THE
TRIAL OF JOAN OF ARC, Being the verbatim report of the proceedings from the
Orleans Manuscript, translated by
W.S. Scott, 1956, Associated Book Sellers. The International Joan of Arc
Society¹s on-line edition of the 1431 trial record is edited by Dr. Jane Marie
Pinzino with permission of Royal Folio Society. See Associated Book Sellers¹ original hardcover edition for
Scott¹s critical apparatus.
copy of the schedule of the summons made By the Bishop of Beauvais
to the duke of Burgundy and messire Jean de Luxembourg, to hand oveR the
pucelle
It
is required by the Bishop of Beauvais of my lord the Duke of Burgundy, of my
lord Jean de Luxembourg, and of the Bastard of Vendôme [Wandomme], both on
behalf of our lord the King, and of himself as Bishop of Beauvais,
That
this woman named Jeanne the Pucelle, a prisoner, be sent to the king that he
may deliver her to the Church to stand her trial; since she is suspected and
reported to have committed a number of crimes such as sacrilege, idolatry,
invocation of devils and other matters touching the faith and contrary to it.
And although in my opinion she ought not to be [considered] a prisoner of war,
considering what has been said, nonetheless, as a remuneration for those who
took her and have held her prisoner, the king is willing to pay them liberally
up to the sum of six thousand livres; and for the Bastard who took her prisoner
he will give and assign monies suitable to his condition up to the sum of two
or three hundred livres.
Since
this woman was taken in his diocese and within his spiritual jurisdiction, the
bishop requires of the afore‑mentioned and each of them, that she may be
handed over to him to stand her trial, as to him rightly belongs, and which he
is now ready to hold with the assistance of the Inquisitor of the Faith, if
need be, and that of certain doctors of theology and law, and other learned
persons expert in the law, as the matter requires; in order that it may be duly
carried out to the glory of the Faith and the instruction of those who in this
affair have been, by reason of this woman, deceived and abused.
And
in conclusion, if the aforesaid persons or any of them are not content with the
above‑mentioned method or refuse to obey; since the capture of this woman is not equal to that of a
king, prince, or others of high estate, whom the king could have if he so
wished by paying ten thousand
francs, according to the law, usage and custom of France; the bishop summons
and requires the afore‑mentioned persons, to deliver the said Pucelle to
him, and will give surety for the said sum of ten thousand francs in full
payment; and the bishop hereby requires that she be thus handed over to him, in
accordance with the law and subject to its penalties.
Copy of the letter of the University of Paris to Messire Jean de
Luxembourg, for the surrender of the Pucelle
Very
noble, honoured and puissant lord, we recommend ourselves most lovingly to your
high nobility.
Your
noble prudence is well assured and recognizes that all good Catholic knights
should employ their strength and power firstly in the service of God;
especially since the first oath of the Order of Chivalry is to guard and defend
God's honour, the Catholic Faith and His Holy Church. This oath you well
remembered when you employed your noble power and personal presence in taking
prisoner a certain woman called the Pucelle, by whom God's honour has been
immeasurably offended, the Faith greatly wounded, and the Church much
dishonoured. For by her means, idolatry, error, false doctrines, and other
evils and irreparable hurts have spread throughout the realm. And in truth all
loyal Christians owe you many thanks for having performed so great a service to
our holy Faith and to the whole kingdom. And as for ourselves, we thank God and
you for your noble prowess with all our hearts, as much as in us lies. But a
little thing would it be to have made this capture, were it not followed by
what is necessary to remedy the offence perpetrated by this woman against our
most sweet Creator, His Faith and Holy Church, as well as her other innumerable
misdeeds, as are reported; and it would be a greater evil still, and an
intolerable offence to God's majesty if this woman merely were left, or if it
came to pass that she were set free or lost, as certain of our enemies have
said they would endeavour to obtain, applying to that end all their knowledge
by every subtle means, either by bribery or ransom. But it is our hope that God
will not permit such an evil to His people; and that your own good and noble
prudence will not suffer it, but will be enabled to act fittingly. For if she were to be freed without
suitable reparation, it would be
an irreparable dishonour to your high nobility, as well as to all therein
concerned. But, in order that such a scandal shall cease as soon as possible,
as is most needful, since delay in this matter is both most dangerous and very
prejudicial to the realm, we most humbly and lovingly beg your puissant and
honoured nobility that, for the honour of God, the safeguarding of the Faith,
and the good of the whole realm, you do despatch this woman for trial, and send
her to the Inquisitor of the Faith who has required and requires her with the
greatest urgency to answer grave charges; in order that God may thereby be
pleased and the people duly edified with good and holy doctrine; or that it may
please you to deliver this woman up to the reverend Father in God, our very
honoured lord, the Bishop of Beauvais, who has likewise required her, seeing
that his is the jurisdiction in which she was taken prisoner; and since the
bishop and the inquisitor are her judges in matters of faith; and since every
Christian of whatsoever degree must obey them in this present case under
penalties of law, which are grave. In doing so you will acquire the grace and
love of God Almighty; you will be the means of glorifying our holy Faith; and
you will increase the renown of your high and noble name, as well as that of
the most high and puissant prince, our most feared lord and yours, our lord the
Duke of Burgundy; and each of us will be bound to pray God for the prosperity
of your most noble person; whom may God our Saviour keep with His holy Grace in
all your doings, and at the last reward with everlasting felicity.
Written
in Paris the XIIIIth day of July, MCCCCXXX.
Jesus Maria
King of England, and you, Duke of Bedford, who call
yourself Regent of the kingdom of France; you, Guillaume de la Pole, Earl of
Suffolk, John sire of Talbot, and you, Thomas, Lord Scales, who call yourself
lieutenant of the said Bedford, do right before the King of Heaven. Hand over to the Pucelle, who is sent
from God the King of Heaven, the keys of all the towns which you have taken and
ravaged in France. She is come
here on God¹s behalf to restore the blood royal. She is quite ready to make peace, if you are willing to do
right, that is, to leave France, and to make amends for the injuries you have
done, and to hand back the monies you have received all the time that you have
been here.
And you, archers, soldiers and gentlemen and others
who are now besieging the town of Orleans, get you back in God¹s Name into your
own country. And if you will not
do so, I am a chieftain of war, and assure you that wherever I find your people
in France, I shall fight them and drive them out; and shall make them go,
whether they will or no; and if they will not obey, I shall have them put to
death. I am sent here by God the
King of Heaven to fight them and to drive them out of France. And if they will obey, I will have
mercy on them. And do not think
that you will stay here any longer, for you do not hold the realm of France
from God the King of Heaven, Son of the Virgin Mary. For he who will thus hold it is Charles, the true heir, for
God the King of Heaven so desires.
And it is revealed to him by the Pucelle that very shortly he will enter
Paris with a good company. And if
you do not believe the message of God and the Pucelle, I inform you that
wherever we find you, we will fight you, and will make so great a to-do
[hay-hay] there that not for a thousand years has France had one so great. And firmly believe that the King of
Heaven will send such strength to the Pucelle that neither you nor your
soldiers will be able to repel either her or her forces. And when it comes to blows we shall see
who has the better right.
And you, Duke of Bedford, who now besiege Orleans,
the Pucelle begs that you will not compel her to destroy you. And if you will do right, you may yet
see the French doing the greatest deed which has ever been done in Christendom.[OoIS1]
And I beg you, if you desire to make peace, to
answer me in the city of Orleans, where we hope to be very shortly; and if you
do not do so, you will remember it by reason of your great sufferings.
Written this Tuesday in Holy Week.
The
Summons and the aforesaid letters being written and despatched, the Bishop of
Beauvais, Messire Pierre Cauchon, accompanied by a man who represented the
University of Paris and by a notary apostolic, left Paris and went to Compiègne
where the Duke of Burgundy and de Luxembourg were at the siege. The bishop gave
the Summons to the duke, who, after he had received it, handed it to my lord
Nicolas Rollin his chancellor, who was present, telling
him to give it to Messire Jean de Luxembourg and to the lord of Beaurevoir,
which he did immediately, for both were there.[1] De
Luxembourg received and read the schedule. Then the letters from the University were given him, which
he likewise read, as well as the contents of a document by a notary apostolic
named Triquelot, in which the schedule of Summons only is mentioned. This document I have translated from
the Latin into French, and it now follows.
TENOR OF THE INSTRUMENT OF THE NOTARY WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE DELIVERY OF THE SUMMONS TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND MY LORD OF LUXEMBOURG
In
the year of Our Lord MCCCCXXX, the XIIIIth day of the month of July, the eighth
indication, in the XIIIth year of the pontificate of our lord Pope Martin the
Fifth, in the château of the most illustrious prince our lord the Duke of
Burgundy, in his camp before Compiègne, in the presence of the noble lords
Nicolas de Mailly, bailli of Varmandois, and Jean de Pressy, knights and of
many other nobles, witnesses in great numbers, there was presented by the most
reverend Father in Christ the lord Pierre, by the Grace of God Bishop and Count
of Beauvais, to the most illustrious prince our lord the Duke of Burgundy, a
certain schedule on paper containing word for word the five above-written
Articles; which paper the lord duke did in fact hand over to the noble Nicolas
Rollin, knight, his chancellor, who was present; ordering that it should be
conveyed by the said chancellor to the noble and puissant lord Jean de
Luxembourg, knight, lord of Beaurevoir; and in order that he might the more
readily do so, the said lord the chancellor, in obedience to his command, did
so hand it to the lord Jean de Luxembourg when he came; and as it seemed to me,
he read the said schedule. Thus
signed: Done in my presence,
Triquelot,
Notary public by Apostolic and Imperial authority
After
the Schedule and the letters of the University were presented, as has been
said, the bishop spoke to the duke and to de Luxembourg. After some talk it was
agreed that, on handing over a certain sum of money, the Pucelle should be
surrendered to him, which was done three or four days later. The bishop, when
he had received her, gave her into the hands of the English, who brought her to
Rouen, and kept her there in the château, strictly imprisoned, wearing fetters,
and strongly guarded.
[Here
in the manuscript is inserted the Latin version of the Instrument of the
Notary, of which the French version appears in correct chronological order
above, and a second copy of the letter from the University, which has already
been given. Following this, comes a letter written by Henry VI on 28 June 1431,
to inform the subjects of the Crown of the death of the Pucelle. As this
edition only includes that part of the Orleans manuscript which ends with
Jeanne's execution, it seems better to omit this letter rather than include it
in a position which is chronologically incorrect.]
THE TENOR OF THE KING'S LETTERS CONCERNING THE SURRENDER OF THE PUCELLE TO THE BISHOP OF BEAUVAIS
Henry,
by the grace of God, King of France and England, to all those who shall see
these present letters, Greeting.
It
is sufficiently notorious and well‑known that for some time past a woman
calling herself Jeanne the Pucelle, leaving off the dress and clothing of the
feminine sex, a thing contrary to divine law and abominable before God, and
forbidden by all laws, wore clothing and armour such as is worn by men; has
caused and occasioned cruel murders; and, so it is said, has seduced and abused
simple people by giving them to understand that she was sent from God, and had
knowledge of His holy secrets; together with other very dangerous teaching,
scandalous and prejudicial to the Catholic Faith; and while pursuing these
abuses and showing enmity towards Us and Our people, was taken in arms before
Compiègne by one of Our loyal subjects, and has subsequently been brought as a
prisoner before Us. And since she has on many occasions been reputed, suspected
and charged with superstition, false dogma, and other crimes of lèse‑majesté
towards God, We have been urgently requested by the reverend Father in God, Our
beloved and loyal Counsellor the Bishop of Beauvais, ecclesiastical judge and
Ordinary of the said Jeanne, since she was taken prisoner within the boundaries
and limits of his diocese; and have similarly been requested by Our most dearly
beloved daughter the University of Paris, that We should cause the said Jeanne
to be handed over and delivered to the said reverend Father in God, that he
might question and examine her in this matter, and proceed further against her
according to the regulations and ordinances of holy canon law, calling together
for this purpose those who should be called.
Wherefore,
for the reverence and honour of God's Name, and for the defence and upholding
of Holy Church and the Catholic Faith, and devoutly desiring as a true and
humble Child of Holy Church, to agree to the requests of the said reverend
Father in God and to the desire of the doctors and masters of Our said daughter
the University of Paris, We do command and consent that as often as shall seem
good to the reverend Father in God, the said Jeanne shall in truth and deed be
handed over and delivered to him by Our officers and guards, that he may
question and examine her, and that she may be tried by him according to God's
[laws], right, and the holy canons.
Wherefore
We do command Our officers and others, who are charged with her safe keeping,
that they shall in deed and truth hand her over to the said Father in God,
without refusal or contradiction, as often as he shall require. We do also
command all Our magistrates, officers and subjects, both French and English,
not to occasion any hindrance or difficulty either in fact or otherwise, either
to the said reverend father in God or to any others who may be ordered to
assist, take part in or hear the said trial; but if they be so requested by the
said reverend Father in God, they shall give them protection, aid, defence,
guard and comfort, under pain of severe punishment.
Nevertheless
it is Our intention to bring back before Us the said Jeanne, if it should not
be that she is convicted or found guilty of the said crimes or any of them, or
of other crimes touching our Faith.
In
witness whereof We have had affixed to these presents Our prescribed Seal, in
the absence of the Great [Seal].
Given
at Rouen, the third day of January, in the year of grace MCCCCXXX,[2] and of Our Reign the IXth.
Signed:
By the King, in His Great Council J.
de Rinel
Shortly
afterwards the Bishop of Beauvais, at the request of the King of England and
the members of his Council, who were anxious for the death of the Pucelle, moved to Rouen. There he
called together all the greatest and most learned personages, together with
advocates and notaries, whose names are given hereafter. And when they had
assembled, he told them that the King of France and England, their sovereign
lord, had been advised by the lords and members of his Council and by the
University of Paris, that a woman named Jeanne, commonly called the Pucelle,
should be brought to trial, for she was accused of heresy, of diabolic arts,
and of various other crimes and evil‑doing. And since this woman had been
taken and apprehended in his diocese,[3] it was for him to try her; which by their advice he
would endeavour to do. And he prayed that they would be present together with
him, to ensure that all that was done was right.
They
all answered that they were ready to obey the king, and that they would
willingly be present at the trial.
The
following day, since the archiepiscopal See was then vacant, and that the
jurisdiction was in the hands of the Chapter of the [Cathedral] Church of
Rouen, the bishop went to the Chapter and said to the dean and canons similar
words to those he had used the day before. But since he was out of his own
diocese [he added], he desired leave and permission to hold [the trial] in the
territory of the Archbishop of Rouen; and asked their leave that he should
exercise his functions within that territory. This permission was granted him,
and he asked that it should be put in writing, which was sent to him.
When
all preparations were made for beginning the trial, although it was pointed out
to the bishop that, seeing that it was a trial in a matter of faith, and held
by ecclesiastics, Jeanne the Pucelle ought to be kept in the prison of the
Archbishop of Rouen; nevertheless the good lord, ever desirous of pleasing the
King of England and winning the good opinion of the English, was unwilling to
do this, and left her in a prison held by the English, her mortal enemies. In
this he began to show the desire he had to do honest justice in this trial, in
which he and his band showed no more feeling in putting the Pucelle to death
than Caiaphas and Annas and the scribes and Pharisees showed in bringing about
the death of Our Lord, as one can see clearly in the recital of the trial; in
which there are many lies, as I have found in two books[4] in which is written the [report of] her trial of
condemnation, and in which there are a number of disagreements, especially in
the questions and in her answers. It is further completely proved by the trial
of rehabilitation that the trial of condemnation was falsified in a number of
places.
THE
TRIAL FOR LAPSE
THE
FORMAL PRELIMINARIES
9 January
HERE
begins the report of the trial held by Messire Pierre Cauchon, Bishop and Count
of Beauvais, in a matter of faith, against a woman named Jeanne, commonly
called the Pucelle, translated from Latin into French[5] by command of King Louis, twelfth of the name, at the
request of my lord and Admiral of France, Seigneur de Graville.
First Council
To
begin: the said bishop being in the town of Rouen in the year one thousand
four hundred and thirty, after the Epiphany, which was the ninth day of
the month of January, he had called before him the reverend fathers and
masters, my lords Gilles, Abbot of Fécamp, doctor in theology; Nicolas,
Abbot of Jumièges, doctor in laws; Pierre de Longueville La Guiffart,
doctor in theology; Nicolas de Venderès, Archdeacon of Eu in the Church of
Rouen, licentiate in laws; Raoul Roussel, Treasurer of the
[Cathedral] Church of Notre Dame in Rouen, doctor in laws; Robert
Barbier, licentiate in laws; Nicolas Couppequesne, bachelor in
theology; Nicolas Loiseleur, master in arts, canon of Rouen; all of
whom appeared in obedience to the order of the bishop in the
Council Chamber of the castle of Rouen. The bishop informed them that
a woman named Jeanne, commonly called the Pucelle, had not long since been
taken and apprehended in his diocese; and, that since she was strongly
suspected of the crime of heresy, this woman had been delivered and
handed over, as much at the request of the Most Christian and
Most Illustrious Prince the King of France and England, as at that of
our mother the University of Paris, in accordance with his
summons and that of the venerable Brother Martin Billon [Billorin],
vicar general of the Inquisitor of the Faith in France, in order that
inquiry might be made into the crimes and evils of which she has
been accused; and that he, being desirous of giving honour and praise
to God, and [for] the exaltation of the holy Catholic Faith,
might proceed juridically in this matter according to law. Since the Archiepiscopal
See was then vacant, he had obtained from my lords of the Chapter permission
and leave to proceed in the territory of Rouen to the inquisitions and
inquiries which must be made into the said crimes, as is contained in the
letters upon the matter. These he exhibited, together with the copies of the
letters which the members of the University of Paris had written to Messire
Jean de Luxembourg, who [had] held the Pucelle prisoner; together with the
schedule of the summons which had been issued to him, copies of which are
hereinbefore written.
Second
Council
19 February
On
Monday the nineteenth day of February there appeared before the Bishop of
Beauvais, in the house of Maître Jean Rubbe, canon of Rouen, my lords the Abbot
of Fécamp, Maître Jean Beaupère, Guillaume Hecton, Jacques de Touraine, Nicolas
Midi, Nicolas de Venderès, Pierre Maurice, Gerard Feuillet, Thomas de
Courcelles and Nicolas Loiseleur.
The
bishop explained to them that a woman named Jeanne called the Pucelle, who was
accused of invoking devils and other crimes, had been delivered and handed over
to him from the Very Illustrious Prince the King of France and England; and
that, since she had been handed over, articles concerning the Catholic Faith
had been composed, upon which articles they had examined a number of witnesses,
as one could see from the reading of the articles and the depositions of the
witnesses who had been examined upon them. These articles and depositions were
read in the presence of the above-mentioned persons. After the reading was
done, since the Grand Inquisitor of the Faith was not in the town of Rouen, but
only his deputy was there, it was ordered and directed by the bishop that the
deputy should be called; and that in the presence of notaries he should be
summoned to hear read the articles and informations which had been made
concerning the crimes and evil‑doing of the said Jeanne, and the scandal
which had thereby arisen.
And
afterwards, by the advice of those who were present, the bishop ordered that
this woman should be summoned to be questioned in a matter of faith. This being
done, all those present swore to keep secret everything that might transpire in
this matter.
Third
Council
The
same day after dinner, about four o'clock in the evening, the bishop summoned
and required the venerable Brother Jean Le Maître, deputy of the Inquisitor of
the Faith, who had been called to take part in the trial, and requested him to
join with him in proceeding in the matter of the said Jeanne, offering to
inform him of everything that had been done at the trial [up till then]. Le
Maître answered that, if his commission and deputyship were sufficient, then
willingly would he do all he should and could in the said enquiry.
This
was done at the lodging of the bishop, in the presence of Jean Massieu, Brother
Simon de Paris, Boisguillaume and Manchon.
Fourth
Council
20 February
On
Tuesday the twentieth day of February there appeared before the bishop, the
said Beaupère, de Touraine, Midi, Venderès, Maurice, Gerard and de Courcelles,
Maître Jean Le Maître, Martin Ladvenu and Nicolas Loiseleur.
The
bishop said and declared that he had seen the commission and deputyship of Le
Maître, which was good and sufficient, and that he had found from advice that
the said Le Maître, deputy, could join with him in conducting the trial. But that
notwithstanding this he found from advice that he ought to summon the Grand
Inquisitor, if he should be in Normandy, to come to this city of Rouen to be
present at the trial, or to commission a deputy in the matter which has been
mentioned, who would have full powers to proceed in it.
Le
Maître answered that he did not wish to interfere in the matter, as much for
scruples of conscience as for the safer conduct of the trial. And furthermore,
that, inasmuch as [he was acting as] Grand Inquisitor, to whom reference has
been made, he said that he agreed that the bishop could commission whom he
please to be present in the place of the Inquisitor, until he be advised
whether the vicariate and commission that he has be sufficient to enable him to
join in the affair.
After
these words, the bishop offered him the [records of the] trial, and all that had been done.
THE PREPARATORY INTERROGATIONS
[These
interrogations were intended to produce proofs in support of the Indictment.
The Roman numerals in square brackets refer to the number of the Article of the
Indictment in support of which Jeanne's answer was included in the promoter's
notes.]
First
Public Session
21 February
The
following day, which was Wednesday the twenty‑first day of February, in
the chapel royal of the castle of Rouen, in the presence of the bishop and of
my lords and masters, my lord Gilles, Abbot of Fécamp, Jean Beaupère, Jean de
Châtillon, Jacques le Tessier, Nicolas Midi, Gerard Feuillet, Guillaume Haiton,
Thomas de Courcelles and Maître Richard Praty, were read the letters of the
King of England wherein he commanded the ordinary judges of Rouen to hand over
and deliver the Pucelle to the bishop to be tried; the letters of the Chapter
of Rouen showing that they had given permission to the bishop to hold the trial
within the territory of Rouen; and the citation to the Pucelle to appear before
him, together with the account of him who had cited her.
These
being read, Maître Jean Estivet, appointed promoter at the trial by the bishop,
required the Pucelle to be brought and questioned in accordance with law. Which
was granted by the bishop.
And
since Jeanne had made a supplication that she might be allowed to hear Mass, the
bishop said that he had consulted with several wise and notable persons, on
whose advice he had come to the conclusion that, in view of the crimes of which
she was accused, and of the fact that she wore man's dress, they ought to defer
this request: and thus he declared it.
Very
soon after, Jeanne was led in to the presence of the bishop and the assessors
afore‑mentioned.
She
being present, the judge spoke to her and explained that she had been taken
within the boundaries of his diocese. And since there was common report of a
number of her deeds which were contrary to our faith, not only within the realm
of France but in all the States in which they were known and published, and
since she was accused of heresy, she had been handed over to him to be tried in
a matter of faith.
After
these words, the promoter showed how at his request she had been cited and
convened to answer in a matter of faith, as appeared from the letters and acts
which he then exhibited, begging that she should be adjured to speak the truth,
and then questioned upon the accusations that he would deliver.
This
was granted by the bishop and the court.
This
request being granted, as has been said, the bishop caused Jeanne to come
before him, and charitably admonished her.
And
told her that she should tell the truth concerning the things which would be
asked her, as much for the shortening of her trial as for the unburdening of
her conscience, without subterfuge or craft; and that she should swear on the
Holy Gospels to tell the truth concerning everything she should be asked.
Jeanne
answered: I do not know on what you may wish to question me. Perhaps you may
ask such things as I will not answer.
Whereupon
the bishop said to her:
You
will swear to tell the truth about whatever you are asked concerning the
Catholic Faith, and all else that you may know.
To
which Jeanne answered that concerning her father and mother, and concerning
everything she had done since she took the road for France,[6] she would willingly swear. But as for revelations
sent her from God, never had she told or revealed them save to Charles, who she
said was her king. And if they cut her head off, she would not reveal them; for
she knew from her visions that she must keep them secret. But within eight days
she would know if she ought to reveal them.
After
these words the bishop admonished her, and asked her to take the oath to tell
the truth concerning the faith.
Jeanne
knelt down, her two hands on the book, that is to say a missal, and swore that
she would tell the truth in all matters asked her concerning the Faith. But
that, about the aforesaid revelations, she would not tell anyone.
The
same day, after several questions had been put to her concerning the name of
her father and mother, the place where she was born, and her age, Jeanne
complained of the fetters which she had on her legs.
She
was told by the bishop that several times she had endeavoured to escape from
her prisons, wherefore, in order that she might be kept the more securely, he
had ordered that she should be fettered.
To
which Jeanne
answered that it was true that on these previous occasions she would have much
liked to escape from prison, as was lawful for every prisoner. She said further
that if she had been able to escape, no one could have said that she had broken
faith, for she had never given her parole to anyone.
On
account of this answer, the bishop ordered John Rice, John Bernard, and William
Talbot,[7] to whom the guardianship of Jeanne was committed,
that they should guard her strictly, and that they should not allow anyone to
speak to her unless they had his express permission; and made the guards place
their hands on the missal, upon which they took a solemn oath to do all that
they had been ordered.
The
same day, Jeanne, being questioned as to her name and surname,
Answered
that, in the place where she was born, she was called Jeannette, and in France,
Jeanne; of a surname she knew nothing.
Questioned
as to the place of her birth,
She
answered that she was born in a village called Domremy de Greux, and in Greux
is the principal church.
Questioned
as to the name of her father and mother,
She
answered that her father was named Jacques Tart and her mother Ysabeau.
Questioned
as to where she had been baptised,
She
answered that it was in the church of Domremy.
Questioned
as to who were her godfathers and godmothers,
She
answered that they were a woman named Agnes and another called Jeanne; and a
man called Jean Bavent was her godfather. She said also that she had heard her
mother say that she had other godfathers and godmothers as well as these.
Questioned
as to who was the priest who baptised her,
She
answered that he was called Messire Jean Nynet [Minet], to the best of her
belief.
Questioned
as to whether the said Nynet was still alive,
She
answered yes, to the best of her belief.
Questioned
as to how old she was,
She
answered that she was nineteen or thereabouts. She said also that her mother
taught her the Pater Noster, Ave Maria and Credo; and that no one else save her mother taught her faith.
Being
required to repeat the Pater Noster and Ave Maria,
She
answered that she would say it willingly, provided that my lord Bishop of
Beauvais, who was present, would hear her confession. And although she was
several times required to say the Pater Noster and Ave Maria, she answered that she would not say them unless the
bishop would hear her in confession.
And
then the bishop said: I will give you one or two notable persons of this
company to whom you will say your Pater Noster and Ave Maria,
To
which she answered: I will not say them at all, if they do not hear me in
confession.
Second
Session
22 February
The
year one thousand four hundred and thirty, the twenty‑second day of
February. in the Hall[8] of the castle of Rouen, there were assembled together
with the bishop, the reverend fathers, lords and masters, the Abbot of Fécamp,
Jean de Châtillon, Jean Beaupère, Guillaume Leboucher, Prior of Longueville,
Maurice du Quesnoy, Jacques de Touraine, Nicolas Midi, Jean de Fave, Denis de
Sabreuvoys, Jean Lefèvre, William Haiton, Pierre Maurice, Gerard Feuillet,
Jacques Guesdon, doctors in theology; Jean Sevestre, Jean Le Maître, bachelors
in theology; Maître Raoul Roussel, Nicolas de Venderès; the Abbot of Jumièges;
Jean Brullet, André Marguerie, Jean Pinchon, Jean Basset; the Abbots of Saint
Katherine, of Cormeilles and of Préaux; Denis Gastinel, Nicolas Couppequesne,
Gilles des Champs, Geoffroi du Crotoy.
In
whose presence and in that of Brother Jean Le Maître, deputy of the Inquisitor
of the Faith, the bishop showed how he had summoned and required Le Maître, as
general Inquisitor of the Faith, to join in the trial of Jeanne, offering to
communicate to him everything that had been done at the trial.
To which Le Maître answered that he was only
commissioned in the city and diocese of Rouen; and since the trial was held
before the bishop, not as Ordinary of the diocese of Rouen, but as of borrowed
jurisdiction, he was doubtful of joining in the matter. And although he had
been doubtful as to joining in the trial, nevertheless, as much in order that
the trial should not be null and void, as for the unburdening of his
conscience, he was content to be present at the trial since he had
inquisitorial powers.
This offer being made, Jeanne was first admonished and
required to take the oath that she had taken the day before to tell the truth
concerning all that would be asked her of the crimes and evils of which she was
accused,
To which Jeanne answered that she had already taken
the oath, and this should suffice.
And she was again ordered to swear to tell the
absolute truth concerning everything that would be asked her; assuring her that
there was not a prince who could or should refuse to take the oath to tell the
truth in a matter of faith.
To which she answered: I did so yesterday. You are
burdening me too much.
Finally she took the oath in the form in which she had
taken it the day before.
The oath being taken, the bishop ordered Maître Jean
Beaupère to question her. In obedience to his orders Beaupère questioned her as
follows:
Firstly he asked her if she would tell the truth.
To which she replied: You may well ask me such things
that as to some I shall tell the truth, as to others, not. She said further: If
you are well informed about me, you would wish that I were out of your hands. I
have done nothing save by revelation.
Questioned as to what age she was when she left her
father's house,
She said that she did not know the answer.
Questioned as to whether she had learned any craft or
trade,
She said yes; and that her mother had taught her to
sew; and that she did not believe there was any woman in Rouen who could teach
her anything in this matter.
She
said also that she had left her father's house partly for fear of the
Burgundians; and that she went to Neufchâteau with a woman named La Rousse;[9] where she stayed a fortnight. In this house she did
the household tasks, and did not go into the fields to keep the sheep or other
animals. [VIII]
Asked whether she made her confession every year,
She said yes, to her own curé. And if he were
prevented, she confessed to another priest, with her curé's leave. And she also
said that she had confessed two or three times to mendicant friars. And that
she received the Body of Our Lord every year at Easter.
Asked whether she had not received the Body of Our
Lord at other feasts than Easter,
She answered: Go to the next question. And she said
that, from the age of thirteen, she received revelation from Our Lord by a
voice which taught her how to behave. And the first time she was greatly
afraid. And she said that the voice came that time at noon, on a summer's day,
a fast day, when she was in her father's garden, and that the voice came on her
right side, in the direction of the church. And she said that the voice was
hardly ever without a light, which was always in the direction of the voice.
She said further that, after she had heard it three
times, she knew that it was the voice of an angel.
She said also that this voice had always taken good
care of her.
Questioned as to what teaching this voice gave her as
to the salvation of her soul,
She answered that it taught her how to behave. And it
said to her that she ought to go often to church. And later it said to her that
it was necessary that she should go into France.
And it said to her two or three times a week that she
must leave and go into France. And that her father knew nothing of her going.
And with this, it said to her that she must hurry and
go and raise the siege of Orleans [X]; and that she should go to Robert de
Baudricourt, captain of Vaucouleurs; and that he would give her men to
accompany her.
To which she answered that she was only a poor woman,
who knew nothing of riding or of making war.
And
after these words, she went to an uncle's house, where she stayed a week, after
which her uncle brought her to Robert de Baudricourt, whom she recognized,
although she had never seen him before. [XII]
And she said that she recognized him by her voices,
which had told her that it was he.
She
said further that de Baudricourt refused her twice. The third time he received her, and gave her people to conduct
her to France, as the voice had told her. [X]
[She
said also that before she received her king's commands, the Duke of Lorraine
asked for her to be sent to him. She went, and told him that she wished to be
sent into France. He questioned her concerning his health, of which she told
him she knew nothing. She said to him little about her journey, but asked him
to lend her his son and some others to conduct her to France, and then she
would pray God for his restoration to health. She went to him with a safe
conduct, and returned to the town of Vaucouleurs.]
She
said further that when she left Vaucouleurs, she took man's dress, and also a
sword which de Baudricourt gave her, but no other armour. And she said she was
accompanied by a knight and four other men; and that day they spent the night
in the town of Saint Urbain, where she slept in the Abbey.[10]
She
said also that as for her route, she passed through Auxerre, where she heard
Mass in the great church; and that she often had her voices with her.
Questioned
as to who advised her to take male dress,
[To
this question I have found in one book that her voices had commanded her to
take man's dress; and in the other I found that, although she was several times
asked, she never made any other reply than 'I charge nobody'. And I found in
this book that several times she answered variously.]
She
said further that Robert de Baudricourt made her escort swear that they would
conduct her well and safely.
She
also said that when they left, de Baudricourt said to her:
Go,
and let come what may. [XII]
She
said that she was well assured that God greatly loved the Duke of Orleans, and
that she had more revelations concerning him than any man in France, except her
king. [XXXV]
She
said further that it was absolutely essential for her to change her dress. [XII]
Questioned
as to what letters she sent the English and what they contained,
She
said that she sent letters to the English, who were before Orleans, wherein she
wrote to them that they must leave. And she said that in these letters, as she
had heard it said, they have altered two or three words; for example, Render to
the Pucelle, where it should be Render to the king; and where there is Body for
body, and Chieftain of war; this was not in the letters. [XXI]
She
said also that she went to her king without hindrance.
Further,
she said that she found her king at Chinon, where she arrived about noon, and
lodged at an inn, and after dinner went to the king who was in the castle.
She
said that she went right into the room where the king was; whom she recognized
among many others by the advice of the voice.
She
said that she told the king that she wished to make war on the English. [XVII]
Questioned
whether, when the voice pointed the king out to her, there was any light,
She
answered: Go on to the next question.
Questioned
if she saw an angel above the king,
She
answered: Forgive me. Pass on to the next.
She
said also that before the king set her to work, he had several apparitions and
glorious revelations.
Questioned
as to what revelations,
She
answered: I shall not tell you yet; go to the king and he will tell you. [LX]
She
said further that the voice promised her that very soon after she arrived the
king would receive her.
She
said also that those of her party well knew that the voice came from God; and
that they saw and knew the
voice; and that she knows this well.
She
said that the king and
several members of his Council heard and saw the voices who came to her; and amongst others, Charles, Duke of
Bourbon. [XXXVI]
She
said also that she never asked
anything of the voice save at the last the salvation of her soul.
[XLIV]
She
said further that the voice
told her that she should stay at Saint Denis in France; and there she wished to remain. But the
lords were not willing to
leave her there, because she was wounded; otherwise she would not have left.
And she said that she was wounded in the moat of Paris; of which wound she was
cured within five days. [XXXVIII
She
said that she had made a great assault on Paris.
Asked
whether the day she made this assault were a feast day,
She
answered, after being questioned several times, that she believed it was a
feast.
Asked
if she thought it a good thing to make an assault on a feast day,
She
replied: Go on to the next question.
These
questions and answers being done, the Bishop of Beauvais postponed the matter
until the following Saturday.
Third
Session
24 February
The following Saturday, which was the twenty‑fourth
of February, those who were there the previous day were convoked and called
together by the Dean of the Christendom of Rouen.
The Bishop of Beauvais directed and admonished Jeanne
to swear absolutely and without condition to tell the truth. Three times she
was thus admonished and required.
To which she answered: Give me leave to speak.
And then said: By my faith, you might ask me such
things as I will not tell you.
She further said: It could be that there are many
things you might ask me of which I would not tell you the truth, especially
concerning the revelations; for you would perhaps force me to say by mistake
something that I have sworn not to say. Thus I should be perjured, which you
ought not to wish.
Addressing my lord of Beauvais, she said: Beware of
saying that you are my judge. For you take upon yourself great responsibility,
and you overburden me.
She also stated that she thought it was enough to have
taken the oath twice.
Questioned again and again as to whether she would
take the oath simply and absolutely,
She answered: You can well do without it. I have sworn
twice; that is enough. And I believe that all the clergy of Rouen and Paris
would not condemn me save in error.
And
she added that she would not have told all in a week.
She
said also that, of her coming into France she will willingly tell the truth but
not everything.
As
to what was told her, that she should take the advice of those present as to
whether or no she should take the oath,
She answered that she would willingly tell the truth
as to her coming, but nothing more. And that she should not be spoken to any
more concerning the matter.
And being admonished and told that she would make
herself suspect by her unwillingness to take the oath,
She answered as before.
The bishop ordering and requiring her to swear
precisely and absolutely,
She answered: I shall willingly tell you what I know,
but not all. [LX]
She
also said that she came from God, and ought not to be here; and said that they
should remit her into the hands of God, from Whom she came. [XXV]
After
being again and again ordered and required to take the oath and admonished to
do so on pain of being found guilty of the acts
She answered: I have sworn enough. Leave the matter.
And when time and again she was admonished to tell the
truth in what concerned her trial, it being explained to her that she was endangering
herself,
She answered: I am ready to swear and to say all that
I know concerning my trial. But I will not say all that I know.
After saying which, she took the oath. [LX]
These things being done, she was questioned by Mâitre
Jean Beaupère. Firstly he asked her when she had last eaten or drunk,
To which she answered: yesterday afternoon.
Questioned since when had she heard her voice,
She answered that she had heard it both yesterday and
to‑day.
Questioned at what time she had heard it yesterday,
She said that she had heard it three times; once in
the morning; again at the hour of Vespers; and yet again at the hour of the Ave
Maria; sometimes she heard it more often than [this], she said.
Questioned as to what she was doing yesterday morning
when she heard this voice,
She answered that she was asleep, and that the voice
awoke her.
Asked
whether the voice woke her by its sound, or by touching her on the arms or
elsewhere,
She
answered that she was wakened by the voice without being touched.
Questioned
as to whether the voice was still in her room,
She
replied that she thought not, but that it was in the castle. [X]
Asked
if she did not thank the voice, and kneel down,
She
answered that she thanked it, being seated on her bed. And she said that she
joined her hands together, and begged and prayed that it might help and advise
her in what she had to do. [XLIX]
To
which the voice told her to answer boldly.
Asked
what the voice told her when she was awake,
She
answered that it said that she must ask advice from Our Lord.
Asked
whether it had said anything before she questioned it,
She
said that before she was awake, the voice had said several words to her that
she did not understand. But when she had wakened, she understood that the voice
had told her that she must answer boldly. [L]
She
said several times to the bishop, You say that you are my judge; consider well
what you do; for in truth I am sent from God, and you are putting yourself in
great peril.
Asked
if this voice had ever varied in its advice,
She
answered that she had never found in it two contradictory words.
Asked
whether it were an angel coming direct from God,[11] or if it were a saint,
She
answered that it came from God.
And
added, I am not telling you all I know, for I am greatly afraid of saying something
displeasing to it in my answers to you.
And
she said further: In this questioning I beg you that I may be allowed a delay.
Asked
if she believed that God would be displeased if she told the truth,
She
answered my lord of Beauvais that the voices had told her to say some things to
the king and not to him. [LX]
She
also said that the voice told her that night things concerning the king's good;
things that she wished the king to know immediately; and that she would drink
no wine till Easter, wherefore he would be happier when he dined. [XXXI]
Asked
if she could make this heavenly voice obey her and carry a message to her king,
She
answered that she did not know whether it would be willing to obey her, unless
it were the will of God, and that Our Lord agreed.
And
that, if it pleased God, it would be able to reveal it to the king; if so [she
added] I would be very happy.
Questioned
as to why she cannot now speak with her king, as she used to do in his
presence,
She
said that she did not know if it were God's will.
[XXV]
She
said further that if she were not in the grace of God she could do nothing. [XXXVIII]
Asked
if her counsel [her voices] had not revealed to her that she should escape,
She
answered: I have [yet] to tell you this.
Asked
if this voice has not now given her advice and counsel as to what she should
answer,
She
replied that if it had revealed or said anything to her [about this], she had
not well understood it.
Questioned
as to whether, on the last two days that she heard her voices, a light had
appeared,
She
answered that the light comes before the voice.
Asked
if with the voice she sees something,
She
answered: I am not going to tell you everything, for I have not permission; and
also my oath does not touch that; but I do say to you that it is a beautiful
voice, righteous and worthy; otherwise I am not bound to answer you.
For
this reason she asked to see in writing the points upon which they desired to
question her.
Asked
if the voice could see; that is to say, whether it had eyes,
She
answered: You may not know that yet.
She
said also that there is a saying among little children that people are often
hanged for telling the truth. [LX]
Asked
if she knew whether she were in the grace of God,
She
answered: If I am not, may God put me there; if I am, may He keep me there.
She
said further that if she knew she were not in the grace of God, she would be
the most miserable person in the world. She said also that if she were in
mortal sin, the voice would not come to her. And she would that everyone might
hear them as well as she did.
[XXXIX]
She
also said that she thought she was thirteen years of age when the voice
came to her the first time. [X]
Asked
whether in her childhood she used to go and play in the fields with the
others,
She
said she did so sometimes. But she did not know at what age.
Asked
if the people of Domremy sided with the Burgundians or the
Armagnacs,
She
answered that she only knew one Burgundian, whose head she would like to
see chopped off, that is if it had pleased God.
Asked
whether at Maxey they were Burgundians or Armagnacs,
She
said they were Burgundians.
Questioned
as to whether her voice told her in her childhood to hate the
Burgundians,
She
answered that ever since she learned that the voices were for the King of
France, she did not love the Burgundians. [XXXVIII]
She
added that the Burgundians would have war, if they did not do as they ought;
she knew this from the voice. [XXXIII]
Asked
if the voice told her in her childhood that the English should come into
France,
She
said they were already in France when the voice first spoke to her.
Asked
if she were ever with the other children when they played at fights
between English and French,
She
said no, as far as she could remember. But she had often seen those of her
village fighting against those of Maxey, and sometimes coming back wounded
and bleeding.
Asked
if in her youth she had a great desire to defeat the Burgundians,
She
answered that she had a great desire that the king should have his
kingdom.
Asked
if she had wanted to be a man when she knew that she had to come [into France],
She
said that she had answered elsewhere.
Asked
if she ever used to lead the animals to pasture,
She
replied that she had already answered; and that, since she had grown up and
reached years of understanding, she did not look after them; but she did help
to drive them to the meadows, and to a castle called de l'Ile, for fear of the
soldiers; but as to whether she looked after them or not in her childhood, she
did not remember. [VIII]
Questioned
concerning the tree,
She
answered that quite close to Domremy there was a tree which was called the
Ladies' tree; others called it the Fairies' tree; and near it there was a
spring; and she had heard it said that persons suffering from fever drank of
it; and she has seen them going to it to be cured. But she did not know whether
they were cured or not. [V]
She
said also that she had heard that the sick, when they could get up, went to the
tree to walk about; and she said it was a large tree called a beech, from
whence comes the beau mai;[12] and
it belonged to
Messire Pierre de Bourlémont.[13]
She
said that she sometimes went there with the other girls in summer time, and
made wreaths for Notre Dame de Domremy.
She
had heard several old folk say, not of her family, that the fairies frequented
it; and she had heard her godmother Jeanne, wife [of the mayor of the village
of Domremy], say that she had seen them there. Whether this was true, she does
not know.
She
said that she herself had never seen a fairy, as far as she knew, either at the
tree or anywhere else.
She
said further that she had seen garlands hung on the branches of the tree by the
girls; and she herself had hung them there with the other girls. Sometimes they
took them away, and sometimes they left them.
She
also said that ever since she learned that she must come into France, she
played very little, the least that she could. And she did not know whether,
since she had reached years of discretion, she had danced near the tree.
Sometimes she may have danced there with the children, but she more often sang
than danced.
She
also said that there was a wood called the Bois Chesnu that one could see from her father's house, not more than a league away; but she
was unaware and had never heard it said that the fairies frequented it.
She
had heard from her brother that it was said in the neighbourhood that she
received her revelations at the tree and from the fairies. But she had not. And she told him quite
the contrary.
She
said further that when she came before the king, many people asked whether in
her country there was not a wood called the Bois Chesnu, for there was a prophecy saying that from the Bois
Chesnu should come a
maiden who would perform marvellous acts; but she put no faith in it.[14]
[VI]
Questioned
as to whether she wanted a woman's dress,
She
answered: If you give me permission, give me one, and I will take it and go.
Otherwise no. I am content with this one, since it is God's will that I wear
it. [XIV]
After
these questions were done, the following Tuesday was appointed, at eight
o'clock. And the assessors were requested to assemble on that day at the said
hour, under pain of displeasure.
Fourth
Session
27 February
The
following Tuesday, which was the twenty‑seventh day of the month of
February, following the Sunday of Reminiscere, in the year one thousand four
hundred and thirty, for the fifth session.[15]
Firstly
the assessors were convoked; and in their presence Jeanne was required by my
lord the Bishop of Beauvais to swear and take the oath concerning what touched
her trial.
To
which she answered that she would willingly swear as to what touched her trial,
but not as to everything she knew.
Many
times she was requested by the bishop to answer the truth concerning everything
that would be asked her,
To
which she answered as before: It seems to me you ought to be satisfied; I have
sworn enough.
By
order of my lord of Beauvais, Mâitre Jean Beaupère began to interrogate Jeanne,
and asked her how she had been since Saturday.
She
answered: You can see that I am as well as I can be.
Questioned
as to whether she fasted every day of this Lent,
She
replied: What has that to do with your trial?
To
which Beaupère said: Yes, indeed, it belongs to the trial.
She
replied: Yes, certainly, I have fasted the whole time.
Asked
whether she had heard her voice since Saturday,
She
answered: Yes, indeed, many times.
Questioned
as to whether she heard it in this hall on Saturday,
She
answered: That has nothing to do with your trial; and afterwards said,
yes.
Asked
what it said to her on Saturday,
She
answered: I did not well understand it; I understood nothing that I could tell
you until my return to my room.
Asked
what it said to her when she was back in her room,
She
replied: That I should answer you boldly.
And
she said further that she asked advice concerning the things that were asked
her.
She
said also that when she has leave of Our Lord to reveal it, she will tell it
willingly; but touching the revelations concerning the King of France, she will
not tell without permission from her voice. [LX]
Asked
if the voice forbade her to tell everything,
She
answered that she had still not quite understood.
Asked
what the voice said to her,
She
said that she asked advice from it as to certain questions that had been asked
her.
Asked
whether the voice had given her advice as to these matters,
She
replied that on certain points she had received advice.
She
said also that as to certain questions, they might demand an answer, but she
would not give it without leave; and if by chance she answered without
permission, she would not have them for warrant.
But
[she said] when I have Our Lord's leave, then I shall not be afraid to answer,
for I shall have a good warrant. [L]
Questioned
as to whether it were the voice of an angel, or of a saint, or directly from God,
She
answered that the voices were those of Saint Catherine and of Saint Margaret.
And their heads are crowned with beautiful crowns, most richly and preciously. And [she said] for [telling you] this I
have leave from Our Lord. If you
doubt it, send to Poitiers where I have been previously examined. [XXXIV]
Asked
how she knew that it was these two saints, and if she could tell the one from
the other,
She
answered that she was certain that it was these; and that she well knew the one
from the other.
Asked
how she knew the one from the other,
[XLV]
She
replied that she knew them by the greeting they gave her.
[XXXIV]
She
also said that it was seven years since they first began to guide her. [X]
She also said she knows them because they tell her
their names.
[XXXIV]
Asked
whether they are dressed in the same cloth,
She answered: I shall not now tell you anything else.
She also said that she had not leave to reveal it. And if you do not believe me
[she added], go to Poitiers.
She said further: there are some revelations which
were intended for the King of France, and not for those who question me.
Asked if they are of the same age,
She said: I have not leave to tell you that.
Asked if they talked at the same time, or one after
the other,
She replied: I have not leave to tell you that;
nevertheless I always receive advice from both of them.
Asked which [appeared] first,
She answered: I do not recognize them at once. I used
to know well enough, but now I have forgotten. If she has leave, she will
willingly say; and it is in the register of Poitiers. [LX]
She said also that she received counsel from Saint
Michael.
Questioned which came first,
She said it was Saint Michael.
Asked if it were long ago,
She answered: I do not speak of Saint Michael's voice,
but of the great comfort [he brought me].
Asked which was the first voice that came to her when
she was thirteen,
She said it was Saint Michael whom she saw before her
eyes; and he was not alone, but was accompanied by angels from heaven.
She said also that she would not have come into France
had it not been for God's command.
Asked
if she saw Saint Michael and the angels corporeally and in reality,
She
answered: I saw them with my bodily eyes, as well as I am seeing you.
And when they left her, she wept and greatly longed
that they should have taken her with them.
Asked in what form was Saint Michael,
I have not yet answered you this; and have not yet
leave to tell it.
Questioned as to what Saint Michael said to her the
first time,
She answered: You will not have any other answer.
She also said that the voices told her to answer
boldly.
She said further that she had not yet leave to reveal
what Saint Michael told her; and greatly wished that her examiner had a copy of
the book which is at Poitiers, provided that was pleasing to God.
Asked whether Saint Michael and the other saints had
told her not to tell her revelations without their permission,
She answered: I will not answer you further about
that. And, concerning what I have leave to tell you, I will gladly answer. And
[she added] that if they had forbidden her, she did not so understand it.
Asked what sign she gives whereby it might be known
that they come from God, and that they are Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret,
She
replied: I have told you often enough that they are Saint Catherine and Saint
Margaret. Believe me if you will. [LX]
Asked how she is able to make a distinction between
answering certain points, and not others,
She replied that on some points she had asked leave,
and on some, she had obtained it.
She
said furthermore that she would rather be torn asunder by horses than come into
France without God's leave. [XXIII]
Asked if the voice ordered her to wear a man's dress,
She answered that the dress is but a small matter; and
that she had not taken it by the advice of any living man; and that she did not
take this dress nor do anything at all save by the command of Our Lord and the
angels.
[XII]
Questioned as to whether it seemed to her that this
command to take male dress was a lawful one,
She
answered that everything she had done was at Our Lord's command, and if He had
ordered Jeanne to take a different dress, she would have done so, since it
would have been at God's command. [XIII]
Nor
had she ever taken this dress at the order of Robert [de Baudricourt].
Asked
if she had done well to take man's dress,
She
said that everything she had done at Our Lord's command she considered well
done, and from it she expected good surety and good support.
She
said also that she had a sword which she obtained at Vaucouleurs. [XII]
Questioned
as to whether in this particular case of taking male dress she considered she
had done rightly,
She
answered that without God's command she had not done so; and that she had done
nothing in the world save by His command. [XIII]
Asked
whether, when she saw the voice, there was a light with it,
She
said that there was a great deal of light on all sides as was fitting. [X]
Asked
whether there was an angel over her king's head when first she saw him,
She
answered: By Saint Mary, if there were any, I did not know, nor did I see one.
Asked
whether there was a fight there,
She
said that there were more than three hundred knights and fifty torches, not
counting the spiritual light; and that she rarely received revelations without
there being a light.
Asked
how her king gave credence to her words,
She
replied that he had good signs; and through the clergy. [LI]
Asked
what revelations the king had,
She
answered: You will not learn them from me, this year.
[LX]
She
said also that the ecclesiastics of her party were of this opinion, that there
seemed to be nothing but good in her. [LI]
Asked
whether she had been to Saint Catherine de Fierbois,
She
answered yes. And there she heard three masses in one day, and then went to the
town of Chinon. [XIX]
She
said that she told her king on one occasion that it had been revealed to her
that she should go to him.
She
said also that she had sent letters to her king, saying that she was writing to
know whether she should enter the town where he was, and that she had already
travelled a good hundred and fifty leagues to come to his aid, and that she had
much good news for him; and she thought that the letter also said that she
would be able to recognize him amongst all others. [XXXI]
She
said further that she had a sword, which, when she was in Tours or in Chinon,
she sent to be looked for at Saint Catherine de Fierbois. This sword was in the
ground, behind the altar of Saint Catherine, and it was immediately found
there, all rusted.
Asked
how she knew the sword was there,
She
said it was in the ground, all rusted, and upon it were five crosses. This she
knew from her voices, saying that she never saw the man who was sent to look
for the sword. She wrote to the clergy of the place asking that it might please
them to let her have the sword, which they sent her. It was not deep in the
ground behind the altar, so she thought, although in truth she was not certain
whether it were in front of it or behind, but she believed that she wrote that
it was behind [the altar].
She
added that as soon as the sword was found, the clergy of the place rubbed it,
and the rust fell off without any effort; and that it was an armourer of Tours
who went to find the sword.[16] And the clergy of Saint Catherine and the citizens of
Tours both gave her sheaths for it. They made two sheaths, one of crimson
velvet and the other of
cloth of gold. She herself had another made of very strong leather.
She
also stated that when she was taken prisoner she no longer had this sword; but
that she had always worn it until her departure from Saint Denis.
Asked
whether she had ever said or caused to be said a blessing upon this sword,
She
said no, nor would she have known how to do so.
She
said also that she greatly prized this sword, since it was found in the church
of Saint Catherine, whom she much loved. [XIX]
Asked
whether she had placed her sword upon any altar,
She
said no, as far as she knew, nor had she done so in order that it might have
better fortune.
Asked
if she had her sword when she was taken prisoner,
She
said no, but that she had one which was taken from a Burgundian. [XX]
She
added that she had this sword at Lagny, and from Lagny to Compiègne she wore
the Burgundian's sword, because it was a good sword for war, useful for giving
hard clouts.
She
said also that as to where she lost this sword, this had nothing to do with the
trial, and she would not reply now. [LXIII]
Asked
whether, when she was before the city of Orleans, she had a standard, and of
what colour it was,
She
replied that it had a field sown with fleurs‑de‑lis, and showed a
world with an angel on either side, white in colour, of linen or boucassin; and she thought that the names JESUS MARIA were
written on it; and it had a silk fringe.
Asked
if these names JESUS MARIA were written at the top or the bottom, or along the
side,
She
answered that she thought they were along the side.
Asked
which she preferred, her sword or her standard,
She
replied that she was forty times fonder of her standard than she was of her
sword.
Asked
who persuaded her to have this design on her standard,
She
said: I have told you often enough that I have done nothing save by God's
command.
She
said moreover that she herself bore her standard during an attack, in order to
avoid killing anyone. And she added that she had never killed anyone at all. [LVIII]
Asked
what forces her king gave her when he set her to work,
She
answered, ten or twelve thousand men; and that at Orleans she went first to the
fort of Saint Loup and then to that at the bridge [the Tourelles]. [LIII]
Asked
at which fort she ordered her men to retire,
She
said that she did not remember.
She
said also that, through the revelation made to her, she was quite certain that
she would relieve Orleans; adding that she had so informed her king before she
went there.
Asked
whether, in launching her attack before Orleans, she told her men that she would
receive arrows, missiles and stones from the bombards,
She
said no; there were a good hundred wounded, and maybe more. But she had told
her men to have no fear, and they would raise the siege.
She
also said that during the attack on the fort at the bridge she was wounded in
the neck by an arrow, but she was greatly comforted by Saint Catherine, and was
well again in a fortnight; nor did she give up either riding or her military
command on account of this wound.
Asked
whether she knew beforehand that she would be wounded,
She
said that she well knew it, and had informed her king of it; but that
notwithstanding she would not give up her work. And this was revealed to her by
the voices of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret.
She
said also that she herself was the first to plant the ladder against the fort
at the bridge; and it was while she was raising it that she was wounded in the
neck by an arrow. [XXXIII]
Asked
why she had not concluded a treaty with the captain of Jargeau,
She
said that the lords of her party had told the English that they would not have
the delay of a fortnight for which they had asked, but that they must go away
immediately, and take their horses with them. And for her own part, she told
them that they might go if they wished, in their doublets and tunics, safe and
sound; if they did not, they would be taken by assault.
Asked
whether she had any conversation with her counsel, that is to say her voices,
as to whether or no to grant a delay,
She
answered that she did not remember. [XVIII]
Fifth
Session
1 March
Asked
whether she had
letters from the Comte d'Armagnac, asking her which of the three claimants to
the Papacy should be obeyed,[17]
She
answered that the count wrote a letter to this effect, to which she replied,
amongst other matters, that when she was in Paris or anywhere else, when she
had some time [to spare], she would give him a reply. She was just about to
mount her horse when she gave this answer.
After
this the letters from the count and from Jeanne were read, and she was asked
whether it was her own letter in reply,
To
which she said that she thought she had given such an answer, at any rate in
part, if not the whole.
Questioned
as to whether she said that she knew by the counsel of the King of kings what
he ought to believe in this matter,
She
answered that she knew nothing about it.
Asked
if she were in any doubt as to whom the count should obey,
She
said she did not know what to tell him as to whom he ought to obey for he
desired to know whom Our Lord wished him to obey. But as for herself, she held
and believed that one ought to obey our lord the Pope at Rome.
She
added that she had said other things to the messenger than what is contained in
the letter. If he had not gone away so hurriedly he would have been thrown into
the water, though not through her.
She
said also that with reference to his inquiry as to whom it pleased God that he
should obey, she answered that she did not know, but sent him many messages
which were not put into writing. As for herself, she believed in the Pope at
Rome.
Asked
why she had written that she would give him a further answer, since she
believed in the Pope at Rome,
She
replied that the answer she had given referred to another matter than the three
Popes.
Asked
if she had ever said she would have counsel concerning the three Popes,
She
said that she had never written or caused to be written anything
concerning the three Popes. And she swore on oath that on this subject she had
neither written nor caused to be written anything at all. [XXVI]
She
said also that before seven years are past the English will have lost a greater
stake than they did before the town of Orleans, for they will have lost all
they hold in France.
She
added, as before, that she knew this by revelation, as well as she knew that
we, the Bishop of Beauvais, were there present before her, saying in the French
tongue: Je le sçay aussi bien comme vous estes ici.[18]
And
this she knew by the revelation given her; and that it would come to pass
before seven years are past; and she was much grieved that it should be so long
delayed.
Asked
in what year,
She
answered: You will not yet learn this; but I hope it may be before Saint John's
Day.
Asked
whether she had said it would come to pass before Saint Martin's Day in winter,
She
replied that she had said that many events would be seen before Saint Martin's
Day; and it might be that the English would be overthrown.
Asked
what she had said to John Grey, her gaoler in the prison, concerning Saint
Martin's Day,
She
answered: I have already told you.
Questioned
as to through whom she knew that this would come to pass,
She
replied that it was through Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. [XXXIII]
Asked
whether, since the previous Tuesday, she had often spoken with Saint Catherine
and Saint Margaret,
She
said yes, both yesterday and to‑day; but she does not know at what time;
and there is no day when she does not hear them.
[X]
Asked
whether the saints always appeared to her in the same dress,
She
answered that she [always sees them] in the same form; and their heads are
richly crowned; of their other clothing she does not speak, and of their robes
she knows nothing. [XLV]
Asked
how she knows whether it is a man or woman who appears to her,
She
answered that she was certain it was those saints by their voices, and by what
they told her.
Asked
what part of them she saw,
She
answered, the face.
Asked
whether they had hair,
She
replied: Assuredly; in the French tongue, Il est bon a savoir.
Asked
if there was anything between their crowns and their hair,
She
answered, no.
Asked
if their hair were long and hung down,
She
replied: I do not know.
She
added that she did not know if they had anything in the nature of arms or other
members.
She
said moreover that they spoke most excellently and beautifully; and that she
understood them perfectly.
Asked
how they spoke, when they had no other members,
She
answered: I leave that to God. [XXXIV]
She
said that the voice was lovely, sweet and low in tone, and spoke in French.
Asked
if that voice, that is to say Saint Margaret, spoke English,
She
answered: Why should she speak English? She is not on the side of the English. [XLIII]
Asked
who gave her the ring which the Burgundians have,
She
answered, her father or mother; and she thought that JESUS MARIA was written on
it. But she did not know who had had this written; she did not think there was
any stone in it; and it was given to her at Domremy.
She
said also that her brother had given her a ring which we, the bishop, now have;
and she requested us to give it to the church.
She
said further that she had never cured anyone with any of her rings. [XX]
Asked
whether Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret had spoken to her beneath the tree,
She
answered: I do not know.
Being
repeatedly asked if the saints had spoken to her at the aforementioned spring,
She
replied yes; and she had heard them there. But what they then said to her she
does not know.
Being
again asked if they had made any promises to her there or elsewhere,
She
replied that they did not make any promise to her, except by leave of Our Lord.
[V]
Asked
what promises Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret made her,
She
answered: This does not concern your trial at all.
Amongst
other things, they told her that her king would be reestablished in his
kingdom, whether his enemies wished it or no. [XXXIII]
She
said also that the saints promised to bring her to Paradise, as she had asked
them. [XLIV]
Asked
whether they had promised her anything else, as well as to bring her to
Paradise,
She
replied that they had made her other promises, but she will not tell them. She
said this did not concern her trial.
She
said further that within three months she will reveal another promise.
Asked
whether the saints had told her that within three months she would be freed
from prison,
She
answered: That is not in your trial. But she does not know when she will be
freed.
She
said also that those who wished to remove her from this world might well
themselves go first.
Asked
whether her counsel had told her that she would be freed from prison,
She
answered: Ask me in three months' time, and I will then give you my reply.
She
also requested that the assessors should give their opinions on oath as to
whether this concerns the trial.
And
afterwards, when the assessors had deliberated and come to the conclusion that
it did concern the trial,
She
said: I have always told you that you cannot know all.
And
she added: One day I must be freed. And I wish to have leave to tell you
[when]. And for this she begged a delay.
Asked
if the saints forbade her to tell the truth,
She
answered: Do you wish me to tell you the affairs of the King of France?
She
said that there were many matters which did not concern the trial. [LX]
She
said also that she was well assured that her king would regain his kingdom;
this she knows as well as she knows us [the bishop] to be present here. [XXXIII]
She
said also that she would be dead, were it not for the revelation which comforts
her each day.
[LXIII]
Asked
what she has done with her mandrake,[19]
She
answered that she never had one; but that she had heard it said that there was one near her village; but that
she had never seen it.
She
had heard it said that it was a dangerous and evil thing to him who keeps it;
but she does not know its purpose.
Asked
where is the place where this thing of which she has heard [is to be found],
She
replied that she had heard that it is in the ground near the tree, but she does
not know the spot. But she has heard it said that over the place grows a tree
called a hazel.
Asked
what purpose this mandrake serves,
She
answered that she had heard it said that it attracts money, but she does not
believe it, and on this matter her voices have never told her anything at all.
Asked
in what form Saint Michael appeared,
She
answered that she did not see his crown; and as to his clothing, she knew
nothing.
Asked
if he were naked,
She
answered: Do you think that Our Lord has not wherewithal to clothe him? [XXXI]
Questioned
as to whether Saint Michael had his scales,[20]
She
replied: I do not know.
She
said that she had great joy when she saw him; and said also that he told her,
when she saw him, that she was not in a state of mortal sin.
She
said further that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret gladly heard her
confession, each in turn.
She
also said that if she is in mortal sin, she is not aware of it.
Asked
whether, when she made her confession, she ever thought she was in mortal sin,
She
replied that she did not know if she were, but she did not believe that she had
ever committed such sins. And please God [she added], I never did so, nor will
I act in such a way that my soul should be guilty of mortal sin. [XXXIX]
Asked
what sign she gave her king to show him that she came from God,
She
answered: I have always told you that you will not drag that out of me. Go and
ask him.
Asked
whether she has sworn not to reveal what has been asked her touching the trial,
She
said: I have told you before that I will not tell you anything concerning the
king: but that which concerns the trial and the faith, I will tell you.
Asked
if she did not know the sign,
She
answered: You will not know that from me.
Being
told that this concerns the trial,
She
said: I will willingly tell you [other matters]; but the things I have promised
to keep secret, I will not tell you.
And
I have promised, so I cannot tell you without being forsworn.
Asked
to whom she made this promise,
She
said, to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret; and it [the sign] was shown to the
king.
She
said also that she promised them without them asking her, and at her own
request; and she said that too many people would have asked her if she had not
promised.
Questioned
whether, when she showed the sign, there was anyone present save the king,
She
answered: I think there was no one but he, although there were a number of
people fairly near.
Asked
if she saw any crown on the king's head, when she showed him the sign,
She
answered: I cannot tell you without perjuring myself
[LX]
Asked
if he had a crown at Rheims,
She
answered that she thinks that the one he found at Rheims he took with pleasure.
But a very rich one was brought later. And he did so to hasten [his coronation]
at the request of the citizens of the town, to avoid the cost of the men‑at‑arms;
and if he had waited, he would have been crowned with one a thousand times
richer.
Asked
whether she had seen this richer crown,
She
answered: I cannot tell you without being forsworn; and although I have not
seen it, I have heard that it was so rich.
[LI]
And
after these questions were done, the following Saturday was appointed, at the
hour of eight in the morning. And the assessors were requested to assemble on
this day at the said hour under certain penalties.
Sixth
Session
3 March
The
following Saturday, which was the third day of March, for the sixth session,
appeared the said Jeanne. And she was required by the Court to swear simply and
absolutely to tell the truth in everything that would be asked her.
She
answered: I am ready to take the oath as I did formerly.
Whereupon
she took the oath on the Holy Gospels.
Over
and over again did Maître Jean Beaupère, by order of my lord the Bishop of
Beauvais, put questions to Jeanne, repeating to her that she had said that
Saint Michael had wings; and yet had not said anything of the bodies or limbs
of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret.
She
answered: I have told you what I know; and I will not answer you further.
She
said also that she had seen them so clearly that she was well assured that they
were saints in heaven. [XLV]
Asked
if she had seen more than their faces,
She
answered: I have told you what I know. I would rather you cut my throat [than
tell you more].
She
said also that everything she knew touching the trial she would willingly tell.
Asked
if Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel had natural heads,
She
said: Yes, so I saw them. And I believe that it was they, as certainly as I
believe that God exists.
Asked
whether she believes that God made them with heads as she saw them,
She
answered: I saw them with my own eyes. I will not say anything else.
Asked
again whether she believes that God made them with heads as she saw them,
She
answered yes. [XLVIII]
Questioned
as to whether she believes that God created them in this form and shape from
the beginning,
She
answered: You will have nothing else from me for the present, seeing that I
have answered.
Asked
if she had seen or known by revelation that she would escape,
She
answered: That does not concern your trial. Do you want me to speak against
myself?
Asked
if her voices had spoken to her about it,
She
said: That is not in your trial. I refer to Our Lord, Who will do His pleasure.
She
said further: By my faith, I know neither the hour nor the day. God's will be done. [LX]
Asked
if her voices had said anything in general,
She
said: Yes, indeed, they told me I should be delivered. But I know neither the
day nor the hour. And [they told me] I must put a bold face on it. [XXXIII]
Asked
whether, when she first came before her king, he asked her if it were by
revelation that she changed her dress,
She
answered: I have told you; although I do not remember if I was asked.
She
said also that it was written down at Poitiers. [XIII]
Asked
if the masters of the other allegiance[21] who examined her, some for a month and others for
three weeks, had questioned her as to changing her dress,
She
said: I do not remember.
But
she said that they questioned her as to where she had taken man's dress; and
she told them it was at Vaucouleurs.
Questioned
as to whether they had asked whether she took it by [direction of] her voices,
She
said: I do not remember.
Asked,
when she first visited the queen, if she had asked her about this dress,
She
said: I do not remember.
Asked
if the king or the queen or others of her party had required her to put off her
male dress and take that of a woman,
She
answered: That is not in your trial.
Questioned
whether she was not so required at Beaurevoir,
She
answered: Yes, indeed. And I answered that I would not change it without Our
Lord's leave.
She
said also that the Demoiselle de Luxembourg asked my lord de Luxembourg not to
hand her over to the English.
She
said also that the Demoiselle de Luxembourg and the Lady of Beaurevoir offered
her a woman's dress, or cloth to make one, asking her to wear it.
And
she answered that she had not Our Lord's permission to do, and it was not yet time.
Asked
if Messire Jean de Pressy[22] and others had not offered her a woman's dress, [XVI]
She
answered: Both he and several others have offered me one on several occasions.
Asked
whether she believed she would have done wrong or committed mortal sin in
taking a woman's dress,
She
answered that she did better to obey and serve her sovereign Lord, that is God,
than men.
[XIII]
She
also said that if she had to do so, she would sooner have done it at the
request of these two ladies than of any other ladies in France, except the
queen.
Asked
whether, when God revealed to her that she should change her dress, it was by
the voice of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret,
She
said: You will have nothing else from me at present. [XVI]
Asked,
when her king set her to work and she had her standard made, if the men‑at‑arms
and other soldiers had pennons made after the style of hers,
She
answered: It is certain that the lords kept their own arms and not [those of]
others.
She
said further that some of her companions in arms had them made according to
their pleasure, and others not.
Asked
of what material they had them made, whether of linen or cloth
She
answered: Of white satin; and on some there were fleurs‑de-lis.
And
she said that she had only two or three lances in her troop; but her companions
in arms sometimes had theirs made like hers, only to know their own men from
others.
Asked
if they were often renewed,
She
replied, I do not know. When the lances were broken, they had new ones made.
Asked
if she had not said that the pennons made like hers were lucky,
She
answered that she had several times said to them [her followers], Go boldly
amongst the English. And she did the same herself.
Asked
if she had told them to carry them boldly, and they would have good fortune,
She
answered that she had indeed told them what had happened and would happen
again.
Asked
if she had sprinkled or had had sprinkled holy water on the persons when they
were first carried,
She
said: I know nothing of it; if it were done, it was not done by my orders.
Asked
whether she had not seen it sprinkled,
She
said: That is not in your trial. And if [she added] she had seen it sprinkled,
she is not now advised to answer you.
Asked
if her companions in arms had not put on their pennons JESUS MARIA.
She
answered: By my faith, I know nothing of it.
Asked
if she had ever carried or caused others to carry cloth of which to make
pennons, in the manner of a procession, around a castle[23] or a church.
She
said no, and had never seen it done. [XX]
Asked,
when she was before Jargeau what it was that she wore behind her helmet, and if
it was anything round,
She
said: By my faith, there was nothing.
Asked
if she ever knew Brother Richard,[24]
She
answered: I had never seen him until I came before Troyes.
Asked
what greeting Brother Richard gave her,
She
answered that the people of Troyes sent him to her, as she thought, saying that
they were doubtful as to whether she were sent by God.
And
when he came near her he made the sign of the Cross, and sprinkled holy water.
And
she said to him: Approach boldly. I shall not fly away.[25]
Asked
if she had ever seen or had made pictures or images of herself or in her
likeness,
She
answered that she had seen at Rheims a picture in the hand of a Scotsman; and
it looked like her in full armour, presenting a letter to her king, kneeling on
one knee. And she had never seen or had made any other image or painting in her
likeness.
Questioned
as to a picture in the house of her host [at Orleans], on which was written
JUSTICE, PEACE AND UNITY,
She
answered that she knew nothing about it.
Asked
if she was aware that some of her party had had Mass celebrated and prayers
said for her,
She
said she did not know. But if they had held a service it was not at her orders;
and if they prayed for her, she is sure that they did no wrong.
Asked
whether those of her party firmly believed that she was sent by God,
She
answered: I do not know whether they believe it, and refer to their opinions.
But even if they do not believe it, still I am sent from God.
Asked
if she thinks that in believing she was sent from God they believed rightly,
She
answered: If they believe that I am sent from God, they are not deceived. [XXI]
Asked
if she were not well aware of the thoughts of those of her party, when they
kissed her feet and hands and clothing,
She
replied: Many people gladly came to see me. And that they kissed her clothing
as little as she could help. But she said that the poor gladly came to her,
because she did them no unkindness, but upheld and helped them as much as she
could. [II]
Asked
what honour the inhabitants of Troyes showed her on her arrival,
She
answered: They showed me none.
She
said also that, to the best of her memory, Brother Richard was among them at
Troyes. But she does not remember if she saw him when she entered.
Asked
if he had not preached a sermon when she arrived,
She
answered that she only stayed a short time, and did not sleep [there]. And as
for the sermon, she does not know. [LII]
Asked
if she were many days at Rheims,
She
replied: I think we were there four or five days.
Asked
if she were not godmother to a child there,
She
replied that she was once at Troyes. But at Rheims, she did not remember being
so, nor at Château‑Thierry. But she was twice a godmother at Saint Denis.
And she gave the name Charles to the boys, in honour of her king; and Jeanne to
the girls; at other times according as the mothers wished.
Asked
if good women did not touch their rings with the ring she was wearing,
She
answered: Many women touched her hands and her rings. But she does not know
their thoughts or intentions.
Asked
who were those of her company who caught butterflies in her standard before
Château‑ Thierry,[26]
She
replied that it was never done or said by their party; but that those of the
other party invented it.
Asked
what she did at Rheims with the gloves when her king was crowned,
She
answered that gifts of gloves were made to the knights and nobles who were
there, and there was one who lost his gloves; but she did not say that she
would find them.[27]
She
also said that her standard was in the church at Rheims; and she thinks it was
quite near to the altar; and she herself bore it for a short time; and she does
not know whether Brother Richard bore it. [LVIII]
Asked
whether, when travelling about the country, she received the sacrament of
penance and of the altar frequently, when she was in the good [loyal] towns,
She
said yes, from time to time.
Asked
if she had received the said sacraments wearing man's dress,
She
said yes; but does not remember having received it in armour. [XL]
Asked
why she took the hackney of the Bishop of Senlis,[28]
She
answered: It was bought for two hundred saluts. Whether he received them or not she does not know;
but there was an agreement for him to be paid. And I wrote to him that he could
have it back if he wished [she said], for she did not want it; it was useless
to bear weight.
Asked
what was the age of the child at Lagny that she went to see,
She
replied: The baby was three days old. And it was brought to Lagny to Notre
Dame. And she was told that the maidens of the town were before [the statue of]
Our Lady; and that she might like to go and pray to God and Our Lady that it
might live. And she went there and prayed to God with the others. And finally
life appeared in it, and it yawned three times; then it was baptised and
immediately after died, and was buried in consecrated ground. For three days,
they said, no life had appeared in the child; and it was as black as her tunic.
But when it yawned, the colour began to come back. And she was with the maidens
on her knees in front of [the statue of] Our Lady, offering prayers.
Asked
if it were not said by the town that she had brought this about, and that it
was by her intercession,
She
replied: I never inquired.
Asked
if she knew Catherine de la Rochelle, or had seen her,
She
said yes, at Jargeau; and at Montfaucon‑en‑Berry.
Asked
whether she had shown her a woman dressed in white, who she said sometimes
appeared to her,
She
answered no.
Asked
what she said to her,
She
answered that this Catherine said to her that a woman appeared, a white lady,
dressed in cloth of gold, who told her to go through the good towns, and that
the king would give her heralds and trumpets to proclaim that whoever had gold,
silver, or treasure should at once bring it forth; and that she would know
those who did not and those who had hidden it; and would know where to find the
treasure; and it would serve to pay Jeanne's men‑at‑arms. To which
she had answered that she should return to her husband, and look after her
household and children. And, in order to be certain of the truth, she had
spoken to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, who told her that this Catherine
was mad and liar. So she wrote to
her king that she would tell him what ought to be done. And when she arrived, she informed him
that Catherine was only a fool and a liar. However, Brother Richard wanted them to set her to work,
which she [Jeanne] would not permit, wherefore Brother Richard and Catherine
were displeased with her.
Asked
if she had spoken to Catherine de la Rochelle concerning going to La Charité,
She
replied that Catherine did not advise her to go there; saying that it was too
cold, and she ought not to go.
She
said also to Catherine, who wished to go to the Duke of Burgundy to make peace,
that it was her opinion that they would find no peace save at the lance's
point.
She
also asked Catherine if this Lady appeared every night; and if so, she would
sleep with her. And she did so, but kept awake till midnight; saw nothing, and
then went to sleep. And when morning came, she asked if the Lady had appeared.
And she answered that she had come, but she [Jeanne] was asleep, and she had
not been able to wake her. So she asked her if the Lady would come the next
night. And Catherine said yes. On this account Jeanne slept during the day in
order that she might keep awake at night. And she shared Catherine's bed again
the following night, and kept awake throughout the night. But she saw no‑one,
although she often asked, Will she come soon? To which Catherine answered, Yes,
soon. [LVI]
Asked
what she did in the moat of La Charité,
She
answered that she ordered an assault to be made there. But she neither
sprinkled [holy] water nor caused it to be sprinkled.
Asked
why she did not enter [La Charité], since she had God's command,
She
said, Who told you that I had God's command to enter?
Asked
if she had not received advice from her voice,
She
replied that she wanted to come into France. But the soldiers told her that it
was better first to go before La Charité. [LVII]
Asked
if she were a long time in the tower of Beaurevoir,
She
answered that she was there four months or thereabouts. And she added that when
she learned that the English were coming, she was very angry; and her voices on
several occasions forbade her to jump. In the end, for fear of the English, she did jump, and
put herself in the hands of God and Our Lady. [XLI.] Nonetheless, she was
injured. And after she had jumped, the voice of Saint Catherine told her to be
of good cheer, for she would recover, and the people of Compiègne would receive
help.
She
said also that she always prayed to her counsel for the people of Compiègne. [XLVI]
Asked
what happened when she leaped, and what she said,
She
answered that some said she was dead. And as soon as the Burgundians saw that
she was alive, they asked her why she had jumped.
Asked
whether she had said that she would rather die than be in the hands of the
English, [XLI]
She
replied that she would rather surrender her soul [to God] than be in the hands
of the English.
Asked
whether she was not angry, and blasphemed the Name of God,
She
replied that she had never blasphemed the saints; and that she was not
accustomed to swear.
Asked
about Soissons, and the captain who had surrendered the town; and whether she
had not denied God in saying that
she would have him cut in four pieces,
She
answered that she never denied the saints. And that those who had said so were
mistaken. [XLVII.] For never in her life had she sworn or blasphemed the Name
of God or His saints. Wherefore [she added], I beg you, go on to your next
question.
[For
the next four days the court collated the results of the interrogations held to
date, and decided on which points further questioning was necessary. It was
also agreed that since owing to their 'numerous occupations' it was impossible
for all the assessors to attend future hearings, the task be delegated to a
selected few. The bishop decreed that future interrogations be carried out in
Jeanne's cell.]
Seventh
Session
10 March
The
Saturday following, being that after the Sunday of Oculi, the tenth day of
March, Jeanne was required to tell the truth.
She
answered: I promise you that I will speak the truth in what touches your trial.
I beg you, do not force me to swear. For the more you force me to swear, the
later will I tell you the truth.
She
was later questioned by Maître Jean de la Fontaine, by direction of my lord of
Beauvais, in this way: Under oath, when you last came to Compiègne, from what
place did you come?
She
answered: From Crépy‑en‑Valois.
Asked,
when she came to Compiègne, if she were several days [there] before she made a
sally,
She
replied that she came at a secret hour in the morning, and entered the town
without her enemies being aware of it, as far as she knows. And the very same
day, at evening, she made the sally in which she was captured.
Asked
if, at this sally, the bells were rung,
She
answered that if they were rung, it was not by her orders, or with her
knowledge; and she did not think so. And she did not remember having said that
they were rung.
Asked
if she made this sally by command of her voice,
She
answered that in Easter week last, she being in the moat before Melun, she was
told by her voices, that is to say Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, that she
would be captured before the feast of Saint John, that it had to be so, and
that she should not be cast down, but take it all in good part, and God would
help her.
Asked
whether, since Melun, she had been told over and over again by her voices that
she should be taken,
She
said yes, frequently, almost every day. And she begged her voices that when she
should be taken prisoner she might die speedily, without suffering long
imprisonment.
And
they told her that she should take it all in good part; and that it must happen
so; but they did not tell her when; and if she had known it, she would not have
gone. And she had several times asked them when; but they would not tell her. [XXXIII]
And
then she requested: Go on to the next question.
Asked
whether her voices had ordered her to make the sally, or informed her that she
would be taken prisoner if she did so,
She
answered that if she had known when she should be taken she would not have gone
willingly. Nevertheless she would have obeyed them in the end, whatever was
going to happen to her. [XXXVII]
Asked
whether when she made this sally, she had it from her voices to go and make
this sally,
She
replied that that day she did not know that she would be captured and had no
order [from her voices] to go forth; but she had always been told that she
would be taken prisoner.
Asked
whether, in making this sally, she had crossed the bridge, She replied that she
went by way of the bridge and the boulevard, in the company of a number of her
party, against the people of my lord of Luxembourg. And twice she drove them
back as far as the camp of the Burgundians, and the third time as far as half
way there. And then the English, who were there, cut the road between her
forces and the boulevard. On this account both she and her men retreated, and
during the retreat into the fields on the Picardy side, near the boulevard, she
was captured between the river and Compiègne. And there was only the river and
the boulevard with its moat between the spot where she was taken and Compiègne.[29] [II]
Asked
whether on her standard the world and two angels were painted,
She
answered yes.
Asked
what significance there were in having on her standard God holding the world,
and two angels,
She
answered that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret told her to have it made in
this fashion, and to bear it boldly; and to have painted upon it the King of
Heaven.
As
to its significance, she knew nothing more.
Questioned
as to whether she had a shield and arms,
She
answered that she never had.[30] But that her king granted arms to her brothers, a
shield of azure, bearing two fleurs‑de‑lis of gold, and a sword
between. And she had described these arms to a painter, who had asked what arms
she had.
She
said that they were granted by her king to her brothers to give them pleasure,
without her asking and without revelation.
[LVIII]
Asked
if she had a horse when she was captured, and whether it were a charger or a
hackney,
She
said she was then on horseback, and it was a demi‑charger.
Asked
who had given her this horse,
She
replied that her king or one of his people had given it to her, out of the
king's treasury.
And
she added that she had five chargers, not counting the hackneys, of which she
had more than seven.
Questioned
whether she had received any other riches from her king, except the horses,
She
answered that she had asked for nothing from her king except good arms, good
horses, and money to pay the people of her household.
Asked
if she had no treasure,
She
replied that the ten or twelve thousand [écus] that she had in money was not a great treasure to
carry on a war; very little indeed; and that sum her brothers had, so she
thought. And she said that what she had was her king's own money. [LV]
Asked
what is the sign that came to her king,
She
said it was beautiful, honourable and good, and the richest there could be.
Asked
why she was unwilling to tell or show the sign, seeing that she had wished to
know that of Catherine de la Rochelle,
She
answered that if the sign of Catherine [de la Rochelle] had been as much shown
as her [sign] had been to important churchmen, archbishops and bishops-‑such
as the Archbishop of Rheims and other bishops, whose names she does not know,
and other persons such as Charles de Bourbon, Sieur de la Trémoïlle, the Duke
of Alençon, and several other knights, who saw and heard it as distinctly as
she does those who speak to her to‑day‑‑then she would not
have asked to know the said Catherine's sign. Nevertheless she knew through Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret that as for the
affair of Catherine de la Rochelle, it was all nonsense.
Asked
if the sign still exists,
She
replied: Certainly it
still exists; and will last for a thousand years and more.
She
added that the sign is in the king's treasury.
Questioned
as to whether it is gold, silver, a precious stone, or a crown,
She
answered: I will not tell you anything else. No man could devise anything as
precious as this sign. And in any case the sign that you need is that God
should deliver me out of your hands. And it is the most certain one that He
could send you. [LI]
She
said also that when she was about to leave to go to her king, her voices said
to her: Go boldly! For, when you stand before the king, he will have a sign
[which will make him] receive you and believe in you. [XXXIII]
Asked,
when the sign came to her king, what reverence she made it, and if it came from
God,
She
replied that she thanked Our Lord for freeing her from the trouble [caused by]
churchmen of her party, who argued against her. And she knelt down, many times.
[XLIX]
She
said further that an angel of God, and no other, gave the sign to her king for
which she many times thanked Our Lord.
She
said also that the churchmen of her party stopped arguing when they had
recognized the sign.
Asked
whether the people of her party saw the sign,
She
answered that when her king and those who were with him had seen the sign and
also the angel who brought it, she asked her king if he were content. And he
answered yes. And then she left [him], and went into a little chapel near at
hand; and heard it said that after her departure more than three hundred people
saw the sign.
She
said also that for love of her, and that they might cease questioning her, God
was willing to allow those of her party to see the sign. [LI]
Questioned
whether she and her king did not do reverence to the angel when he brought the
sign,
She
said she did; she knelt down and bared her head.
[XLIX]
Eighth
Session
12 March
The
Monday after Laetare Jerusalem, XIIth day of March, Jeanne was required by my
lord of Beauvais to tell the truth concerning what would be asked her.
She
answered: In that which touches your trial, as I have previously told you, I
will willingly tell the truth.
And
in this manner she took the oath, there being present Maîtres Thomas Fiesvé,
Nicolas de [Hubent] and Jean Carbonnier.
Then,
by order of my lord the Bishop of Beauvais, she was examined by Maître Jean de
la Fontaine.
Firstly,
as to whether the angel who brought the sign did not speak to her,
To
which she answered yes. And that he told her king that he should put her to
work. And that [the country] would soon thereafter be relieved.
Asked
if the angel who brought the sign was the angel who first appeared to her, or
if it were another,
She
said: It is always the same one. And [she added] he never fails her.
Asked
if the angel had not failed her with respect to her good fortune, in that she
had been taken prisoner,
She
answered that she believed that, seeing it so pleased Our Lord, it was best
that she should have been captured.
Asked
if the angel had not failed her with respect to her spiritual good,
She
answered: How should he have failed me, when he comforts me every day? And she
believes that this comfort comes from Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret.
Asked
whether she calls them, or whether they come without being called,
She
replied: They often come without being called. And other times, if they do not
come very soon, she asks Our Lord to send them.
Asked
whether she sometimes called them and they did not come,
She
replied that she never had need of them without their coming. [L]
Asked
whether Saint Denis had ever appeared
to her,
She
said no, as far as she knew.
Asked
whether, when she promised Our Lord to keep her virginity, she had spoken to
Him,
She
answered: It ought to be sufficient to promise it to those who were sent by
Him, that is to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. [XLIX]
Asked
who had persuaded her to cite a man at Toul in an action for marriage,[31]
She
said: I did not cite him; it was he who cited me. And there [she added] she
swore before the judge to tell the truth; and in fact she never had made any
promise to him. [IX]
She
said also that the first time she heard her voice, she vowed her virginity as
long as it should be pleasing to God. She was then of the age of thirteen years
or thereabouts. [XLIX]
She
said further that her voices had assured her that she would win her case. [IX]
Asked
if she had ever spoken of these visions either to her curé or to any other
churchman,
She
said no; but only to Robert de Baudricourt and to her king. And she also said
that she was never compelled by her voices to keep them secret; but she was
greatly afraid of telling about them, for fear of the Burgundians preventing
her making her journey; and especially was she afraid of her father, that he
too might hinder her journey.
Asked
if she believed that she had done well in leaving without the permission of her
father or mother, seeing that it is said that one should honour one's father
and mother,
She
replied that in everything else she had been most obedient to them, save for
this departure; but that she later had written to them, and they had forgiven
her. [XLVIII]
Asked
if when she left her father and mother she believed that she had not committed
a sin,
She
answered: Since God so commanded, I had to obey.
She
added that since God so commanded, if she had had a hundred fathers and
mothers, and if she had been a king's daughter, she would still have gone.
Questioned
whether she had asked her voices to tell her father and mother of her leaving,
She
answered that, as for her father and mother, [the voices] were well enough
pleased that she should tell them, had it not been for the trouble that they
would have caused if she did tell them. For herself, she would not tell them
for anything.
She
added that her voices left it to her to tell her father and mother, or to keep
silence. [X]
Asked
whether, when she saw Saint Michael and the angels, she made any reverence to
them,
She
said yes; after they left she had kissed the ground on which they stood, doing
them reverence. [XLIX]
Asked
if they stayed long with her,
She
answered: They often come to Christians who do not see them. She added that she
had often seen them among Christian folk.
Questioned
whether she ever had received letters from Saint Michael or her voices,
She
said: I have not had leave to tell you this.
But
within a week from now I will gladly tell you what I know. [LX]
Asked
if her voices had ever called her DAUGHTER OF GOD, DAUGHTER OF THE CHURCH,
GREAT‑HEARTED MAID,
She
answered that, both before the raising of the siege of Orleans and afterwards,
every day when they spoke to her, they have often called her JEANNE THE
PUCELLE, DAUGHTER OF GOD. [XI]
Asked
why, since she calls herself DAUGHTER OF GOD, she was unwilling to say the Pater
Noster,
She
replied that she would willingly say it. And previously when she refused to say
it, it was with the intention that my lord of Beauvais should hear her in confession.
Ninth
Session
Monday afternoon, 12 March
Questioned
concerning her father's dreams,
She
replied that when she was still with her father and mother, she was often told
by her mother that her father had said that he dreamed his daughter Jeanne
would go off with the soldiers; and that her mother and father took great care
to keep her safely; that they were very strict with her; and that she was
always obedient to them save in the incident at Toul, the action for [breach of
promise of] marriage.
She
said further that she had heard her mother say that her father had said to her
brothers: If I thought that such a thing could happen as I have dreamed, I
should want you to drown her; and if you did not, I would drown her
myself. And that she greatly
feared that they would lose their minds when she left to go to Vaucouleurs.
Asked
if his thoughts and dreams had come to her father after she had her visions,
She
replied: Yes, more than two years after she first heard the voices. [X]
Questioned
as to whether it was at the request of Robert [de Baudricourt] that she took
man's dress,
She
replied that she had done so of her own wish, and not at the request of anyone
in the world.
Asked
if the voice had told her to take man's dress,
She
said: Everything good that I have done, I did by command of the voices.
And
she said moreover that concerning this dress she would answer later on; at
present she could not do so; but would answer to‑morrow. [XII]
Questioned
whether in taking male dress she thought that she had done wrong,
She
answered no; and that even at this moment if she were with her own people and
wearing this male dress, it seemed to her it would be for the great good of
France to do as she used to do before she was taken prisoner. [XIV]
Asked
how she would have delivered the Duke of Orleans,[32]
She
said that she would have taken enough English prisoners to ransom him; and if
she had not taken enough for that, she would have crossed the sea and brought
him from England by force.
Asked
whether Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine had told her, absolutely and without
condition, that she would take enough prisoners to ransom the Duke of Orleans
who was in England, or that she would cross the sea to bring him from England
by force, bringing him back within three years,
She
answered yes. And she told her king to allow her to take prisoners.
She
said also that if she had lasted three years without hindrance she would have
delivered him.
She
said moreover that it would have been a shorter time than three years, and
longer than one; but she does not at the moment know [exactly how long].
[XXXIII]
Questioned
concerning the sign given to her king,
She
answered that she would ask advice about it from Saint Catherine.
Tenth
Session
13 March
On
Tuesday, XIIIth day of March, in the year one thousand four hundred and thirty,
Being
questioned first as to what the sign was, which was given to her king,
She
answered: Do you wish me to perjure myself?
Asked
by my lord the Vice‑Inquisitor whether she had sworn and promised Saint
Catherine not to reveal this sign,
She
answered: Of my own accord I have sworn and promised not to reveal this sign,
since I have been too often urged to do so. So she said to herself. I promise
that I will not speak of it to anyone.
She
also said that the sign was that the angel, in bringing her king the crown,
assured him that he would have the whole and entire realm of France through the
help of God and her efforts; and that he should put her to work; for unless he
gave her troops he would not so soon be crowned and anointed.
Questioned
whether since yesterday she had spoken with Saint Catherine,
She
answered that she had. And she had several times told her to answer the judges
boldly whatever they asked her concerning her trial.
Asked
in what manner the angel brought the crown, and whether he put it on the king's
head,
She
replied: It was given to an archbishop, the Archbishop of Rheims if she was not
mistaken.
And
the archbishop took it and
presented it to the king.
Questioned
as to where this
took place,
She
answered: It was in the king's chamber in the castle of Chinon.
Asked
the day and the hour,
She
answered: As to the day, I do not know; as to the hour, it was late. She does
not remember more; of the month, it was the month of April or March, she
thinks; for either next April or this present month it will be two years ago;
it was after Easter.
Asked
whether, the first day that she saw the sign, her king saw it too,
She
replied yes; and he himself received it.
Questioned
of what material the crown was made,
She
said: It was of fine gold, and it was so rich that I could not describe its
richness. The crown signified that he should hold the realm of France.
Asked
if it had precious stones,
She
said: I have told you all I know.
Asked
whether she had held or kissed it,
She
said no.
Questioned
as to whether the angel who brought it came from on high or from the earth,
She
answered: He came from on high. And she understood that he came by Our Lord's
command; and he entered the room by the door.
Asked
if the angel walked through the door of the room,
She
said: When he came to the king, he did the king reverence, bowing before him,
and saying the words that she has already mentioned concerning the sign; and
together with this, he recalled the great patience he [the king] had shown in
the great tribulations that had come upon him; and from the door he walked
across the floor to the king.
Asked
how far it was from the door to the king,
She
said that she thought about a lance's length; and he went out by the way he
came in.
She
said also that when the angel came she accompanied him, and went with him up
the stairs to the king's chamber, and the angel entered first. Then she herself
said to the king: Sire, here is your sign: take it.
Asked
where it was he appeared to her,
She
answered: I often prayed that God should send the king a sign, and was in my
lodging at the house of a good woman near the castle of Chinon, when he came.
And then we went together to the king, and he was accompanied by a number of
other angels whom no‑one could see.
She
said further that, had it not been for the love of her, and to release her from
the trouble caused by those who opposed her, she truly believed that a number
of people would have seen the angel, who did not see him.[33]
Asked
whether all those who were there with the king saw the angel,
She
replied that she thinks that the Archbishop of Rheims, and the lords of
Orleans,[34] de la Trémoïlle and Charles de Bourbon saw him. And
as for the crown, several churchmen and others saw it, who did not see the
angel.
Asked
what appearance the angel had, and how tall he was,
She
said she had not leave to answer this, but will do so to‑morrow.
Asked
whether those who accompanied the angel all had the same appearance,
She
said that some of them were like each other, and others not, as far as she
could see; and that some of them had wings; and some had crowns, and others
not; and there were amongst them Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, who went
with the aforesaid angel and the others right into the king's chamber.
Asked
how the angel left her,
She
replied that he departed from her in a little chapel, and she was much
disturbed at his leaving, and wept, and would gladly have gone with him; that
is, that her soul would have gone.
Asked
if at his departure she was joyful, or frightened,
She
said: He did not leave me frightened, but dismayed at his leaving.
Asked
if it were on account of her merits that God sent His angel,
She
answered: He came for a great purpose, and hoped that the king would believe in
the sign, and that they would stop opposing her; to give help to the good
people of Orleans; and also account of the merits of the king and the good Duke
of Orleans.
Asked
why she, sooner than another,
She
answered: It pleased God so to do, by means of a simple maid to drive back the
king's enemies.
Asked
if it had been told her whence the angel had brought this crown,
She
replied that it had been brought from God; and that there is no goldsmith in
the world who could have made one so lovely and so precious. As to whence he
brought it, she refers herself to God; she knows nothing more as to whence it
came.
Questioned
as to whether this crown did not have a pleasing scent, and if it did not
glitter,
She
answered that she did not remember, but would think it over.
And
later on said: It has and always will have a pleasing scent. But he who has it
must guard it well. And it has the shape of a crown.
Asked
if the angel had brought her letters,
She
said no.
Asked
what sign the king had, and those who were with him, and she herself, to
believe that it was an angel,
She
said that the king so believed on the advice of the churchmen who were present,
and from the sign of the crown.
Asked
how the churchmen knew that it was an angel,
She
answered: From their learning, and because they were clerks. [LI]
Asked
about a married priest, etc., and a lost cup,[35]
She
said: Of all that, I know nothing, and have never heard it spoken of. [XVII]
Asked
whether, when she went to Paris, she did so by revelation of her voices,
She
replied no, but at the request of certain nobles who were desirous of having a
skirmish or an assault‑at‑arms; and she had every intention of
going further and crossing the moats.[36]
Asked
also whether she had revelations as to the attack on La Charité,
She
said no; but she did this at the desire of the captains as she had previously
said.
Questioned
as to Pont l'Evêque, whether she had any revelation,
She
said that after she heard by revelation at Melun that she was going to be taken
prisoner, she handed over most of the conduct of the war to the captains; she
did not however inform them that she had had a revelation that she would be
captured.
Asked
whether it were right on the day of the Nativity of Our Lady, being a feast
day, to make an assault on Paris,
She
answered: It is good to keep the feasts of Our Lady. And, in her conscience,
that it was and would be good to keep the feasts of Our Lady from beginning to
end. [LVII]
Questioned
as to whether she had not said, when before the town of Paris: Surrender the
town in Jesus' Name,
She
said no; but that she had said: Surrender it to the King of France.
Eleventh
Session
14 March
On
Wednesday, XIIIIth day of March, being questioned firstly as to what was the reason
she leaped from the tower of Beaurevoir,
She
answered that she had heard it said that the people of Compiègne, all up to the
age of seven years, were to be put to fire and sword; and that she would rather
die than live after such a destruction of good people. That was one of the
reasons. The other was that she knew she had been sold to the English, and she
would much rather have died than be in the hands of her enemies the English.
Asked
whether this leap was made on the advice of her voices,
She
answered: that Saint Catherine told her almost every day that she was not to
leap, and that God would help her and those of Compiègne. And she said to Saint
Catherine that since God was going to help the people of Compiègne, she wanted
to be there. And Saint Catherine replied to her: You must take this in good
part; you will not be freed until you have seen the King of the English.
To
which Jeanne answered: Truly, I do not want to see him. And I would rather die
than fall into the hands of the English.
Asked
whether she had said to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret: Will God allow
these good people of Compiègne to die so wretchedly,
She
replied that she had not said: So wretchedly, but had spoken thus: How will God
allow these good people of Compiègne to die, who have been and are so loyal to
their lord.
She
said also that after her leap she was two or three days without wanting to eat;
and indeed was so injured in falling that she was unable either to drink or
eat. Yet she was comforted by Saint Catherine who told her to confess, and beg
mercy of God for having leaped, and that certainly the people of Compiègne
would receive help before Saint Martin's Day in winter.[37] Then she began to get well and to eat, and was soon
cured.
Asked
whether, when she leaped, she expected to kill herself,
She
answered no. But in leaping she recommended herself to God, and believed that
by means of this leap she could escape and avoid being handed over to the
English.
Asked
if, when she regained her speech, she denied and cursed God and His saints,
which according to the questioner is to be found in the evidence,
She
answered that she does not remember; and in as far as what she does remember is
concerned, she never denied or cursed God or His saints either then or at any
other time. And she does not admit this; she cannot remember exactly what she
said or did.
Asked
if her voices asked her for a delay before they answered,
She
said that Saint Catherine sometimes answered at once; and at other times Jeanne
had to listen [carefully] on account of the noise made by people, and by her
guards. And when she makes a request of Saint Catherine, at once she and Saint
Margaret ask Our Lord; and then, by Our Lord's command, they give a reply to
Jeanne.
Asked
whether, when they come, a light accompanies them; and whether she saw the
light when she heard the voice in the castle, and did not know whether it was
in the room,
She
answered that there is not a day when they do not come to this castle, and they
never come without light; and many times she heard the voice, but does not
remember whether she saw a light, or whether she saw Saint Catherine.
She
said also that she asked three things of her voices: one concerning her
deliverance; secondly that God should help the French and watch over the towns
which were in their possession; and lastly the salvation of her own soul. [L]
She
asks also that if she is taken to Paris she may have a copy of her questions
and answers, in order that she may give them to the people in Paris and say:
These are the questions asked me in Rouen, and my replies. And also that she
may not be burdened again with so many questions.
Asked,
when she said that my lord of Beauvais had put himself in danger in trying her,
what was the danger into which my lord of Beauvais and the others had put
themselves,
She
replied that this was and is what she said to my lord of Beauvais: You say that
you are my judge. I do not know whether you are. But I warn you not to judge me
wrongfully, for you would so put yourself in great danger. But I warn you, so
that if Our Lord punish you for it, I shall have done my duty in so warning
you.
Asked
what this danger is,
She
answered that Saint Catherine had told her that she would receive help; and she
does not know if this is that she will be delivered out of prison; or if whilst
she is being tried some disturbance will occur whereby she will be freed. She
thinks that it will be one or the other. And furthermore the voices have told
her that she would be delivered by a great victory. And later, her voices said
to her: Take it all cheerfully. Do
not despair on account of your martyrdom, for in the end you will come to the
Kingdom of Heaven. This her voices told her simply and definitely, without
faltering. And her martyrdom she called the pain and suffering that she was
undergoing in prison; and she does not know whether she will suffer still more,
but puts all her faith in Our Lord. [XXXIII]
Asked
whether, since her voices have told her that in the end she will come to the
Kingdom of Heaven, she believes herself assured of salvation, and that she will
not be damned in hell,
She
said that she firmly believes what her voices have told her, that she will be saved, as firmly as if she were already there.
And
when they told her that this answer had great weight,
She
answered that she, too, accounted it a great treasure.
Questioned
as to whether, after this revelation, she believes that she cannot commit
mortal sin,
She
answered: As to this I know nothing; but commit myself in all things to Our
Lord.
Twelfth
Session
The
same Wednesday in the afternoon,
As
to this question:[38] provided she keeps the vow and promise that she made
to Our Lord that she should keep her virginity both of body and soul,
Questioned
as to whether there was any need to make confession since she believes, through
the revelation of her voices, that she will be saved,
She
answered that she does not know that she has committed mortal sin; but if she
be in mortal sin, she thinks that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would at
once abandon her. And she believes, in replying to the preceding question: One
cannot cleanse one's conscience too much.
[XLIV]
Asked
whether, since she has been in this prison, she has ever denied or cursed God,
She
said no; and that on many occasions when she said Bon gré Dieu,[39] or
Saint John, or Our Lady, those who told about it had misunderstood. [XLVII]
Asked
whether taking a man prisoner and holding him to ransom, and then putting him
to death, is not a mortal sin,
She
answered that she had never done such a thing.
And
when they referred to a man named Franquet d'Arras, who was put to death at
Lagny,
She
answered that she had agreed to his being put to death since he deserved it,
since he had confessed that he was a murderer, a thief and a traitor. She said
that his trial lasted for a fortnight; and that the judges were the bailli of
Senlis and the magistrates of Lagny. And she said that she had asked to have
Franquet [exchanged] for a man of Paris, the seigneur de l'Ours. And when she
learned that the seigneur was dead, and when the bailli informed her that she
would be interfering with justice in freeing the said Franquet, she then said
to the bailli: Since my man is dead, the one I wanted to have, then deal with
this man as justice requires.
Asked
if she had given or caused to be given any money to him who had taken Franquet
prisoner,
She
said that she was not the Master of the Mint or the Treasurer of France, to
give him money.
And
when they reminded her that she had made an assault on Paris on a feast day;
that she had taken my lord of Senlis' horse; that she had thrown herself down
from the tower of Beaurevoir; that she wears male dress; and that she agreed to
the death of Franquet d'Arras; asking her whether she did not believe that she
was in mortal sin,
Then
the same Wednesday in the afternoon, being the fourteenth day of March, she
answered as to the first, concerning Paris:
I
do not believe I am in mortal sin, and if I am, it is for God to know it, and
for the priest who hears me in confession.
Secondly,
concerning my lord of Senlis' horse,
She
answered that she firmly believes she is not guilty of mortal sin towards Our
Lord, for it was valued at two hundred gold saluts, for which he had received an assignment; and in any
case it was sent back to the seigneur de la Trémoïlle to give back to my lord
of Senlis; the horse was in any case useless to her for riding. And she said
that it was not she who took
it away from the bishop; and furthermore she did not want to keep it, because
she heard that the bishop was displeased at his horse being taken; and in any case it was useless
to men‑at‑arms.
And in conclusion, whether he were paid the assignment given him, or whether he had restitution of his horse
she does not know, but thinks not.
Thirdly,
concerning the tower of Beaurevoir,
She
answered: I did not do it out of despair, but in the hope of saving my life and
of going to the help of a number of good people who were in need. And after
leaping she made confession and asked pardon of Our Lord. And she believes that
she did wrong in making the leap.
She
said also that she knew by revelation from Saint Catherine that she had
received forgiveness after she had confessed. And it was by Saint Catherine's
advice that she confessed it.
Asked
if she had been given a heavy penance,
She
said that she herself bore a large part of it in the hurt she received in
failing.
Questioned
as to whether she believed that the wrong she did in leaping was a mortal sin,
She
replied: I do not know; but I refer myself to Our Lord.
And
fourthly, that she wears man's clothing,
She
answered: Since I do so at the command of God and in His service, I do not
believe that I do ill; and as soon as it shall please Him to order me, it will
be left off. [XXXIX]
Thirteenth
Session
15 March
Thursday
morning, XVth day of March,
After
the admonitions were made to her, and she was required to refer to the
determination of the Church, if she had done anything contrary to the Faith,
She
answered that her replies ought to be seen by the ecclesiastics, who should
tell her if there were anything contrary to the Christian Faith; she will be
able to tell through her counsel [her voices] what it is; and then will be able
to say what her counsel has told her. And in any case if there were anything
wrong and against the Christian Faith that Our Lord has commanded, she would
not wish to uphold it, and would be very grieved to be opposed to it.
The
Church Triumphant and the Church Militant were then explained to her.
Being
required that she should immediately submit to the judgment of the Church as to
what she had done, whether it were good or evil,
She
answered: I will not give you any other answer at present. [LXI]
Fourteenth
Session
On
Thursday the XVth day of March in the year MCCCCXXX, Jeanne was questioned on
the aforesaid sworn testimony,
And
firstly, as to what she had said concerning the manner in which she believed
she could escape from the castle of Beaulieu, between two planks,
She
answered that she was never a prisoner anywhere but she would escape gladly.
And when she was in that castle she would have shut up her gaolers in the
tower, had it not been that the porter saw her and caught her.[40]
She
said also that it seemed to her that it was not God's will that she should
escape that time, and that she must see the King of the English, as her voices
had told her, and as it is written above.
[XXXI]
Asked
whether she had leave from God or from her voices to escape from prison
whenever she pleased,
She
replied: I have often asked for it, but so far have not had it.
Asked
whether she would go at once if she saw her opportunity,
She
said that if she saw the door open she would go, for this would be Our Lord's
permission. And she believes firmly that if she saw the door open and her
guards and the rest of the English were unable to resist, she would understand
that she had permission, and that Our Lord would send her help. But without
leave she would not go; unless she made an attempt so that she might know
whether Our Lord would be pleased. And she quoted: Help yourself and God
will help you. And she said
this so that, if she escaped, no‑one could say that she had gone without
leave.
Questioned
as to whether, since she asks to hear Mass, she does not think it more proper
that she should wear a woman's dress. And therefore she was asked, which she
would rather do: wear a woman's dress and hear Mass, or continue in her man's
clothing and not hear Mass.
She
answered: Promise me that I may hear Mass if I wear a woman's dress, and then I
will answer you.
To
which her questioner said: I promise you that you will hear Mass if you put on woman's dress.
She
replied: And what do you say, if I have sworn and promised our King not to put
off these clothes? Nevertheless I say, Make me a long dress, right down to the
ground, without a train, and give it to me to go to Mass, and then when I come
back I will put on the clothes I now have.
Asked
if she would wear woman's dress at all to go and hear Mass,
She
said: I will think this over, and then answer you. She further asked, for the
honour of God and Our Lady, that she might hear Mass in this good town.
They
then told her that she must take a woman's dress, unconditionally and
absolutely,
And
she replied: Bring me a dress like that of a citizen's daughter; that is, a
long houppelande, and I will wear
it, and also a woman's hood, to go and hear Mass.
But
she also begged, with the greatest urgency, that they should leave her the
clothes she was wearing, and let her go and hear Mass without changing them. [XV]
Asked
if she is willing to submit and refer all she has said and done to the judgment
of the Church,
She
replied: All my deeds are in God's hand, and I commit myself to Him. And I
assure you that I would neither do nor say anything contrary to the Christian
Faith; and if I had done or said anything, or there were anything in me that
the churchmen could say was contrary to the Christian Faith established by Our
Lord, I should not wish to uphold it, but would cast it from me.
Questioned
as to whether she would submit to the ordinance of the Church,
She
answered: I will not answer you anything further now; but on Saturday send me a
clerk, if you do not wish to come yourself, and with God's help I will answer
him, and it shall be set down in writing. [LXI]
Asked
if, when the voices come, she does them reverence absolutely, as to a saint,
She
said yes. And if at any time she has not done so, she has afterwards begged
their pardon. And she could not show them as great reverence as properly
belongs to them. For she firmly believes that they are Saint Catherine and
Saint Margaret.
And
she said the same concerning Saint Michael.
Questioned
as to whether, since candles were frequently offered to the saints in heaven,
she has ever made oblation of lighted candles or such other things to the
saints who visit her, either in church or elsewhere; or whether she has ever
had Masses said,
She
answered no, save in offering one at Mass, in the priest's hand, in honour of
Saint Catherine; for she firmly believes her to be one of those who appeared to
her; nor has she lit as many as she would have wished to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret in Paradise,
firmly believing as she
does that it is they who come to her.
Questioned
whether, when she puts candles before the statue of Saint Catherine, she believes that she is putting them in honour of her
who appeared to her,
She
replied: I do so in honour of God, Our Lady, and Saint Catherine who is in heaven. And I see no difference between
Saint Catherine in heaven and her
who appears to me.
Asked
if she puts them in
honour of her who appeared to her,
She
replied: Yes. For she sees
no difference between her who appears to her and her who is in heaven.
Asked
if she always did and accomplished what her voices commanded her,
She
said that she obeyed the commands of Our Lord with all her power, which He told
her by her voices, as far as she could understand, and they never command her
to do anything save by Our Lord's good pleasure. [XLIX]
Asked
whether in war she had ever done anything without the permission of her voices,
She
answered: You have been answered. Read your book[41] carefully, and you will find it.
Nevertheless
she said that at the request of the captains she had made an assault at arms
before Paris; and she also besieged La Charité at her king's request. And this
was neither against nor according to the command of her voices.
Asked
if she had ever done anything against their wish and command,
She
said that she did and accomplished what she could and knew to do, to the best
of her power. And as for her leap from the tower of Beaurevoir, which she did
contrary to their orders, she could not refrain from doing so. And when they
saw her necessity, and that she could not help herself, they saved her life and
prevented her from being killed.
She
said further that, whatever she did in great matters, they had always helped
her; and this is a sign that they are good spirits. [XXXVII]
Questioned
as to whether she had any other sign that they are good spirits,
She
answered: Saint Michael assured me of it before the voices came to me.
Asked
how she knew that it was Saint Michael,
She
replied: By the speech and language of angels. And she firmly believes that
they were angels.
Asked
how she knew that it was the language of angels,
She
answered that she believed it immediately; and desired to believe it.
She
also said that Saint Michael, when he came to her, told her that Saint
Catherine and Saint Margaret would come to her, and that she should follow
their counsel; for they were ordered to lead and counsel her as to what she
should do; and that she should believe what they told her, for it was by Our
Lord's command.
Asked
how, if the Enemy appeared in the form of an angel, she could recognize whether
it were a good or an evil angel,
She
said she could easily tell whether it were indeed Saint Michael or a
counterfeit in his likeness.
She
also said that the first time she greatly doubted whether he were Saint
Michael, and was then greatly afraid. And she saw him a number of times before
being certain that he was Saint Michael.
Asked
how she then knew that it was Saint Michael, rather than on the first occasion
that he appeared to her,
She
said that the first time she was only a child, and was afraid. Since then he
had taught and showed her so much that she firmly believed that it was he.
Questioned
as to what doctrine be taught her,
She
said that firstly he told her that she was a good child, and that God would
help her. And among other matters, that she should go to the help of the King
of France. And a great part of what the angel taught her is in this book; and
the angel told her of the misery that was in the kingdom of France. [XXXIV]
Questioned
as to the height and stature of the angel,
She
said that she would answer on Saturday, together with the other answers that
she has to give; always providing this was pleasing to God. [XXXI]
Asked
if she did not believe it to be a great sin to offend Saint Catherine and Saint
Margaret who appeared to her, and to act contrary to their commands,
She
said yes; but she knows how to make amends; and that she thinks the time she
most offended them was in making the leap at Beaurevoir; for which she asked
pardon, as well as for the other offences which she had committed against them.
[XXXVII]
Asked
if Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would take bodily vengeance for this
offence,
She
said she did not know, and had never asked them.
Asked
why she had said that for speaking the truth one is sometimes hanged,[42] and if she knew of any crime or fault in herself for
which she might suffer death if she confessed it,
She
said no. [XXXI]
Fifteenth
Session
17 March
On
Saturday, XVII day of March, Jeanne was required to swear to tell the truth.
Asked
to answer as to in what form and shape, size and dress Saint Michael appeared,
She
said that he was in the shape of a very true and upright man. And as to his
dress and the rest she will say nothing more.
As
for the angels, she saw them with her eyes; and [the court] would have nothing
more from her about it.
She
said also that she believes in the deeds and words of Saint Michael who
appeared to her, as firmly as she believes that Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered
and died for us. And what leads her so to believe is the good counsel, comfort
and sound doctrine which he gave her.
Asked
whether she is willing to submit all her words and deeds, either good or evil,
to the judgment of our Mother Holy Church,
She
answered that, as for the Church, she loves it and would support it with all
her power for our Christian Faith; and it is not she who should be forbidden to
go to church and hear Mass. As for the good works that she has done, and her
coming, she must refer to the King of Heaven, Who sent her to Charles, son of
Charles King of France, who will himself be King of France.
And
you will see [she added], that the French will soon win a great action which
God will send to them; so much so that it will shake almost the whole realm of
France.
And
she stated that she says this, so that, when it comes to pass, it may be
remembered that she said it.
And
being asked to say when,
She
said: In this I refer to Our Lord.
Asked
to say whether she will submit to the decision of the Church,
She
answered: I refer in this to Our Lord Who sent me, to Our Lady and to all the
blessed saints in heaven.
And
it is her opinion that the Church and Our Lord are one; and that they ought not
to make difficulties seeing that they are one.
Then
she was told that there is the Church Triumphant, where are God, the saints,
and the souls that are saved; and there is the Church Militant, that is to say
our Holy Father the Pope, God's Vicar upon earth, the cardinals, the prelates
of the Church, and the clergy, and all good Catholic Christians; and this
Church when assembled[43] cannot err, and is governed by the Holy Spirit.
Wherefore,
being asked if she will not submit to the Church Militant, as it has been explained
to her,
She
answered that it was from God, from the Virgin Mary, and from all the blessed
saints in heaven, and from the Church Triumphant on high, and by their
commands, that she came to the King of France. And to this Church she submits
all her good deeds, and everything that she has done or is to do. [XXV]
And
in answer to whether she would submit to the Church Militant,
She
said that she would not now make any other answer.
Asked
what she says as to the woman's dress that they offered her in order that she
might go and hear Mass,
She
said that as to the woman's dress, she would not take it yet; not till it
pleased Our Lord. And if it must be that she is found guilty, then she begs the
lords of the Church to grant her the grace of a woman's dress and a hood for
her head; that she would rather die than go back on what Our Lord had commanded
her to do; and firmly believes that Our Lord will not suffer her to be brought
so low, that she might not receive help from God by a miracle. [XV]
Asked
why, since she has said that she wears man's dress by God's command, she asks a
woman's dress to wear in her last hours,
She
answered: It suffices that it be long. [XIV]
Asked
if her godmother who saw the fairies [Jeanne Aubry] is considered a wise woman,
She
said that she is considered a sensible and upright woman; not a witch or a
sorceress. [V]
Asked
whether her saying that she would take a woman's dress if they would let her
go, was pleasing to God,
She
answered that if they let her go in a woman's dress, she would at once put on
man's dress and do as Our Lord commanded her.
She
has said this before. And she would not for anything take the oath that she
would not take up arms or wear male dress to do Our Lord's will. [XV]
Questioned
as to the age and the clothing of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret,
She
said: You have already been answered as to this, and you will have no further
reply; I have told you as best I can. [XXXI]
Asked
if she did not believe before to‑day that the fairies were evil spirits,
She
answered that she knew nothing about it. [V]
Asked
if she knew whether Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret hated the English,
She
said: They love what Our Lord loves, and hate what God hates.
Asked
whether God hates the English,
She
said that as to the love or hate that God has for the English, or what He would
do for their souls, she knows nothing; but she is well assured that they will
be driven out of France, except those who die there; and that God will send the
French victory over the English.
Questioned
as to whether God were for the English while their cause prospered in France,
She
answered that she did not know whether God hated the French; but she believes
that He will allow them to be defeated for their sins, if in fact they are [in
a state of sin]. [XXXV]
Asked
what warrant and help she expected to have from our Lord in taking man's dress,
She
said, both in the matter of this dress and in the other things she had done,
she sought nothing but the salvation of her soul. [XII]
Asked
what arms she offered at Saint Denis,
She
answered that it was a suit of white[44] armour, [suitable for] a man‑at‑arms,
together with a sword, and that she won it before Paris.
Asked
why she offered them,
She
said it was out of devotion, according to the custom of soldiers when they were
wounded. And since she was wounded before Paris, she offered them to Saint
Denis, that being the war‑cry of France.
Asked
if it were that they might be worshipped,
She
answered no. [LIX]
Asked
what was the purpose of the five crosses which were on the sword that she found
at Saint Catherine de Fierbois,
She
said she did not know. [XIX]
Asked
who had urged her to have angels with arms, feet, legs, and wearing clothing,
painted [on her standard],
She
said: You have already been answered.
Asked
if she had had those who came to her painted,
She
said that she had them painted in the same way that they are painted in
churches.
Asked
if she had ever seen them as they were painted,
She
replied: I will tell you nothing more about it.
Asked
why she had not had the light that came to her with the angels or the voices
painted,
She
answered that it was not commanded her.
Sixteenth
Session
17 March
On
Saturday, XVIIth day of March, MCCCCXXX, after dinner,
Questioned
whether the two angels painted on her standard represented Saint Michael and
Saint Gabriel,
She
answered that they were there solely in honour of Our Lord, Who was painted on
the standard. And she had this picture of the angels made only in honour of Our
Lord Who was shown thereon holding the world.
Asked
if these two angels who were shown on the standard were the two angels who
guard the world; and why there were not more of them, seeing that it was Our
Lord Who commanded her to take this standard,
She
answered that the whole standard was commanded by Our Lord by means of the
voices of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret who said to her: Take the standard
in the Name of the King of Heaven. She had this figure of Our Lord made, and
those of the two angels; and as to colour and everything else she did it by
their command.
Questioned
as to whether she had asked them if, in virtue of this standard, she would win
all the battles she fought, and gain the victory,
She
answered that they told her to take it boldly and God would help her.
Asked
which helped the most, she or her standard,
She
said that whether the victory was her standard's or hers, it was all for Our
Lord.
Asked
whether the hope of being victorious was based upon her standard or upon
herself,
She
said that it was based upon Our Lord and upon no‑one else.
Asked
whether, if another carried it, he would have had as good fortune as she had
when she carried it,
She
answered: I do not know. I refer in all to Our Lord.
Asked
whether, if one of the men of her party had given her his standard to carry,
and she had carried it, she would have had as great faith in it as in her own
which was given her by God, or even as in that of her king,
She
answered: I always bore more gladly that which was given me by Our Lord. And in
everything I wait on Our Lord. [LVIII]
Asked
what was the purpose of the sign that she put in her letters: JESUS MARIA,
She
said that the clerks who wrote her letters put them there; and that some said
that it was correct to put these two words: JESUS MARIA. [XXIV]
Asked whether it had been revealed to her that if she
lost her virginity she would lose her good fortune, and that her voices would
come no more to her,
She said: That has not been revealed to me.
Asked whether she believes that if she were married
the voices would come to her,
She answered: I do not know; and I wait upon Our Lord.
Asked whether she thinks and firmly believes that her
king did right in killing or causing to be killed my lord of Burgundy,[45]
She answered that this was a great tragedy for the
kingdom of France; and whatever there had been between them, God had sent her
to the help of the King of France.
Asked, since she had told my lord of Beauvais that she
would answer him and his commissaries as she would our Holy Father the Pope,
and yet there were several questions to which she would not reply, whether she
would not answer more fully than she had to my lord of Beauvais,
She answered that she has replied as truly as she
knows how; and if anything comes to her mind that she has not said, she will
gladly tell it.
Asked whether it seems to her that she is bound to
tell the full truth to the Pope, Vicar of God, about everything they ask her
touching the Faith and the state of her conscience,
She said that she demands to be brought to the Church[46] before him; then she will answer everything that she
ought to answer. [LXI]
Questioned about one of her rings on which is written:
JESUS MARIA; of what material it is made,[47]
She said that she does not exactly know; and if it is
of gold it is not of fine gold. She does not know whether it is of gold or of
latten; and she thinks it has three crosses, and nothing else that she knows of
except JESUS MARIA.
Asked why she looked at this ring with gladness when
she went into battle,
She said it was out of pleasure, and in honour of her
father and mother; having her ring on her finger,[48] she had touched Saint Catherine when she appeared to
her.
Asked what part of Saint Catherine,
She
answered: You will get no other reply. [XX]
Asked if she had ever kissed or embraced Saint
Catherine or Saint Margaret,
She said she had embraced them both.
Asked whether they smelt pleasant,
She replied: Assuredly they did so.
Asked whether in embracing them she felt warmth or
anything else,
She said she could not embrace them without feeling
and touching them.
Asked what part she embraced, whether the upper or
lower,
She
answered: It is more fitting to embrace them above rather than below.[49] [XLII]
Asked if she had not given them garlands,
She answered that she had often given them, in their
honour, to their pictures or statues in churches; but to those who appeared to
her she had never given such, as far as she could remember.
Asked, when she hung garlands on the tree, did she put
them there in honour of those who appeared to her,
She said no.
Asked whether, when her saints came to her, she made
them any reverence such as kneeling to them or bowing,
She
said yes. And the more she could show them reverence, the more she did so. For
she knows that these are they who are in the Kingdom of Heaven. [XLIX]
Asked
whether she knows anything of those who consort with the fairies,
She
answered that she herself never did so, or knew anything about it, but she had
heard it said that they went on Thursdays, but she does not believe in it, and
thinks it only sorcery. [V]
Asked
whether her standard was not flown at the king's side,
She
said no, as far as she knows.
Asked
why it was brought into the church of Rheims at the coronation, rather than
those of the other captains,
She
answered: It had taken part in the dangers: it was only right that it should
also have the honour. [LVIII]
[On
March 18 and 22 Cauchon, Le Mâitre, and various of the assessors held further
consultations as to the preparation of the Articles of Indictment. On March 24
the report of the earlier interrogations was read over to Jeanne, who agreed it
to be correct. On the following day, Palm Sunday, she was asked again if she
would put on female clothing so that she might hear Mass, but she said that
this was impossible for her, and asked to be allowed to hear Mass in her male
attire. This was refused. On March 26, it was agreed that the Seventy Articles
be put to Jeanne next day and that, if she refused to reply to any of them, she
should be held confessed of the accusations contained therein. (In the
manuscript the text is inverted at this point by the insertion of the
proceedings of May 2. They are here replaced in their correct order.)]
TRIAL IN
ORDINARY
Deliberation
on Future Proceedings
27 March
On
the Tuesday after Palm Sunday, which was the XXVIIth of March, in the year
MIIIIXXX,
The
afore‑mentioned day, the promoter at this trial made a request contained
on a sheet of paper which he held in his hands, asking that he might be allowed
to put the charges against Jeanne, who was present, in the manner of Articles
to which she might answer.
Those
present were then asked what should be done, and whether the matter should be
further proceeded with.
To
which they answered;
And
first, Maître Nicolas de Venderès said: As to the first article, she should be
compelled to take the oath and swear to tell the truth; and in the event of her
refusing to do so she should be excommunicated; but if she was willing to
answer the censures, then one should proceed against her in accordance with the
law.
Maîtres
Jean Pinchon, Jean Basset and Jean Guerin were of opinion that the Articles
should be read.
Maître
Jean de la Fontaine was of the opinion of the said de Venderès.
Maître
Geoffroi du Crotoy was of the opinion that one should grant a delay of three
days before excommunicating her; since in a civil trial three delays are
allowed for the swearing De Calumpnia.
Maître
Jean le Doulx was of the same opinion.
Maître
Gilles Deschamps was of the opinion that the Articles should be read, and that
a day should be appointed for her to appear and answer them.
Maître
Robert Barbery was of the same opinion.
The
Abbot of Fécamp said that it seemed to him that she has no option but to tell
the truth in matters that touch her trial. And, if she will not see reason, she
should be granted sufficient delay to enable her to do so.
Maître
Jean de Châtillon said that she had to give truthful answers, seeing that it
was a question of fact.
Maîtres
Evrard Emengard and Guillaume Le Boucher, [said] the same as Châtillon.
The
Prior of Longueville said that, as to questions to which she does not know the
answer, she is not constrained to answer as to whether or no she believes them.
Maître
Jean Beaupère said that she is compelled to answer and tell the truth in all
matters whereof she is certain, and which are her own doing. Concerning other
things, one ought to allow a delay, if she asks it.
Maître
Jacques de Touraine was of the same opinion.
Maître
Nicolas Midi, the same; and with regard to constraining her, they should refer
to jurists.
Maître
Maurice du Quesnay is of the opinion of the aforesaid Abbot of Fécamp.
Maître
Jean de Nerbat said that with reference to the Articles, they should refer to
jurists; but added that she ought to tell the truth in matters touching her
trial; and if there are any questions to which she finds it difficult to reply,
she should be granted a delay, if she asks it.
Maître
Jean Fabri[50] refers to the jurists.
Maître
Pierre Maurice said that she is compelled to answer in matters that are well‑known.
Maître
Girard said that she is compelled to answer and to swear.
Maître
Jean Guedon is of the same opinion.
Maître
Thomas de Courcelles said that she is bound to answer to each of the Articles;
and if she ask a delay, they ought to grant it her.
Maître
André Marguerie is of opinion that she ought to swear as to what touches her
trial; and concerning matters of which she is in doubt, they ought to grant her
a delay.
Maître
Denis Gastinel said that she ought to swear, and that the promoter was right in
demanding the oath. As to proceeding further if she refused to swear, he would
like to see the books[51] before giving his opinion.
Maîtres
Aubert Morel and Jean du Chemin are of opinion that she ought to swear.
THE INTERROGATION UPON ARTICLES I‑XXX
After
the aforesaid opinions were given, the promoter at this trial took the oath De
Calumpnia, that he was moved
neither by favour nor shame nor fear but only by zeal for the Faith in
proceeding against Jeanne.
Jeanne
was then informed that she must answer and tell the truth about such things as
touch her trial; and that it was essential that she should do so, since the
doctors were of this opinion; and that the promoter had taken the oath De
Calumpnia.
The
Bishop of Beauvais explained to her that the aforesaid doctors were all men of
the Church, learned in law both human and divine, all kindly and merciful,
desiring to proceed in this matter with gentleness and pity, without demanding
vengeance or bodily punishment, but only wishing to teach her and lead her into
the way of truth and salvation, if there be some fault in her faith. And since
she was not sufficiently learned in letters and such high matters, it was
necessary to advise her of what she ought to do, wherefore the said Bishop of
Beauvais and the Vice‑Inquisitor asked Jeanne to choose one or more of
those present to advise her, or if she were unwilling to do so or did not know
whom to, choose, they would appoint as many counsellors as she wished to advise
her as to how to answer.
To
whom Jeanne answered:
Firstly,
as to what you tell me of my good and of our Faith, I thank you and all those
present also. And for your offer of counsel, I have no intention of departing
from the advice of Our Lord. And as for the oath that you wish me to take, I am
ready to swear to tell the truth in everything touching your trial.
And
thus she swore on the Holy Gospels.
[At
the trial, the promoter read the text of each Article to which Jeanne was then
asked to reply. According to Courcelles, the promoter also read out certain of
Jeanne's answers to earlier interrogation in support of each Article. In fact
d'Estivet almost certainly did nothing of the kind. Orleans omits both the
substance of the Articles and the previous answers. In this edition, a prècis
of the Articles is included where necessary, so that the reader may follow the
thread of the argument. It has not been felt necessary to repeat Jeanne's
previous answers.]
This
being done, Maître Thomas de Courcelles began to explain the Articles contained
in the libellus, at the command of
the bishop and the other judges:
[I]
To the First Article [concerning the competence of the court to punish heresy]:
She
said that she is well aware that our Holy Father the Pope of Rome, the bishops
and other ecclesiastical persons exist to protect the Christian Faith and to
punish those who fall away from it. But for herself and her deeds, she will
only submit them to the Church in heaven, that is to say to God, the Virgin
Mary, and the saints in heaven. And she firmly believes that she has not failed
in the Christian Faith, and that she would not therein fail.
[II]
To the Second Article, concerning the sorceries, superstitions and divinations
of which she is accused [She has Œbeen guilty of many superstitious practices;
she has been deified, and allowed herself to be adored and venerated; she has
invoked demons and evil spirits, and has made pacts with them.']:
She
formally denies them.
And
with regard to the adoration which it is said was shown to her,
She
declares that, if any persons have kissed her hands or her clothing, it was not
through her or by her wish, and that she prevented it as far as possible.
[III]
To the Third Article, [stating that she has uttered heresy]:
She
denies it, and affirms that she has upheld the Church with all her power.
[IV]
As to the Fourth Article; [giving the names of her father and mother and the
place of her birth; stating that she was not taught the Christian Faith, but
instead was taught magic and sorcery; and that her godmother was a witch and
sorceress]:
She
said the names of her father and mother and the place of her birth are true.
Concerning
the second part of this Article, she denies it.
As
to the fairies mentioned in the Article,
She
knows nothing of the matter.
As
to her [religious] instruction,
She
said that she had learned her Faith and been well taught and instructed as a
good child should be.
Concerning
her godmother,
She
referred to what she had said previously.
Being
ordered to repeat the Creed,
She
said: Ask my confessor, to whom I said it.
[V]
As for the Fifth Article, concerning the tree and the spring:
She
refers to what she has previously said.
For
the rest, she denies it.
[VI]
For the Sixth Article [accusing her of frequenting the tree and the spring,
often at night, or by day during the times when Divine Office was being
celebrated, of dancing and chanting spells, and of hanging garlands on the tree
which next morning had disappeared]:
Similarly
she refers to what she has already said.
For
the rest, she denies it.
[VII]
For the Seventh Article, mentioning the mandrake:
She
denies it entirely.
[VIII]
For the Eighth, [accusing her of going to Neufchâteau without her parents'
permission and of staying in La Rousse's house, insinuating that she had there
led an immoral life]:
She
referred to what she had previously answered, and denies the rest.
[IX]
As for the Ninth, mentioning marriage, [insinuating that the young man at Toul
had refused to marry her owing to her immoral life]:
She
has already replied, and refers to what she then said.
For
the rest, she denies it.
[X]
For the Tenth, mentioning the apparitions and her departure from her home
without leave:
She
answered as above, that is to say she referred to what she had already said.
[XI] As for the Eleventh, [stating that
she had told de Baudricourt at Vaucouleurs that she would have three sons, of
whom one would be Pope, the second Emperor, and the third a king]:
She
answered as to the preceding Article.
[XII]
And as for the Twelfth, [referring to her male dress]:
She
refers, as before, to what she had previously said.
And
when questioned whether she had taken man's dress and arms and armour by God's
command,
She
also referred to her previous answers.
[XIII]
As to the Thirteenth, accusing her of blasphemy [in saying that it was at God's
command that she put on male clothing, 'violating canon law, to the scandal of
her sex and womanly modesty, and to the perversion of all decent behaviour.']:
She
answered: I have blasphemed neither God nor His saints.
And
after it was explained to her that according to canon law and the Holy
Scriptures the taking by women of man's dress and the taking by men of woman's
dress is an abomination before God, they asked her whether she had taken the
said dress by God's command,
She
said: You have been answered as to this before: and if you wish me to answer
again, then grant me a delay, and I will answer you.
Being
asked whether she would take a woman's dress so that she might receive her
Saviour at Easter,
She
answered that she would not leave off her [man's] dress either to receive her
Saviour or for any other reason. She added that to receive her Saviour neither
man's nor woman's dress made any difference; and It ought not to be refused her
on account of this dress.
Asked
if she had it by revelation or by command of God to wear this dress,
She
said that she had answered, and that she referred to what had been written
down.
And
she afterwards added that she would answer on this point to‑morrow.
She
also said that she well knew who has caused her to take this dress; but she did
not know whether she ought to reveal it.
[XIV]
As for the Fourteenth [concerning her refusal to leave off this dress save by
God's express command]:
She
said: I do not do wrong to serve God. To‑morrow I will answer you on
this.
[XV]
To the Fifteenth Article, [as to her refusal to leave off male dress to receive
the Sacrament]:
She
answered that she would rather die than turn back on what she had done by Our
Lord's command.
Asked
if she would leave off man's dress in order to hear Mass,
She
said that she would not yet leave off the dress she was wearing. And that it
was not in her power to give the date when she would leave it off.
She
said moreover that if the judges refused to allow her to hear Mass, it was in
Our Lord's power to let her hear it without them, whenever it so pleased Him.
As
for the remainder of the Article, she confesses that she has been admonished to
leave off male dress.
But
as for irreverence and the rest, she denies them.
[XVI]
To the Sixteenth, [saying that at Arras and Beaurevoir, though repeatedly asked
to wear woman's dress, she obstinately refused]:
She
admitted that at Arras and Beaurevoir she had been repeatedly asked to wear a
woman's dress; which she had refused and still refuses.
And
as for womanly duties,
She
said there were enough other women to do them.
[XVII]
To the Seventeenth Article, [concerning the promises she made to the Dauphin
including the fact that she would kill his enemies by her magic arts]:
She
replied that she confessed she brought news from God to her king; and that Our
Lord would restore his kingdom to him, have him crowned at Rheims, and drive
out his enemies. And that she was God's messenger in telling him that he must
put her boldly to work, and that she would raise the siege of Orleans.
She
said also that she had said: All the kingdom. And that if my lord of Burgundy
and the other subjects of the realm did not come to obedience, the king would
make them do so by force.
And,
with regard to the end of the Article, concerning her recognizing Robert [de
Baudricourt] and her king,
She
said: I hold to what I have previously said.
[XVIII]
As for the Eighteenth Article, referring to peace [and charging her with
dissuading the king from negotiation and inciting her party to murder]:
She
said that she had required the Duke of Burgundy, both by letters and by
ambassadors, to make peace. As for the English, they must return to their own
country of England.
As
for the remainder of the Article, [charging her with saying that peace could
only be procured by the sword]:
She
says that she has answered it [already], to which [answer] she refers.
[XIX]
As for the Nineteenth, [saying that by consulting demons and employing spells
she had sent for the sword found at St Catherine de Fierbois]:
She
refers to what she has said.
And
for the rest of the Article, [that she herself had previously hidden the sword
there]:
She
denies it.
[XX]
As to the Twentieth, [charging her with having put a spell on her ring and her
standard]:
She
referred to what she had previously said.
And
she said further that in what she did there was no sorcery or witchcraft.
And
concerning the good fortune of her standard,
She
says that she refers herself to the fortune with which Our Lord endowed it.
[XXI] As for the Twenty‑first,
[accusing her of putting the names of Christ and Our Lady in letters containing
matters contrary to the Faith]:
She
says that as for her letters she never did this through pride or presumption,
but at the command of Our Lord; and accepts the contents of these letters as
correct, except for three words.
[XXII
] As for the Twenty‑second, [concerning the letter she wrote to the
English before relieving Orleans]:
She
says that if the English had believed her letter, they would have been wise;
and that they will well understand this before seven years have passed. And as
to what she had written to them, she refers to her previous answer.
[XXIII]
And as to the Twenty‑third Article, stating that what she had done [in
the matter of these letters] was done by the advice of evil spirits,
She
denies it.
And
otherwise as to these Articles, XXII and XXIII, and also to XXIV, [stating that
she used the sign of the Cross in her letters as an instruction to those who
received them to do the opposite of what she ordered them in the letters]:
She
referred to her previous answers.
[XXV]
As to the Twenty‑fifth, [charging her with spilling human blood, and
falsely saying it was by God's command]:
She
said that she had first required them to make peace. And that, if they were
unwilling to make peace, then she was prepared to fight.
[XXVI‑XXX]
As to Articles Twenty‑six, Twenty‑seven, Twenty-eight and Twenty‑nine
[and Thirty]: [These Articles charged her with answering a letter from the
Comte d'Armagnac asking in which of the three claimants to the Papacy trust
should be placed.]
She
referred to what she had previously said.
THE
INTERROGATION UPON ARTICLES XXXI‑LXX
28 March
On
Wednesday the XXVIIIth day of March, in the year MCCCCXXX,
She
was required to take the oath,
To
which she answered that she would gladly tell the truth in whatever concerned
her trial,
And
took the oath to this effect.
And
firstly, as for the Article concerning her dress and arms,
She
answered that the dress and arms she wore, she wore by God's direction.
And
in the matter of being asked to leave off this dress,
She
replied that she would not leave it off without Our Lord's leave; not even if
they were to cut her head off. But
if it were pleasing to Him, she would put on [woman's dress] immediately.
[XXXI]
As to the Thirty‑first, [concerning her refusal to explain her visions
sufficiently]:
She
answered that in the matter of revealing the sign referred to in this Article,
she may well have said that she will not reveal it.
And
she added that in confession made at other times she had stated that she would
not reveal it without Our Lord's leave.
[XXXII]
To the Thirty‑second, [that in view of the above, the revelations must be
considered to proceed from evil spirits]:
She
replied: that what she had done was by revelation from Saint Catherine and
Saint Margaret. And this she will maintain until death.
She
said also that she had been advised by some of her party to put JESUS MARIA on
her letters; which she did on some, and not on others.
She
stated that where in her letter it was written: Everything she did was by the
advice of Our Lord, it should have been: Everything good that she did.
Questioned
as to whether in attacking La Charité she did well or ill,
She
said that if she has done ill, she will confess it.
Asked
whether she did well in making an attack on Paris,
She
replied that the nobles of France wished to attack Paris. It seemed to her that
they did well in attacking their enemies.
[XXXIII]
As for the Thirty‑third, [that she boasted of her powers of divination]
inasmuch as it concerns the revelation of the sword;
She
said that it is for Our Lord to reveal this to whomsoever He pleases, both in
the matter of the sword and in other things to come. What she said about it was
by revelation; and she refers to what she has [previously] answered.
[XXXIV]
As for the Thirty‑fourth, [that she affirmed that she could recognize
God's angels] especially touching the end of this Article concerning rashness
and pride;
She
refers to Our Lord, her judge.
[XXXV]
As for the Thirty‑fifth, [that she is able to tell whom God loves and
whom He hates], and of what she formerly said of the king and the Duke of
Orleans,
She
said that she is certain that God loves the king and the Duke of Orleans better
than any others; this she knows by revelation.
[XXXVI]
As to the Thirty‑sixth, [which refers to her claim that she hears
voices];
To
this and to other matters as well, she has already answered.
[XXXVII]
As to the Thirty‑seventh, [which refers to her confession that she
sometimes disobeyed her voices]:
None
the less she said that as to her leaving Saint Denis, she had permission.
Asked
whether in disobeying the command of her voices she had not mortally sinned,
She
answered: I have already replied to that. And I refer to that reply.
And
as to the conclusion of the Article, [as to her erroneous opinions as to man's
free will]:
She
waits upon Our Lord.
[XXXVIII‑XLVII]
As to these Articles, [covering among other points her claim that all she had
done was at God's bidding; that she had never committed mortal sin
'notwithstanding that she has in fact performed all the actions customary to
men of war, and even worse'; that she had declared that her voices were not on
the side of the English 'affirming that the saints in glory detest a Catholic
realm, to their shame'; that she boasted that her voices assured her of
salvation if she kept her virginity, and that she is so assured; that she
blasphemed and denied God and the saints]; in answer to many questions which
were put to her,
She
replied that she will refer to what she has previously said,
And
of the conclusion, [in which she was charged with blasphemy against God]:
She
referred to Our Lord.
[XLVIII]
Being questioned as to the signs, [In fact this Article charged that she
believed the spirits which appeared to her were sent from God, though she gave
no signs in proof of this, and had sought no spiritual advice on the point]:
She
said: I have [already] answered, and refer to what is written down. As for
signs, if those who ask for them are not worthy, she could not help it. And she
has often prayed God that it may please Him to reveal it to some of her party.
She
added that she asks no advice of bishop or curé or anyone else as to belief in
her revelations.
She
says also that she believes it was Saint Michael, by reason of the good
doctrine he taught her.
Asked
whether Saint Michael said to her: I am Saint Michael,
She
said: I have already answered that.
And
as for the conclusion of the Article, [that she hid her revelations from the
clergy],
She
answered: I have already answered this, and wait upon Our Lord.
She
said also that she believes as firmly as she believes that Our Lord suffered
and died to save us from the pains of hell, that [her visions] were Saint
Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, whom Our Lord sent
her to comfort and advise her.
[XLIX‑L]
[charging her with idolatry in venerating her voices and with invoking demons];
and concerning two other questions:
Firstly,
she said: From the very beginning I answered this.
As
to the second, she said that she had already replied. And she will call them
[her voices] to her aid as long as she lives.
Asked
how she calls them,
She
answered: I beg Our Lord and Our Lady to send me counsel and help, and they
send it to me.
Asked
in what words she prays,
She
replied that she prays in this manner:
MOST
SWEET LORD, IN HONOUR OF THY HOLY PASSION, I BESEECH THEE, IF THOU LOVEST ME,
TO REVEAL UNTO ME WHAT I SHOULD ANSWER TO THESE CHURCHMEN. I WELL KNOW, AS TO
MY DRESS, BY WHOSE COMMAND I TOOK IT, BUT I KNOW NOT HOW I SHOULD LEAVE IT OFF.
WHEREFORE MAY IT PLEASE THEE TO INFORM ME.
And
they come immediately. And she added that from her voices she often has news of
the Bishop of Beauvais.
Asked
what they say about him,
She
answered: I will tell you privately.
She
adds that they came to‑day three times.
Asked
whether they were in her room,
She
replied: I have told you so. And I hear them clearly.
She
said also that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret told her how she ought to answer
concerning her dress.
[LI]
[Concerning the angels and the bringing of the crown]:
She
said she had already answered about the angel who brought the sign.
As
for what the promoter suggests concerning a thousand million of angels,
She
says that she does not recollect having said it, that is, the number. She did
say that she was never wounded without receiving great help and comfort from
Our Lord, and from Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret.
Concerning
the crown,
She
said she had already answered.
And
concerning the conclusion of the Article [that her visions were invented lies],
which the promoter puts in a way contrary to the facts,
She
waits upon God Our Lord.
And
as to where the crown was made,
She
refers to Our Lord.
[LII]
[Concerning veneration shown to Jeanne]:
She
said, as to the beginning of the Article: I have already answered,
And
at the end of the Article, she says she refers it to Our Lord.
[LIII]
Questioned as to having been a war commander,
She
said she had previously answered; and that if she had been a commander in war,
it was in order to fight the English.
And
as for the conclusion of the Article,
She
refers to Our Lord.
[LIV]
Asked who governed her, [that is to say looked after her and her household, and
charging that 'she wished to employ only men to serve in the private offices of
her room']:
She
replied that her government was through men. But when in a house she usually
had a woman with her. And when she was fighting, she lay fully dressed and
armed, if there was no woman to be found.
As
for the conclusion of the Article [that she desired to employ only men],
She
said: I have already answered this.
[LV]
[Asked as to the riches she had gained] and the gifts made to her brothers,
She
answered that whatever the king had given them was of his bounty, without any
request from her.
As
for the charge made by the promoter, [that she misused her revelations, turning
them to worldly advantage],
She
refers herself to Our Lord.
[LVI]
[To the charge that Catherine de la Rochelle had made against her, that she
would escape from prison with the Devil's aid],
She
said that she held to what she had previously answered.
As
for her counsellors at the spring,
She
does not know what is meant by this. But she believes that she did once hear
Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret there.
And
for the conclusion of the Article,
She
denies it, and affirms on oath that she would not wish the Devil to drag her
out of prison.
[LVII]
[Charging her with giving false promises of military success, of which she said
she had been assured by her voices, at Paris, La Charité, Pont l'Evêque and
Compiègne],
As
for the beginning of the Article,
She
has previously answered. And if she is further advised, she will gladly answer.
And
as to the end of this Article, in which it is said that she said that God had
failed her,
She
denies it.
[LVIII]
[Concerning her standard and her coat‑of‑arms],
She
has already answered.
And
as to the promoter's suggestion [that this was vanity and ostentation],
She
refers to Our Lord.
[LIX]
[That she placed her armour in the church that it might be venerated as a
relic; and that she poured melted wax on children's heads, telling their
fortunes, which was an enchantment]:
As
for the armour, she has already answered.
As
for the lighted candles [for melting the wax for divination],
She
denies it.
[LX]
Asked why she has asked for a delay,
She
said that she had only done so in order that she might answer the questions the
more surely.
And
also she requested the delay in order that she might know whether she ought to
answer what they asked her.
And
as for the king's counsel, since it did not concern the trial, she did not wish
to reveal it.
And
she told the sign given to the king because the churchmen forced her to tell
it.
[LXI]
Asked if she would submit to the Church Militant,
She
said she would desire to show it all the reverence in her power.
But
concerning her deeds, she refers to God, Who caused her to do them.
Asked
whether she will submit her actions to the Church Militant,
She
answered: Send me the clerk on Saturday next, and I will answer you.
[LXIII]
[Charging her with lies, and therefore being a false prophet, since Christ
said: By their fruits ye shall know them]:
As
to the conclusion of this Article,
She
refers to Our Lord.
[LXVI]
Questioned concerning the Faith,
She
said she was a good Christian.
And
of all the charges in this Article, [of enchantments, heresy, rashness and
sedition], she says that she has never committed the sins with which the
promoter charges her.
[LXIX] [Accusing her of refusing to reform her ways]:
Asked,
if she had done anything contrary to the Christian Faith, whether she would be
willing to submit to the Church and to those to whom correction belongs,
She
said that she would answer on Saturday, after dinner.
[The
Articles which are omitted from the Orleans manuscript are in effect only
recapitulation or enlargement of earlier Articles]
FURTHER INTERROGATION IN THE PRISON
[At
this session Jeanne was interrogated on the points on which she had requested a
delay.]
On
Saturday, the last day of March, in the year MCCCCXXX,
Asked
if she is willing to submit to the judgment of the Church on earth everything
which she has done, be it good or evil, especially the crimes and wrong‑doings
with which she is charged, and the whole of her trial,
She
answered that in everything they ask she will submit to the Church Militant,
provided that it does not order her to do something impossible.
Asked
what she calls an impossible thing,
She
answered that, as far as it concerned the deeds and words mentioned in her
trial, and the visions and revelations that she had mentioned, she would not
revoke them for anything. And for everything that Our Lord had caused her to do
by His commands, or will hereafter command her, she will not cease to do them
for any man alive. To revoke them would be impossible to her.
Asked
whether she would submit to the Church Militant if it told her that her
revelations were illusions, diabolic things, superstitious and evil
revelations,
She
replied that she would therein refer to Our Lord, Whose commands she had always
obeyed. And that she is well assured that everything contained in her trial
came by God's command; and she could in no way have done the opposite. And if
the Church Militant ordered her to do the contrary, she would not submit to
anyone in the world save Our Lord, Whose good commands she would always obey.
Questioned
as to whether she does not believe that she was subject to the Church on earth,
that is to say to our Holy Father the Pope, the cardinals, the archbishops and
bishops and other prelates of the Church,
She
said yes, Our Lord being first served.
Asked
whether she had command from her voices not to submit to the Church Militant on
earth, nor to its judgment,
She
said that she did not answer whatever came into her head.[52] But what she answered was by their command. And they
did not command her not to obey the Church, Our Lord being first served. [LXI]
Asked
whether at Beaurevoir and at Arras or elsewhere, she had files,
She
answered: If they were found on me, I have nothing more to answer you about it.
[According
to Courcelles, on April 2 the court considered Jeanne's answers to the seventy
Articles, and the latter were then compressed into a short précis in the form
of twelve new Articles. On April 5, these new Articles were submitted to the
assessors, who were instructed to send in their Opinions in writing by April
10. Only a few did so. On April 13 the twelve Articles were taken to Paris by
Beaupère, Midi and Touraine for consideration by the University.]
THE EXHORTATION IN THE PRISON
18 April
On
Wednesday, XVIIIth day of April, MCCCCXXX,
Maître
Guillaume Le Boucher, together with the judges hereinafter mentioned, Maîtres
Jacques de Touraine, Maurice du Chêne, Nicolas Midi, Guillaume Dolys, Gerard
Feuillet, all masters in theology, and Maître Guillaume Haiton, met in the room
in which Jeanne was held prisoner.
The
Bishop of Beauvais explained to them that Jeanne had been questioned during
several days upon the great and important matter of the Faith, in the presence
of several learned clerks; and that the clerks had found several faults
committed by the said Jeanne.
And
since Jeanne was not able to understand or discern many of the matters
contained in her trial, as to what was contrary to our Faith and the doctrine
of the doctors of the Church, they offered to give her good and helpful counsel
to advise her; asking her to look around and choose any one or more of those
present to advise her as to what she should do, and to lead her back into the
way of truth. And they offered her the doctors of theology and the jurists who
were present.
And
they informed her that if she was unwilling to accept counsel and follow the Church's
advice, she would be in great danger of body,
To
which she answered: It seems to me, seeing the illness from which I am
suffering, that I am in great danger of death. And if it be thus that God
desires to do His pleasure with me, I ask you to hear my confession and [give
me] my Saviour also, and [that I may be buried] in consecrated ground.
She
was answered: If you wish to have the privileges and the sacraments of the
Church, you must do as good Catholics should do, and submit to Holy Church.
She
said: I am not able to tell you anything more now.
She
was then told that the more she feared for her life on account of her illness,
the more should she amend her life; and that she would not enjoy the rights of
the Church as a Catholic if she did not submit to the Church.
She
answered: If my body dies in prison, I trust that you will bury it in
consecrated ground. But if you do not, then I put my trust in Our Lord. [LXI]
She
was told that formerly she had said in her trial that if she had done or said
anything contrary to the Christian Faith ordained by Our Lord, she would not
uphold it.
She
answered: I refer to the answer that I have given, and to Our Lord.
Since
she had said that she had had many revelations from God, from Saint Michael,
and from Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, she was asked whether, if some
good creature came to her and said he had had a revelation from God concerning
herself, she would believe him,
She
answered that no Christian in the world could come to her saying he had had a
revelation, without her knowing whether he was speaking the truth or not. She
would know this from Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret.
Asked
whether she thought that God could reveal something to a good creature, which
was unknown to her,
She
answered: Of course He could. But I should not believe either man or woman
unless I had a sign.
Asked
whether she believed that Holy Scripture was revealed by God,
She
answered: You know this; it is certain that it was.
She
was then summoned, exhorted and required to take the good advice of the clerks
and learned doctors, and to trust in it for the salvation of her soul.
And
the final answer that she gave to the question asked her, whether she were
willing to submit her deeds to our Mother Holy Church, was:
Whatever
is going to happen to me, I will not say anything different from what I have
said.
When
they heard this, Maîtres Guillaume Le Boucher, Maurice du Cherie, Jacques de
Touraine, Guillaume Dolys and Gerard Feuillet informed her that it was her duty
to submit to our Mother Holy Church. And they proved to her, by means of a
number of authorities and examples in Holy Scripture, that she ought to obey.
And amongst the others, Maître Nicolas Midi, in giving his advice, pointed out
to her what is written in the eighteenth chapter of Saint Matthew: "If thy
brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and
him alone ... and if he shall neglect to hear ... tell it unto the Church: but
if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a
publican."
And
finally he told her that unless she would be obedient to the Church, she would
be abandoned as a heathen.
To
which Jeanne answered that she was a good Christian, and had been baptised so.
And that she would die a good Christian.
Asked
whether, since she demanded that the Church should administer her Creator [to
her], she was willing to submit to the Church, and if so they would promise to
administer It,
She
answered that as to submission, she would not reply in any other way than that
in which she has done; that she loves God; and that she would help and uphold
the Church with all her power. [LXI]
Asked
if she would not like a fine and notable procession[53] to be ordered to bring her to a good estate, if she
were not therein,
She
answered that she would greatly like good Catholics to pray God for her.
THE
PUBLIC ADMONITION
2 May
The
same day[54] Jeanne was brought before the judges in this trial.
The
bishop, in their presence, admonished her that she should follow the advice and
admonitions which had been given to her by M’itre Jean de Châtillon, doctor in
theology, for the salvation both of her soul and her body, and if she were
unwilling so to do, she would fall into grave danger both of body and soul.
And
then the judges begged de Châtillon to proceed charitably to the said
admonitions.
To
which de Châtillon answered that he would gladly do so.
Firstly,
he pointed out to her that all loyal Christians are obliged to believe and hold
the articles of the Faith.
And
he showed her the form and manner thereof, as she had previously been shown.
He
then asked her whether she was willing to correct herself and amend her faults
in accordance with the deliberation.
To
which she answered: Read your book,
That
is to say, the schedule which the bishop[55] was holding.
And
then I will answer you. I wait upon God my Creator in all. I love Him with all
my heart.
Questioned
as to whether she desires to answer to this general admonition,
She
answered: I trust in my judge, that is the King of Heaven and earth.
She
was then told: Formerly you said that your deeds were seen and cross‑examined,
as is contained in the schedule.
She
answered that she gives the same answer now.
When
it was explained to her what the Church Militant meant, and [she was]
admonished to believe and hold the article Unam Sanctam Ecclesiam, etc., and to submit to the Church Militant,
She
answered: I believe in the Church on earth; but for my deeds and words, as I
have previously said, I refer the whole matter to God, Who caused me to do what
I have done.
She
said also that she submits to God her Creator, Who caused her to do what she
did; and refers it to Him in His own Person.
Asked
if she means that she has no judge on earth, and our Holy Father the Pope is
not her judge,
She
replied: I will tell you nothing else. I have a good Master, Our Lord, in Whom
I trust for everything, and not in any other.
She
was told that if she did not wish to believe in the Church and in the article Ecclesiam
Sanctam Catholicam, she would be a
heretic to uphold [her views], and that she would be punished by other judges
who would sentence her to be burned.
She
answered: I will tell you nothing else. And [even] if I saw the fire, I should
tell you what I have told you, and nothing else.
Questioned
as to whether, if the General Council, that is to say our Holy Father, the
Cardinals [and the rest] were here, she would be willing to submit,
She
answered: You will drag nothing else from me.
Asked
if she is willing to submit to our Holy Father the Pope,
She
said: Bring me to him, and I shall answer him.
She
was unwilling to answer further,
Concerning
her dress, etc.
She
answered that in the matter of her clothing, she was most willing to wear a
long dress and a woman's hood in which to go to church and receive her Saviour,
as she has previously said; provided that immediately afterwards she may take
it off and put on again that which she is wearing.
It
was also explained to her that in the matter of her taking man's dress, there
was now no necessity [for her to continue to do so], and especially since she
was in prison,
She
answered: When I shall have done that for which I have been sent by God, I
shall take a woman's dress.
Asked
if she believes she does well to wear male dress,
She
answered: I trust in Our Lord.
Questioned
on the explanation that she was given, that is on her saying that she did well
and did not sin in wearing the said dress, together with the circumstances
touching the fact of taking and wearing this dress, and in saying that God and
the saints made her do so, she was guilty of blasphemy, and, as is more fully
contained in the schedule, she erred and did evil,
She
answered that she blasphemed neither God nor His saints.
Being
admonished to leave off wearing this dress, and to cease believing that she did
well to wear it; and being ordered to take a woman's dress,
She
answered that she would not do otherwise.
Asked
whether, every time that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret come, she signs
herself,
She
answered that sometimes she makes the sign of the Cross, and other times she
does not.
Concerning
the revelations,
She
answered that in this matter she refers to her judge, that is to say, God. And
she says that her revelations come from God, without any intermediary.
Asked
whether, concerning the sign given to her king, she would refer to the
Archbishop of Rheims, the elder de Boussac, and to the knights de Bourbon, de
la Trémoïlle and la Hire, to whom or to one of whom she said she had formerly
shown this crown, they being present when the angel brought the crown and gave
it to the archbishop, or if she would refer to others of her party, who would
write under their seals of what they know,
She
said: Send a messenger, and I will write to them all about this trial.
And
otherwise she would neither believe nor refer to them.