Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France: Being the Story of Her Life, Her Achievements, and Her Death, as Attested on Oath and Set Forth in the Original Documents
History
Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France: Being the Story of Her Life, Her Achievements, and Her Death, as Attested on Oath and Set Forth in the Original Documents
Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 -- Trials, litigation, etc.
In 1455, however, the Pope Nicholas V. died, and his successor Calixtus
III. [Borgia], less timorous, acceded to the request of the d’Arc
family, granting a Rescript authorizing the process of revision, and
appointing as delegates for the Trial the Archbishop of Rheims (Jean
Jouvenal des Ursins), the Bishop of Paris (Guillaume Chartier), and the
Bishop of Coutances (Richard de Longueil), who afterwards associated
with themselves the Inquisitor, Jean Bréhal.
The Case was solemnly opened on November 7th, 1455, in the Church of
Notre Dame at Paris, when the mother and brothers of the Maid came
before the Court to present their humble petition for a revision of her
sentence, demanding only “the triumph of truth and justice.” The Court
heard the request with some emotion. When Isabel d’Arc threw herself at
the feet of the Commissioners, shewing the Papal Rescript and weeping
aloud, while her Advocate, Pierre Maugier, and his assistants prayed for
justice for her and for the memory of her martyred daughter, so many of
those present joined aloud in the petition, that at last, we are told,
it seemed that one great cry for justice broke from the multitude.
The Commissioners formally received the petition, and appointed November
17th, ten days later, for its consideration, warning the Petitioners of
the possible danger of a confirmation of the previous Trial, instead of
the reversal they looked for, but promising careful consideration of the
Case should they persist in their appeal.
On November 17th the Court met a second time at Notre Dame; the Papal
Rescript was solemnly read, and the Advocate for the Petitioners brought
his formal accusation against the Judges and Promoter of the late
Trial—none of whom, as has been said, were then alive—carefully
excluding the Assessors concerned in the case, who, he said, were led to
wrong conclusions by false deductions. At the close of the Advocate’s
address, the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishop of Paris declared
themselves ready to act as Judges in the Appeal Case, in conjunction
with the Inquisitor Bréhal, appointing the following December 12th for
the inaugural sitting, and citing all those concerned in this Case to
appear before them on that day.
The Trial opened on December 12th. The family of d’Arc were represented
by the Procurator, Guillaume Prévosteau, who had formerly been appointed
Promoter in the case instituted by Cardinal d’Estouteville: but the
Plaintiffs alone were represented, no one appearing to answer for either
of the accused Judges nor for the Promoter d’Estivet. The Case was
adjourned until December 15th, in order that Advocates for the
Defendants might be summoned to appear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account