Again Jeanne fell upon her knees.
“Most noble King, out of your grace I beseech you to grant that the taxes of my village be remitted. Its people are poor, and it brings great hardship upon them to pay.”
“Is that all, Jeanne?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Then in consideration of the great, high, notable, and profitable service which this, our beloved Jeanne the Maid, has rendered and daily renders us in the recovery of our Kingdom, in her favour and at her request, we therefore decree that Domremy, the native village of Jeanne D’Arc, Deliverer of France, be forever exempt from taxation.”
Again the people shouted fervently. They recognized the justice of the grant, and wondered only that she asked so little.
“Noël! Noël! Noël!”[18]
For centuries the privilege lasted, and against the names of 284 Domremy and Greux, its adjoining village, in the tax gatherer’s book was written:
“Domremy ... Rien-La Pucelle,” “Nothing––For the sake of the Maid.”
She had gained a kingdom, yet all she asked in return was that the taxes of her poor oppressed village might be remitted. She wished for nothing for herself. Not the least of the girl’s great qualities was her unselfishness.