court. Joan lodged at Vaucouleurs in a
wheelwright's house, and passed three weeks there, spinning with her
hostess, and dividing her time between work and church. There was much
talk in Vaucouleurs of her, and her visions, and her purpose. John of
Metz [also called John of Novelompont], a knight serving with Sire de
Baudricourt, desired to see her, and went to the wheelwright's. "What do
you here, my dear?" said he; "must the king be driven from his kingdom,
and we become English?" "I am come hither," answered Joan, "to speak to
Robert de Baudricourt, that he may be pleased to take me or have me taken
to the king; but he pays no heed to me or my words. However, I must be
with the king before the middle of Lent, for none in the world, nor
kings, nor dukes, nor daughter of the Scottish king can recover the
kingdom of France; there is no help but in me. Assuredly I would far
rather be spinning beside my poor mother, for this other is not my
condition; but I must go and do the work because my Lord wills that I
should do it." "Who is your lord?" "The Lord God." "By my faith,"
said the knight, seizing Joan's hands, "I will take you to the king, God
helping. When will you set out?" "Rather now than to-morrow; rather
to-morrow than later." Vaucouleurs was full of the fame and the sayings
of Joan. Another knight, Bertrand de Poulengy, offered, as John of Metz
had, to be her escort, Duke Charles of Lorraine wished to see her, and
sent for her to Nancy. Old and ill as he was, he had deserted the
duchess his wife, a virtuous lady, and was leading anything but a regular
life. He asked Joan's advice about his health. "I have no power to cure
you," said Joan, "but go back to your wife and help me in that for which
God ordains me." The duke ordered her four golden crowns, and she
returned to Vaucouleurs, thinking of nothing but her departure. There
was no want of confidence and good will on the part of the inhabitants of
Vaucouleurs in forwarding her preparations. John of Metz, the knight
charged to accompany her, asked her if she intended to make the journey
in her poor red rustic petticoats. "I would like to don man's clothes,"
answered Joan. Subscriptions were made to give her a suitable costume.
She was supplied with a horse, a coat of mail, a lance, a sword, the
complete equipment, indeed, of a man-at-arms; and a king's messenger and
an archer formed her train. Baudricourt made them swear to escort her
safel