The Life of Joan of Arc Part 108

"I am come to the King of France from G.o.d, from the Virgin Mary and all the blessed saints in Paradise and from the Church Victorious above and by their command. To this Church I submit all the good deeds I have done and shall do. As to replying whether I will submit to the Church Militant, for the present, I will make no further answer."[2388]

[Footnote 2388: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 174, 176.]

Again she was offered a woman's dress in which to hear ma.s.s; she refused it.

"As for a woman's dress, I will not take it yet, not until it be Our Lord's will. And if it should come to pa.s.s that I be taken to judgment and there divested of my clothes, I beg my lords of the Church the favour of a woman's smock and covering for my head. I would rather die than deny what Our Lord hath caused me to do. I believe firmly that Our Lord will not let it come to pa.s.s that I should be cast so low, and that soon I shall have help from G.o.d, and that by a miracle."

Thereafter the following questions were put to her: "Do you not believe to-day that fairies are evil spirits?"

"I do not know."

"Do you know whether Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret hate the English?"

"They love what Our Lord loves and hate what G.o.d hates."

"Does G.o.d hate the English?"

"Touching the love or hatred of G.o.d for the English and what he will do for their souls I know nothing. But I do know that they will all be driven out of France, save those who die there, and that G.o.d will send victory to the French and defeat to the English."

"Was G.o.d on the side of the English when they prospered in France?"

"I know not whether G.o.d hated the French. But I believe that he permitted them to be beaten for their sins, if they were in sin."[2389]

[Footnote 2389: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 178.]

Jeanne was asked certain questions touching the banner on which she had caused angels to be painted.

She replied that she had had angels painted as she had seen them represented in churches.[2390]

[Footnote 2390: _Ibid._, p. 180.]

At this point the examination was adjourned. The last interrogation in the prison[2391] took place after dinner. She had now endured fifteen in twenty-five days, but her courage never flagged. This last time the subjects were more than usually diverse and confused. First, the examiner essayed to discover by what charms and evil practices good fortune and victory had attended the standard painted with angelic figures. Then he wanted to know wherefore the clerks put on Jeanne's letters the sacred names of Jesus and Marie.[2392]

[Footnote 2391: _Ibid._, p. 181.]

[Footnote 2392: _Ibid._, pp. 182-183.]

Then came the following subtle question: "Do you believe that if you were married your Voices would come to you?"

It was well known that she dearly cherished her virginity. Certain of her words might be interpreted to mean that she considered this virginity to be the cause of her good fortune; wherefore her examiners were curious to know whether if she were adroitly approached she might not be brought to cast scorn on the married state and to condemn intercourse between husbands and wives. Such a condemnation would have been a grievous error, savouring of the heresy of the Cathari.[2393]

[Footnote 2393: Martene and Durand, _Thesaurus novus anecdotorum_, vol.

v, col. 1760 _et seq._]

She replied: "I know not and I appeal to Our Lord."[2394] Then there followed another question much more dangerous for one who like Jeanne loved her King with all her heart.

[Footnote 2394: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 183.]

"Do you think and firmly believe that your King did right to kill or cause to be killed my Lord of Burgundy?"

"It was sore pity for the realm of France."[2395]

[Footnote 2395: _Ibid._, p. 184.]

Then did the examiner put to her this grave question: "Do you hold yourself bound to answer the whole truth to the Pope, G.o.d's Vicar, on all that may be asked you touching religion and your conscience?"

"I demand to be taken before him. Then will I make unto him such answer as behoveth."[2396]

[Footnote 2396: _Ibid._, pp. 184, 185.]

These words involved an appeal to the Pope, and such an appeal was lawful. "In doubtful matters touching on religion," said St. Thomas, "there ought always to be an appeal to the Pope or to the General Council." If Jeanne's appeal were not in regular judicial form, it was not her fault. She was ignorant of legal matters and neither guide nor counsel had been granted to her. To the best of her knowledge, and according to wont and justice, she appealed to the common father of the faithful.

The doctors and masters were silent. And thus was closed against the accused the one way of deliverance remaining to her. She was now hopelessly lost. It is not surprising that Jeanne's judges, who were partisans of England, ignored her right of appeal; but it is surprising that the doctors and masters of the French party, the clerks of the provinces loyal to King Charles, did not all and with one voice sign an appeal and demand that the Maid, who had been judged worthy by her examiners at Poitiers, should be taken before the Pope and the Council.

Instead of replying to Jeanne's request, the examiners inquired further concerning those much discussed magic rings and apparitions of demons.[2397]

[Footnote 2397: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 185.]

"Did you ever kiss and embrace the Saints, Catherine and Margaret?"

"I embraced them both."

"Were they of a sweet savour?"

"It is well to know. Yea, their savour was sweet."

"When embracing them did you feel heat or anything else?"

"I could not have embraced them without feeling and touching them."

"What part did you kiss, face or feet?"

"It is more fitting to kiss their feet than their faces."

"Did you not give them chaplets of flowers?"

"I have often done them honour by crowning with flowers their images in churches. But to those who appeared to me never have I given flowers as far as I can remember."

"Know you aught of those who consort with fairies?"

"I have never done so nor have I known anything about them. Yet I have heard of them and that they were seen on Thursdays; but I do not believe it, and to me it seems sorcery."[2398]

[Footnote 2398: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 187.]

Then came a question touching her standard, deemed enchanted by her judges. It elicited one of those epigrammatic replies she loved.

"Wherefore was your standard rather than those of the other captains carried into the church of Reims?"

"It had been in the contest, wherefore should it not share the prize?"[2399]