THE TRIAL & EXECUTION OF JOAN OF ARC
Joan was a being so uplifted from the ordinary run of mankind that she finds no equal in a thousand years. The records of her trial present us with facts alive today through all the mists of time. Out of her own mouth can she be judged by each generation. She embodied the natural goodness and valour of the human race in unexampled perfection. Unconquerable courage, infinite compassion, the virtue of the simple, the wisdom of the just, shone forth in her. She glorified as she freed the soil from which she sprang. All men should read her story and ponder on the words and deeds of the truly ennobled warrior, who in a single year, though untaught in technical skills – unable even to read or to write – reveals in every situation the key to ultimate victory.
Winston S Churchill, A History of the English Speaking Peoples
THE FORMAL PRELIMINARIES
HERE begins the report of the trial held by Messire Pierre
Cauchon, Bishop and Count of Beauvais, in a matter of faith
against a woman named Jeanne, commonly called the Pucelle.
To begin: the said Bishop, being in the town of Rouen in the
year one thousand four hundred and thirty, after the
Epiphany, which was the ninth day of the month of January, he
had called before him the reverend fathers and masters, my
lords Gilles, Abbot of Fécamp, doctor in theology; Nicolas,
Abbot of Jumieges, doctor in laws; Pierre de Longueville La
Guiffart, doctor in theology; Nicolas de Venderes, Archdeacon
of Eu in the Church of Rouen, licentiate in laws; Raoul
Roussel, Treasurer of the [Cathedral] Church of Notre Dame in
Rouen, doctor in laws; Robert Barbier, licentiate in laws;
Nicolas Couppequesne, bachelor in theology; Nicolas
Loiseleur, master in arts, canon of Rouen; all of whom
appeared in obedience to the order of the Bishop in the
Council Chamber of the castle of Rouen.
The Bishop explained to them that a woman named Jeanne,
called the Pucelle, who was accused of invoking devils and
other crimes, had been delivered and handed over to him from
the Very Illustrious Prince the King of France and England;
and that, since she had been handed over, articles concerning
the Catholic Faith had been composed, upon which articles
they had examined a number of witnesses, as one could see
from the reading of the articles and the depositions of the
witnesses who had been examined upon them. These articles and
depositions were read in the presence of the above mentioned
persons.
After the reading was done, since the Grand Inquisitor of the
Faith was not in the town of Rouen, but only his deputy was
there, it was ordered and directed by the Bishop that the
deputy should be called; and that in the presence of notaries
he should be summoned to hear read the articles and
informations which had been made concerning the crimes and
evil-doing of the said Jeanne, and the scandal which had
thereby arisen.
And afterwards, by the advice of those who were present, the
Bishop ordered that this woman should be summoned to be
questioned in a matter of faith. This being done, all those
present swore to keep secret everything that might transpire
in this matter.
THE PREPARATORY INTERROGATIONS: THE FIRST PUBLIC SESSION
The following day, which was Wednesday the twenty-first day
of February, in the chapel royal of the castle of Rouen, in
the presence of the Bishop and of my lords and masters, my
lord Gilles, Abbot of Fécamp, Jean Beaupère, Jean de
Chatillon, Jacques le Tessier, Nicolas Midi, Gerard Feuillet,
Guillaume Haiton, Thomas de Courcelles and Maître Richard
Praty, were read the letters of the King of England where in
he commanded the ordinary judges of Rouen to hand over and
deliver the Pucelle to the Bishop to be tried. These being
read, Maître Jean Estivet, appointed promoter at the trial by
the Bishop, required the Pucelle to be brought and questioned
in accordance with law, which was granted by the Bishop.
And since Jeanne had made a supplication that she might be
allowed to hear Mass, the Bishop said that he had consulted
with several wise and notable persons, on whose advice he had
come to the conclusion that, in view of the crimes of which
she was accused, and the fact that she wore man's dress, they
ought to defer this request: and thus he declared it. Very
soon after, Jeanne was led in to the presence of the Bishop
and the assessors aforementioned. She being present, the
judge spoke to her:
CAUCHON
Since you were taken prisoner
within the boundaries of my
diocese, and since there is common
report of a number of your deeds
which are contrary to our faith,
not only within the realm of France
but in all the states in which they
are known and published, and since
you are accused of heresy, you have
been handed over to me, to be tried
in a matter of faith.
After these words, the Promoter [d'Estivet] showed how at his
request she had been cited and convened to answer in a matter
of faith, as appeared from the letters and acts which he then
exhibited, begging that she should be adjured to speak the
truth, and then questioned upon the accusations that he would
deliver. This was granted by the Bishop and the court. This
request being granted, as has been said, the Bishop caused
Jeanne to come before him, and charitably admonished her.
CAUCHON
You should tell the truth
concerning the things which will be
asked of you, as much for the
shortening of your trial as for the
unburdening of your conscience,
without subterfuge or craft;
and you must swear with your hand
on the Holy Gospels to tell the
truth concerning everything you
will be asked.
JEANNE
I don't know what you're going to
question me about. You may ask me
things that I won't want to answer.
CAUCHON
You will swear to tell the truth
about whatever you are asked
concerning the Catholic Faith, and
all else that you may know.
JEANNE
About my father and mother and
about everything I've done since I
arrived in France I will willingly
swear. But as for revelations sent
me from God, I've never told or
revealed them to anyone except
Charles, who is my king. And even
if you threaten to cut off my head,
I still won't reveal them, for I
know from my visions that I must
keep them secret. But within the
next eight days I'll know if I can
reveal them.
CAUCHON
I ask you to take the oath to tell
the truth concerning the faith.
JEANNE
(with both hands on the
missal)
I swear that I will tell the truth
in all matters asked me concerning
the Faith. But about my
revelations, I will not tell
anyone.
CAUCHON
What is your name and surname?
JEANNE
I was called Jeannette at home,
and in France, Jeanne. I know
nothing about a surname.
CAUCHON
Where were you born?
JEANNE
In a village called Domremy de
Greux.
CAUCHON
What is the name of your father and
mother?
JEANNE
My father is called Jacques Tart
and my mother, Ysabeau.
CAUCHON
Where were you baptised?
JEANNE
In the church at Domremy.
CAUCHON
Who were your godfathers and
godmothers?
JEANNE
A woman called Agnes and another
called Jeanne were my godmothers,
and a man called Jean Bavent was my
godfather. I've heard my mother say
that I have other godfathers and
godmothers as well as these.
CAUCHON
Who was the priest who baptised
you?
JEANNE
He was called Messire Jean Minet,
to the best of my knowledge.
CAUCHON
Is this Nynet still alive?
JEANNE
Yes, to the best of my belief.
CAUCHON
How old are you?
JEANNE
Nineteen or thereabouts.
CAUCHON
Who taught you faith?
JEANNE
My mother taught me the Pater
Noster, Ave Maria and Credo. No one
apart from my mother taught me
faith.
CAUCHON
Repeat the Pater Noster and Ave
Maria.
JEANNE
Certainly I'll repeat them,
providing you will hear my
confession.
CAUCHON
Repeat the Pater Noster and Ave
Maria.
JEANNE
Not unless you hear my confession.
CAUCHON
I will give you one or two notable
persons of this company to whom you
will say your Pater Noster and Ave
Maria.
JEANNE
I won't say them if they won't hear
me in confession. Why must I wear
these painful fetters on my legs?
CAUCHON
Several times you have tried to
escape from your prisons, so I
ordered that you should be fettered
in order that you might be kept the
more securely.
JEANNE
It's true that in the past I'd have
much liked to escape, as is lawful
for every prisoner. And if I'd been
able to escape, no one could say
I'd broken faith, because I never
gave my parole to anyone.
The Bishop then addressed John Riche, John Bernard and
William Talbot —
CAUCHON
You will guard her strictly, and
not allow anyone to speak to her
unless with my express permission.
Each place your hand on the missal
and swear a solemn oath to do all
that I have ordered you to do.
[END OF 1ST SESSION]
2ND SESSION: Thursday, 22 February 1431
[The following day:] In the Hall of the castle of Rouen,
there were assembled together with the bishop, the reverend
fathers, lords, masters and assessors. [...] In whose
presence and in that of Brother Jean Le Maître, deputy of the
Inquisitor of the Faith, the bishop showed how he had
summoned and required Le Maître, as general Inquisitor of the
Faith, to join in the trial of Jeanne, offering to communi
cate to him everything that had been done at the trial.
To which Le Maître answered that he was only commissioned in
the city and diocese of Rouen and since the trial was held
before the bishop, not as Ordinary of the diocese of Rouen,
but as of borrowed jurisdiction he was doubtful of joining in
the matter. And although he had been doubtful as to joining
in the trial, nevertheless, as much in order that the trial
should not be null and void, as for the unburdening of his
conscience, he was content to be present at the trial since
he had inquisitorial powers.
This offer being made, Jeanne was first admonished and
required to take the oath that she had taken the day before
to tell the truth concerning all that would be asked her of
the crimes and evils of which she was accused.
JEANNE
I've already taken the oath and
that should be enough.
CAUCHON
You are again ordered to swear to
tell the absolute truth
concerning everything that will
be asked of you. I assure you,
not even a prince could or should
refuse to take an oath to tell
the truth in a matter of faith.
JEANNE
I did so yesterday. You're
burdening me too much.
Finally she took the oath in the form in which she took it
yesterday. The oath being taken, Bishop Cauchon ordered
Maître Jean Beaupère to question her.
BEAUPÈRE
Will you tell the truth?
JEANNE
You might well ask me some things
which I'll tell the truth about,
and others which I won't. If you
were well informed about me, you'd
want me out of your hands. I have
done nothing except by revelation.
BEAUPÈRE
How old were you when you left
your father's house?
JEANNE
I don't know.
BEAUPÈRE
Did you learn any craft or trade?
JEANNE
Yes, my mother taught me to sew —
and I don't believe there's a woman
in Rouen who could tell me a thing
about it.
BEAUPÈRE
Why did you leave your father's
house and go to Neufchateau?
JEANNE
Mostly for fear of the Burgundians.
I went to Neufchateau and stayed
with a woman called La Rousse for
about a fortnight.
BEAUPÈRE
What sort of work did you do there?
JEANNE
Household jobs.
BEAUPÈRE
Did you go into the fields to keep
the sheep or other animals?
JEANNE
No.
BEAUPÈRE
Did you made your confession every
year?
JEANNE
Yes, to my own curé. And if he were
prevented, I confessed to another
priest — with my curé's permission.
Two or three times I've confessed
to mendicant friars.
BEAUPÈRE
How often did you receive the Body
of Our Lord?
JEANNE
Every year at Easter.
BEAUPÈRE
Have you ever received the Body of
Our Lord at feasts other than at
Easter?
JEANNE
Go to the next question.
BEAUPÈRE
Tell us about the voices you claim
to hear?
JEANNE
From the age of thirteen, I
received revelation from Our Lord
by a voice that taught me how to
behave. The first time I was very
frightened. That first time the
voice came at noon. It was a
summer's day, a fast day, and I was
in my father's garden. The voice
came from my right side, in the
direction of the church. The voice
was hardly ever without a light,
which was always in the same
direction as the voice. After I
heard it three times, I knew it was
the voice of an angel. This voice
has always taken good care of me.
BEAUPÈRE
What teaching did this voice give
you as to the salvation of your
soul?
JEANNE
It taught me how to behave. And it
told me that I ought to go often to
church. And later it told me that I
had to go into France.
BEAUPÈRE
How often did it tell you that you
must go into France?
JEANNE
Two or three times a week. My
father knew nothing of my going.
And the voice said to me to hurry
up and go and raise the siege of
Orleans, and that I should go to
Robert de Baudricourt, Captain of
Vaucouleurs, and that he'd give me
men to go with me, and I answered
that I was only a poor girl who
knew nothing about riding or making
war.
Then I went to an uncle's house
where I stayed for a week, and then
my uncle took me to Robert de
Baudricourt, who I recognized even
though I'd never seen him before.
BEAUPÈRE
How did you recognise him?
JEANNE
My voices told me it was him. De
Baudricourt twice refused to see
me. The third time he received me,
and finally gave me people to
escort me to France — as the voice
had told me.
BEAUPÈRE
Why did you visit the Duke of
Lorraine?
JEANNE
He asked for me to be sent to him.
BEAUPÈRE
When?
JEANNE
Before I left Vaucouleurs. I went
to him, and told him that I wanted
to be sent into France. He asked me
questions about his health, and I
told him I knew nothing. I only
told him a little about my journey,
but asked him to lend me his son
and some others to go with me into
France, and then I'd pray to God
for him to get better. I went to
him with a safe conduct, and then
went back to Vaucouleurs.
BEAUPÈRE
When did you start wearing men's
clothes?
JEANNE
When I left Vaucouleurs to go to
Chinon. I also took a sword which
de Baudricourt had given me, but I
had no other armour.
BEAUPÈRE
Who accompanied you?
JEANNE
A knight and four other men.
BEAUPÈRE
Where did you sleep?
JEANNE
The first night in the town of
Saint Urbain, where I slept in the
abbey.
BEAUPÈRE
What route did you take?
JEANNE
We went through Auxerre, where I
heard Mass in the great church.
BEAUPÈRE
Did your voices go with you?
JEANNE
Yes, I often had them with me.
BEAUPÈRE
Who advised you to wear male dress?
JEANNE
It was absolutely necessary that I
change my dress. Robert de
Baudricourt made my escort swear
that they would conduct me safely.
When we left, Baudricourt said to
me, "Go, and let come what may."
BEAUPÈRE
What were your revelations about?
JEANNE
I was well assured that God greatly
moves the Duke of Orleans. I've had
more revelations about him than any
man in France, except my king.
BEAUPÈRE
What were the letters you sent the
English and what did they contain?
JEANNE
I sent letters to the English when
they were besieging Orleans,
telling them they must leave. But
I've heard that in these letters
they've altered one or two words.
For instance, they've put "render
to the Pucelle" where it should
have been "render to the King", and
where it says "body for body" and
"chieftain of war" — that wasn't in
my letters.
BEAUPÈRE
Were you hindered on your journey
to see your king?
JEANNE
No.
BEAUPÈRE
What happened when you arrived at
Chinon?
JEANNE
I got there about noon and lodged
at an inn until after dinner when I
went to see the king who was in the
castle. I went right into the room
where the king was, and I
recognized him among many others by
the advice of my voice.
BEAUPÈRE
What did you tell him?
JEANNE
That I wanted to make war on the
English.
BEAUPÈRE
When the voice pointed the king out
to you, was there any light?
JEANNE
Go on to the next question.
BEAUPÈRE
Did you see an angel above the
king?
JEANNE
Forgive me. Pass on to the next
question.
BEAUPÈRE
What made your king believe that
you had been sent to him by God?
JEANNE
Before he set me to work, the king
had several apparitions and
glorious revelations.
BEAUPÈRE
What sort of revelations?
JEANNE
Go to the king and he might tell
you, but you won't get it from me.
BEAUPÈRE
What did your voices tell you?
JEANNE
They promised me that very soon
after I arrived, the king would
receive me. My travelling
companions knew that the voices
came from God. I know for sure
that they saw them and knew who
they were. The king and several
of his council also heard and saw
the voices that came to me —
among others, Charles Duke of
Bourbon.
BEAUPÈRE
What favours have you asked of your
voice?
JEANNE
I've never asked for anything,
except the salvation of my soul at
the end.
BEAUPÈRE
Have you ever disobeyed your voice?
JEANNE
The voice told me that I should
stay at Saint Denis in France, and
I wanted to stay there, but the
captains weren't willing to leave
me there, because I'd been wounded
— otherwise I wouldn't have left.
BEAUPÈRE
Where were you wounded?
JEANNE
In the moat at Paris, but I was
cured within five days.
BEAUPÈRE
You made an assault on Paris?
JEANNE
I made a very great assault on
Paris.
BEAUPÈRE
Wasn't the day you made this
assault a feast day?
JEANNE
I'm not sure. Perhaps. Yes, I think
so.
BEAUPÈRE
Do you think it a good thing to
make an assault on a feast day?
JEANNE
Go on to the next question.
These questions and answers being done, the Bishop of
Beauvais postponed the matter until the following Saturday.
[END OF 2ND SESSION]
3RD SESSION: Saturday, 24th February, 1431
[2 days later]: The following Saturday, which was the twenty
fourth of February, those who were there the previous day
were convoked and called together by the Dean of the
Christendom of Rouen. The Bishop of Beauvais directed and
admonished Jeanne to swear absolutely and without condition
to tell the truth. Three times she was thus admonished and
required.
JEANNE
Please let me speak. By my faith,
you might ask me things I won't
tell you. It could be that there
are many things you might ask me
which I won't want to tell you the
truth about, especially concerning
my revelations. You might force me
to say something by mistake that
I've sworn not to say... in which
case I will have perjured myself —
which you ought not want me to do.
(addressing my lord of
Beauvais)
Beware of saying you're my judge,
for you're taking a great
responsibility upon yourself, and
you overburden me. I think it
enough that I've taken the oath
twice.
Questioned again and again as to whether she will take the
oath simply and absolutely, she replied...
JEANNE
You can do well enough without it.
I've sworn twice, and that's
enough. I'm quite sure that all the
clergy of Rouen and Paris couldn't
condemn me except in error. About
my coming into France I'll
willingly tell the truth, but not
everything.
BEAUPÈRE
You should take the advice of those
present as to whether or not you
take the oath...
JEANNE
I've already said many times, I
will willingly tell the truth about
my coming into France, but not
about anything more — and I
shouldn't be spoken to any more
about this.
CAUCHON
You will make yourself suspect by
your unwillingness to take the
oath.
JEANNE
I've already answered you.
CAUCHON
I order you to swear, precisely and
absolutely.
JEANNE
I will willingly tell you what I
know, but not all. I am come by
God's will, and ought not to be
here. I demand to be sent back to
God, from whom I came.
And, after again and again being ordered and required to take
the oath, and admonished to do so on pain of being found
guilty of the acts imputed to her:
JEANNE
I have sworn enough. Leave it be.
And when time and again she was admonished to tell the truth
in what concerns her trial, it being explained to her that
she was endangering herself...
JEANNE
I am ready to swear and to say all
that I know concerning your trial,
but not all that I know.
After saying which, she took the oath. These first things
being done, she was again questioned by Maître Jean Beaupère.
BEAUPÈRE
When did you last eat or drink?
JEANNE
Yesterday afternoon.
BEAUPÈRE
When did you last hear your voice?
JEANNE
Both yesterday and today.
BEAUPÈRE
At what time did you hear it?
JEANNE
At least three times yesterday —
once in the morning, again at
vespers, and again at the hour of
the Ave Maria. But I hear it more
often than that even...
BEAUPÈRE
What were you doing yesterday
morning when the voice came to you?
JEANNE
I was asleep and the voice woke me
up.
BEAUPÈRE
Did the voice wake you up by its
sound, or by touching you on the
arms, or elsewhere?
JEANNE
I was woken up by the voice without
being touched.
BEAUPÈRE
Is the voice still in your room?
JEANNE
I don't think so, but it's still
here in the castle.
BEAUPÈRE
Didn't you thank the voice, and go
down on your knees?
JEANNE
I thanked it, being seated on my
bed. And I joined my hands
together, and begged and prayed
that it might help and advise me in
what I have to do.
BEAUPÈRE
How did it advise you?
JEANNE
To answer you boldly.
BEAUPÈRE
What else did the voice tell you?
JEANNE
That I must ask advice from Our
Lord.
BEAUPÈRE
Did it say anything before you
questioned it?
JEANNE
Before I was awake, the voice said
several words to me that I didn't
understand. But when I woke up, I
understood that the voice was
telling me to answer boldly as
follows: "You say that you are my
judge; consider well what you do,
for in truth I am sent from God,
and you are putting yourself in
very great danger."
BEAUPÈRE
Has this voice ever changed its
mind?
JEANNE
I've never found it to be in two
contradictory minds.
BEAUPÈRE
This voice, is it an angel? or does
it come directly from God? or is it
the voice of some saint?
JEANNE
It comes from God, but I won't tell
you any more in case I say some
thing displeasing to it in my
answers to you. On these questions
I beg that I be allowed a delay.
BEAUPÈRE
Do you believe that God would be
displeased if you told the truth?
JEANNE
The voices told me to say some
things to the king and some things
not. The voice told me certain
things that night concerning the
king's good — things that I wished
the king to know immediately — and
that I would drink no wine till
Easter, wherefore he would be
happier when he dined.
BEAUPÈRE
Can you make this heavenly voice
obey you and carry a message to
your king?
JEANNE
I don't know whether it would be
willing to obey me, unless it were
the will of God, and that Our Lord
agreed, or whether — so long as it
pleased God — it would be able to
reveal it to the king. If it could,
I should be very happy.
BEAUPÈRE
Why can't you speak with your king
now as you used to do, in his
presence?
JEANNE
I don't know if it is God's will.
If I am not in a state of grace, I
can do nothing.
BEAUPÈRE
Did your voice reveal to you that
you should escape?
JEANNE
I've yet to tell you this.
BEAUPÈRE
Hasn't your voice given you advice
and counsel as to what you should
answer?
JEANNE
If it has revealed or said
anything to me about this,
I haven't realised it.
BEAUPÈRE
On the last two times that you've
heard your voices, has a light
appeared?
JEANNE
The light comes before the voice.
BEAUPÈRE
And do you see something?
JEANNE
I'm not going to tell you
everything as I don't have
permission. And besides my oath
does not touch that.
I can tell you that it's a
beautiful voice, righteous and
worthy — but other than that I am
not compelled to answer you. For
this reason I'd like to see, in
writing, the points on which you
want to question me.
BEAUPÈRE
Can your voice see? Has it eyes?
JEANNE
You're not allowed to know that
yet. There's a saying among little
children that people are often
hanged for telling the truth.
BEAUPÈRE
Do you know if you are in a state
of grace with God?
JEANNE
If I am not, may God bring me
there; if I am, may He keep me
there. If I knew that I was not in
a state of grace, I should be the