The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-28
The Trial OF Jeanne IJ'Arc.

Afcr preliminaucs that thrcaten to be
endless, the public part OF the trial began
on Wednesday, February 2l, 1881, at eight
in the morning, in the great chapel Of the
chateau. The bishop of Bcauvais presidcd,
and of tho sixty ecclesiastics summoned
forty-four were present Three authorized
reporters were in their places, and there
were some other clerks, concealed by cur
tain, who took notes for the special use of
the English regent There was crowd of
spectators, Ga great tunlult," in the chapel,
and very little order in the proceedings.
At time when lords took their dogs and
hawks into church with them, and mer-
chahts made their bargains in the nuvcs of
cathcdrals, we need not look for scrupulous
decorum in q court convened to try girl
for the crime of being ''vchemently sus-
pcctcd Of heresy." That was the charge
vehcmcntcmcnt suspccte dhcrcsic. And
such grand tumnlt was there in the cha
pei that day that the subsequent sessions
were held in a smaller hail of the castle.
The prisoner was brought in, freed from
her chains, and was allowed to sit. No
one OF the many pens employed in record
ing the events of this day has given us any
hint Of her appearance. We have, indeed,
the enumeration Of the articles of her mans
attire, which was made such a hcinous
charge against her: ''Thc hair cut round
like that OF young men, shirt, brcechcs,
doublct with twenty points reaching TO the
knee, hat covering only the top of the
head. boots and gaitcrs, with spurs, sword,
dagger, cuiraas, lance, and other arms ear
ried by soldiers" 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 fettcrs.
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 do not know" said
she, s'upon what you wish to question me-
Perhaps you will ask me things which
ought not to tell YOU"
Swear" rcjoined the bishop, "to tell
the truth upon whatever may De asked You
concerning the faith and facts within your
knowledge"
GAS 70 my father and MOTHER" said she,
'and that day after setting out for France,
l will swear willingly; but the revelations
which have come to me through 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, because | have rec, ivcd
them by vision and by secret communi.
cation, with injunction not to reveal them.
Before eight days have passed l shall know
ii am to reveal them to you."
The bishop urged her again and again to
take the oath without conditions She re-
fused, and they were at length obliged to
yield tho point, ana accept limited oath
Upon her knees, with both hands placed
upon miasal, she sworc TO answer truly
whatever might be asked of her, so far as
she could, concerning the common faith of
Christians, but no more. Being then gucs
toned concerning her name and early life,
| she answered thus
"ln my own country | was call, d Jean.
ncttc; since | have been in France have
been called Jeanne. AS to my surname
know nolhlng. was born at the village