Part 103 (1/2)

”Did he hold scales?”

”I don't know.”[2312]

[Footnote 2312: _Ibid._, p. 89.]

Their object was to ascertain whether she saw Saint Michael as he was represented in the churches, with scales for weighing souls.[2313]

[Footnote 2313: A. Maury, _Croyances et legendes du moyen age_, pp. 171 _et seq._]

When she said that at the sight of the Archangel it seemed to her she was not in a state of mortal sin, the examiner fell to arguing on the subject of her conscience. She replied like a true Christian.[2314]

Then he returned to the miracle of the sign, which had not been referred to since the first sitting, to the mystery of Chinon, to that wondrous crown, which Jeanne, following Saint Catherine of Alexandria, believed she had received from the hand of an angel. But she had promised Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret to say nothing about it.

[Footnote 2314: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 90.]

”When you showed the King the sign was there any one with him?”

”I think there was no other person, albeit there were many folk not far off.”

”Did you see a crown on the King's head when you gave him this sign?”

”I cannot say without committing perjury.”

”Had your King a crown at Reims?”

”My King, methinketh, took with pleasure the crown he found at Reims.

But afterwards a very rich crown was brought him. He did not wait for it, because he wished to hurry on the ceremony according to the request of the inhabitants of Reims who desired to rid their town of the burden of men-at-arms. If he had waited he would have had a crown a thousand times more rich.”

”Have you seen that richer crown?”

”I cannot tell you without committing perjury. If I have not seen it I have heard tell how rich and how magnificent it is.”[2315]

[Footnote 2315: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 90, 91.]

Jeanne suffered intensely from being deprived of the sacraments. One day when Messire Jean Ma.s.sieu, performing the office of ecclesiastical usher, was taking her before her judges, she asked him whether there were not on the way some church or chapel in which was the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ.[2316]

[Footnote 2316: _Ibid._, vol. ii, p. 16.]

Messire Jean Ma.s.sieu, dean of Rouen, was a cleric of manners dissolute; his inveterate lewdness had involved him in difficulties with the Chapter and with the Official.[2317] He may have been neither as brave nor as frank as he wished to make out, but he was not hard or pitiless.

[Footnote 2317: De Beaurepaire, _Recherches sur le proces de cond.a.m.nation_, p. 115.]

He told his prisoner that there was a chapel on the way. And he pointed out to her the chapel of the castle.

Then she besought him urgently to take her into the chapel in order that she might wors.h.i.+p Messire and pray.

Readily did Messire Jean Ma.s.sieu consent; and he permitted her to kneel before the sanctuary. Devoutly bending, Jeanne offered her prayer.

The Lord Bishop, being informed of this incident, was highly displeased. He instructed the Usher that in the future such devotions must not be tolerated.

And the Promoter, Maitre Jean d'Estivet, on his part, addressed many a reprimand to Messire Jean Ma.s.sieu.