those long days of searching examination and cross-questioning. When
the sentence she had used, and which had been noted down in the
minutes of an early day of the trial, was read as follows: 'All that I
have done has been done by the advice of my Saviour,' she stopped the
clerk, and said that it should stand thus: 'All that I have done well
has been done by the advice of my Saviour.' When she was asked by what
form of words she prayed to her Saints to come to her assistance, she
repeated the following prayer:--'Very blessed God, in honour of your
holy Passion, I beseech you, if you love me, that you will reveal to
me what I am to answer these Churchmen. I know concerning the dress
the reason for which I have adopted it, but I know not in what manner
I am to discard it. For this thing I beseech you to tell me what to
do.' And she added that after this prayer her voices were soon heard.
On the 31st of March, Cauchon, accompanied by the Vice-Inquisitor and
some other of the judges, had an interview with the prisoner. They
again inquired of Joan of Arc whether she submitted herself wholly and
entirely into the hands of the Church Militant. She answered that if
such were her Saviour's wish she was quite willing to do so. The
accusations were now set forth afresh, in twelve chief heads or
articles, under which the series of calumnies was summarised before
they should be submitted to the University of Paris. These twelve
heads, which formed the foundation of Joan of Arc's condemnation, were
never shown her; and she had therefore no chance of contradicting any
of the grossly false charges of which they were full. Like the trial
itself, these articles were merely a sham invented for the purpose of
throwing dust in the eyes of the people, who by these, it was hoped,
would be persuaded that the law of the Church and State had been acted
up to. The heads of these articles were as follows:--
_First_--A woman pretends to have had communication with Saints from
her thirteenth year; and she affirms that they have counselled her to
dress in male attire; she affirms that she has found her salvation,
and refuses to submit herself to the Church.
_Second_--She affirms that, through a sign, she persuaded the King to
believe in her; and that accompanied by an angel she placed a crown
upon his head.
_Third_--She affirms her companionship with Saint Michel and other
Saints.
_Fourth_--She affirms certain things will occur by the revelation
obtained by her from certain Saints.
_Fifth_--She affirms that her wearing a man's dress is done by her
through the will of God; she has sinned by receiving the Sacrament in
that garb, which she says she would sooner die than quit wearing.
_Sixth_--She admits having written letters signed with the names of
Jesus and Mary and with the sign of a cross. That, also, she admits
having threatened death to those who would not obey her; and she
affirms that all she has done has been accomplished by the Divine
will.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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