The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-06-17
Joan or Arcs Trial.

| JUAN VA AHCb 1Iials
After preliminaries that threatened t,
be endless, the public part of the tria
| began on Wednesday, February 21, 1431
ct eight in the morning, in the grea
chapel of the chateau. The Bishop O
Beauvais presided, and of the 60 ecclesi
| astics summoned, A were present
Three authorized reporters were in theil
places, and there were some other clerks
concealed by curtain, who took notes
for the special use of the English Re
gent. There was a crowd of spectators
ssa great tumult' in the chapel, and
very little order in the proceedings. Al
time when Lords took their dogs and
hawks into church with them, and mer.
chants made their bargains in the naves
of cathedrals, we need not look for q
scrupulous decorum in court convened
to try girl for the crime of being I've.
hemently suspected of heresy." That
was the -''Vehementment sus.
pecte d'heresie." And such grand tu.
multi was there in the chapel that day
that the subsequent sessions were held
in a smaller hall of the castle.
The prisoner was brought in, freed
from Ler chains, and was allowed to sit.
No one OF the many pens employed in re-
cording the events of this day has given
us any hint as to her appearance. We
have indeed the numeration of the arti-
cles of her mans attire, which was made
such heinous charge against her: s'The
hair cut round like that of young men,
shirt, breeches, double with 20 points
reaching to the knee, hat covering only
the top of the head, boots and CATERS,
with spurs. sword, daggers. cuirass,
lance and other arms carried by SOL
diers." This was her equipment for the
field. She still wore mans dress, and
doubtless her person showed the effects
of nine months imprisonment and three
months of chains and fetters.
The presiding Bishop told her to place
her hands upon the gospel and swear to
answer truly the questions that would be
proposed to her.
81 don't know" said she, "upon what
will ask me things which ought not to
tell you"
'Swear," rejoined the Bishop, 'sto tell
the truth upon whatever may be asked Of
you concerning the faith and facts with
in your knowledge
GAS to my father and mother" she
said, ''and what did after setting out
for France, I will swear, willingly, but
the revelations which have come to me
from God, to no one have related or
revealed them, except alone to Charles,
my King; and / shall not reveal them to
you though you cut off my head, be-
cause I have recelvee them by vision and
by secret communication, with injunc-
ton not to reveal them. Before eight
days have passed shall know if am to
reveal them to you"
The Bishop urged her again and again
TO take the oath without conditions. She
and they were at length obliged
to yield the point, and accpet limited
oath. Upon her knees, with both hands
placed upon a missal, she swore to an
swer truly whatever might be asked of
her, so far as she could, concerning the
faith of Christians, but no more.
Being then questioned concerning her
name and early life, she answered thus:
'In my own country I was called
Jeanette; since have been in France I
have been called Jeanne. As to my sur
name, know nothing. was born at
5he village of Domremy, which makes
one with the village of Greux. My
father is named jacques dare; my
mother Ysabelle. was baptized in the
,hurch of Domremy. One of my god
mothers was named Agnes, another
Jeanne, third Sibylle. One of my god
fathers was Jean Lingue, another Jean
Varrey. I had several godmothers, as
nave heard my mother say. was bap-
lied, I believe, by Messire Jean Mfnet.
think he is still living. I think I am
about 10 years of age. From my mother
| learned my Pater, my Ave Marie and
ny Credo. I learned from my mother
III that believe"
''Say your Pater, said the presiding
Bishop.
..Hear me in confession, and will say
t for you willingly"
Several times she was asked to say the
Lords prayer, but she replied:
"No, I will not say my Pater for you
Unless you hear me in confession
1--WE will willingly give you," said
he Bishop, Zone or two notable men |
Who speak French. will you say your
3ater to them?"
s'I shall not say it, was her reply, |
unless in confession"
As the session was about to close, the |
Bishop forbade her to leave the prison |
which had been assigned her in the cas-
le, under pain of being pronounced |
,uilty of heresy, the crime charged.
ST do not accept such an injunction,
he replied. 'sf ever escape no one |
hall be able to reproach me with having |
,roken my faith. as I have not given my |
vord to any person whatever"
She continued to speak in language |
lot recorded. complaining that they had
,ound her with chains and shackles.
"You tried several times. said the
Bishop, 'sto escape from the prison
vhere you were detained, and it was to
eep you more surely that you were or
lered to be put in irons.
"It is true, was her reply, 81 wished
o get away, and wish it still. Is that
lot thing allowed to every prisoner"
She was then removed to her chamber,
nd the Court broke up. The next
corning at eight in the robing-room
+ the chateau "a large apartment
ear the great drawing-room-the Court
gain convened, forty-seven dignitaries
f the Church being assembled. Again
he sat in the presence of this conyoca-
ion of trained men, alone, without ad-
ocate. counsel or attorney. She under
TODD the issue between herself and
hem. TIE managers of the trial meant
o make France believe that this girl was
n emisary OF the devil, and thus she
eli compelled to fall back upon her
lain to be the chosen of God, and to
insist upon this with painful repetition.