The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-17
her with questions and menaces and

temptations.
Failing to ensnare her into confes-
sions or self-crimiaation by these
methods, they threatened her with
tOrture-that horrible process with
which the authorities OF church and
and state were used4o tear the flesh,
crush the bones or nond the limbs of
the prisoner.
Joan is carried into the torture
chamber and the bishop of Beauvais
shows her the CHASTITY instruments
with which her fran body is to be
mangled. He points to the execution
ers standing ready to seize her and do
their dreadful work.
No mother, no father, no kinsman,
no friend, stands beside the little
ment: to say, "Take courage; be
brave"
No; she is alone-utterly alone in
the dark of the dungeon-in the hands
of relentless enemies who feast upon
her woe. and hunger for her life.
Confess" says the bishop, "or you
shall be stripped and bound and tor
tured!'
Though you should tear me limb
from limb, l would tell you nothing
more!"
Thus spoke, Joan, the bravest of all
the worlds brave!
Her very courage saved her.
Some of her ju1 1ges persisted that
she ought to be tortured, but as she
was very weak and might die under it,
and as they had already decided to
condemn her. the torture was deemed
unnecessary.
She was condemned to death, and
the scaffOld was built,
But the English were not satisfied.
Joan's death was considered martyr
dom, unless they could procure from
her some admission which would dis
credit her with the people.
Hence every device known to man
was used to throw upon this lonely
prisoner the odium of her own death,
and to make her execution seem ne
ceSSity.
A priest, LOySeleur. was detailed to
act as her friend, to condole with her,
win her confidence, and to betray her.
IF you do what tell you," said he,
'you shall be saved"
Joan was carried to the scaffold, and
Evard, the priest, began to preach the
death sermon. He denounced her in
the bitterest terms as witch, her.
etc, blasphemer.
She listened without reply until he
began to revile the French king. Then
she ans nswered, warmly defending the
monarch WHO was leaving her to per-
ish without effort to ssrve her.
She was offered parlssn ii she would
"revoke those words and deeds which
had been reproved.
Again Sne repeated her appeal to
the Pope. 80.
"Hc is too far off, said Evard, land
you must submit to the church as
here represented"
He showed her a form of recanta-
tion and asked her to abiure.
"What does 'abjure mean?" Joan in-
quired.
The word was explained to her.
II appeal to the Universal church
whether | ought to a5jure or not"
! cried the girl.
You shall abjure insta ntly or be
burnt this very day!" exclaimed the
angry priest, Evard.
Her false friend, Loyseleur, now
pleaded with her, DO as told you: &C
cept a woman's dress"
do as he advises" cried all those
| around her.
why will you die?" they asked.
The judges pressed her. Joan, we
pity you so much. Take back what
you have said.'
| Still she affirmed that she had done
| no wrong. and was not guilty; and to
| the tumult Of persuasive. urgent
| voices, pressing her to abjure, she pit
eously said:
"You take great pains to seduce
me-"
Then the bishop began to read the
sentence of death.
She was on the scaffOld and could see
the grim eXecutioner waiting to do
his office. The bishop read; the monks
pleaded and promised-and at last the
deserted and ensnared and bewildered
girl gave way.
[COntinned neIt reek |