name by which they often named me was Jehanne the Maid, child of God.
They told me that my King would be restored to his Kingdom, despite his enemies. They promised to lead me to Paradise, for that was what I asked of them.
Twice and thrice a week the voice told me that I must depart and go into France.
And the voice said that I would raise the siege before Orléans. And it told me to go to Vaucouleurs, to Robert de Baudricourt, captain of the town, who would give me men to go with me.
And I answered the voice that I was a poor girl who knew nothing of riding and warfare.
Departure
February, 1429
FROM THE TIME that I knew I must go into France, I gave myself little to games and frolics—as little as I could.
I did not talk of my visions—not that my voices told me to hide them but I was afraid to let them be known, for dread of the Burgundians and that they would prevent me from starting on my journey. And, even more, I feared that my father would prevent me.
My mother had told me that my father often dreamed that I would run away with a band of soldiers. That was more than two years after I first heard the voices. She told me that he had said to my brothers, “If I believed that the thing I have dreamed about her would come to pass, I would want you to drown her; and if you would not, I would drown her myself.” On account of these dreams, my father and mother watched me closely and kept me in great subjection. And I was obedient in everything.
But since God had commanded me to go, I must do it. And since God had commanded it, had I had a hundred fathers and a hundred mothers, and had I been a king’s daughter, I would have gone.
It pleased God thus to act through a simple maid in order to turn back the King’s enemies.
I went to my uncle and told him that I would visit him for a time. I was in his house for about a week; then I told him that I must go to Vaucouleurs. And my uncle took me there.
Vaucouleurs
February, 1429
WHEN I CAME TO VAUCOULEURS I knew Robert de Baudricourt, though I had never seen him before. The voice told me that it was he.
And I told him that I must go into France.
HER WORDS TO ROBERT DE BAUDRICOURT
The Kingdom of France is not the Dauphin’s but my Lord’s. But my Lord wills that the Dauphin shall be made King and have the Kingdom in custody. The Dauphin shall be King despite his enemies, and I shall lead him to his anointing.
Twice he refused and rejected me.
AT HER LODGING TO JEAN DE METZ
I am come to this town, which is the King’s, to ask Robert de Baudricourt to take me of send me to the King.
And he heeds neither me nor my words. Nevertheless, I must be with the King before mid-Lent, though I wear my legs to the knees on the road. For there is none in this world—neither kings, nor dukes, nor the King of Scotland’s daughter, nor any other—who can restore the Kingdom of France. Nor is there any succour for it but from me.
Far rather would I sit and sew beside my poor mother, for this thing is not of my condition. But I must go, and I must do this thing, because my Lord will have it so.
Rather now than tomorrow, and tomorrow than the day after!
And the third time he received me and gave me men.
The voice had told me that so it would come to pass.
From Vaucouleurs to Chinon
February–March, 1429
HER WORDS TO HENRI LE ROYER
I DO NOT FEAR their soldiers; my way lies open. If there are soldiers on the road, I have my Lord with me, who will make a road for me to reach the Dauphin.
I was born for this.
I set out from Vaucouleurs in men’s clothing. I carried a sword that Robert de Baudricourt had given me, but no other arms. With me there were a knight, a squire, and four serving-men.
Robert de Baudricourt made those who went with me swear that they would guide me well and safely.
To me at parting he said: “Go, and, whatever may come of it, let it come!”
HER WORDS TO HER COMPANIONS
Fear not: what I do, I do by commandment. My brothers in Paradise tell me what I must do. It is four or five years since my brothers in Paradise and my Lord first told me that I must go to war to restore the Kingdom of France.
I met no hindrance on my journey to the King.
We reached Saint Urbain and spent the night in the abbey. We passed through Auxerre and heard mass in the great church. My voices were with me often.
When we came to Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois I sent a letter to my King to ask if I might enter the town where he was. It said that I had travelled a hundred and fifty leagues to come to him with help, and that I knew many things which would profit him. I heard three masses in one day there; then I went on to Chinon, where the King was.
I came to Chinon about noon and put up at an inn, and, after dinner, I went to the King in his castle. And when I entered the King’s chamber, I knew him among the rest, (or the voice counselled me and revealed it to me. And I told the King that I would go to make war on the English.
HER WORDS TO CHARLES
I bring you news from God, that our Lord will give you back your kingdom, bringing you to be crowned at Reims, and driving out your enemies. In this I am God’s messenger. Do you set me bravely to work, and I will raise the siege of Orléans.
TO D’ALENÇON
You are very welcome. The more there are gathered together of the blood of the King of France, the better it will be.
Chinon, Poitiers, Tours, and Blois
March–April, 1429
FOR THREE WEEKS I was examined by learned men in Chinon and Poitiers, and the King received a sign concerning what I had done before he would believe in me.
And the scholars were of this opinion, that they could see nothing but good in my undertaking.
HER WORDS TO HER ESCORT
I know that I shall have much to do in Poitiers. But my Lord will help me. In God’s name, let us go on!
HER ANSWERS TO HER EXAMINERS
I do not know
