Part 108 (1/2)

”I am come to the King of France from G.o.d, from the Virgin Mary and all the blessed saints in Paradise and from the Church Victorious above and by their command. To this Church I submit all the good deeds I have done and shall do. As to replying whether I will submit to the Church Militant, for the present, I will make no further answer.”[2388]

[Footnote 2388: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 174, 176.]

Again she was offered a woman's dress in which to hear ma.s.s; she refused it.

”As for a woman's dress, I will not take it yet, not until it be Our Lord's will. And if it should come to pa.s.s that I be taken to judgment and there divested of my clothes, I beg my lords of the Church the favour of a woman's smock and covering for my head. I would rather die than deny what Our Lord hath caused me to do. I believe firmly that Our Lord will not let it come to pa.s.s that I should be cast so low, and that soon I shall have help from G.o.d, and that by a miracle.”

Thereafter the following questions were put to her: ”Do you not believe to-day that fairies are evil spirits?”

”I do not know.”

”Do you know whether Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret hate the English?”

”They love what Our Lord loves and hate what G.o.d hates.”

”Does G.o.d hate the English?”

”Touching the love or hatred of G.o.d for the English and what he will do for their souls I know nothing. But I do know that they will all be driven out of France, save those who die there, and that G.o.d will send victory to the French and defeat to the English.”

”Was G.o.d on the side of the English when they prospered in France?”

”I know not whether G.o.d hated the French. But I believe that he permitted them to be beaten for their sins, if they were in sin.”[2389]

[Footnote 2389: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 178.]

Jeanne was asked certain questions touching the banner on which she had caused angels to be painted.

She replied that she had had angels painted as she had seen them represented in churches.[2390]

[Footnote 2390: _Ibid._, p. 180.]

At this point the examination was adjourned. The last interrogation in the prison[2391] took place after dinner. She had now endured fifteen in twenty-five days, but her courage never flagged. This last time the subjects were more than usually diverse and confused. First, the examiner essayed to discover by what charms and evil practices good fortune and victory had attended the standard painted with angelic figures. Then he wanted to know wherefore the clerks put on Jeanne's letters the sacred names of Jesus and Marie.[2392]

[Footnote 2391: _Ibid._, p. 181.]

[Footnote 2392: _Ibid._, pp. 182-183.]

Then came the following subtle question: ”Do you believe that if you were married your Voices would come to you?”

It was well known that she dearly cherished her virginity. Certain of her words might be interpreted to mean that she considered this virginity to be the cause of her good fortune; wherefore her examiners were curious to know whether if she were adroitly approached she might not be brought to cast scorn on the married state and to condemn intercourse between husbands and wives. Such a condemnation would have been a grievous error, savouring of the heresy of the Cathari.[2393]

[Footnote 2393: Martene and Durand, _Thesaurus novus anecdotorum_, vol.

v, col. 1760 _et seq._]

She replied: ”I know not and I appeal to Our Lord.”[2394] Then there followed another question much more dangerous for one who like Jeanne loved her King with all her heart.

[Footnote 2394: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 183.]

”Do you think and firmly believe that your King did right to kill or cause to be killed my Lord of Burgundy?”