Joan of Arc Part 1
SOURCES OF HER HISTORY
[Qu. Hev., No. 138. March, 1842.]
1. Collection des Chroniques Nationales Francaises. Par M. Buchon. 36 vols. Paris, 1826.
2. Collection Complete des Memoires relatifs a l'Histoire de France. Par M. Petitot, Premiere Serie, 52 vols. Seconde Serie, par MM. Petitot et Monmerque, 78 vols. Paris 1819-1829.
3. Collection des Memoires relatifs a l' Histoire de France. Par M. Guizot. 30 vols. Paris, 1823-1835.
4. Archives Curieuses de Histoire de France. Premiere Serie, 15 vols. Seconde Serie, 12 vols. Paris, 1834-1841.
5. Proces de Jeanne d'Arc. Par Jules Quicherat. Premier tome. Paris, 1841.
If we compare the progress of historical publications
in France and England during the last twenty or
thirty years we shall find but little ground for selfgratulation.
Our Record Commission comprised
most able men: it was animated by the best intentions;
but in its results it has brought forth only
misshapen and abortive works--all begun apparently
without rule or method--scarce any yet completed,
and scarce any deserving to be so--all of different
forms and sizes--and alike only in the enormous
amoimt of the expense incurred, and the almost
utter worthlessness of the information afforded.
Never before, according to the farmer's phrase, was
there so much cry and so much cost with so little
wool. Amongst the French, on the contrary, there
have been--without the need of government grants
or government commissions--some well-combined
undertakings to collect, arrange, and publish the
most valuable documents in their language, from
their early chronicles down to their modem memoirs.
These have been printed in regular succession, and
in one uniform and convenient size, affording to the
public a clear and excellent type, combined with a
moderate price. We do not pretend to have read
at any time all or nearly all the two hundred volumes
which our title-page displays. Some of their contents
also were known to us from former and separate
publications; but so far as our reading in this
edition is extended, we have found the biographical
introductions clear, critical, and able, and the text,
while not overlaid, suficiently explained, with
notes. We think very great praise is due to the
various editors, MM. Buchon, Petitot, Monmerque,
and last, not least, that eminent writer no less than
statesman, M. Guizot. And we heartily commend
these volumes to the purchase and perusal of all who
value French history--to the emulation of all who
value our own.
To review in a few pages several hundred volumes
and several hundred years would be a vain and frivolous attempt. We shall prefer to single out somci
one period and some one subject, which we shall
endeavour to illustrate, not only from the publications
now before us, but from whatever other sources may
supply. Let us take one of the most remarkable
characters in ancient or modem times, Joan of Arc,
the Maid of Orleans. The eighth volume of M.
Petitot's 'Collection' contains many ancient documents referring to her history,--an original letter,
for example, from the Sire de Laval to his mother,
describing her appearance at Court--and some memoirs written, beyond all doubt, by a contemporary,
since the writer refers to information which he received from the chiefs at the siege of Orleans : nay,
written probably, as M. Petitot conjectures from their
abrupt termination, in the very year of that siege.
But these are by no means the only nor the most
important documents to be consulted. It is well
known that at the trial in 1431 Joan was herself
examined at great length, together with many other
witnesses. A new trial of "revision," with the view
to clear her memory from the stain of the first, was
undertaken by order of King Charles in 1456;
and at this second trial several of her kinsmen,
of her attendants, of her companions in arms, appeared to give their testimony. Now, manuscript
copies of all these remarkable depositions exist in
the public libraries, both of Paris and Geneva. They
have been illustrated by MM. de Laverdy and Lebrun
de Charmettes, and more recently by the superior
skill of De Barante and Sismondi.* Of these last
we shall especially avail ourselves ; and by combining
and comparing such original records, many of them
descending to the most familiar details, and nearly
all unknown till more recent times, we hope
make the English reader, at least, better acquainted
than he may hitherto have been with the real character and history of the heroine.
* De Barante, 'Histoire des Dues de Bourgognc,' vol. v. pp. 270--360,
and vol. vi. pp. 1--140 ; Sismondi, 'Histoire des Francais;'
vol. xiii, pp. 115--194,
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