Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-07
Mlistellaueuns &eading.


THE TRIAL OF JEANNE D'ARC.
After preliminaries that threatened to b
endless, the public part of the trial began OF
Wednesday, February 81, 143l, at eight il
the morning, in the great chapel Of tn
chateau. The bishop of Beauvais presided
and of the sixty ecclesiastics summoned, Tor
ty.four were present. Three authorized re
porters were in their places, and there wer'
some other clerks, concealed by curtain, wh'
took notes for the special use of the Englisl
regent. There was q crowd of spectators, Il
great tumult," in the chapel, and very LITTLE
order in the proceedings. At time wheI
lords took their dogs and hawks into church
with them, and merchants made their bar
gains in the naves of cathedrals, we need mo-
look for scrupulous decorum in court con
vened to try girl for the crime of being
"vehemently suspected of heresy." That wal
the charge: vehementement suspecte dhere
sic. And such grand tumult was there il
the chapel that day that the subsequent ses
sions were held in smaller hall of the castle
The prisoner was brought in, freed from
her chains, and was allowed to sit. No ont
of the many pens employed in recording tht
events of this day has given US any hint o.
her appearance. We have, indeed, the emu
meration of the articles of her mans attire
which was made such heinous charge against
her: "The hair cut round like that of young
men, shirt, breeches, doublet with twenty
points reaching to the knee, hat covering only
the top of the head, boots and CATERS, with
spurs, sword, dagger, cuirass, lance. and Other
arms carried by soldiers" This was hel
equipment for the field. She still wore g
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 do not know" said she, upon what
you wish to question me. Perhaps you will
ask me things which ought not to tell you. j
"Swear," rejoined the bishop, Ito tell the
truth upon whatever may be asked you con-
cerning the faith and facts within your knowl'
edge."
"As to my father and mother" said she,
"and that day after setting out for France,
1 will swear willingly ; but the revelations
which have come to me through God, to no
one have I related or revealed them, except
alone to Charles my king and shall not re.
veal them to you though you cut off my head,
because have received them by vision and
by secret communication, with injunction not
to reveal them. Before eight days have
passed l shall know if 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 the point, and accept limited oath.
Upon her knees, with both hands placed up
on missal, she swore to answer truly what.
ever might be asked of her, 80 far as she
could, concerning the common faith OF Chris.
tians, but no more. Being then questioned
concerning her name and early life, she an
swered thus:
"In my own country was called jean
nette since I have been in France | have
been called Jeanne. As to my surname l
know nothing. was born at the village
of Domremy, which makes one with the
village of Greux. The principal church is
at Greux. My father is named Jacques
dare my mother Ysabelle. was baptized
in the church of Domremy. One Of my
godmothers was named Agnes, another Je-
anne, third Sibylle. One of my godfathers
was Jean Lingue, another Jean Varrey. |
had several other godmothers, as have heard
my mother say. was baptized, believe,
by Messaire Jean Minet l think he is still
living, I think am about nineteen years
of age. From my mother learned my
Pater, my Ave Marie, and my Credo. |
learned from my mother all that l believe" :"
"Say your Pater," said the presiding bishop.
"Hear me in confession, and will say it
for you willingly"
Several times she was asked to say the
Lords prayer. but she always replied, "No,
I will not say my Pater for you unless you
hear me in confession.
ave will willingly give you" said the
bishop, zone or two notable men who speak
French will you say your Pater to them p
81 shall not say it" was her reply, "unless
in confession"
AS the session was about to close, the bish.
op forbade her to leave the prison which had
been assigned to her in the castle, under pain
of being pronounced guilty Of heresy, the
crime charged.
II do not accept such an injunction" she
replied. eff ever escape, no one shall be
able to reproach me with having broken my
faith, as have not given my word to any
person whatever" She continued to speak
In language not recorded, complaining that
they had bound her with chains and shackles.
"You tried several times" said the bishop,
"to escape from the prison where you were
detained, and it was to keep you more surely
that you were ordered to be put in IRONS"
1T is true," was her reply, 81 wished to
get away, and I wish it still. Is that not a
thing allowed to every prsoner?"
She was then removed to her chamber,
and the court broke up The next morning
at 8, in the robing.room of the chateau-a
large apartment near the great drawing.
room-the church again convened, torty'sev-
en- diguitaries of the church being assembled.
Again the captive was unclaimed and brought
in. Again she sat in the presence of this con-
vocation of trained men, alone, without ad.
vocate, counsel or attorney. She understood
the issue between herself and them. The
managers of the trial meant to make France
believe that this girl was an emissary of the
devil, and thus she felt herself compelled to
fall back upon her claim to be the chosen of
God, and to insist upon this with painful rep
ettion. We must bear in mind that she was
absolutely severed from all active, efficient
human sympathy. 1t was contest between
one poor ignorant girl and the managers OF
the court, paid and backed by the power that
governed all England and half France, with
the stake as the certain consequence to her OF
an enormous line of defence. In all the trial
she was the only witness examined.