Volume 2

Wonderful characters : comprising memoirs and anecdotes of the most remarkable persons of every age and nation. / collected from the most authentic sources by Henry Wilson.

  • Wilson, H. (Henry), 1864-1934.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Wonderful characters : comprising memoirs and anecdotes of the most remarkable persons of every age and nation. / collected from the most authentic sources by Henry Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    36/520 (page 28)
    father dreamt that I should one day join the army, which made him watch me with extreme care, and keep me in the greatest subjection during my youth. My father was so much afraid, of this, that he said he would hurt me sooner than permit it, and he desired my bro- thers to do it, if he failed. I have always obeyed my father and mother in every thing. I have only disobeyed them in this instance, and they have never forgiven me since, notwithstanding the grief which they felt on my departure with which they were extremely affected. It was one of my uncles who carried me to Vaucou- leurs to see the Captain de Baudricourt, for 1 was so re- solved to obey what was commanded to me on the sub- ject from God, that I would have preferred being torn in pieces by horses sooner than not have obeyed ; and although I had had a hundred kings for my father, I should nevertheless have gone, seeing that the voice of the saints came from God, and as they assured me that the king would receive and employ me in his service, and because I was also as sure that they spoke to me by the order of God himself, as I am of. the truth of the Christian religion, and that God has redeemed us from the torments of hell. I was yet more resolved to act in this manner, because the two saints had assured me that the king would recover his kingdom entirely, either by will or force. On entering the house of Captain de Baudricourt, 1 recognised him immediately from among those who were with him, although I had never seen him before ; for the two saints pointed him out to me. Notwithstanding what I told him of the revelation which had been made to me, he twice refused, at different times, to pay any regard to it; but at length, on the third visit, he made me set out, dressed in the habit of a man, as the voices of the saints had commanded me, with a sword which he gave me, and caused me to be carried to the king, attended by a knight, a squire, and four servants;