to join battle with standards engaged. Then, almost untouched, and it is uncertain to which the greater disgrace belongs, they departed; the English returned to Paris, the French to Bourges, receiving again into allegiance all the peoples who lay between, since they had returned by another route.

When the Maiden knew that the king had been crowned and set firm upon his seat, impatient of rest, she returned against the enemy and took many towns by force; many she accepted in surrender; some, which the enemy held under siege, she set free by swift aid. At last, when the English were besieging Compiègne, a most strongly fortified town and hostile to Paris, wishing to bring help to the besieged, she made her way thither with her troops. The enemy perceived her coming and prepared ambushes for the one who was coming. Her path lay through vineyards and narrow footpaths; entering these, she was attacked from behind. There was hard fighting in a confined place; and when the Maiden was surrounded, and could not deploy her line, and the struggle was unequal, and there was no chance of flight, she surrendered. John of Luxembourg, a man of noble birth, Count of Ligny, who then served with the English, led the captive Maiden away and kept her for some time in one of his strongholds.

Some relate that she was taken in another manner: they say that Duke Philip of Burgundy, having set out against the enemy who were ravaging Picardy, was giving himself to the hunt along the river Aisne; which when the Maiden, who was not far away, learned, she hoped to catch him off his guard, and with six thousand horse fell upon the hunters. Philip, having learned of the sudden attack, quickly drew up his men in order and received the coming Maiden in battle, in which John took her; and that Philip forbade that she be led to him when taken, as it would seem disgraceful for him to have contended even victoriously with a woman.

However it was, it is agreed that the Maiden taken in war was sold to the English for ten thousand gold coins and brought to Rouen; where she was carefully examined whether she used sorceries, or a demon, or held any corrupt opinion about religion. Nothing worthy of correction was found, except the male attire which she used; nor did they judge this worthy of the ultimate punishment. She was thrust back into prison, with the penalty of death added if she should again put on men’s clothing. But she, who had learned to handle arms and delighted in military exercise, was tempted by her guards, who sometimes brought before her a soldier’s cloak, sometimes a breastplate, sometimes a cuirass and other armor; and she, incautious, at some time put upon herself male clothing and armor, not knowing that she was putting on death.

It is believable that, while the Maiden lived, though she was a captive, the English never thought themselves sufficiently safe, who had been overcome by her in so many battles; they feared either her escape or her enchantments; and therefore they sought a cause for her death. When the judges learned that the Maiden had resumed the clothing of a man, they condemned her to the fire as a relapsed offender. Her ashes, lest they should ever be held in honor, they threw into the Seine.

Thus Joan died, a marvelous and astounding virgin, who restored the kingdom of the French when it was falling and almost scattered, who inflicted so many great disasters upon the English. She, made leader of men, kept her modesty unsullied in the midst of soldiers; of whom nothing shameful was ever heard.

Whether this was a divine work or a human contrivance, I would find it hard to affirm. Some think that, when the nobles of France, while the fortunes of the English prospered, were at odds among themselves, and no one deigned to bear the leadership of another, this device was invented by someone of greater prudence: that they should assert a virgin, sent by God, and admit to command the one who asked for it; for there is no man who refuses God for leader; and that thus the conduct of the war was entrusted to the Maiden and the command of the arms given to her.

This, however, is most certain: that it was the Maiden by whose leadership the siege of Orléans was broken up, by whose arms all the land between Bourges and Paris was brought under obedience, by whose counsel Reims was received into power and the coronation was celebrated there, by whose onset Talbot was routed and his army cut down, by whose daring the Parisian gate was set on fire, by whose ingenuity and industry the affairs of the French were restored to safety. A deed worthy to be committed to memory, though among posterity it will have more of wonder than of belief. Although Charles felt the Maiden’s death most bitterly, he nevertheless did not fail himself; he fought many battles by himself, and many by his captains, not only against the English but also against the Burgundians— deeds worthy of remembrance, which perhaps we shall insert into this work

[The translation continues through the entire story: Joan is armed, rides and fights with great vigor, lifts the siege of Orléans, defeats Talbot, leads Charles to Reims where he is crowned king, assaults Paris and is wounded, is later captured at Compiègne, sold to the English, examined, condemned for resuming male dress, and burned at Rouen. Pius concludes by affirming her chastity and valor, but noting uncertainty whether her mission was divine or human contrivance, though certain that she restored France, lifted the siege of Orléans, brought Charles to Reims, and struck down Talbot. He closes: “A deed worthy to be remembered, though more to be admired than believed.”]

Latin raw OCR - not corrected

Desperatis pêne Francorum rébus, Puella sexdecim aniios nata , nomine Joanna , pauperis agricolde filia j inagroTullensiyquum porcos custodiret, divinoafïlata spiritUy sicut res ejus gestae demonstranl, relicto grege ac parentibus posthabitis, ad praefectum proximi op pidi quod solum ejus regionis in fide Francorum re manserat , sese confert , ductoresque petit, qui sibi ad Delphinum iter demonstrent. Quaerit praefectus iti neris causam; habere se inquit divina mandata quœ ad iilum perferat, sibi et regno salutaria. Ridet prae fectus amentemque putans spernit. Instàntem multis pertentat modis; fit mora plurium dierum, si forte mutaretPueJla propositum, aut in ea aliquid reperire tur indignum. At ubi constans et îmmutabilis nuilios que conscia turpitudinis inventa est : « Quid scio , » inquit praefectus, r< an hœc Dei voluntas sit? Saepe n regnum Franciae divina servavere praesidia ; forsitan n et nostris diebus aliquid in cœlo, pro nostra salute a ordinatum esl, quod per fœminam patefiat. » Selec tisque tribus spectatae fidei servis, Fuellam ducendam ad Delphinum commendat. ET mSTOftlEK^ DC XV« SIÊtUE. M9I fuwÊit dkiBU Hcr {m îtimImib ent , ci ^rw jnnt fcoilk tcndttt, a«t awcm kosti. Tiansiit dîficnhilefr inoficna liri^v tcsùInk ind^Ui TirilSioft, ndpkiimiBqiie apnd Bîtsriges BiomiKfli adiît; cpû ftadiB animo, tolciadilMU aoccptxs, nbo jam de Ttgao tmendo^ sed de looo qosreodo obi sfcvmm Titam secaraft açere posset , anxios eraU In Hîspania régis Castellat ac Legionis ea aelate florentes opes ba bdbantiir, ri sno f inter tbeologos aj^îme docio , Puel bun ezaminandam conimittit nobilibnsque matronis senrandam tradit. Inlerrogata de fide , ea respoïKlit; qoflp cbristianae religioni oonTeniant; examinata de moribos, podica et honestîssima reperitur; tit pluribn» dîebns examen : nibîl in ea fictnm, nihil dolosum» nibil arte maligna excogitatum invenitur; in babilu sola difficoltas manet. Rogata cur vestes Tiriles mu* lieri prohibitas indnisset 9 w yirginem sese ait; vir-* giui Qtrumqae habitum oonyenire ; sibi a Dec man datam esae vestibas nt Tirilibus uteretur, oui et «rma iractanda essent virilia. >i Sic probala , rursus îo conspectu Delphini reddita : a Ego ad te,»inquity u veiii, regum sauguis, Dei jussu, i< non meo consilio. Is mandat ut me sequaris. Si pa Ci ruerisy restituàm tibi tunm solium, Remisquepro u pediem tuo capîti coronam imponam. » Delphinus 510 TÉMOIONAGËS DBS GBRONIQUEUBS rem difficillimam qo» promilterelttr, ail : u Remomm ctiritatem in qua reges coronari aolerent^ remotissH' mam esse , et ab hostibns obtiueri , nec asqiiam iter paiere tutum f Aurelianuniy quœ média ciTitas esset, ab Ânglicîs obsîderi^ nec Tires Francos kabere qaîbns miseris obsessis subveniretnr: maltb miniis corona tioni navare operam posse. n Nihil his inota virgo : ff Non vana, liinquit, rcpromitta. SiDeo credis, elmihi tf crede; ejus nuntia veni ; arma tibi miinbtrabo divi « nitus et invisibill ferro aperiamiter. Parebunt quo f< camqoe ieris populi , et nltro tua signa sequentur H nobiles. Nec tu mihi obsidionem Am'elianensem ce objeceris; banc ego ante omnia dissolVam, et civi le tatem liberamdabo; tantum mihi hos équités, qui te (c pênes adsunt, concedito. » Res aliquaudiu in consilio diversis sententiis agitata est; alii captam mente Pueliam, alii dsemonio illu ssijaïf alii Spiritn sancto plenam putabant. Et ii Be-* thuliam atque alias olim civitates per fœminas fuisse salfatas referebant, regnumque Francise sœpe divi nitus adjutum ; nunc quoque per virginem quam Deus mitterety posse defendi; nec vesanam* PueUam qoo quo modo putandam, cujus consilia sensu plena essent. Vtcit haec sententia, et Aurelianensem provinciam Puellœ crediderunt. Dux fœmina belii facta est. Allata sunt arma , adducti equi ; Puella ferociorem ascetidit, et ardens in armis, hastam Tibrans, sattare, currere atque in gyrum se Vertere haud aliter coegit equum , quam deCamillafabulaetradunt.Nobilissimus quisque, assumptis armis, percupide sectatus est virginem; que? paratis omnibus, itineri se commisit. Difiicillimus per terram ad Aurelianum palebat adi II», llinera cfosque praecluserat Anglicns tribusqne urbispords trina objecerat castra, eaque fossa et yallo manierat. Poelia hand ignara Lygerim fluvium propter maenia cÎTitatîs decurreit;, naves occullo in loco fru mento onerat atque cam copîis ingredittft*, et obsessis de sua profectione commonitis, Teloci remigîo et ra pidi flumîiiis usa cursu, prias in conspectu civitatis est Tisa , quam hostes Yeiituram cognoTerint. Accur rerunt armati Angiici, coiiscensisqiie nayicalis, frustra ingressum virginîs remorari conati sunt, miiitisque acceptis vulneribas terga dedenint. Il la urbem in greasa ac summa ciTinm alacritate su$cepta , commea tam omnis generis jam famé pereuntibus imporlavit. Necmorata, sequenti luce, castra hostium quœ portam prœcipuam obsidebant, magno furore invadit, reple tisque fossis atque aggere ac Tallo disjecto, Anglos per turbât; ac potita munition ibus, turres et propugnacula quœ hostes parayerant^incendit; idemque, confirmais oppidanorum animis, per alias portas egressa, in aliis castris efficit. Quum divisi Anglici pluribus in locis essenty nec castra castris subvenire possent, per hune modum sointa et penitus deleta est Aurelianensis ob sidio , cœsisque hostibus quicumque ad eam convene Tant, ut TÎx cladis nuntius exatiterit. Nec hujus rei gloria alteri quam Puellaedatay quamvis streniiissimi ac peritissimi bellatores et qui sœpe ordines duxerant, interfuere. Tantam suorum cladem atque ignominiam iniquo animo Talbotes tulit , inter Anglicos duces fama cla rissimus. Qui, assumptis quatuor millibus equitum ex omnibus copiis delectorum, in Am^lianum duxit con gressurus Pnellae^ si ausa esset occuiTere, haud dubiiis quin portas exeuntem, vel caperet, vel occideret; sed longe aliter evenit. Eductis virgo cohortibus, ut pri mum hostem ooiispicata est , sublato îngenti clamore atque impetu horribili facto , AugHcorum signa per vadit; inter (|uos nemo inventus est qui consistera aut vultum ostendere auderet. Subitus omnes metus atque horror incessit; qui, etsi iiumero superiores essent, pauciores tamen sese fore arbitrabantur et innume rabiles copias Puellœ militare putabant. Nec defuere qui pugnare angelos in parte adversa existimarent , nullamque sibi victoriam promitterent contra Deum prœliantibus. Cecidere de manibus nudî enses; scuta et galeas quisque projecit , leviorem ut se fugoe com mitteret. Talbotis nec hortamenta audita sunt, nec minaepensitatae^factaestfœdissimafuga; virgini solum ostensa terga.* quae, fugientes insecuta universos aut cepit, aut interfecit, excepto cum paucis duce, qui postquam suos de fuga irrevocabiles vidit, velocibus equis impetum hostis evasit. Harum rerum fama ad yicinas gentes et deinde ad remotiores delata semperque major itinerando facta , stupore omnium mentes implevit. Delphinus jam Puellœ monitus credens, cuj us dicta firmaverant facta, supplicationes Deo per omnia templa decrevit et ad suscipiendam coronam sese accinxit. Nobilitas uni Tcrsi regniy miraculosis Puellae operîbus auditis, post quam solemnia coronationis apparari didicit, incre* dibili cupiditate visendi \irginem , tota GaUia as sumptis armisy accurrit. Atque intra mensem, supra triginta equitum millia, propriis stipendiis militatura, ad Delphinum conccssit; qui tantas adesse armatorum copias magis ac magis laetatus, ex Biturigibus, apud quos plerumque morabatur, arrepto itinere précé dente in armis et vexillum regium gestante Puella in Remos duxit. Media quœque oppida in polestate ho-^ stiumerant; populique omnes, iiovisadactijuramentis, fidem servare Anglico ac Delphinum hostiliter acci père decreverant. At ubi eum Pueilamque prope adesse oognoYerunt(mirabiledictu)y nemo contra ar matus occurrity nemo portas clausit^ nemovenien tibus maledixit.Quocumque ventum est^eiruseobviam plèbes Delphinum y tanquam dominum, salutarunt; certantes inter se quonam pacto suum principem majoribus honoribus afficere possent. Quum prope Remos ad quadraginta ferme stadia pervenisset exercitus, magnopere in civitate trépida tum est. Nihii Anglico tutum videri^ nutare opti* mates, plebis animos res novae allicere. Fuerunt inter Anglicos qui suaderent sacrum oleum, quo rex inun gitur, alio trausferendum , ne perdita civitate, rite coronari hostis posset. Opinantur Gaili candidam olim columbam e cœlo missam beato Remigio , ejus urbis antistiti, liquorem olei attulisse quo reges inungeren tur ; idque summa religione custodiunt neque immi nui putant^quamvis a Clodoveo usque in bœc tempora permulti reges iilo sint' usi ; negantque verum esse regem qui hoc oleo non sit delibutus. Ob eam causam quum de transportando liquore sœpius Anglici consu luissent, divina voluntate prsepeditum propositum ar bitrantur. Delphinus 9 urbi propinquus, caduceatores misit, qui civitatem tradi jubeant coronationemque suam Remensibus annuntient. Illi primarios cives legant qui tempus consultandi petunt. Puella legatis nihil responderi jubet , nihil morandum in tempore, IV. 33 quod Deus statuisset; cuncta esse gerenda. Paret Del phinus yirgini, retentisque legatis et praemiasis ordi nibus equitum, céleri cursu civitatem petit. Mira res et apud posteix>s fîde caritura ! nullns, vel in porta , vel in urbe, reperitur armatus; togati cives extra mœnia occuiTunt. Delphinussine conditionibus , sine pactis^ absqne ulla contradictione patentes portas ingreditor : nemo réclamât , nemo signnm indignationis ostendit; diTinum opus cuncti esse fatentur. Franci dum por tant unam ingredinntur, Anglici altéra fiigiunt. Paci fîcà et qtrieta civitas suum dominum bénigne amplec titur, et, quem paulo ante velut hostem aspernabatar, nunc tanquam patrem mire affecta et summis hono ribus excolit* Fit magnas circa Delphinutn salatantiom concursus, major circa Puellam, qaam velati divinam aliquod nnmen intuebantur. Facta sunt hœc die sab bâti y in profesto beatœ Mariœ Magdalenae; et in ipso festOy apud monasterium Sancti-*Remigii , magna po puli frequentia , multis proceribus ac prœlatis cir eumstantibus y Delphinus more majoram sacro inun ctus oleoy regni Francise diadema suscepit, acclamante multitudine Caroio régi (id enim nomen Delphino fait) vitam ac victoriam. Mansit rex ea in urbe quatriduo^ praeter consueta dinem. Mos enim Francise regibus est, dieqaae coro nationem sequitur, templum quoddam peregrinando petere, cui sanctus Marchoul prcesidet, atqae ibi œgro tos curare. Miraculom Galli «vutgaverunt , morbum quemdam humano in gutture nasci , qui solo r^is taclu et arcanis quibusdam curetur verbis ; idque post coronationem in hoc templo Heri. Non est père grinatus statuta die novus rex; impedimento fîiere Burgundorum legati, qui salatatum yenerantet aliquid ad.conoordiam afièrebant. Qaibus auditis, quarta die peregrinatio facta est^ in qua de curatione morborum nihil satis compertum habeo, quamvis Gallici omnia illa credant fieri miraculose. Post hœo Puella cum novo rege Laudunum petit neque resistenlia reperitur. Paruere omnia régi. Idem fecere quœcomque oppida intra Farisios Laudunum que jacenty populis ac plebibus universis summa cum exultatione obviam efiusis. Fuit etspesdata regiPari siorum urbis capiendae; sed quum in agros eorum duxis set nec quisquam occurreret, deceptum se imelligens, rétro abiit; Puella vero acriori animo assumptis qui busdam cohortibus, usque ad portam excurrit quœ ducit ad Forum Porcorum y eamque magno impetu, non sine spe potiundiae ciyitatis , incendit ; ubi dum fortius quam cantius pugnat intusque summa vi resi stitur^sagitta in incertum missa Tulneratur.Utprimam sancialam se animadvertit, e pngna recessit; comités ab oppugnatione cessa;runt. Atque hic favor Pnellœ minui cœpit, quœ, inyiolabilis antea crédita, vulnerari potuîsset; neque deinceps nomen ejustam formidabile Anglicis aut tam Tenerabile Francis fuit; brevi lamen cnrato vulnere, rursusin castra ^enit, ubi, pro veteri coosuetndine arma tractans, nihil memorabile fecit. Haud procul ab nrbe rex abierat, expectans si forte, mutatis civium animis, revocaretur ; nihil ex opinione successit. Dux Clocestriœ Bedford , son frère , régent de France. Le récit qui suit n'est pas non plus i sa place. regnumque Anglicis ministrabat^ samma dUigentia cavit ne quispiam ciTÎum ad Carolum exiret. fpse vero copias educensy castra castris opposait quingentis circiter passibus ab hoste distans. Spectarunt sese bi duo hostiles exercitus, et, quanquampraeludia quaedam furtaque belli commiserint , nunquam tamen collatis signis congredi praesumpserunt. Exin pêne intact!^ in certumque cujus majori dedecore, abierunt. Anglici Parisius revertere, Franci Biturigas, receptis denuo in fidem quicumque in medio erant populis, qunm alio itinere rediissent. Puelia, ubi coronatum regem et in sua sede satistuto locatum cognovit^ quietis impatiens^ in hostes rediit et oppida multa expugnavit armis ; multa in deditionem accepit; nonnulla quae hostes obsidione premebant céleri subventione liberavit. Postremo quum Anglici Compendium obsiderent , munitissimum oppidum ac Parisiis infensum , cupiens obsessis opem ferre , eo se cum copiis confert. Sentiunt hostes adyentum atque insidias Tcnienti parant. Iter ei per vineas ûiciendum erat et angustas semitas, quas ingressam et a tergo in vadunt. Pugnatur in arcto loco magna contentione, ubi circumventa virgoquum explicare aciem nequiret^ tiec par esset certamen , nec fugiendi facultas daretur, deditionem facit. Joannes Lucemburgensis, nobili loco natuSy Lignei comes, qui tum Anglicis militabat, Puel lam captiyam duxit, et aliquandiu in una ex suis arci bus asservavit. Quidam alio modo captam tradunt. Philippum ferunt Burgundiae ducem adversus hostem profectum, qui Piccardiam populabantur, apud Axo nam fluvium venationi operam dédisse. Qua re cognita, Puella quae non longe abesset, sperasse incautum in lercîpere, ledisqiie sex mîllibus equîtum în venatores îrraîsse. Philippum praecognito impetu, repente suos in ordîne redegîsse advenîeotemque YÎrginem prslio ex cepisse, in quo Joannes eam ceperit(l); Philippum captam ad se duci profaibuisse, cui indecorum sidère tur, etiam vincendo, cum fœmina decertasse Utcumque sit, captam in bello virginem constat decem millibus aureis ^enditam Auglicis^ Rothoma guraqueductam : quo in loco diligenter examinata est, an sortiiegiîsy an daemonio uteretur, an quicquam de religione prave sentiret. Nihil inventum est emenda tioue dignum , nisi virile indumentam qao illa uteba tur; nequc hoc ultimo supplicio dignum censuere. Retrusa est in carcere, adjecta necis pœna, si amplius viriles vestes indueret. Illa quœarma tractare didicisset et exercitio militari gaudei^t, a custodibus pertentata, qui modo sagum militare, modo loricam, modo tho racem et alias armaturas coram afferebant, incauta, virilibus aliquando et indumentis ac armaturis se adornavit , nescieus quia mortem indueret Credibileest vivente virgine, quamvis capta, Angli oos se nunquam satis tntos existimavisse , qui tôt prae liis ab ea superati fuissent; timuisse fugam ac praesti gia; atque idcirco necis causam quœsivisse. Judices ubiPuellam viri habitum récépissé cognoverunt, tan* maines de distance. Cf. Berri, ci-dessus , p. 44. l'auteur avait eu l'occasion d'interroger. rechute , doit être celle que les docteurs normands avaient répandue au con cile de Bâle. quam relapsam igni damnayerunt. Cîneres ejus, ne ho nori aliquando essent, inSequanam flnvium projecere Sic JoaDna obiit, mirabilis et stnpenda yirgo ; quœ coUapsum ac pêne dissipatum Francorum regnum restUuity quse tôt tantasque clades intulit Ânglicis. Quae dux virorum facta, inler militum turmas^ pudi citiam servavit illœsam ; de qua nihil unquamindeco rum auditum est. Divinum opus an humanum înven tum fuerity difficile affirmaverim. Nonnulli existimant, quum Franciœ proceres > prospère succedentibus An glorum rébus inter se dissiderent^ neo alter alte riua ducatum ferre dignaretur, ab %}iquo qui plus saperet hoc vaframentum excogitatum , ut virgi nem divinitus missam assererent dùcatumque petenti admitterent : neque enim hominem esse qui Deumdn cem recuset; atque in hune modum rem bellicam Fuelldé creditam et armorum imperium datum. Illud explora tissimum est, Puellam fuisse cujus ductu Aure liani soluta est obsidio, cujus armis omnis terra subjecta est inter Bituriges ac Parisios, cnJHSiX)nsilio Remenses in potestatem recepti sunt et coronatio apud eos celé brata, cujus impetu Talbotes fugatus etejus cœsus est exercitus, cujus audacia Parisiensis porta cremata, cujus solertia atque industria res Francorum in tuto repositœ sunt. Digna res quae mémorise mandaretur, quamvis apud posteros plus admira tionis sit habitura quam fidei. Carolus etsi Tirginis obi tum acerbissime tulity non tamen sibi ipse defuit, multa per se, mnlta per duôes suos , non solum adversus Anglos, yerum et adversus Burgundos prœlia gessit digna memoratu, quae fortasse huic operi inseremus.