[Illustration:  RHEIMS CATHEDRAL INTERIOR]

Although her physical courage enabled her to face the greatest perils and personal risks, she had a horror of bloodshed, and though her spirit was ’full of haughty courage, not fearing death nor shrinking distress, but resolute in most extremes,’ she never entered battle but bearing her banner in her hand; and to the last day of her appearance on the field she strove with all her great moral force to induce the rude and brutal men around her to become more humane even in the hurly-burly of the din of battle.  All unnecessary cruelty and bloodshed made her suffer intensely, and we have seen how she ministered to the English wounded who had fallen in fight.  As far as she could she prevented pillage, and she would only promise her countrymen success on the condition that they should not prey upon the citizens of the places they conquered.  Even when she had passed the day fasting on horseback, Joan would refuse any food unless it had been honourably obtained.  As a child she had been taught to be charitable and to give to the needy, and she carried out these Christian principles when at the head of armies; the ’quality of mercy’ with her was ever present.  She distributed to the poor all she had with her, and would say, with what truth God knows, ’I have been sent for the consolation of the poor and the relief of the needy.’  She would take upon herself the charge of the wounded; indeed, she may be considered as the precursor of all the noble hearts who in modern warfare follow armies in order to alleviate and help the sick and wounded.  And she tended with equal care and sympathy the wounded among the enemy, as well as those of her own side.

This is no invention, no fancy of romance, but the plain truth; for there can be no disputing the testimony of those who followed Joan of Arc and saw her acts.

Regarding herself, Joan of Arc said she was but a servant and an instrument under Divine command.  When people would avow that such works as she had carried out had never been done in former times, she would simply say:  ’My Saviour has a book in which no one has ever read, however learned a scholar he may be.’

In all things she was pure and saint-like, and her wonderful life, as Michelet has truly said of it, was a living legend.  Had she not been inspired by her voices and her visions to take up arms for the salvation of her country, Joan of Arc would probably have lived and ended her obscure life in some place of holy retreat.  An all-absorbing love for all things sacred was her ruling idiosyncrasy.  From her childhood her delight was to hear the church bells, the music of anthems, the sacred notes of the organ.  Never did she miss attending the Church festivals.  When within hail of a church it was her wont, however hurried the march, to enter, attended by any of the soldiers whom she could induce to follow her, and kneel with them before the altar.  At the close of some stirring day passed in the midst of the din of battle, and after being for hours in the saddle, she would, ere she sought rest, always return thanks to her God and His saints for their succour.