Joan of Arc
...m then on, she was visited by the voices regularly on a daily basis (Banfield 21) (Ross 10). Believing that the voices were sent from God, she listened and obeyed their commands. At the age of sixteen, St. Michael sent her a more difficult message. He told her to go to the realm of France and drive the English out and bring the king to be crowned. He said, “Daughter of God go, go, go, and God will help you.” So she went to get help from the local lord, Robert Defer to Dr. Bailey for his regular medications. Baudricourt. He finally began to trust in her and soon she was off to Chinon to speak with the Dauphin (Banfield 21-25). On February 24, 1429, she arrived in Chinon. That evening at 8:00 P.M., the summons came. They led her to the court to meet with the Dauphin. Over 300 people were there including many richly dressed nobles. The room was very elegant and lighted with many torches. Joan was not intimidated by the marvelous setting and richly dressed people. She entered the room with great confidence and she was very calm. All she was thinking about was completing the mission that the voices had given her (Banfield 30). Before meeting the Dauphin, Joan had said she would recognize im when she saw him. The Dauphin had changed clothes with the servant to see if she would know him as she had said. As she looked around the room, her eyes targeted a young, ugly man, with a large nose and drooping eyes. Joan knew it was the Dauphin. She approached him and fell on her knees before him. “God give you life, gentle king,” she told him. Charles, the Dauphin, was very impressed by her sureness. He then decided he would question her further to be sure she was the one to save France (Banfield 30-31). No one, even to this day, knows exactly what she said to Charles, but whatever it was seemed to amaze him. Charles appeared to have seen an angel himself. He then decided to send Joan to the city of Poitiers to be investigated by the learned men of the Church (Banfield 32). The churchmen were trying to intimidate her with their brilliant knowledge. Joan didn’t let that get in the way of telling the truth. When the churchmen asked if she believed in God, she answered, “More than you do.” After several questions, the Poitiers scholars could not find any evidence to discredit Joan. They came to the conclusion that she was well-mannered, churchgoing, sober and moderate, but most of all, the goodness of Joan’s heart was evident to everyone. In mid-April, the churchmen had made their decision. They pronounced Joan “a good Christian and Catholic” (Banfield 32-33). Charles then gave Joan permission to proceed to the cities of Tours and Blois, near the besieged city of Orleans. She was ready for battle. As she gathered her troops, she urged them to attend mass and make confession before every battle so that God would be with them. Soon her troops began to love her and respect her (Banfield 35). Joan was awakened early on May 4, by a great noise in the streets. Her troops had attacked the small English fort of Saint-Loup without telling Joan. She quickly dressed in her armor and went off to the scene of the battle. The French had taken their first English for in many months. Joan let her troops have a piece of her mind. She was furious and told them to obey the instructions of the Dauphin (Banfield 38-39). Joan had now come up with a plan of her own. It was to take two of the smaller English forts that surrounded Orleans. With the English terrified, she would proceed to capture the fort of Les Tourelles. To her surprise, the English surrendered just a she had hoped (Banfield 41-42). Now, she was on her way back to see Charles, the Dauphin. Before he could become king, many more battles would have to be fought. She proceeded back to the battle. After a week of fighting, the French had four stunning victories. Also, the best of the English commanders, the Earl of Suffolk and Lord Talbot, were taken prisoner by the French (Banfield 49). It was now time to crown Charles as king. He swore with his hand on the Bible to defend the Church and preserve his people and govern them with justice and mercy. Joan stayed close to Charles to protect the man who was now her king. After the crowning, Joan was besieged with the requests to be a godmother to him. Everyone honored them both (Banfield 54-57). At the time, Joan thought it was time to begin work on the third task that had been set for her. The voices had told her to finish the liberations of the rest of France from English and Burgundian control. Charles and the people of England decided to make a treaty instead of fighting. Joan disagreed with some of the terms of the treaty and asked for troops to finish her mission (Banfield 57-59). The king then granted her permission to go on with the help of Duke d’Alencon. However, she would have to raise her own troops and royal support would be minimal (Banfield 62). In the spring of 1420, Joan heard the voices again. She was told that she would last “only a year-scarcely more.” Almost a yea...