'I was thirteen,' answered Joan, 'when I first heard a voice coming from God to help me to live well. That first time I was much alarmed. The voice came to me about mid-day; it was in the summer, and I was in my father's garden.' 'Had you been fasting?' asked Beaupere. J.--'Yes, I had been fasting.' B.--'Had you fasted on the day before?' J.--'No, I had not.' B.--'From what direction did the voices come?' J.--'I heard the voice coming from my right--from towards the church.' B.--'Was the voice accompanied with a bright light?' J.--'Seldom did I hear it without seeing a bright light. The light came from the same side as did the voice, and it was generally very brilliant. When I came into France I often heard the voices very loud.' B.--'How could you see the light when you say it was at the side?' To this question Joan gave no direct answer, but she said that when she was in a wood she would hear the voices coming towards her. 'What,' next asked Beaupere, 'what did you think this voice which manifested itself to you sounded like?' J.--'It seemed to me a very noble voice, and I think it was sent to me by God. When I heard it for the third time I recognised it as being the voice of an angel.' B.--'Could you understand it?' J.--'It was always quite clear, and I could easily understand it.' B.--'What advice did it give you regarding the salvation of your soul?' J.--'It told me to conduct myself well, and to attend the services of the Church regularly; and it told me that it was necessary that I should go to France.' B.--'In what manner of form did the voice appear?' J.--'As to that I will give you no answer.' B.--'Did that voice solicit you often?' J.--'It said to me two or three times a week, "Leave your village and go to France."' B.--'Did your father know of your departure?' J.--'He knew nothing about it. The voice said, "Go to France," so I could not remain at home any longer.' B.--'What else did it say to you?' J.--'It told me that I should raise the siege of Orleans.' B.--'Was that all?' J.--'The same voice told me to go to Vaucouleurs, to Robert de Baudricourt, captain of that place, and that he would give me soldiers to accompany me on my journey; and I answered it, that I was a poor girl who did not know how to ride, neither how to fight.' B.--'What did you do then?' J.--'I went to my uncle, and told him that I wished to remain with him for some time, and I lived with him eight days. I then told him that I must go to Vaucouleurs, and he took me there. When I arrived there I recognised Robert de Baudricourt, although it was the first time that I saw him.' B.--'How, then, did you recognise him?' J.--'I knew him through my voices. They said to me, "This is the man," and I said to him, "I must go to France." Twice he refused to listen to me. The third time he received me. The voices had told me this would happen.' B.--'Had you not some business with the Duke of Lorraine?'