When Joan arrived at Chinon, she asked to talk to Charles VII. To no surprise they were hesitant and did not grant her access. They questioned her intent and asked what she wanted to speak to Charles about.
At first, she refused to speak to anybody about her mission. However, when they told her she would not be seeing him she then told them of her two tasks. That was to one, raise the siege of Orleans and secondly pilot Charles the 7th (VII) to Reims where he may be crowned and sanctified.
The counselors of
| modern day Chinon, France |
In order to make sure she was not in cohorts with the devil priests examined Joan. They found her to be harmless and in good spirits. They told Charles that she only wanted to bring forth the message of God and that he ought to at least hear what she had to say.Charles yielded her requested and set a day two or three days later to meet with her.
Around evening of the day that was scheduled Joan was brought to the great hall of the palace which was brightly decorated with dozens of torches.The hall was filled with many inquisitive townspeople and royal guards Louis of Bourbon led Joan into the room. She was dressed in black and gray mens attire which she wore during the journey to Chinon. Charles was
disguised himself by blending into the crowd, he was testing her miraculous powers. Nonetheless, Joan's voices spoke to her and lead her to Charles. Upon meeting him she mustered, "Gentle Dauphin, I have come to you on a message from God, to bring help to you and to your kingdom." She went on to saying that more particularly she was sent to raise the siege of Orleans and to lead him Reims for his coronation.
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| Charles VII |
Charles spoke with Joan briefly and sent her back to her tower for further examination. She was a bit impatient as she thought that he would send her straight away to Orleans. Churchmen tested her belief, captains questioned her knowledge of war, and ladies of Charles's court examined her to prove he virginity. They all grew to believe in her and her purity.
