won for her so many others. They did all they could to cheer and support her, though she was most closely guarded; for twice had she almost escaped, the second time by a desperate leap from her dungeon tower, when she was taken up for dead. More than this, on their knees and with tears they besought their lord not to give her up to her mortal foes, the English, but in vain. Jean de Luxemburg could not resist the bribe of 10,000 francs, which they offered for his prisoner. She was given up to them to be tried for sorcery, for being in league with Satan, who was believed to have prompted her marvellous success; given up to a trial, of which the terrible issue had been already determined on by her judges. She was taken for this purpose to Rouen, the residence of the English governor, the Earl of Warwick. Here she was treated with the utmost barbarity, heavily chained, her feet in stocks; even on her wretched bed she was chained so that she could not turn round; three rude soldiers were day and night in her room, two more outside her door. Shut up in her dreary dungeon, without one friend, at least one earthly friend,—for surely He was with her whom she loved so well and served so earnestly, He who has said to His people, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,'-surrounded with spies, visited by false men, who pretended to advise her for her good, seeking thus to draw her into some admission they might use against her; and more trying than all must she have found it, that her king and his nobles had left her to her fate, not a hand raised, not a word spoken in her behalf. Thus did her enemies seek to break her noble spirit. Frequent private examinations were held in her dungeon; and, on the 21st of February 1431, she was brought to public trial. Worn and wasted, but calm, self-possessed, and brave, she stood there, as before she had stood the admired and loved in court and in camp. She was allowed no advocate; but her own simple good sense and her consciousness of innocence baffled all the cunning devices of her foes. Not one bitter word did she speak to them, or of those who had forsaken her. Day after day she was brought forth, and still nothing was proved. Two of her adversaries proposed to put her on the rack to make her confess; but the horrible proposal was not carried out. Was she then to escape? Anything but that. And at length weary days, and sleepless nights, and constant alarms wore her out; and to avoid the terrible death of the stake, she signed a paper of abjuration, hardly under 6 standing what she did. We cannot wonder; we can scarcely blame her. Scant was the measure of mercy shown her even now. Led back to the same dungeon to pass her life there, with the bread of grief and water of anguish for her food.' Happily for her, her cruel persecutors were determined that the remainder of life should be but short. One of their most stringent orders had been, that she should never resume the military dress which she had worn, as she believed, at the command of the voices, ever since the beginning of her expedition. During the night, her guards removed her woman's dress, and left in its place the garments she had worn on so many glorious occasions. She knew it was a plot, and refused to get up till her dress was brought back; but her brutal guards forced her, and then sent word of the success of their plot. She was convicted of being a relapsed heretic. But one fate could be awarded to such. On May the 30th, one short week after her abjuration, she was led out to die, guarded by 800 soldiers. Her courage had all come back. She was allowed, at her urgent entreaties, to receive the holy sacrament for the first time since her captivity; then, like so many others, she received strength for her trial, in the remembrance of Him who had suffered for her. Calmly she passed through the crowded streets, seemingly unmindful of all, and fervently engaged in devotion. In the market-place the stake was already prepared, the fagots piled around. One good priest accompanied her, and spoke words of encouragement. She was bound; a mitre placed on her head, inscribed with the words, 'Heretic, Sorceress, Idolatress.' With her wonted thought for others, she bid the one friend beside her stand farther off, lest he should be hurt. One piercing shriek when the flames first touched her; one cry that surely reached the heavens, Jesus! Jesus!' and the voice that had rung clear and loud amid the din of battle, and had spoken, and tenderly, beside the softly dying bed, was silent for ever, till it shall join in the 'new song before the throne.' Scarcely were her blackened remains thrown into the Seine, when the tide of feeling began to turn. Two of her most bitter persecutors committed suicide from remorse. Another and another confessed her innocence. In 1456 her memory was cleared by a reversal of the judgment against her. Those who remained of her family were honoured and enriched. Her statue was erected on the spot where she suffered; and her memory was one great means of bringing about the fulfilment of her predictions. The English were within a few years driven from all their conquest in France, except the one town of Calais, which they held till the reign of Mary. Moreover, 'The Maid' has been, and still is, an inspiring theme to poets, and painters, and sculptors; for, in the words of one of her latest biographers, hers was indeed a noble purpose nobly won.' K. ALEXANDER'S GIFTS. FAMOUS philosopher once applied in his deep poverty to his patron, the conqueror of the world,' for help. His request was immediately granted, and the king's treasurer was commanded to give him whatever sum he might ask. The needy philosopher immediately asked for ten thousand pounds. The indignant treasurer quickly appealed to Alexander, who replied: 'Let the money instantly be paid; I am delighted with this philosopher's way of thinking. He has done me a singular honour by the largeness of his request; he shows the high idea he has conceived both of my superior wealth and my royal magnificence.' So with the King of kings. He is best pleased when we ask the most of Him. Let us come to Him, then, with out fear and doubting, relying upon Jesus as our inter- Large petitions with thee bring, S. S. Times. OMNIPRESENCE. KNEEL, my child, for God is here! Through the might of Christ, His Son; Kneel, my child, for God is here! |