These splendid women : with introduction and notes.

  • Sears, Joseph Hamblen, 1865-1946
Date:
1926
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: These splendid women : with introduction and notes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.

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    then about nineteen years of age, the Maid of Arc under- went her martyrdom. She was conducted before mid-day, guarded by eight hundred spearmen, to a platform of prodigious height, constructed of wooden billets supported by occasional walls of lath and plaster, and traversed by hollow spaces in every direction for the creation of air currents. The pile struck terror, says M. Michelet, by its height; and, as usual, the English purpose in this is viewed as one of pure malignity. But there are two ways of explaining all that. It is probable that the purpose was merciful. On the circumstance of the execution I shall not linger. Yet, to mark the almost fatal felicity of M. Michelet in finding out whatever may injure the Eng- lish name, at a moment when every reader will be inter- ested in Joanna's personal appearance, it is really edifying to notice the ingenuity by which he draws into light from a dark corner a very unjust account of it, and neglects, though lying upon the highroad, a very pleasing one. Both are from English pens. Grafton, a chronicler, but little read, being a stiff-necked John Bull, thought fit to say that no wonder Joanna should be virgin, since her foule face was a satisfactory solution of that particular merit. Holinshead, on the other hand, a chronicler some- what later, every way more important, and at one time universally read, has given a very pleasing testimony to the interesting character of Joanna's person and engaging manners. Neither of these men lived till the following century, so that personally this evidence is none at all. Grafton suddenly and carelessly believed as he wished to believe; Holinshead took pains to inquire, and reports un- doubtedly the general impression of France. The circumstantial incidents of the excution, unless with more space than I can now command, I should be unwilling to relate. I should fear to injure, by imperfect report, a martyrdom which to myself appears so un- speakably grand. Yet, for a purpose, pointing not at Joanna, but at ]\I. IMichelet—viz., to convince him that an