the unseen world and other essays-第39章
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ved to usurp for herself the honours due to the woman who had saved France； she would hardly have gone at the outset to a part of the country where the real Maid had spent nearly all her life。 Her instant detection and exposure； perhaps a disgraceful punishment； would have been inevitable。 But if this person were the real Jeanne； escaped from prison or returning from an exile dictated by prudence； what should she have done but go straightway to the haunts of her childhood； where she might meet once more her own friends and family？
But the account does not end here。 M。 Wallon； in his elaborate history of Jeanne d'Arc； states that in 1436 the supposed Maid visited France； and appears to have met some of the men…at…arms with whom she had fought。 In 1439 she came to Orleans； for in the accounts of the town we read； 〃July 28； for ten pints of wine presented to Jeanne des Armoises； 14 sous。〃 And on the day of her departure； the citizens of Orleans； by a special decree of the town…council； presented her with 210 livres； 〃for the services which she had rendered to the said city during the siege。〃 At the same time the annual ceremonies for the repose of her soul were； quite naturally； suppressed。 Now we may ask if it is at all probable that the people of Orleans； who； ten years before； during the siege； must have seen the Maid day after day； and to whom her whole appearance must have been perfectly familiar； would have been likely to show such attentions as these to an impostor？ 〃In 1440；〃 says Mr。 Delepierre； 〃the people so firmly believed that Jeanne d'Arc was still alive； and that another had been sacrificed in her place； that an adventuress who endeavoured to pass herself off as the Maid of Orleans was ordered by the government to be exposed before the public on the marble stone of the palace hall； in order to prove that she was an impostor。 Why were not such measures taken against the real Maid of Orleans； who is mentioned in so many public documents； and who took no pains to hide herself？〃
There is yet another document bearing on this case； drawn from the accounts of the auditor of the Orleans estate； in the year 1444； which we will here translate。 〃An island on the River Loire is restored to Pierre du Lis； knight； 'on account of the supplication of the said Pierre； alleging that for the acquittal of his debt of loyalty toward our Lord the King and M。 the Duke of Orleans； he left his country to come to the service of the King and M。 the Duke； accompanied by his sister； Jeanne the Maid； with whom； down to the time of her departure； and since； unto the present time； he has exposed his body and goods in the said service； and in the King's wars； both in resisting the former enemies of the kingdom who were besieging the town of Orleans； and since then in divers enterprises；' &c。； &c。〃 Upon this Mr。 Delepierre justly remarks that the brother might have presented his claims in a much stronger light； 〃if in 1444；〃 instead of saying 'up to the time of her departure；' he had brought forward the martyrdom of his sister； as having been the means of saving France from the yoke of England。〃 The expression here cited and italicized in the above translation； may indeed be held to refer delicately to her death； but the particular French phrase employed； 〃jusques a son absentement；〃 apparently excludes such an interpretation。 The expression； on the other hand； might well refer to Jeanne's departure for Lorraine； and her marriage； after which there is no evidence that she returned to France； except for brief visits。 Thus a notable amount of evidence goes to show that Jeanne was not put to death in 1431； as usually supposed； but was alive； married； and flourishing in 1444。 Upon this supposition； certain alleged difficulties in the traditional account are easily disposed of。 Mr。 Delepierre urges upon the testimony of Perceval de Cagny； that at the execution in Rouen 〃the victim's face was covered when walking to the stake； while at the same time a spot had been chosen for the execution that permitted the populace to have a good view。 Why this contradiction？ A place is chosen to enable the people to see everything； but the victim is carefully hidden from their sight。〃 Whether otherwise explicable or not； this fact is certainly consistent with the hypothesis that some other victim was secretly substituted for Jeanne by the English authorities。
We have thus far contented ourselves with presenting and re…enforcing Mr。 Delepierre's statement of the case。 It is now time to interpose a little criticism。 We must examine our data somewhat more closely； for vagueness of conception allows a latitude to belief which accuracy of conception considerably restricts。
On the hypothesis of her survival； where was Jeanne； and what was she doing all the time from her capture before Compiegne； May 24； 1430； until her appearance at Metz； May 20； 1436？ Mr。 Delepierre reminds us that the Duke of Bedford； regent of France for the English king； died in 1435； and 〃that most probably Jeanne d'Arc was released from prison after this event。〃 Now this supposition lands us in a fatally absurd conclusion。 We are； in fact； asked to believe that the English； while holding Jeanne fast in their clutches； gratuitously went through the horrid farce of burning some one else in her stead； and that； after having thus inexplicably behaved； they further stultified themselves by letting her go scot…free； that their foolishness might be duly exposed and confuted。 Such a theory is childish。 If Jeanne d'Arc ever survived the 30th May； 1431； it was because she escaped from prison and succeeded in hiding herself until safer times。 When could she have done this？ In a sortie from Compiegne； May 24； 1430； she was thrown from her horse by a Picard archer and taken prisoner by the Bastard of Vendome； who sold her to John of Luxembourg。 John kept her in close custody at Beaulieu until August。 While there； she made two attempts to escape； first； apparently； by running out through a door； when she was at once caught by the guards； secondly； by jumping from a high window； when the shock of the fall was so great that she lay insensible on the ground until discovered。 She was then removed to Beaurevoir； where she remained until the beginning of November。 By this time； Philip 〃the Good；〃 Duke of Burgundy； had made up his mind to sell her to the English for 10；000 francs； and Jeanne was accordingly taken to Arras； and thence to Cotoy； where she was delivered to the English by Philip's officers。 So far； all is clear； but here it may be asked； WAS she really delivered to the English； or did Philip； pocketing his 10；000 francs； cheat and defraud his allies with a counterfeit Jeanne？ Such crooked dealing would have been in perfect keeping with his character。 Though a far more agreeable and gentlemanly person； he was almost as consummate and artistic a rascal as his great…great…great…grandson and namesake； Philip II。 of Spain。 His duplicity was so unfathomable and his policy so obscure； that it would be hardly safe to affirm a priori that he might not； for reasons best known to himself； have played a double game with his friend the Duke of Bedford。 On this hypothesis； he would of course keep Jeanne in close custody so long as there was any reason for keeping his treachery secret。 But in 1436； after the death of Bedford and the final expulsion of the English from France； no harm could come from setting her at liberty。
But as soon as we cease to reason a priori； this is seen to be； after all； a lame hypothesis。 No one can read the trial of Jeanne at Rouen； the questions that were put to her and the answers which she made； without being convinced that we are here dealing with the genuine Maid and not with a substitute。 The first step of a counterfeit Jeanne would have naturally been to save herself from the flames by revealing her true character。 Moreover； among the multitudes who saw her during her cruel trial； it is not likely that none were acquainted with the true Jeanne's voice and features。 We must therefore conclude that Jeanne d'Arc was really consigned to the tender mercies of the English。 About the 21st of November she was taken on horseback； strongly guarded； from Cotoy to Rouen； where the trial began J
