It serves not to speak of my later fortunes, being those of a private
man, nor have I the heart to recall old sorrows. We were wedded when
Elliot's grief had in some sort abated, and for one year we were happier
than God has willed that sinful men should long be in this world. Then
that befell which has befallen many. I may not write of it: suffice it
that God took from me both her and her child. Then, after certain weeks
and days of which I am blessed enough to keep little memory, I forswore
arms, and served in the household of the Lady Margaret of Scotland, who
married the Dauphin on an unhappy day. I have known much of Courts and
of the learned, I have seen the wicked man exalted, and Brother Thomas
Noiroufle in great honour with Charles VII. King of France, and offering
before him, with his murderous hands, the blessed sacrifice of the Mass.
The death of the Lady Margaret, slain by lying tongues, and the sudden
sight of that evil man, Brother Thomas, raised to power and place, drove
me from France, and I was certain years with the King's ambassadors at
the Courts of Italy. There I heard how the Holy Inquisition had reversed
that false judgment of the English and false French at Rouen, which made
me some joy. And then, finding old age come upon me, I withdrew to my
own country, where I have lived in religion, somewhile in the Abbey of
Dunfermline, and this year gone in our cell of Pluscardine, where I now
write, and where I hope to die and be buried.
Here ends my tale, in my Latin Chronicle left untold, of how a Scots Monk
was with the Maid both in her victories and recoveries of towns, and even
till her death.
For myself, I now grow old, and the earthly time to come is short, and
there remaineth a rest for all souls Christian. Miscreants I have heard
of, men misbelieving and heretics, who deny that the spirit abides after
the death of the body, for in the long years, say they, the spirit with
the flesh wanes, and at last dies with the bodily death. Wherein they
not only make Holy Church a liar, but are visibly confounded by this
truth which I know and feel, namely, that while my flesh wastes hourly
towards old age, and of many things my memory is weakened, yet of that
day in Chinon I mind me as clearly, and see my love as well, and hear her
sweet voice as plain, as if she had but now left the room.
Herein my memory does not fail, nor does love faint, growing stronger
with the years, like the stream as it races to the fall. Wherefore,
being more strong than Time, Love shall be more strong than Death. The
river of my life speeds yearly swifter, the years like months go by, the
months like weeks, the weeks like days. Even so fleet on, O Time, till I
rest beside her feet! Nay, never, being young, did I more desire my
love's presence when we were apart than to-day I desire it, the memory of
her filling all my heart as fragrance of flowers fills a room, till it
seems as if she were not far away, but near me, as I write of her. And,
foolish that I am! I look up as if I might see her by my side. I know
not if this be so with all men, for, indeed, I have asked none, nor
spoken to any of the matter save in confession. For I have loved this
once, and no more; wherefore I deem me happier than most, and more
certain of a good end to my love, where the blessed dwell in the Rose of
Paradise, beholding the Beatific Vision.
To this end I implore the prayers of all Christian souls who read this
book, and of all the Saints, and of that Sister of the Saints whom, while
I might, I served in my degree.
VENERABILIS JOHANNA
ORA PRO NOBIS
APPENDIX A--NORMAN'S MIRACLE
(See "Livre des Miracles de Madame Sainte Katherine de Fierboys". MSS.
Bib. Nat. 7335, fol. lxxxiv.)
Le xvi jour du moys de janvier, l'an mil cccc. xxx., vint en la chapelle
de ceans Norman Leslie de Pytquhoulle, escoth, escuyer de la compagnie de
Hugues Cande, capitaine. {40} Lequel dist et afferma par serment estre
vray le miracle cy apres declaire. C'est assavoir que le dit Leslie fut
prins des Anglois a Paris le jour de la Nativite de Nostre Dame de l'an
dernier passe. Lequel Norman Leslie avoit entre dans la ville de Paris
avec c. Escossoys en guise d'Angloys, lesqueuls Escossoys furent prins
des Angloys, et ledit Norman fut mis en fers et en ceps. Et estoit
l'intention de ceux qui l'avoient pris de le faire lendemain ardre, parce
qu'il portoit robe de femme par maniere de ruse de guerre.
Si s'avint que ledit Norman se voua a Madame Sainte Katherine, qu'il luy
pleust prier Dieu qu'il le voulsist delivrer de la prison ou il estoit;
et incontinent qu'il pourroit estre dehors, il yroit mercier Madame
Sainte Katherine en sa chapelle de Fierboys. Et incontinent son veu fait
si s'en dormit, et au reveiller trouva en la tour avecques luy un Singe,
qui lui apporta deux files, et un petit cousteau. Ainsi il trouva
maniere de se deferrer, et adoncques s'en sortit de la prison emportant
avecques luy le singe. Si se laissoit cheoir a val en priant Madame
Sainte Katherine et chut a bas, et oncques ne se fist mal, et se rendit a
Saint Denys ou il trouvoit des compagnons Escossoys.
Et ainsy ledit Norman Leslie s'en est venu audit lieu de Fierboys, tout
sain et sauf, emportant avecques luy ledit singe, qui est beste estrange
et fol de son corps. Et a jure ledit Norman ce estre vray par la foy et
serment de son corps.
Presens messire Richart Kyrthrizian, frere Giles Lacourt, prestres
gouverneurs de la dite chapelle, et messire Hauves Polnoire, peintre du
Roy, et plusieurs aultres.
APPENDIX B--ELLIOT'S RING
The Ring of the Maid, inscribed with the Holy Names, is often referred to
in her Trial ("Proces," i. 86, 103, 185, 236, 238), and is mentioned by
Bower, the contemporary Scottish chronicler ("Proces," iv. 480), whose
work was continued in the "Liber Pluscardensis." We have also, in the
text, Norman's statement that a copy of this ring was presented by the
Maid to Elliot Hume.
While correcting the proof-sheets of this Chronicle, the Translator
received from Mr. George Black, Assistant Keeper of the National Museum
of Antiquities in Edinburgh, a copy of his essay on "Scottish Charms and
Amulets" ("Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," May 8,
1893, p. 488). There, to his astonishment, the Translator read: "The
formula MARI. IHS. occurs on two finger-rings of silver-gilt, one of
which was found at Pluscarden, Elginshire, and the other in an old
graveyard near Fintray House, Aberdeenshire." Have we in the Pluscarden
ring a relic of the Monk of Pluscarden, the companion of Jeanne d'Arc,
the author of "Liber Pluscardensis"?
FOOTNOTES
{1} Several copies of this book, the Liber Pluscardensis, are extant,
but the author's original MS. is lost.
{2} This was written after the Act of the Scots Parliament of 1457.
{3} Daggers.
{4} Rude wall surrounding a keep.
{5} Sisters in the rule of St. Francis.
{6} These tricks of sleight-of-hand are attributed by Jean Nider, in his
"Formicarium," to the false Jeanne d'Arc.--A. L.
{7} Very intimate.
{8} When the sky falls and smothers the larks,
{9} This quotation makes it certain that Scott's ballad of Harlaw, in
"The Antiquary," is, at least in part, derived from tradition.
{10} This description confirms that of the contemporary town-clerk of La
Rochelle.
{11} The staircase still exists.
{12} "My neck would learn the weight of my more solid proportions."
{13} Neck.
{14} "Frightened by a ghost."
{15} "Airt," i.e. "quarter."
{16} "Fright for fright."
{17} Lameter, a lame.
{18} Bor-brief, certificate of gentle birth.
{19} Howlet, a young owl; a proverb for voracity.
{20} Battle-axe.
{21} Bougran, lustrous white linen.
{22} There are some slight variations, as is natural, in the Fierbois
record.
{23} Equipped for battle.
{24} That is, in the "Liber Pluscardensis."
{25} Englishman.
{26} Heavy and still.
{27} Daughter of God, go on, and I will be thine aid. Go on!
{28} Lyrat, grey.
{29} The king's evil: "ecrouelles," scrofula.
{30} Darg, day's work.
{31} "Par mon martin," the oath which she permitted to La Hire.
{32} See Appendix A, 'Norman's Miracle,' Appendix B, 'Elliot's Ring.'
{33} That in to say, some two thousand combatants.
{34} Echevins--magistrates.
{35} "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas."
{36} Pavises--large portable shelters.
{37} Block-houses.
{38} The Grahames had not yet possessed themselves of Netherby.--A. L.
{39} Substituting 'or' for 'argent,' his bearings were those of the
distinguished modern novelist of the same name.--A. L.
{40} Cande = Kennedy.