That was a testimony of admiration which neither the fears of
persecution nor of superstition could prevent from appearing.
Nothing more was to be obtained from the prisoner's lips than this
declaration, either by private or public examinations. This being so,
Cauchon bethought him what further cruelty could be employed to force
the prisoner to give way, and the barbarous scheme of torture was
decided on.
The only portion of the old castle of Rouen that has survived Time,
war, revolutions, and rebuilding (although partially restored), is a
massive high tower, built of white stone, called the Tower of Joan of
Arc. This is not the tower of the castle which contained the heroine's
dungeon, but it has always been traditionally regarded as that in
which, on the 9th of May, Joan of Arc was led to where her judges
intended, by fear or by the infliction of bodily torment, to oblige
her to make the confession which she had so steadily and for so long a
time refused. The lower portion of this tower only is ancient, for
from about its centre to the top is a restoration.
The chamber to which Joan of Arc was led, and where the instruments of
torture and the executioners were waiting, is probably that on the
ground floor, and is but little changed from what it was on that May
morning in the year of grace 1431.
In that dark stone chamber with its groined roof, besides the
prisoner, were present Cauchon, with the Vice-Inquisitor, the Abbot
of Saint Corneille of Compiegne, William Erard, Andrew Marguerie,
Nicolas de Venderes, John Massieu, William Haiton, Aubert Morel, and
the infamous Loiseleur. Ranged round the circular walls were placed
the instruments of torture, and men skilled in their use were ready at
hand.
'Joan,' said Cauchon, who had now dropped his hypocritical semblance
of sympathy, which he had assumed when interrogating the prisoner in
her cell, 'I command you to tell the truth. In your examination many
and various points have been touched on, about which you refused to
answer, or, when you did so, answered untruthfully. Of this we have
certain proof. These points will now be read to you.'
What was then read was probably a summary of the articles of
impeachment.
Cauchon then continued: 'If, Joan, you now refuse to speak the truth,
you will be put to the torture. You see before you the instruments
which are prepared, and by them stand the executioners, who are ready
to do their office at our command. You will be tortured in order that
you may be led into the way of truth, and for the salvation of your
body and soul, which you by your lies have exposed to so great a
peril.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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