The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-12-05

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was sold as prisoner OF war to the
English. Late in December she was
taken to Rouen, and on January 8, 1881,
was consigned to Pierre Cauchon, Bishop
Beauvais, who was to act as judge at
her trial.
AS to the fairness Of Jeanne's trial,
it may be well and truly said that, for
centuries after 14S1, no person in such
a situation as that Of the Maid had the
slightest chance OF obtaining fair trial.
As to her judges, Cauchon himself was
violent enemy Of France and cher
ished the greatest hatred for Jeanne.
The remainder Of the judges we're either
Englishmen or Burgundians-Jeanhe's
request that some clerics Of her own
party be numbered among the assessors
was refused; but some Of these judges
we're actually influenced by sentiments
OF pity and justice.
A full account OF the trial would fill
volumes; we can only notice here few
Of the chief events. In the first place,
Jeanne was denied during the whole ex-
tent OF the trial the consolation Of re-
ligion, such as mass; neither was she
allowed TO have the assistance Of legal
counsel. In the second place. she only
took aslimited oath. She would not
speak about revelations made to her
King even il they cut her head off.
Thirdly, she refused to give her parole
and was always free to confess that she
would try to escape il she had the slight
est opportunity.
In the trial ex officio there were six
public examinations, the last on March
the Sd, and nine private examinations,
the last on March II. On March 10
she was asked il she would submit to
the Judgment OF the Church on her
alleged sins 10 matters Of faith. In
answer to this maniiestly unfair ques-
ton she asked that the clerics might
consider the matter and advise her
what to'do. Asked the same question
on March IL. she replied: II refer
myself to God, the Virgin and all the
saints Of Paradise. =
The trial in ordinary began March "a.
Estivet, the promoter Of charges against
the Maid. read the seventy articles OF
accusation. At this point Cauchon
deigned to offer the Maid counsel, which
she very conrteously refused" she did
not intend to depart from the counsel
Of God. =
1t was brought out in the Trial OF the
Rehabilitation that Jeanne appealed to
TO the Pope two or three times. The
judges said: The Pope is too far. "
At least one OF these appeals is omitted
Intentionally, without doubt-in the
records of the Trial in Ordinary.
The original seventy articles we've
finally reduced to twelve, which we're
not in harmony with the Maids con-
fessions, and did not contain her expla-
nations and qualifications.
or Jeanne's abiuration--a moment
OF weakness before her final triumph
we have little to say. Other persons
older and more experienced than this
girl have done the same thing we re-
member Martin Luther at the Diet Of
Worms. Violent treatment, threats OF
fire, exhortationsa all Of these things
were enough to make her waver: a Won
derful thing it is that she held out as
longsas she did. Needless to say, the
judges discovered few days later that
she had repented Of her conduct and
had revoked her abjuration.
1t was not until May 30 that Jeanne
was turned over to the secular arm.
The news OF her death by FIRE she re-
ceived with extreme horror, crying pite-
ously, soaring her hair, and appealing
Before God against such terrible inius-
tice and cruelty.
CONCLUSION.
On the morning Of May 80. 1431, the
priest, Ladyenu, heard the Maids con-
fession, and she was permitted to receive
the sacrament She was then taken to
the Old Market beside the Church Oh