ies to the subject of the war. This circumstance was pointed
out by a German clerk as a matter extraordinary and worthy of
note.[1699] But for this once she consented to reply to Jean IV, in
order to maintain her reputation as a prophet and because the title of
Armagnac strongly appealed to her. She told him that at that moment
she was unable to instruct him concerning the true pope, but that
later she would inform him in which of the three he must believe,
according as God should reveal it unto her. In short, she in a measure
followed the example of such soothsayers as postpone the announcement
of the oracle to a future day.

[Footnote 1698: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 82.]

[Footnote 1699: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 466, 467.]

Jhesus [cross symbol] Maria

Count of Armagnac, my good friend and beloved, Jehanne the
Maid lets you to wit that your message hath come before me,
the which hath told me that you have sent from where you are
to know from me in which of the three popes, whom you
mention in your memorial, you ought to believe. This thing
in sooth I cannot tell you truly for the present, until I be
in Paris or at rest elsewhere, because for the present I am
too much hindered by affairs of war; but when you hear that
I am in Paris send a message to me, and I will give you to
understand what you shall rightfully believe, and what I
shall know by the counsel of my Righteous and Sovereign
Lord, the King of all the world, and what you should do, as
far as I may. To God I commend you; God keep you. Written at
Compiengne, the 22nd day of August.[1700]

[Footnote 1700: _Ibid._, vol. i, pp. 245, 246.]

Jeanne before she made this reply can have consulted neither the good
Brother Pasquerel nor the good Friar Richard nor indeed any of the
churchmen of her company. They would have told her that the true pope
was the Pope of Rome, Martin V. They might also have represented to
her that she was belittling the authority of the Church by appealing
to a revelation from God concerning popes and anti-popes. Sometimes,
they would have told her, God confides the secrets of his Church to
holy persons. But it would be rash to count upon so rare a privilege.

Jeanne exchanged a few words with the messenger who had brought her
the missive; but the interview was brief. The messenger was not safe
in the town, not that the soldiers would have made him pay for his
master'