Thereupon Cauchon called in John Grey, the English gentleman who had
charge of the prison, along with two of his soldiers, and enjoined them
to guard the girl securely and not to permit her to talk with any one
without the permission of the court. Jeanne was then led back to her cell
and her irons.
Now the assessors were not all agreed as to the legality of the trial,
but they feared what might befall them if they opposed Cauchon, who
wielded a great influence with the English. One Nicolas de Houppeville of
Rouen had spoken his mind freely at the preliminary consultation, and now
as he presented himself to take a seat among the assistant judges the
Bishop had him thrown into prison. This man had said:
"I do not see how we can proceed against the prisoner, as we who are
opposed to her are acting as judges. Furthermore, she has already been
examined by the clergy at Poictiers under the Archbishop of Reims, who is
the metropolitan of the Bishop of Beauvais."
He stated the case with clearness: the Church which had acquitted her at
Poictiers seemed now to be trying Jeanne for the same offense. Cauchon
reprimanded the priest sharply, and it now took all the influence that
could be brought to bear upon the matter to keep him from being exiled to
England. But his misfortune had a salutary effect upon the other
assessors. Henceforth, Cauchon found the majority of them pliant to his
will.
There had been so much confusion at the first session, the proceedings
being much interrupted by shouts and noises from outside, that the next
morning the sitting was held in a room at the end of the great hall of
the castle. Again the captive was unchained and brought before them--a
young girl, alone and friendless, before a convocation of trained men,
and without counsel, advocate, or attorney. During the day before she had
been interrupted at almost every word, and secretaries of the English
King recorded her replies as they pleased, distorting her answers as they
saw fit. Guillaume Manchon of the Cathedral Chapter, chief clerk,
threatened to throw up his task if this were further permitted, being
desirous that the records should be correctly kept. Again the Bishop
asked Jeanne to take the oath without conditions. To which she replied:
"I swore yesterday. That ought to suffice."
"Every person," said the Bishop, "though he were a prince, being
required to swear in any matter relating to the faith, cannot refuse."
"I took the oath yesterday," said she, "that ought to be sufficient for
you. You ask too much of me."
The contest ended as on the day before by Jeanne taking a limited oath.
Then Jean Beaupère, a distinguished professor in theology, resumed the
examination. In all this trial Jeanne was the only witness examined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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