The Executioner's Knife Part 43

4.--One of the minutes of the process, containing the questions put to Joan, and her answers.

5.--A complete admission and detailed account of the machinations of Loyseleur and Bishop Cauchon to capture Joan's confidence in her prison, as also of the plans they had laid during a long conversation before the trial.

These materials were given to me by the canon in the hope of enabling me some day to rehabilitate the memory of Joan Darc. As to himself, he realized that, pursued by inexorable remorse, he would soon die, or lose his senses. On that very morning he did not dare to take his seat on the platform among Joan's judges, fearing she might recognize him. The spectacle of her martyrdom and agony finally overthrew him. After depositing these ma.n.u.scripts in my hands, the canon left me precipitately and with a wild look. I know not what became of him.

The next morning I left Rouen with my grandson, and once again in Vaucouleurs I proceeded to write the story of Joan Darc. Thanks to the information I received from Denis Laxart and the doc.u.ments of Canon Loyseleur, I have been able to draw up the above truthful narrative. To it I have attached the executioner's knife, as an additional relic of our family.

Until now and in this country of Lorraine, the cradle of the virgin of Gaul, I have vainly sought to rehabilitate Joan in the eyes of her friends and even of her parents. All have given me the same answer that I received so often in Rouen and so many other towns:

"Despite her glory, despite her immense services rendered to France, Joan is guilty, Joan is criminal, Joan will burn in the everlasting flames of h.e.l.l--the INFALLIBLE CHURCH CONDEMNED HER!"

But the judgment of men pa.s.ses--true glory is imperishable. Some day the Maid will be exalted and her murderers spat upon.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Trial and Condemnation, and Proceedings of the Rehabilitation of Joan of Arc, known as The Maid_, by Jules Quicherat, after the ma.n.u.scripts in the Royal Library; vol. I, p. 39.

[2] The same.

[3] _Trial of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 40.

[4] _Trial of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 74.

[5] _Song of Merlin the Enchanter_, in Villemarque, _Popular Songs of Brittany_, vol. I, p. 219.

[6] Villemarque, _Popular Songs of Brittany_, vol. I, p. 219.

[7] The citation is literal. Denis Laxart, uncle to Jeannette, testified to having heard her say: "Has it not been long prophesied that France, desolated by a woman, would be restored by a woman?" (_Proceedings of the Rehabilitation of Joan of Arc_, edited by Jules Quicherat, vol. II, p. 444.) The wife of Henry Rolhaire also deposed and said: "Jeannette asked: 'Have you not heard it said that France, lost by a woman, would be saved by a virgin of the marches (borders) of Lorraine, born near an oak forest?'" (The same, p. 447.)

[8] "_Descendet virgo dorsum sagitarii._ Among other writings was found a prophecy of Merlin, speaking in this manner."--Testimony of Matthew Thoma.s.sin, given by Quicherat in the _Rehabilitation_, vol. III, p. 15.

[9] See "The Iron Arrow Head," the tenth of this series.

[10] Volume one of this series, "The Gold Sickle."

[11] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 67.

[12] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 87.

[13] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 88.

[14] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 88.

[15] The same, p. 89.

[16] The same, p. 89.

[17] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 77.

[18] The same, p. 77.

[19] The same, pp. 79, 80.

[20] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 79.

[21] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 80.

[22] The same, p. 80.

[23] _Trial and Condemnation_, vol. I, p. 80.

[24] _Trial and Condemnation_, vol. I, p. 80.

[25] _Trial and Condemnation_, vol. I, p. 88.

[26] _Trial and Condemnation_, vol. I, p. 29.

[27] _"Mammae ejas erant pulcherimas"_--Testimony of the Duke of Alencon (_Proceedings of the Rehabilitation of Joan of Arc_, vol. III, p. 220).

[28] _Trial and Condemnation of Joan of Arc_, vol. I, p. 127.

[29] _Trial and Condemnation_, vol. I, p. 67.

[30] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation_, vol. II, p. 79.

[31] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation_, vol. II, p. 435.

[32] This, and the succeeding answers of Joan in this interview which are authenticated by references to the _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation_, are all, with the exception of two otherwise designated, taken from that portion of vol. II between pp. 436 and 439.

[33] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation._

[34] The same.

[35] The same.

[36] The same.

[37] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation._

[38] The same, vol. II, p. 459.

[39] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation._

[40] The same, vol. II, p. 80.

[41] _Proceedings of the Rehabilitation_, vol. II, p. 401.