 Section 16 of Jeanne d'Arc, Her Life and Death. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Jeanne d'Arc, Her Life and Death by Margaret O. Olyphant. The Public Examination, February 1431, Part 2. Asked how she distinguished the points on which she was allowed to speak from the others, she answered that on some points she had asked permission to speak and not on others, adding that she would rather have been torn by wild horses than to have come to friends unless by the license of God. Asked how it was that she put on a man's dress, she answered that dress appeared to her a small matter, that she did not adopt that dress by the council of any men, and that she neither put on a dress nor did anything but according as God or the angels commanded her to do so. Asked if she knew whether such a command to assume the dress of a man was lawful, she answered, All that I did, I did by the precepts of our Lord, and if I were bitten to wear another dress, I would do so, because it was at the bidding of God. Asked if she had done it by the orders of Robert de Baudricourt, she answered, No. Asked if she thought that she had done well in assuming a man's dress, answered that as all she did was by the command of the Lord, she believed that she had done well and expected a good guarantee and good succour. Asked if in this particular case of assuming the dress of a man she thought she had done well, answered that nothing in the world had made her do it by the command of God. She was then asked whether light always accompanied the voices when they came to her. She answered, with an evident reference to her first interview with Charles, that there were many lights on every side as was fit. It is not only to you that light comes, or you have not all the light to yourself, a curious phrase. Asked if there was an angel over the head of the king when she saw him for the first time, she answered, By the blessed Mary, if there were, I know not, I saw none. Asked if there was light, she answered, There were about 300 soldiers and 50 of them held torches without counting any spiritual light, and rarely do I have the revelations without light. Asked if her king had faith in what she said, she answered that he had good signs and also by his clergy. Asked what revelations her king had, she answered, You shall have nothing from me this year. Then added that for the three weeks she was cross-examined by the clergy, both in the town of Chinon and at Poitiers, and that her king had signs concerning her before he believed in her. And the clergy of his party had found nothing in her in respect to her faith that was not good. Asked whether she had gone to the church of St. Catherine of Fierbois, answered, Yes, and that she had there heard three masses in one day, and from thence went to Chinon. She added that she had sent a letter thence to the king, in which it was contained that she sent this to know if she might come to the town in which the king was, for that she had traveled a hundred and fifty leagues to come to him and to bring him help, for she knew much good concerning him. And she thought it was contained in this letter that she should recognize the king among all the rest. She said besides that she had a sword which was given to her at Vauculeur. She said also that being in Tour or at Chinon, she sent for a sword which was in the church of St. Catherine of Fierbois behind the altar, and that when it was found it was rusty. Asked how she knew about the sword, she answered that it was rusty because of being in the ground, and there were five crosses on it, and that she knew the sword by her voices and not by any man's report. She wrote to the ecclesiastics of the place where it was and asked them for this sword, and they sent it to her. It was found not much below the ground behind the altar. She was not sure if it was before or behind the altar, but wrote that it was behind the altar, and when it was found the clergy cleaned it and rubbed off the rust, which came off easily, and it was an armorer of Tour who went to fetch it. The clergy made a scabbard for it, before sending it to the said Jeanne, and they of Tour made another, so that it had two scabbards, one of crimson velvet and one of cloth of gold. And she herself procured another of strong leather. She said also that when she was captured she had not that sword. Said also that she continued to wear the said sword until she left Saint Denis after the assault on Paris. Asked what benediction she made, or if she made any on this sword, she answered that she made no benediction, nor knew how to make one, but that she loved the sword because it had come to her from the church of the blast Catherine whom she loved much. Asked if she had placed it on the altar at the village of Coulange-Lévieneuse, or elsewhere, placing it there that it might bring good luck, she answered that she knew nothing of this. Asked if she did not pray that the sword might have good fortune, it is good to know that I wish all my armor, Harnesseuméum, Galique, Mont-Harnois, to be very fortunate. Asked where she had left the sword, answered that she had deposited a sword and armor at Saint Denis, but it was not this sword. She added that she had it in Ligny, but that she afterwards wore the sword which had been taken from a Burgundian, which was a good sword for war, and gave good strokes. Galique des bon bouffes and des bon torchons. Asked also that to tell where she left it had nothing to do with the trial, and she would answer nothing. She said also that her brothers had everything that belonged to her, her horses, swords and everything, and that she believed they were worth in all about 12,000 francs. She was also asked whether when she was at Orléans she had a standard and what color it was. Answered that she had a standard, the field of which was sown with lilies, and on it was a figure of the world with angels on each side. It was white and made of a stuff called Bucassin, upon which was written the name Jesus Maria, so that all might see and it was fringed with silk. Asked if the name Jesus Maria was written above or below or at the side, she answered at the side. Asked if she loved her sword or standard best, she answered that she loved her standard best. Asked why she had that picture on the standard, she answered, I have sufficiently told you that I did nothing but by the command of God. She added that she herself carried her standard when in battle, that she might not hurt anyone and said that she had never killed any men. Asked how many men her king gave her when she began her work, answered from 10 to 12,000 men and that she attacked first the Bastille of Saint-Louis at Orléans and afterwards that of the bridge. Asked from which Bastille it was that her men were driven back, she answered that she did not remember, adding that she had been sure that she could raise the siege at Orléans for it had been so revealed to her and that she told this to her king before it occurred. Asked whether when she made assault she told her men that all the arrows, stones, cannonballs, etc. would be intercepted by her, she answered no, that more than a hundred were wounded, that what she had said to her people was that they should have no doubts for they should certainly raise the siege of Orléans. She said also that in attacking the Bastille of the bridge she herself was wounded by an arrow in the neck and was much comforted by Saint-Catherine and was healed in 15 days but that she never gave up riding and working all that time. Asked if she knew that she would be wounded, she answered that she knew it well and had told her king but that notwithstanding she went about her business. It was revealed to her by the voices of her two saints, the Blessed Catherine and the Blessed Margaret. She said besides that she was the first to place a scaling ladder on the Bastille of the bridge and as she raised it she was struck in the neck. She was then asked why she did not treat with the captain of Jarjot. She answered that the lords of her party had replied to the English who had asked for a truce of 15 days that they could not have it but that they might retire, they and their horses at once. She had said for her part that if they retired in their doublets and tunics their lives should be spared, otherwise the city would be taken by storm. Asked if she had consulted with her council, that is, with her voices, whether the truce should be granted or not, she answered that she did not remember. It will be remarked as the slow examination goes on day after day that John, becoming at moments impatient sometimes gives a rough answer and at other times plays a little with her questioner as if in contempt. By the blessed Mary, I know not, is evidently an outburst of impatience at the exhausting, exasperating folly of some of these questions and this will be further visible in future sittings. It seems very likely that the reference to Poitiers, which was an excellent suggestion, commanding itself to her invariable good sense came from the kind priest who tried to serve her as he best could. But there are other answers, a little incoherent, which look as if Frère Isambard, if it were he, had confused her in her own response without conveying anything better to her mind, especially on the occasions when she refuses to reply and then does so, abandoning her ground at once. Her patience and steadiness are quite extraordinary, however, even in the less self-collected moments, thus end the proceedings of the fourth day. The fifth day began with the usual dispute about the oath, John still retaining her reservation with the greatest firmness. She seems, however, at the end to have repeated her oath to answer everything that had to do with the trial, and as much as I say, I will say as if I were before the Pope of Rome. These words must have given the Magistre Bopère an admirable occasion for introducing one of the things charged against her, for which there was actual proof, her letter to the Count d'Armagnac in respect to the Pope. He seized upon it evidently with eagerness, and asked her which she held to be the true Pope. To this she answered quietly, are there two? The most confusing reply. She was asked if she had received letters from the Count d'Armagnac, asking to know which of the three existing Popes he ought to obey. She answered that she had his letter, and had replied to it, saying, among other things, that when she was in Paris and at rest she would answer him, and added that she was on the point of mounting her horrors when she gave that reply. The copy of the letter, and the reply being read to her, she was asked if that was what she had said, to which she replied that she had answered his letter in part, not in full. Asked if she knew the councils of the King of Kings, so as to be able to say which the Count should obey, she answered that she knew nothing. Asked if she was in doubt as to which the Count ought to obey, she replied that she knew not which to bid him obey, but that she, the said Jeanne, held and believed that we ought to obey our Pope who was in Rome, that as for what he asked, that she should tell him which God desired him to obey, she had said she knew nothing, but she sent much to him, which was not put in writing. And as for herself, she believed in the Lord Pope of Rome. Asked whether, in respect to the three Pontiffs she had received council, she answered that she had neither written nor made to be written anything about the three Pontiffs. And this she swore on her oath. Asked if she were in the habit of putting on her letters the name Jesus Maria with a cross, answered that she did so sometimes, but not always, and that sometimes she put a cross to shoe that these letters were not to be taken seriously as likely to fall into the enemy's hands. Some questions were then put to her about her letters to the Duke of Bedford and to the English King, and copies were read to her to which she objected on some small points, but mistakenly it would seem as that she had summoned them to surrender to the king while the scribe had put surrender to the maid. She said, however, that they were her letters and that she held by them. She added that before seven years the English would lose more than they had lost at Orléans, and that their cause would be lost in France. She said also that the sad English should have greater disasters than they had yet had in France, and that God would give greater victories to France. Asked how she knew this, she replied, I know it by the revelations made to me, and that it will happen in seven years, and I might well be angry that it is deferred so long. Asked when this would happen, she said that she knew neither the day nor the hour. She was terminated a little further as to the dates, whether this would happen before the Saint-Jean or before the Saint-Martin in winter, but made no answer, except that before the Saint-Martin in winter they should see many things, and it might be that the English should fail. As a matter of fact, Paris opened its gates to Charles VII within the seven years specified, so that Jeanne's prophecy may be held to have been fulfilled. We then come once more to a long and profitless interrogatory upon her saints, in which the crowd of judges forgot their dignity and overwhelmed her with a flood of often very foolish and sometimes worse and foolish questions. Asked how she knew the future, she answered that she knew it by St. Catherine and St. Margaret. Asked if St. Gabriel was with St. Michael when he came to her, she answered that she could not remember. Asked if she saw them always in the same dress, answered yes, and they were crowned very richly. Of their other garments she could not speak, she knew nothing of their tunics. Asked how she knew whether they were men or women, answered that she knew well by their voices, which revealed them to her, and that she knew nothing saved by revelation and the precepts of God. Asked what appearances she saw, she answered that she saw faces. Asked if the saints had hair, she answered it is good to know. Asked if there was anything between their crowns and their hair, answered no. Asked if their hair was long and hanging down, answered I know nothing about it. She also said that the voices were beautiful, sweet and humble, and that she understood them well. Asked how they could speak when they had no bodies, she answered I refer to God. She repeated that the voices were beautiful, humble and sweet, and that they could speak French. Asked if St. Margaret did not speak English, answered how could she speak English when she was not on the English side? This would seem to infer that the St. Margaret referred to was not the legendary St. Margaret of the Dragon, but St. Margaret of Scotland, well known in France from the long connection between those two countries, and the popular medieval saint. She would naturally have spoken English, being a Saxon, but also quite naturally would have been against the English as a Scottish Queen. But of these refinements, it is very unlikely that John knew anything, and her prompt and somewhat sharp reply evidently cut the inquiry short. The next question was, did they wear gold rings in their ears or elsewhere, these crown saints, to which she answered a little contemptuously, I know nothing about it. She was then asked if she herself had rings on which, turning to us the aforesaid bishop, she said, You have one of mine, give it back to me. She then said that the Burgundians had her other ring, and asked of us if we had the ring to show it to her. Asked who gave her this ring, answered her father or her mother, and that the name Jesus Maria was written upon it, but that she knew not who put it there, nor even whether there was a stone in the ring. It was given to her in the village of Don Hemi. She added that her brother gave her another ring which we had, and said that she desired that it might be given to the church. A sudden change was now made in the cross-examination according to the methods of that operation, throwing her back without warning upon the village superstitions of Don Hemi, the magic tree and fountain. Many of the questions which follow are so trivial and are so evidently instinct with evil meaning that it seems a wrong to beupère to impute the whole of the interrogatory to him. Other questions were evidently interposed by the excited assembly. Asked if St. Catherine and St. Margaret talked with her under the tree of which mention had been made above, she answered, I know nothing about it. Asked if the saints were seen at the fountain near the tree, answered yes, that she had heard them there, but what her saints promised to her there or elsewhere, she answered that nothing was promised except by permission from God. Asked what promises were made to her, she answered, this has nothing at all to do with your trial, but added that among other things, they said to her that her king should be restored to his kingdom and that his adversaries should be destroyed. She said also that they promised to take her, the set-jean, to paradise as she had asked them to do. Asked if she had any other promises, she said there was one promise that had nothing to do with the trial, but adding three months she would tell them what that other promise was. Asked if the voices told her she would be set free from her prison in three months, she answered, this does not concern your trial, nor do I know when I shall be set free. And she added that those who wish to send her out of this world might well go before her. Asked if her counsel did not tell her when she should be set free from her present prison, answered, ask me this in three months' time, I can promise you as much as that, but added, you may ask those present on their oaths if this has anything to do with the trial. Startled by this suggestion, the judges seemed to have held a hurried consultation among themselves to see whether these matters did really touch the trial. The result apparently decided them to return again to the question of the local superstitions of Don Jaime, the only point on which there seemed a chance of breaking down the extraordinarily just and steadfast intelligence of the girl who stood before them. After this pause, she resumed, apparently not in answer to any question. I have well told you that there were things you should not know, and sometime I must need to be set free, but I must have permission if I speak, therefore I will ask to have delay in this. Asked if her voices forbade her to speak the truth, she said, do you expect me to tell you things that concern the king of France? There is a great deal here that has nothing to do with the trial. She said also that she knew that her king should enjoy the kingdom of France, as well as she knew that they were there before her in judgment. She added that she would have been dead but for the revelations which comforted her daily. She was then asked what she had done with her Mandragora, Mandrake. She answered that she had no Mandragora nor had ever had. She had heard say that near her village there was one but had never seen it. She had heard say that it was a dangerous thing and that it was wicked to keep it but knew nothing of its use. Asked in what place this Mandrake was and what she had heard of it, she said that she had heard that it grew under the tree of which mention had been made but did not know the place. She said also that she had heard that above the Mandrake was a hazel tree. Asked what she heard was done with the Mandrake answered that she had heard that it brought money but did not believe it and added that her voices had never told her anything about it. Asked what was the appearance of Saint Michael when she saw him first, she answered that she saw no crown and knew nothing of his dress. Asked if he was naked, she answered. Do you think God has nothing to clothe him with? Asked if he had hair, she answered. Why should it have been cut? She said further that she had not seen the blessed Michael since she left the castle of Courtois nor did she see him often. At last she said that she knew not whether he had hair or not. Asked whether he carried scales, she answered. I know nothing of it but added that she had much joy in seeing him and she knew when she saw him that she was not in a state of sin. She also said that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret often made her confess to them and said that if she had been in a state of sin it was without knowing it. She was then asked whether, when she confessed, she believed herself to be in a state of mortal sin. She answered that she knew not whether she had been in that state but did not believe she had done the works of sin. It would not have pleased God, she said, that I should have been so nor would it have pleased him that I should have done the works of sin by which my soul should have been burdened. She was then asked what sign she gave to the king that she came to him from God. She answered, I have told you always that nothing should draw this from me. Ask me no more. Asked if she had not sworn to reveal what was asked of her touching the trial, answered, I have told you that I will tell you nothing that was for our king and of this which belongs to him I will not speak. Asked if she knew the sign which she gave to the king, she answered, you shall know nothing from me. When it was said to her that this did concern the trial, she answered, of that which I have promised to keep secret, I shall tell you nothing. And further she said, I promised in that place and I could not tell you without perjuring myself. Asked to whom she promised, answered, that she had promised to saints Catherine and Margaret and this was shown to the king. She also said she had promised it to these two saints because they had required it of her and the same Jean had done this at their request. Too many people would have asked me concerning it if I had not promised to the aforesaid saints. She was then asked when she showed this sign to the king if there were others with him. She answered that to her there was no one near him even though many people might have been present. As a matter of fact the sign was given to Charles when he talked with the maid apart in a recess, in a great hall being full of the court and followers so that this was strictly true. Asked further if she saw a crown over the head of her king when she showed him this sign but replied, I cannot answer you without perjury. Asked further if her king had a crown when he was at Rhame answered that in her opinion her king had a crown which he found at Rhame but a very fine one was afterwards brought for him. He did this to hasten matters at the desire of the city of Rhame but if he had been more certain he could have had a crown a thousand times richer. All this is very obscure. Asked if she had seen this crown she answered I could not tell you without perjury but I heard that it was a very rich one. It was then determined to conclude for this day. On the sixth day there was again the same questions about the oath ending in the usual way and the cross-examination was at once continued. She was asked if she would say whether St. Michael had wings and what bodies and members had St. Catherine and St. Margaret and she answered I have told you what I know and will make no other reply. She said moreover that when she saw St. Michael and St. Catherine and St. Margaret she knew at once that they were saints of paradise. Asked if she saw anything more than their faces she answered I have told you all I know of them and I would rather have had my head taken off than tell you all I know. She then said that in whatever concerned a trial she would speak freely. Asked if she believed that St. Michael and St. Gabriel had natural heads she answered I saw them with my eyes and I believe that they are as firmly as I believe that God is. Asked if she believed that God made them in the form in which he saw them she answered yes. Asked if she believed that God had created them in the same form from the beginning answered you shall have no more for the present except what I have already said. This subject was then dropped and the examiner made another leap forward to a different part of her life. Did you know by revelation that you should break prison? He said. This Jean answered indignantly this has nothing to do with your trial would you have me speak against myself? Again questioned what her voices had said to her in respect to her attempts at escape she again answered this has nothing to do with the trial I go back to the trial if all your questions were about that I should tell you all. She said besides on her faith that she knew neither the day nor the hour when she should escape. She was then asked what the voices said to her generally and answered in truth they tell me I shall be freed but neither the day nor the hour and that I ought to speak boldly and with a glad countenance. She was then asked whether when first she saw her king he asked her whether it was by revelation that she had assumed the dress of a man she replied I have answered this I cannot recollect whether he asked me but it is written in the book at Poitiers asked whether the doctors who examined her there some for a month, some for three weeks had asked her about her change of dress she answered I don't remember but I know they asked me when I assumed the dress of a man and I told them it was in the town of Voculaire asked whether these doctors had inquired whether it was her voices which had made her take that dress answered I don't remember asked if her queen wished her to change her dress when she first saw her answered I don't remember asked if her king, queen and all of her party did not ask her to lay aside the dress of a man she answered this has nothing to do with the trial asked if the same was not requested of her in the castle of Beauhevoir she answered it is true and I replied that I could not lay it aside without the permission of God she said further that the demoiselle of Luxembourg aunt of Jean's captor and a very old woman and the lady of Beauhevoir offered her a woman's dress or stuff to make one and begged her to wear it but she replied that she had not yet the permission of her lord and that it was not yet time asked if Monsieur Jean de Précy and others at AHA had offered her a woman's dress she answered he and others have often asked it of me asked if she thought she would have done wrong in putting on a woman's dress she answered that it was better to obey her sovereign lord that is God she said also that if she had done it she would rather have done it at the request of these two ladies than of any other in France except her queen asked if when God revealed to her that she should change her dress it was by the voice of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine or Saint Margaret she answered you shall hear no more about it asked when the king first employed her and her standard was made whether the men at arms and others who took part in the war to not have flags imitated from hers she asked it is well to know that the lords retained their own arms she also added that her brothers in arms made such penance as pleased them asked how these were made if they were of linen or cloth answered that they were of white satin some of them with lilies that she had but two or three lances in her own company but that in the rest of the army some carried penance like hers but only to distinguish them from others asked if the banners were often renewed answered I know not when the staff was broken it was renewed asked if she had not said that the penance copied from hers were fortunate answered that she had said go in boldly among the English and that she had done the same herself asked if she said that they should have good luck if they bore the banners well answered that she had told them what would happen and what should still happen asked if she had caused holy water to be sprinkled on the penance when they were new she answered that has nothing to do with the trial but added that if she did so sprinkle them she was not instructed to answer that question now asked if the others put Jesus Maria upon their penance she answered by my faith I know nothing about it asked if she had ever carried or caused to be carried in a procession round a church or altar the linen of which the penance were made answered no that she had never seen anything of the kind done asked when she was before Jarjo what it was that she wore behind her helmet and if she had not something rounded she answered by my faith there was nothing asked if she knew a certain brother Richard she answered I never saw him till I was before toy asked what cheer brother Richard made to her answered that she thought the people of toy had sent him to her doubting whether she had come on the part of God and that as he approached her he made a sign of the cross and sprinkled holy water she said to him come on boldly I shall not fly away asked if she had seen or had caused to be made any images or pictures of herself she answered that at aha she had seen a picture in the hands of a Scott where she was represented fully armed kneeling on one knee and presenting a letter to the king but that she had never caused any image or picture of herself to be made asked concerning a table in the house of her host upon which were painted three women with justice, peace, union inscribed beneath answered that she knew nothing of it asked if she knew that those of her party caused masses and prayers to be made in her honor she answered that she knew not and if they did so it was not by any command of hers but that if they did so her opinion was that they did no wrong asked if those of her party firmly believed that she was sent from God she answered I know not whether they believed it but even if they did not believe it I am nonetheless sent on the part of God asked whether she thought that to believe that she was sent from God was a worthy faith she answered that if they believed that she was sent from God they were not mistaken asked if she knew what her party meant by kissing her feet and hands and her garments answered that many people did it but that her hands were kissed as little as she could help it the poor people however came to her of their own free will because she never oppressed them but protected them as far as was in her power asked what reverence the people of toy made to her she answered not at all and added that she believed brother Richard came into toy with her army but that she had not seen him coming in asked if he had not preached at the gates when she came answered that she scarcely paused there at all and knew nothing of any sermon asked how long she was at him and answered four or five days asked whether she baptized stood God mother to children there she answered to one at toy but did not remember any at Reim or at Chateau Thierry but there were two at Saint Denis and willingly she called the boys Charles in honor of her king and the girls Jean according to what their mothers wished asked if the good women of the town did not touch with their rings the rings she wore but she did not know why they did it asked what she did with the gloves in which her king was consecrated she answered that gloves were distributed to the knights and nobles that came there and there was one who lost his but she did not say that she would find it for him also she said that her standard was in the church at Haim and she believed near the altar and she herself had carried it for a short time she did not know whether brother Richard had held it she was then asked if she communicated and went to confession often while moving about the country and if she received the sacrament in her male costume to which she answered yes but without her arms she was then questioned about a horse belonging to the bishop of Saint-Lis which had not suited her a matter completely without importance the inference intended was that it was taken from him that he had paid for but there was no evidence that the maid knew anything about it we then come to the incident of Leni she was asked how old the child was which she saw at Leni and answered three days it had been brought to Leni to the church of Notre-Dame and she was told that all the maids in Leni were before our lady praying for it and she also wished to go and pray God and our lady that its life might come back and she went and prayed with the rest and finally life appeared it yawned three times and was baptized and buried in consecrated ground it had given no sign of life for three days and was black as her coat but when it yawned its collar began to come back she was there with the other maids on her knees before our lady to make her prayer the reader must understand that this was no special appeal to Jean's miraculous power but a custom of that intense and tender charity with which the church of Rome corrects her dogmatism upon questions of salvation a child unbaptized could not be buried in consecrated ground and was subject to all the sorrows of the unredeemed but who could doubt that the priest would be easily persuaded by some wavering of the tapers on the altar upon the little dead face some flicker of his compassionate eyelids that sufficient life had come back to permit the holy ride to be administered the whole little scene is affecting in the extreme the young creatures all kneeling fervently appealing to the maiden mother the priest ready to take instant advantage of any possible flicker the maid of France no conspicuous figure but weeping and praying among the rest there was no thought here of the raising of the dead the prayer was for breath enough only to allow of the holy observance the blessed water the last possibility of human love and effort Jean was then questioned concerning Catherine of La Rochelle the supposed prophetess who had been played against her by La Trémouie and his followers and narrated how she had watched two nights to see the mysterious lady clothed in cloth of gold who was said to appear to Catherine had seen her and that she had advised the woman to return to her husband and children Catherine's mission was to go through the good towns with heralds and trumpets to call upon those who had money or treasure of any kind to give it to the king and she professed to have a supernatural knowledge where such money was hidden no doubt La Trémouie must have thought that to get money which was so scarce in such a simple way at least but Jean's opinion was that it was folly and that there was nothing in it an opinion fully verified Catherine's advice had been that Jean should go to the Duke of Burgundy to make peace but Jean had answered that no peace could be made save at the end of the lands she was then asked about the siege of La Charité she answered that she had made an assault but had not sprinkled holy water or caused it to be sprinkled asked why she did not enter the city as she had the command of God to do so she replied who told you that I was commanded to enter asked if she had not had the advice of her voices she answered that she had desire to go into France meaning towards Paris but the generals had told her that it was better to go first to La Charité she was then asked if she had been long in the tower of Bohevois answered that she was there about four months and that when she heard the English come she was angry and much troubled her voices forbade her several times to attempt to escape but at last in the doubt she had of the English she threw herself down commending herself to God and to our Lady and was much heard but after she had done this the voice of Saint Catherine said to her not to be afraid that she should be healed and that she would be relieved also she said that she prayed always for the relief of Compiègne with her counsel asked what she said after she had thrown herself down she answered that some said that she was dead and as soon as the Burgundians saw that she was not dead they told her that she had thrown herself down asked if she had said that she would rather die than fall into the hands of the English she answered that she would much rather hurt her soul to God than have fallen into the hands of the English asked if she was not in a great rage and if she did not blaspheme the name of God she answered that she never said evil of any saint and that it was not her custom to swear asked respecting soison when the captain had surrendered the town whether she had not cursed God and said that if she had gotten hold of the captain she would have cut him into four pieces she answered that she never swore by any saint and those who said so had not understood her at this point the public trial of Jeanne came to a sudden end either the feeling produced in the town and even among the judges by her and deviating simple and dignified testimony had begun to be more than her persecutors had calculated upon or else they hoped to make shorter work with her when deprived of the air of publicity the sight no doubt of some sympathetic faces and the consciousness of being still able to vindicate her cause and to maintain her faith before men two or three fierce inquisitors within her cell and the bishop that men without heart or pity at their head might still tear admissions from her weariness which a certain sympathetic atmosphere in a large auditory swept by waves of natural feeling would strengthen her to keep back the bishop made a proclamation that in order not to vex and tire his learned associates he would have the minutes of the previous sittings reduced into form and submitted to them for judgment while he himself carried on apart what further interrogatory was necessary we are told that he was warned by a counselor of the town that secret examinations without witnesses were advocate on the prisoner's side were illegal but Monseigneur de Beauvoir was well aware that anything would be legal which affected his purpose and that once Jean was disposed of the legality or illegality of the proceedings would be of small importance I have thought it right to give to the best of my power a literal translation of these examinations notwithstanding their great length as except in one book now out of print and very difficult to procure no such detailed translation so far as I am aware exists and it seems to me that even at the risk of fatiguing the reader always capable of skipping at his pleasure it is better to unfold the complete scene with all its tedium and badgering which brings out by every touch the extraordinary self command valor and sense of this wonderful maid the youngest perhaps and most ignorant of the assembly yet meeting all with a modest and unabashed countenance true pure and natural a far greater miracle in her simplicity and noble steadfastness than even in the wonders she had done Jandak her life and death by Margaret O. Olyphant the examination in prison lent 1431 part one it must not be forgotten in the history of this strange trial that the prisoner was brought from the other side of France expressly that she might be among a people who were not of her own party and who had no natural sympathies with her but a hereditary connection with England which engaged all its partialities on that side for this purpose it was that the venue the town expected the coming of the witch and all the dark revelations that might be extracted from her her spells and the details of that contract with the devil which was so entrancing to the popular imagination with excitement and eagerness such a cause célèbre had never taken place among them before and everybody no doubt looked forward to the pleasure of seeing it proved that it was not by the will of heaven but by some monstrous combination of black arts that such an extraordinary result as a defeat of the invincible English soldiers had been brought about the litigious and logical normans no doubt looked forward to it as to the most interesting entertainment ending in the complete vindication of their own side and the exposure of the nefarious arms used by their adversaries but when the proceedings had been opened and in place of some dark browed and termigant sorceress with the mark of every evil passion in her face there appeared before the spectators crowding into every available corner the slim youthful figure was it a boy or girl the serene and luminous countenance of the maid the flower of youth raising its whiteness and innocence in the midst of all those black-robed, subtle doctors it is impossible but that the very first glance must have given a shock and thrill of amazement and doubt to what may be called the lay spectators those who had no special bias more than common report and whose credit or interest were not involved in bringing this unlikely criminal to condemnation a girl like her own young at home might many a father have said dismayed and confounded she had, they all say those eyes of innocence which it is so impossible not to believe in that virginal voice Sefam which a sentimental Frenchman insists upon as belonging only to the spotless at all events she had the bearing of honesty purity and truth she was not afraid though all the powers of hell or was it only of the church and the law were arrayed against her no guilty mystery to be discovered was in her countenance but it must have been plain to the keen and not to charitable normans that such sentences are not always to be trusted and that the devil himself even on occasion can take upon himself the appearance of an angel of light so that after the first shock of wonder they no doubt settled themselves to listen believing that soon they would have their imaginations fed with the tales of horror and would discover the hooves and the horns and unveil with triumph the lurking demon the French historians never take into consideration the fact that it was the belief of Juan and Normandy as well as of any similar town or province in England that the child Henry VI was lawful king and that whatever was on the other side was a hateful adversary to be brought to such lesser and shameless was possible without mercy and without delay but after a few days of the examination which we have just reported public opinion was greatly staggered and knew not how to turn gradually the conviction must have been forced upon every mind which had any candor left that John and that dreadful bar with a stake inside and all the learning of Paris the entire power of one great national and half of another all England and half France against many more than half France for the other part had abandoned her cause showed nothing of the demon but all if not of the angel yet of the maid the emblem of perfection to that ruined world though often so barbarously handled it might almost be sad of the age notwithstanding its immorality and rampart viciousness that in its eyes a true virgin could do no harm and hers was one if ever such a thing existed on earth the talk in the streets began to take a very different tone Monsieur the clerical sheriff's officer saw nothing in her answers that was not good and right out of the midst of the crowd of listeners would burst an occasional cry of well said an Englishman even a knight overcome by his feelings cried out why was not she English this brave girl all these were ominous sounds so more ominous was the utterance of Maître Jean Louis a lawyer of war who declared loudly that the trial was not a legal trial for the reasons which follow in the first place because it was not in the form of an ordinary trial secondly because it was not held in the public court and those present had not full and complete freedom to say what was their full and unbiased opinion thirdly because there was question of the honor of the king of France of whose party Jean was without calling him or anyone for him fourthly because neither liable nor articles were produced and this woman who was only an uninstructed girl had no advocates to answer for her before so many masters and doctors on such grave matters and especially those which touched upon the revelations of which she spoke therefore it seemed to him that the trial was worth nothing for these things Montaigneur de Beauvais was very indignant against the said Maître Louis saying here's Louis who's going to make a fine fuss about our trial he culminates us all and tells the world it is of no good if one were to go by him one would have to begin everything over again and all that has been done would be of no use Montaigneur de Beauvais said besides it is easy to see on which foot he holds the quel pied il cloche I said John we shall do nothing of the kind we shall go on with our trial in it a day or two later Montaigneur de Beauvais he who refused to take down John's conversation with her Judas met the same lawyer Louis and asked him as no doubt every man asked every other whom he met how did he think the trial was going to which Louis answered you see the manner in which they proceed they will take her if they can in her words the versions in which she says I know first certain things that concern her apparitions if she would say it seems to me instead of I know first certain I do not see how any man could condemn her it appears that they proceed against her rather from hate than from any other cause and for this reason I shall not remain here I will have nothing to do with it this I think shows very clearly that Louis of the population by no means thought at first that it was from hate that the trial proceeded but honestly believed that he had been called to try John as a professor of the black arts and that he had discovered from her own testimony that she was not so and that the motive of the trial was entirely a different one from that of justice one in fact with which an honest man could have nothing to do it is very significant also that the number of judges present in court on the sixth day the last of the public examination was only 38 as against the 62 of the second day which seems to prove that a general disgust and alarm was growing in the minds of those most closely concerned Warwick and the soldiers impatient of all such business striding in noisily from time to time to give careless glance at the proceedings by not stay long enough to share the impression or might who can say their business was to get this pestilent woman even if by chance she might be an innocent fanatic cleared off the face of the earth and out of their way after the sixth day however it would seem that the bishop and his tools had taken fright at the progress of public opinion before dismissing the court on that occasion Cauchon made an address to the disturbed and anxious judges informing them that he would not tire them out with prolonged sittings but that a few specially chosen assistants would now examine into what further details were necessary in the meantime all would be put in writing so that they might think it over and deliberate within themselves so as to be able each to make a report either to himself the bishop or to someone deputed by him the assessors thus thrown out of work were however forbidden to leave Rouen without the bishop's permission probably because of the threat of loyer repeated meetings were held in Cauchon's house to arrange the details of the proceedings to follow and during this time it was perhaps hoped that any excitement outside would quiet down the bishop himself had in the meantime work in hand. He had to receive certain important visitors one of them the man who held the appointment of Chancellor of France on the English side and who was well acquainted with the mind of his masters we have no information whatever whether Cauchon ever himself wavered or allowed the possibility of acquitting Jean to enter his mind but he must have seen that it was of the last necessity to know what would satisfy the English chiefs. No doubt he was confirmed and strengthened in the conviction that by hook or by crook her condemnation must be accomplished by the conversation of these illustrious visitors to save Jean was impossible he must have been told no English soldier would strike a blow while she lived England itself the whole country trembled at her name till she was got rid of nothing could be done there was of course great exaggeration in all this for the English had fought desperately enough in her presence except on the one occasion of pâté notwithstanding all the early prestige of Jean but at all events it was made perfectly clear that the foregoing conclusion must be carried out and that Jean must die and not only so but she must die with oprogram and disgrace as a witch which almost everybody out of one believed her to be the public examination which lasted 6 days was concluded on the 3rd of March 1430 on the following days the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th of March meetings were held as we have said in the bishop's house to consider what it would be well to do next at one of which a select company of inquisitors was chosen to carry on the examination in private these were Jean de la Fontaine, a lawyer learned in canon law Jean Beaupère already her interrogator Nicolas Midy, a doctor in theology Pierre Maurice Canon of Rouen, an ambassador for the English King to the Council of Bal Thomas de Courcel the learned and excellent young doctor already described Nicolas Loisleur, the traitor also already sufficiently referred to and Manchon, the honest clerk of the court the names of Gerard Feuillet also a distinguished man and Jean Fécardeau, an advocate are likewise also mentioned they seem to have served in their turn 3 or 4 at a time this private session began on the 10th of March a week after the conclusion of the public trial and was held in the prison chamber inhabited by the maid we shall not attempt to follow literally those private examinations which would take a great deal more space than we have at our command and would be fatiguing to the reader from the constant and prolonged repetitions we shall therefore quote only such parts as are new or so greatly enlarged from Jean's original statements as to seem so at the first day's examination in her prison she was questioned about Compiègne and her various proceedings before reaching that place she was asked for one thing if her voices had bitten her make the sally in which she was taken to which she answered that had she known the time she was to be taken she would not have gone out unless upon the express command of the saints she was then asked about her standard her arms and her horses and reply that she had no coat of arms but her brothers had who also had all her money from ten to twelve thousand francs which was no great treasure to make war upon besides five chargers and about seven other horses all from the king the examiners then came to their principal object and having lulled her mind with these trifles turned suddenly to a subject on which they still hoped she might commit herself the sign which had proved her good faith to the king it is scarcely possible to avoid the feeling grave as all the circumstances were that a little malice a glance of mischievous pleasure kindled in John's eye she had refused to enter into further explanations again and again she had warned them that she would give them no true light on the subjects that concern the king now she would seem to have had sudden recourse to the mystification that is dear to you to have tossed her young head and said have then your own way and forthwith proceeded to romance according to the indications given her of what was wanted without thought of preserving any appearance of reality most probably indeed her air and tone will make it apparent to her persistent questioners how complete a fable or at least a parable it was asked what sign she gave to the king she replied that it was a beautiful and honorable sign very creditable and very good and rich above all asked if it still lasted answered it would be good to know it will last a thousand years and more if well guarded adding that it was in the treasure of the king asked if it was of gold or silver or of precious stones or in the form of a crown I will tell you nothing more but no man could devise a thing so rich as the sign but the sign that is necessary for you is that God should deliver me out of your hands and that is what he will do she also said that when she had to go to the king it was said by her voices go boldly and when you are before the king he will have a sign which will make him receive and believe in you asked what reverence she made when the sign came to the king and if it came from God answered that she had thanked God for having delivered her from the priests of her own party who had argued against her and that she had knelt down several times she also said that an angel from God and not from another brought the sign to the king and she had thanked the Lord many times she added that the priest seized the argue against when they had seen that sign asked if the clergy of her party saw the above sign answered yes that her king if you were satisfied and he answered yes and afterwards she went to a little chapel close by and heard them say that after she was gone more than 300 people saw the sad sign she said besides that for love of her and that they should give up questioning her God permitted those of her party to see the sign asked if the king and she had reverence to the angel when he brought the sign answered yes for herself that she knelt down and took off her hood what she unmeant by this strange romance can only I think be explained by this hypothesis she was dazed and bewildered say some of the historians evidently not knowing how to interpret so strange an interruption to her narrative but there is no other sign of bewilderment her mind was always clear and her intelligence complete granting that the whole story was boldly ironical its object is very apparent honor forbade her to betray the king's secret and she had expressly said she would not do so but her story seems to say since she will insist that there was a sign though I have told you I could give you no information have it your own way it shall have a sign and one of the very best it delivered me from the priests no party, depart de la Jean was no milk-sob she was bold enough to send a winged shaft to the confusion of the priests of the other side who had terminated her in the same way one can imagine a lurking smile at the corner of her mouth let them take it since they would have it and we may well believe there was that in her eye and in the details heaped up so lightly to form the miraculous tale which left little doubt in the minds of the questioners of the spirit in which she spoke though to us who only read the record the effect is of a more bewildering kind two days after on Monday the 12th of March the inquisitors began by several additional questions concerning the angel who brought the sign to the king was it the same whom she first saw or another she answered that it was the same and no water was wanted asked if this angel had not deceived her since she had been taken prisoner answered that she believed since it so pleased our lord that it was best that she should be taken asked if the angel had not failed her answered how could he have failed me when he comforts me every day discomfort is what she understands to come through St. Catherine and St. Margaret asked whether she called them or they came without being called she answered that they often came without being called and if they did not come soon enough she asked our savior to send them asked if Sunday knee had ever appeared to her answered not that she knew asked if when she promised to our lord to remain a virgin she spoke to him answered that it ought to be enough to speak to those who were sent by him that is to say St. Catherine and St. Margaret asked what induced her to summon a man to tool in respect to marriage answered I did not summon him it was he who summoned me and that on that occasion she had sworn before the judge to speak the truth which was that she had not made him any promise she also said that the first time she had heard the voices she made a vow of virginity so long as it pleased God being then about the age of 13 it was the object of the judges by these questions to prove that according to a fable which had obtained some credit Jean during her visit to La Housse the village innkeeper at Nef Chateau had acted as servant in the house and tarnished her good fame so that her betrothed had refused to marry her and that he had been brought before the bishop's court at tool for his breach of promise as we should say exactly the reverse was the case as the reader will remember Jean was further asked if she had spoken of her visions to her cure or to any ecclesiastic and answered no only to Robert de Baudricourt and to her king but added that she was not bitten by her voices to conceal them but fear to reveal them least the Burgundians should hear of them and prevent her going and especially she had much doubt of her father last he should hinder her from going asked if she thought she did well to go away without the permission and further when it is certain we ought to honor our father and mother answered that in every other thing she had fully obeyed him except in respect to her departure but she had written to them and they had pardoned her asked if when she left her father and mother she did not think it was a sin answered that her voices were quite willing that she should tell them if it were not for the pain it would have given them but as for herself she would not have told them also that her voices left her to do as she pleased to tell or not having gone so far the Reverend Fathers went to dinner and Jean we hope had her piece of bread and her au roger in the afternoon these indefatigable questioners returned and the first few questions throw a fuller light on the troubled cottage at Don Remy out of which this wonderful maiden came like a being of another kind she was questioned as to the dreams of her father and answered that while she was still at home her mother told her several times that her father said he had dreamt that Jean his daughter had gone away with the troopers that her father and mother took great care of her and held her in great subjection and she obeyed them in every point except that of her affair at all in respect to marriage she also said that her mother had told her what her father had said to her brothers and I could think that the thing would happen of which I have dreamed I wish she might be drowned first and if you would not do it I would drown her with my own hands and that he nearly lost his senses when she went to Voculaire how profound is this little village tragedy the suspicious stern and unhopeful peasant never sure even that the most transparent and pure may not be capable of infamy distracted with that horror of personal degradation which is involved in family disgrace cruel in the intensity of his pride and fear of shame he had been revealed to us in many lands always one of the most impressive of human pictures with no trust of love in him but an overwhelming faith in every vicious possibility if there is no evidence to prove that even at the moment when Jean was supreme he was induced to go to Reign to see the coronation Jacques Dark was still dark unresponsive never more sure than any of the inquisitors that his daughter was not a witch or worse a shameless creature linked to the captains and the splendid personages about her by very different ties from those which appeared there is at least not a word to prove that he had changed his mind she does not add anything in the description here given the sudden appearance of this dark remorseless figure looking on from his village who probably in all Don Remy when Don Remy got to hear the news would be the only person who would in his desperation almost applaud that stake and devouring flame is too starting for words the end of this day's examination was remarkable also for a sudden light upon the method she had intended to adopt in respect to the Duke of Orleans then in prison in England whom it was one of her most cherished hopes to deliver asked how she meant to rescue the Duke of Orleans she answered that by that time she hoped to have taken English prisoners enough to exchange for him and if she had not taken enough she should have crossed the sea in power to search for him in England and asked if St. Catherine and St. Margaret had told her absolutely and without condition that she should take enough prisoners to exchange for the Duke of Orleans who was in England or otherwise that she should cross the sea to fetch him and bring him back within three years she answered yes and that she had told the king and had begged him to permit her to make prisoners she said further that if she had lasted three years without hindrance she should have delivered him otherwise she said she had not thought of so long a time as three years although it should have been more than one but she did not at present recollect exactly there's a curious story existing though we do not remember whence it comes and there's not a scrap of evidence for it which suggests a rumor that Jean was not the child of the Dark Family at all but in fact an abandoned and illegitimate child between Isabel of Bavaria and that her real father was the murdered Duke Tourlain this suggestion might explain the ease with which she fell into the way of quartz a sort of air à la princesse which certainly was about her and her special devotion to Tourlain both to the city and the Duke a shadow of a supposed child of her own Queen Mary has also appeared in history quite without warrant or likelihood it is a little conventional and well worn even in the way of romance yet there are a certain fanciful suggestions in the thought after the above Jean was again questioned and at great length upon the sign given to the King upon the angel who brought it the manner of his coming and going the persons who saw him those who saw the crown bestowed upon the King and so on in the most minute detail that the purpose of the sign was that they should give up arguing and so let her proceed on her mission she repeated again and again but here is a curious additional note she was asked how the King and the people with him were convinced that it was an angel and answered that the King knew it by the instruction of the ecclesiastics who were there and also by the sign of the crown asked how the ecclesiastics Jean de Glyze knew it was an angel she answered by their knowledge science and because they were priests was this the keenest irony or was it the wondering of a weary mind we cannot tell but if the latter it was the only occasion on which Jean's mind wandered and there was method and meaning in the strange tale she was further questioned whether it was by the advice of her voices that she attacked Glaciarité and afterwards Paris her two points of failure the purpose of her examiners clearly being to convince her that those voices had deceived her to both questions she answered no to Paris she went at the request of gentlemen who wished to make a skirmish or a salt of arms but she intended to go farther and to pass the moats that is to force the fighting and make the skirmish into a serious assault the same was the case before Glaciarité she was asked whether she had no revelation and said that since it was revealed to her at Milan that she should be taken she had had more recourse to the will of the captains than to her own but she did not tell them that it was revealed to her that she should be taken asked if she thought it was well done to attack Paris on the day of the nativity of our lady which was a festival of the church she answered that it was always well to keep the festivals of our lady and in her conscience it seemed to her that it was always would be a good thing to keep the feasts of our lady from one end to the other in the afternoon the examiners returned to the attempt at escape or suicide they seemed to have preferred a latter explanation made at Beauhevoir and as Jean expresses herself with more freedom as to her personal motives in these prison examinations and opens her heart more freely there is much here which we give in full she was asked first what was the cause of her leap from the tower of Beauhevoir she answered that she had heard that all the people of Compiègne down to the age of seven were to be put to the sword and that she would rather die than live after such a destruction of good people this was one of the reasons the other was that she knew that she was sold to the English and that she would rather die than fall into the hands of the English her enemies she said that leap by the command of her voices answered that Saint Catherine said to her almost every day that she was not to leap for that God would help her and also the people of Compiègne and she, Jean, said to Saint Catherine that since God intended to help the people of Compiègne she would faint be there and Saint Catherine said you must take it in good part but you will not be delivered to have seen the king of the English she answered truly I do not wish to see him I would rather die than fall into the hands of the English asked if she had said to Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret will God leave the good people of Compiègne to die so cruelly answered that she did not say so cruelly but said it in this way will God leave these good people of Compiègne to die who have been and are so loyal to their Lord she asked that after she fell there were two or three days she could not eat and that she was so hurt by the leap that she could not eat but all the time she was comforted by Saint Catherine who told her to confess and ask pardon of God for that act and that without doubt the people of Compiègne would have succour before Martinus and then she took pains to recover and began to eat and shortly was healed end of section 17 section 18 of Jean Dark this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Jean Dark her life and death by Margaret O. Oliphant the examination in prison lent 1431 part 2 asked whether when she threw herself down she wished to kill herself she answered no but that in throwing herself down and hoped by means of that leap to escape and avoid being delivered to the English asked if when she recovered the power of speech she had denied and blasphemed God and the saints as had been reported answered that she remembered nothing of the kind and that as far as she knew she had never denied and blasphemed God and his saints there nor anywhere else and did not confess that she had done so having no recollection of it asked if she would like to see the information taken on the spot answered I refer myself to God and not another and to a good confession asked if her voices ever desire delay for their replies answered that St. Catherine always answered her at once but sometimes she Jean could not hear because of the tumult around her pour bastion de personne and the noise of her guards she asked anything of St. Catherine sometimes she and sometimes St. Margaret asked of our Lord and then by the command of our Lord an answer was given to her asked if when they came there was always light accompanying them and if she did not see that light when she heard the voice in the castle without knowing whether it was in her chamber or not answered that there was never a day they did not come into the castle and that they never came without light and that time she heard the voice but did not remember whether she saw the light or whether she saw St. Catherine also she said she had asked from her voices three things one her release the other that God would help the French and keep the town faithful and the other the salvation of her soul afterwards she asked that she might have a copy of these questions and her answers if she were to be taken to Paris that she may give them to the people in Paris and say to them this is how I was questioning Juan and here are my replies that she might not be exhausted by so many questions asked what she meant when she said that Monsignor de Beauvais put himself in danger by bringing her to trial and why Monsignor de Beauvais more than others she answered that this was and is what she said to Monsignor de Beauvais you say that you are my judge I know not whether you are so but take care that you judge well or you will put yourself in great danger I warn you so that if our Lord should chastise you for it I may have done my duty in warning you asked what was that danger she answered that St. Catherine had said that she should have succour but that she knew not whether this meant that she would be delivered from prison or that when she was before the tribunal there might come trouble by which she should be delivered she thought however it would be the one or the other and all the more that her voices told her that she would be delivered by a great victory and afterward they said to her take everything cheerfully do not be disturbed by this martyrdom thou shalt then come at last to the kingdom of heaven and this the voices said simply and absolutely that is to say without fail she explained that she called it martyrdom because of all the pain and adversity that she had suffered in prison and she knew not whether she might have still more to suffer but weighted upon our Lord she was then asked whether since her voices had said that she should go to paradise she felt assured that she should be saved and not damned in hell she answered that she believed firmly what her voices said about her being saved as firmly as if she were so already and when it was said to her that this answer was of great weight she answered that she herself held it as a great treasure we have said that John's answers to the inquisitors in prison had a more familiar form than in the public examination which seemed to prove that they were not unkind to her further at least than by the persistence and tediousness of their questions the bishop for one thing was seldom present the sittings were frequently presided over by the deputy inquisitor and had but very recently been forced into it so that we may at least imagine as he was so reluctant that he did what he could to soften the proceedings Jean de la Fontaine II was a milder man than her former questioners and in so small an assembly she could not be disturbed and interrupted by Frère Isambard's well-meined signs and whispers she speaks at length and with a self-disclosure which seems to have little that was painful in it like one matured into a kind of age by long weariness and trouble her regard to the panorama of her life passing before her with almost a pensive pleasure and it is clear that Jean's ear still so young and keen notwithstanding that attitude of mind was still intent upon sounds from without and that Jean's heart still expected a sudden assault a great victory for France which should open her prison doors or even arising in the very judgment hall to deliver her how could they keep still outside du noir, à l'encent la ire, the mighty men of Valor while they knew that she was being wracked and tortured within she who could not bear to be out of the conflict to serve her friends at Compiègne even when soccer from on high had been promised how was it possible that these gallant knights could live and let her die their gentle comrade their dauntless leader in those long hours amid the noise of the guards within and the garrison around how she must have thought over and over again where were they when were they coming how often imagine that a louder clang of arms unusual a rush of hasty feet meant that they were here but honor and love kept Jean's lips closed not a word did she say that could discredit king or party or friends not a reproach to those who had abandoned her she still looked for the great victory in which Monseigneur if he did not take care might run the risk of being roughly handled or of a sudden tumult in his own very court that would pitch him from his guilty seat it was but the 14th of march still and there were six three weeks to come she did not know the hour or the day but yet she believed that this great deliverance was on its way and there was a great deliverance to come but not of this kind the voices of God how can we deny it are often though in a loftier sense like those fantastic voices that keep the word of promise to the ear but break it to the heart they promised her a great victory and she had it and also the fullest deliverance but only by the stake and the fire which were not less dreadful to Jeanne than to any other girl of her age they did not speak to deceive her but she was deceived they kept their promise but not as she understood it these all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and was persuaded of them but was not to receive them except in the other way on the afternoon of the same day it was still lent and Jeanne fasted whatever a priest may have done she was again closely questioned on the subject this time of Fankedaha who as has been above narrated was taken by her in the course of some indiscriminate fighting in the north she was asked if it was not mortal sin to take a man as prisoner of war and then give him up to be executed there was evidently no perception of similarities in the minds of the judges for this was precisely what had been done in the case of Jeanne herself but even she does not seem to have been struck by the fact their object apparently was by proving that she was in a state of sin to prove also that her voices were of no authority as being unable to discover so simple a principle as this when they spoke to her of one named Fankedaha who was executed at Lenny she answered that she consented to his death as he deserved it for he had confessed to being a murderer a thief and a traitor she said that his trial lasted 15 days the Bayides and Lee and the law officers of Lenny being the judges and she asked that she had wished to have Fanked to exchange him for a man of Paris Nier de Lour but when she heard that this man was dead and when the Bayid told her that she would go very much against justice if she said Fanked free she said to the Bayid since my man is dead whom I wish to deliver do with this one whatever justice demands asked if she took the money or allowed it to be taken by him who had taken Fanked she answered that she was not a money-changer or a treasurer of friends to deal with money she was then reminded that having assaulted Paris on a holy day having taken the horse of Monsigné de Saint-B having thrown herself down from the tower of Beauheuvoir having consented to the death of Fankedaha and being still dressed in the costume of a man did she not think that she must be in a state of mortal sin she answered to the first question about Paris I do not think I was guilty of mortal sin and if I have sinned it is to God that I would make it known and in confession to God by the priests to the second question concerning the horse of Saint-Lis she answered that she believed firmly that there was no mortal sin in this seeing it was valued and the bishop had due notice of it and at all events it was sent back to the Saint-Lis de la Trémouie to give it back to Monsigné de Saint-Lis the sad horse was of no use to her and on the other hand she did not wish to keep it she heard that the bishop was displeased that his horse should have been taken and as for the tower of Beauheuvoir I did it not to destroy myself but in the hope of saving myself and of going to the aid of the good people who were in need but after having done it she had confessed her sin and asked pardon of her lord and had pardon of him and she allowed that it was not right to have made that leap but that she did wrong and an important question was introduced the only one as yet which Jeanne does not seem to have been able to answer with understanding on points of fact were in respect to her visions she was always quite clear but questions concerning the church were beyond her knowledge it is only indeed after some time has elapsed that we perceive why such a question was introduced after admonitions made to her she was required if she had done anything contrary to the faith to submit herself to the decision of the church she replied that her answers had all been heard and seen by clerks and that they could say whether there was anything in them against the faith and that if they would point out to her where any error was afterwards she would tell them what was said by her counselors at all events if there was anything against the faith which our lord had commanded she would not sustain it I am very sorry to go against that here it was shown to her that there was a church militant and a church triumphant and she was asked if she knew the difference between them she was also required to put herself under the jurisdiction of the church in respect to what she had done whether it was good or evil but replied I will answer no more on this point for the present having thrown in this tentative question which she did not understand they returned to the question of her dress which holds such an important place in the entire interrogatory if she were allowed to hear mass as she wished having been all this time deprived of religious ordinance did not she think it would be more honest and befitting that she should go in the dress of a woman to this she replied vaguely that she would much rather go to mass in the dress of a woman than to retain her male costume and not to hear mass and that if she were certified that she should hear mass she would be there in a woman's dress I certify you that you shall hear mass the examiner replied but you must be dressed as a woman what would you say she answered as with a momentary doubt if I had sworn to my king never to change but she added anyhow I answer for it find me a dress long touching the ground without a train and give it to me to go to mass but I will return to my present dress when I come back she was then asked why she would not have all the parts of a female dress to go to mass in she said I will take counsel upon that and answer you and beg again for the honor of God and our lady that she might be allowed to hear mass in this good town afterwards she was again recommended to assume the whole dress of a woman and gave a conditional assent get me a dress like that of a young bourgeois that is to say a long hoopland and I will wear that and a woman's hood to go to mass having promised however she made an appeal to them to leave her free and to think no more of her garb but to allow her to hear mass without changing it this would seem to have been refused and all at once without warning the jurisdiction of the church was suddenly introduced again she was asked whether in all she did and said she would submit herself to the church and reply all my deeds and works are in the hands of God and I depend only on him and I certify that I desire to do nothing and say nothing against the Christian faith and if I have done or said anything in the body that was against the Christian faith which our Lord has established I should not defend it but cast it forth for me ask again if she would not submit to the laws of the church she replied I can answer no more today on this point but on Saturday send the clerk to me if you do not come and I will answer by the grace of God and it can be put in writing a great many questions followed as to her visions but chiefly what had been asked before one thing only we may note since it was one of the special sayings all her own which fell from the lips of Jean during this private and almost sympathetic examination after being questioned closely as to how she knew her first visitor to be Saint Michael etc she was asked how she would have known had he been Lannemy himself a Norman must surely have used this word taking the form of an angel and finally what doctrine he taught her she answered above all things he said that she was to be a good child and that God would help her and among other things that she was to go to the secure of the king of France but the greater part of what the angel taught her she continued was already in their book and the angel showed her the great pity there was of the kingdom of France the pity of it that which has always gone most to the tender heart a country torn in pieces brother fighting against brother the invaders seated at the native earth and blood and fire making the smiling land a desert the pity qu'est toi a royaume de France did the inquisitor break down here could no one go on or was it mere human incompetence to feel the divine touch someone broke into a foolish question about the height of the angel and the sitting was hurdly concluded Monseigneur might well be on his metal that very pity was it not stealing into the souls of his private committee deputed for so different to use next day the questions about Saint Michael's personal appearance were resumed as a little faint we can only suppose for the great question of the church was again immediately introduced in the meantime Jean had described her visitor in terms which it is pleasant to dwell on he was in the form of a très vrai prudhomme the term is difficult to translate as in the gallant warmot of Italy the kinged honest men we used to say in English in the days of his late majesty victory manual of Italy but that is not all that is meant un vrai prudhomme a men good honest brave honest man is more like it the girl's honest imagination thought of no paraphernalia of wings or shining plumes it was not the theatrical angel not even the angel of art whom she saw whom it would have been so easy to invent nay to take quite truthfully from the first painted window radiating color and brightness through the dim low roof church but even with such material handy Jean was not led into the conventional she knew nothing about wings or emblematic scales he was in the form of a brave and gentle man she knew not anything greater nor would she be seduced into fable however sacred then once more the true assault began she was asked if she would submit all her sayings and doings good or evil to the judgment of our holy mother the church she replied that as for the church she loved it and would sustain it with all her might for our Christian faith and that it was not she whom they ought to disturb and hinder from going to church or from hearing mass as to the good things she had done and that had happened she must refer all to the king of heavens who had sent her to Charles king of France and it should be seen that the French would soon gain a great advantage which God would send them so great that all the kingdom of France would be shaken and this she said that when it came to pass they might remember that she had said it she was again asked if she would submit to the jurisdiction of the church and answered I refer everything to our lord who sent me to our lady and to the blessed saints of paradise and added her opinion was that our lord and the church meant the same thing and that difficulties should not be made concerning this when there was no difficulty and they were both one she was then told that there was the church triumphant in which our god, the saints, the angels and all saved souls the church militant is our holy father the pope, vicar of god on earth the cardinals, the prelates of the church and the clergy and all good Christians and Catholics which church properly assembled cannot err but is guided by the holy spirit and this being the case she was asked if she would refer her cause to the church militant thus explained to her she replied that she had come to the king of friends on the part of god on the part of the virgin Mary the blessed saints of paradise and the church of victorias in heaven and at their commandment and to that church she submitted all her good deeds and all that she had done and might do and if they asked her whether she would submit to the church militant answered that she would now answer no more than this here again the argument straight back to the futile subject of dress always at hand to be taken up again one would say when the judges were nonplussed her first reply on the subject is remarkable and shows that dark and terrible forebodings were already beginning to mingle with her hopes asked what she had to say about the woman's dress that had been offered to her to hear mass in she answered that she would not take it yet not until the lord pleased but that if it were necessary to lead her out to be executed and if she should then have to be undressed she required of the lord of the church that they would give her the grace to have a long chemise and a kerchief for her head that she would prefer to die rather than to alter what our lord had directed her to do and that she firmly believed our lord would not let her descend so low but she should soon be helped by god as a miracle she was then asked if what she did in respect to the man's costume was by command of god why she asked for woman's chemise in case of death answered it is enough that it should be long the effect of these words in which so much was implied must have made a supreme sensation among the handful of men gathered around the helpless girl in her prison bringing the stake in all its horror before the eyes of the judges for her own no other thing could have been suggested by the piteous prayer the stake, the scaffold, the fire and the shrinking figure all made only helpless, exposed to every evil gaze must have showed themselves at least for a moment against that dark background of prison wall it was enough that it should be long to hide her as much as was possible from those dreadful staring eyes the interrogatory goes on wildly after this about the age and the dress of the saints but a tone of fate had come into it and Jean herself it was evident, was very serious her mind turned to more weighty thoughts presently they asked if the saints hated the English to which she replied that they hated what god hated and loved what he loved she was then asked if god hated the English she replied that of the lover hate that god had for the English or what god did for their souls she knew nothing but she knew well that they should be driven out of France except those who die there and that god would send victory to the French against the English asked if god was for the English so long as they were prosperous in France she answered that she knew not whether god hated the French but believed he had allowed them to be beaten because of their sins Jean was then brought to a test which had she been a great statesman or a learned doctor would have been as dangerous as the question concerning Jean the Baptist was to the priests and scribes if we shall say from heaven he will say why then believed he him not but if we shall say of men we fear the people and she was only a peasant girl and the event of which they spoke had been before her little time asked if she thought and believed firmly that her king did well to kill Monseigneur de Bourgogne she answered that it was a great misfortune for the kingdom of France but that however it might be among themselves god had sent her to the succor of the king one or two other questions of some importance followed amid perpetual changes of the subject one of which called forth as follows her last deliverance on the subject of the pope asked if she had said to Monseigneur de Bourgogne that she would answer as exactly to him and to his clerks as she would have done before her holy father the pope although at several points in the trial she would have had to refuse to answer if she did not answer more plainly than before Monseigneur de Bourgogne she said that she had answered as much as she knew and that if anything came to her memory that she had forgotten to say willingly asked if it seemed to her that she would be bound to answer the plain truth to the pope the vicar of god in all he asked her touching the faith in her conscience she replied that she desired to be taken before him and then she would answer all that she ought to answer here we seem to perceive dimly that there was beginning to be a second party among those examiners one of which was covertly but earnestly attempting to lead Jeanne into an appeal to the pope which would have conveyed her out of the hands of the English at least and gained time probably deliverance for her could Jeanne have been made to understand it this however was by no means the wish of Cauchon whose spy and whisperer Lois-Eleur was working against it in the background Jeanne evidently failed to take up what they meant she did not understand the distinction between the church militant and the triumphant that God alone was her judge and that no tribunal could decide upon the questions which were between her lord and herself was too firmly fixed in her mind and again and again the man whose desire was to make her adopt this expedient were driven back into the ever-repeated questions about St. Catherine and St. Margaret one other of her distinctive sayings fell from her in the little interval that remained in a series of useless questions about her standard was it true that the standard had been carried into the cathedral at Reim when those of the other captains were left behind he had been through the labor and the pain she said there was good reason that it should have the honor this last movement of a proud spirit absolutely disinterested and without thought of honor or advancement in the usual sense of the word gives a sort of trumpet note at the end of these wonderful wranglings in which, however there is a softening of tone visible throughout an evident effect of human nature bringing into immediate contact diverse human creatures day after day Jeanne is often at her best and never so frequently as during these last formal sittings others those fine words simple and noble and have absolute truth to nature which are noted everywhere in these rambling records the private examination concluding with that last answer about the banner came to an end of the 17th of March the day before Passion Sunday several subsequent days were occupied with repeated consultations in the bishops palace and the reading over of the minutes of the examinations to the judges first and afterwards to Jeanne who acknowledged their correctness with one or two small amendments and now that Cauchon reappears in his own person on the morning of the following Sunday which was Palm Sunday he and four other doctors with him had a conversation with Jeanne in her prison very early in the morning touching her repeated application to be allowed to hear mass and to communicate the bishop offered her his ultimatum if she consented to resume her woman's dress she might hear mass but not otherwise but Jeanne replied sorrowfully that she would have done so before now if she could but that it was not in her power to do so thus after the long and bitter length her hopes of sharing in the sacred feast were finally taken from her it remains uncertain whether she considered that her change of dress would be direct disobedience to God which her words seem often to imply or whether it would mean renunciation of her mission which is still hoped against hope to be able to resume or if the fear of personal insult weighted most with her the latter reason had evidently something to do with it but as evidently not all the background to these curious sittings afterwards revealed to us casts a hazy side light upon them probably the bishop never present must have been made aware by his spies an intention on the part of those most favourable to Jeanne to support and appeal to the pope and Loise-leur the trader who was all this time admitted to herself by permission of Cauchon and really as his tool and agent was actively employed in prejudicing her mind against him counselling her not to trust to those clerks not to yield to the church how he managed to explain his own appearance on the other side his official connection with the trial and constant presence as one of her judges it is hard to imagine probably he gave her to believe that he had sought that position having got himself liberated from the imprisonment which he had represented himself as sharing for her sake to be able to help her on the other hand her friends whose hearts were touched by her candor and her sufferings were not inactive Jean-Lafontaine and the Choumanx L'Advenu and Fer Isambas also succeeded in gaining admission to her and pressed upon her the advantage of appealing to the church to the council of Bal about to assemble or to the pope himself which would have again changed the venue and transferred her into less prejudiced hands it is very likely that Jean in her ignorance and innocence might have held by her reference to the supreme tribunal of God in any case and it is highly unlikely that of the English authorities intent on removing the only thing in friends of which their forces were afraid should have given her up into the hands of the pope or allowed her to be transferred to any place of defense beyond the reach but at least it is a relief to the mind to find that all these men were not base as appears on the face of things but that pity and justice and human feeling sometimes existed under the priest's gown and the monk's cowl if also treachery and falsehood of the blackest kind the bishop who remained withdrawn we know not why from all these private sittings in the prison probably busy with his ecclesiastical duties as Holy Week was approaching heard with fury of this visit and advice and threaten vengeance upon the meddlers not without effect for Jean Lafontaine we are told who had been deep in his councils and indeed his deputy as chief examiner disappeared from Hua immediately after and was heard of no more end of section 18