Among the witnesses first appear the friends and neighbours of Joan of Arc in her childhood and early years. From her birthplace came her greatest friends, Henriette, Mengette, and Isabellette. The first of these, in the year 1456, was aged forty-five, the second was a year older, and the third was in her fiftieth year. All three were the wives of labourers. Henriette was married to Gerard, Mengette to John Joyart, and Isabellette to Gerardin d'Epinal. To the child of the last Joan had stood god-mother. Next came from the same village three older women, all three being god-mothers to Joan. In those days the French peasantry seem to have had an almost unlimited number of god-fathers and god-mothers. These were named Jeannette, widow of Thepelin de Viteau, aged sixty; Jeannette Theverien, aged sixty-six; and Beatrix, widow of d'Estelin, a labourer of Domremy, then in her eightieth year. After these three god-mothers, came to give their evidence her god-fathers. Four of these appear--John Rainguesson, John Barrey, John de Langart, and John Morel de Greux. Of these four god-fathers, only the last one seems to have been called to give evidence; he was in his seventieth year. Gerardin d'Epinal, husband of one of the god-mothers, also gave his evidence; it was his son Nicolas for whom Joan of Arc had stood sponsor. In those days it was held that the god-mother of a child stood to it in the relation of a second mother: hence originated the term of 'commere' and 'compere,' which Joan gave the d'Epinals. Six labourers, who had been playmates with Joan in childhood, then came forward. These men, named respectively Le Cuin, Guillemeth, Waterin, Colin, Masnier, and Jacquard, were between the ages of forty-four and fifty. All these humbly born witnesses agreed in their answers to the twelve questions asked them in the following order:-- 1. When and where was Joan born? 2. Who were her parents? Were they of good character and of good repute? 3. Who were her god-fathers? 4. Was she piously brought up? 5. How did she conduct herself between her seventh year up to the time she left her home? 6. Did she often frequent the churches and places of devotion of her free-will? 7. How did she occupy herself, and what were her duties? 8. Did she confess often? 9. Did she frequent the fairies' tree and the haunted well, and did she go to places with the other young people of the neighbourhood? 10. How did she leave her home, and how did she accomplish her journey? 11. Were any investigations made in her native country at the time she was taken prisoner? 12. Did Joan on one occasion escape to Neufchateau on account of a military raid, and was she then in the company of her parents?