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Show T- JOAN OF ARC. , The small French town Saint Pierre-Ie-Moutier, famous for its capture by Joan of Arc shortly before the latter's death on the stake by the hands of the English in Rouen, May' 30, 1431, recently addressed a request for a contribution toward the monument to be raised there in honor of the Maid of Orleans to the city council of Tournai, formerly a French, now a Belgian Bel-gian town. In explanation of this petition, the Maire of St. Pierre, recalled the friendly friend-ly relations that had existed between Tournai and Joan of Arc during the fight against the foreign invaders. The good aldermen of the Belgian town, however, being totally unacquainted with this historical his-torical fact, at once made an effort to ascertain as-certain the truth, and rummaged the archives ar-chives of the city. The result was the discovery dis-covery of an original letter written by the Maid of Orleans ro the citizens of Tournai, Tour-nai, which, in its1 English version from the old French text, is the following: "Noble and loyal Frenchmen of the city of Tournai. the Maid herewith informs you that within a week she has driven the English from all places they were holding hold-ing on the banks of the Loire, the attacks and other sorts of combat resulting in many being killed and taken prisoners. She has routed them in battle, and thinks that Count Suffolk, his brother Jean Pole, I Sir Talbot, Sir d'Escalles and Messire I John Falstaff, as well as many other knights and captains have been captured, while Count Suffolk's brother and Glas-das Glas-das have been killed. Be brave, faithful Frenchmen, I entreat you. and beg and demand of you that you may all be ready to go to the coronation of the noble King Charles to Rheims, whither we shall resort re-sort shortly. Come to meet us When you hear of our approach. I recommend you to God. who may protect you and grant you His grace for having been able to defend de-fend the cause of France. "Written in Gien on the 25th day of June. "To the loyal Frenchmen of the city of Tournai." Upon the reading of this letter in the city council of Tournai the aldermen vot-. ed to contribute 500 francs toward Joan of Arc's monument. ; a. |