eks had passed, and Joan had never yet seen a blow struck in war. She
used to exercise herself in horsemanship, and knightly sports of
tilting, and it is wonderful that a peasant girl became, at once, one of
the best riders among the chivalry of France. The young Duc d'Alencon,
lately come from captivity in England, saw how gallantly she rode, and
gave her a horse. He and his wife were her friends from the first, when
the politicians and advisers were against her. But, indeed, whatever the
Maid attempted, she did better than others, at once, without teaching or
practice. It was now determined that Joan should be taken to Poictiers,
and examined before all the learned men, bishops, doctors, and higher
clergy who still were on the side of France. There was good reason for
this delay. It was plain to all, friends and foes, that the wonderful
Maid was not like other men and women, with her Voices, her visions, her
prophecies, and her powers. All agreed that she had some strange help
given to her; but who gave it? This aid must come, people thought then,
either from heaven or hell--either from God and his saints, or from the
devil and his angels. Now, if any doubt could be thrown on the source
whence Joan's aid came, the English might argue (as of course they did),
that she was a witch and a heretic. If she was a heretic and a witch,
then her king was involved in her wickedness, and so he might be legally
shut out from his kingdom. It was necessary, therefore, that Joan should
be examined by learned men. They must find out whether she had always
been good, and a true believer, and whether her Voices always agreed in
everything with the teachings of the Church. Otherwise her angels must
be devils in disguise. For these reasons Joan was carried to Poictiers.
During three long weeks the learned men asked her questions, and, no
doubt, they wearied her terribly. But they said it was wonderful how
wisely this girl, who 'did not know A from B,' replied to their puzzling
inquiries. She told the story of her visions, of the command laid upon
her to rescue Orleans. Said Guillaume Aymeri, 'You ask for men-at-arms,
and you say that God will have the English to leave France and go home.
If that is true, no men-at-arms are needed; God's pleasure can drive the
English out of the land.'

[Illustration: 'In a better language than _yours_,' said Joan]

'In God's name,' said the Maid, 'the men-at-arms will fight, and God
will give the victory.