charge; in fact, in most cases they vere ab solute denials. One by one, poor Joan had to answer these charges; sometimes she would refer her judges to what she had al ready said, at others she would seem to be wearied of the whole affair, and would say she left all to God. After many days thus spent, Canchón, and a few assessors chosen by him self and of his mind, prepared twelve new arti cles, which might be called a special verdict. Facts, or what were taken as facts, were sim ply stated upon which the court might say of Joan, guilty or not guilty. Each article had some support from her own testimony, but was so drawn as to give as much unfavor able impression as consistent with literal truth. They referred to her stories of visions of angels and saints, to the sign given to Charles, the crown brought by St. Michael, to her recognizing saints and angels, to her belief in them, her prophecies and recogni tion of persons under the guidance of the voices, to her wearing men's clothing and short hair, and taking the sacrament while thus clad; they made mention of her signing her letters with a cross and the word"Jesu," or " Maria" (poor thing she could not write), of her almost breaking her parents' hearts by leaving her home and promising Charles his kingdom, saying that she did all by com mand of God; of her leap for life and liberty from Beau revoir, of her assertion that St. Catherine and St. Margaret had promised her paradise did she preserve her virginity, that these worthy saints spoke French and not English; her veneration for her celestial visi tants, and belief that they came from God, as she believed in Christ and his passion, and her refusal to obey the command of the Church, if contrary to the pretended com mand of God through her voices. Copies of these articles were submitted to fifty-eight learned experts, besides the Chapter of Rouen and the University of Paris, and they were asked to say if the words of Joan appeared to contradict the true faith, Holy Scripture or the decisions of the Church, or did her acts
appear scandalous, rash, seditious, criminal, immoral or offensive in any way. Weeks passed ere the decisions were re ceived from all those consulted. Meanwhile there was no peace for the poor victim; sick though she was in body and mind, still Cauchon and his satellites were continually visit ing her cell, worrying her over the question as to whether her voices were those of saints or devils, as to her dressing like a man, her obstinacy in refusing entire and absolute sub mission to Holy Church. The Chapter of Rouen deemed her a here tic because she would not submit, and nearly all the persons consulted said she was guilt}'; still the University remained silent. Now Canchón wanted to secure her submission that she might appear to the world as a selfconfessed impostor or witch. He thought to obtain this by rousing Joan's fears. He had her brought into the donjon of the castle, where stood the rack and other implements of torture. He asked her to tell the truth on those matters about which she had lied under her examinations, and told her that the men who stood by were ready to put her to torture so as to bring her back to the ways of truth and salvation. " In truth," said the poor girl, "if you tear me limb from limb, and make my soul leave my body, I will tell you nothing but what I have told you already, and if I shall say anything else hereafter, I will al ways declare that you made me say it by force." Her voices told her to leave all her deeds to God. She was taken back to her wretched cell, the dread of the rack being now added to her other pangs. A few days after, the Holy Bishop submitted to thirteen of the assessors whether or not torture should be used. Fortunately for the reputation of her judges only three voted in favor of it. The spy who had wound himself into the confidence of the Maid advised that it would be well to torture her for the healing of her soul! Do not let us blame the Inquisition alone for the use of these hellish means of making the poor accused testify against himself. Tor
