THE TRIAL OF JEANNE D'ARC
Translated into English from the Original Latin and French Documents by W.P. Barrett.
Translated from the French by Coley Taylor and Ruth H. Kerr (Gotham House, 1932).
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IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN
HERE BEGIN THE PROCEEDINGS IN MATTER OF FAITH AGAINST A DEAD WOMAN,
JEANNE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MAID.
To all those who shall see these present letters or public instrument, Pierre, by
divine mercy Bishop of Beauvais, and brother Jean Le Maistre, of the order of
Preaching brothers, deputy in the diocese of Rouen, and especially appointed in this
trial to the office of the pious and venerable master Jean Graverent of the same
order, renowned doctor of theology, by apostolic authority Inquisitor of the Faith
and of Heretical Error in all the kingdom of France: greeting in the author and
consummator of the faith, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
It has pleased divine Providence that a woman of the name of Jeanne, commonly
called The Maid, should be taken and apprehended by famous warriors within the
boundaries and limits of our diocese and jurisdiction. The reputation of this woman
had already gone forth into many parts: how, wholly forgetful of womanly
honesty, and having thrown off the bonds of shame, careless of all the modesty of
womankind, she wore with an astonishing and monstrous brazenness, immodest
garments belonging to the male sex; how moreover, her presumptuousness had
grown until she was not afraid to
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perform, to speak, and to disseminate many things contrary to the Catholic faith
and hurtful to the articles of the orthodox belief. And by so doing, as well in our
diocese as in several other districts of this kingdom, she was said to be guilty of no
inconsiderable offenses. These things having come to the knowledge of our mother
the University of Paris, and of brother Martin Billorin, vicar-general of the lord
Inquisitor of Heretical Error, they immediately summoned the illustrious prince, the
Duke of Burgundy and the noble lord Jean de Luxembourg, who at this time held
the said woman in their power and authority, in the name of the vicar-general
above mentioned, and under penalty of law, to surrender and dispatch to us, as
ordinary judge, the woman so defamed and suspected of heresy.
We, the said Bishop, according to our pastoral office, desirous of promoting with all
our might the exaltation and increase of the Christian faith, did resolve to institute a
proper inquiry into these facts so commonly known, and so far as law and reason
should persuade us, to proceed with mature deliberation to such further decisions
as were incumbent upon us. We required the said prince and the said lord Jean
also, under penalties of law, to surrender for trial the said woman to our spiritual
jurisdiction; whilst the very serene and most Christian prince, our lord the King of
France and England, summoned them to the same effect. Finally, the most
illustrious lord Duke of Burgundy and the lord Jean de Luxembourg graciously
consenting to these demands, and solicitous in their Catholic souls of the
accomplishment of what appeared to them as helpful to the growth of the faith,
surrendered and dispatched the woman to our lord the King and his
commissioners. Thereafter the King in his providence, burning with a desire to
succor the orthodox faith, surrendered this woman
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to us, that we might, hold a complete inquiry into her acts and sayings before
proceeding further, according to the ecclesiastical laws. When that was done, we
requested the distinguished and notable chapter of the church of Rouen, charged
with the administration of all spiritual jurisdiction in the vacancy of the
archiepiscopal seat, to grant us territory in the town of Rouen for us to make this
inquiry: which was graciously and freely given. But before preferring any further
charge against this woman we held it wise to consult, with prolonged and mature
deliberation, the opinion of experienced authorities in canon and civil law, of which,
by God's grace, the number in the town of Rouen was considerable.
January 9th (1431). The First day of the Proceedings
And on Tuesday the ninth day of January in the year of our Lord fourteen hundred
and thirty-one, according to the rite and computation of the Church of France, in
the fourteenth year of the most Holy Father in Christ Martin V, by divine providence
Pope, we the aforesaid bishop, in the house of the King's Counsel, summoned the
doctors and masters whose names follow: my lord abbots Gilles of Ste. TrinitÉ de
FÉcamp, doctor of sacred theology, and Nicolas de JumiÈges, doctor of canon law;
Pierre, prior of Longueville, doctor of theology; Raoul Roussel, treasurer of the
Cathedral of Rouen, doctor of both canon and civil law; Nicolas de VenderÈs,
archdeacon of Eu, licentiate in canon law; Robert Le Barbier, licentiate in canon and
civil law; Nicolas Couppequesne, bachelor of theology, and Nicolas Loiseleur,
master of arts.
Now when these men, as numerous as famous, were gathered together at the
same time and place, we demanded of their wisdom the manner and the order to
be followed herein,
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after having shown as related above what diligence had been brought to the
matter. The doctors and masters, having reached full knowledge thereof, decided
that it was meet first to inquire into the acts and sayings publicly imputed to this
woman; and decently deferring to their advice we declared that already certain
information had been obtained at our command, and similarly decided to order
more to be collected; all of which, at a certain day determined by us, should be
presented to the council, that it might be more clearly informed upon the
subsequent procedure necessary in the trial. And, the better and more conveniently
to effect and achieve the collection of the information, it was this day decided by
the aforesaid lords and masters that there was need of certain especial officers to
whom this particular duty should be given. Consequently, at the counsel and
deliberation of those present it was decided and decreed by us that the venerable
and discreet person master Jean d'Estivet, canon of the cathedral churches of
Beauvais and Bayeux, should exercise in the trial the office of Promoter or
Procurator General. Master Jean de La Fontaine, master of arts and licentiate of
canon law, was ordained councillor, commissary, and examiner. To the office of
notaries or secretaries were designated the prudent and honest master Guillaume
Colles, also called Boisguillaume, and Guillaume Manchon, priests, notaries by
apostolic and imperial authority at the archiepiscopal court of Rouen; and master
Jean Massieu, priest, ecclesiastical dean of Rouen, was appointed executor of the
commands and convocations emanating from our authority. Further, we have had
here inserted and transcribed at their order the tenor of all these letters, secret or
public, that the sequence of the said acts might appear with greater clarity.
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And first follows the tenor of the letter from our mother the University of Paris,
addressed to the most illustrious lord Duke of Burgundy
"Most high and most puissant prince and our much feared and honored lord, we
commend ourselves in all humility to your highness. Notwithstanding, most feared
and honored lord, our recent letter to your highness, beseeching you in all humility
that this woman known as The Maid, being by God's grace in your subjection,
should be transferred into the hands of the justice of the Church that due trial
might be made of her idolatries and other matters concerning our holy faith, and to
repair the scandals that have arisen therefrom in our Kingdom, likewise the evils
and unnumbered inconveniences which have therefrom resulted: nevertheless we
have had no reply nor have we learned that any provision has been made to obtain
in the affair of this woman a fitting discussion. But we greatly fear lest through the
falsity and seduction of the enemy of Hell and through the malice and subtlety of
evil persons, your enemies and adversaries, who put their whole might, as it is
said, to effect the deliverance of this woman by subtle means, she may in some
manner be taken from your subjection (which may God prevent!). For in truth in
the judgment of all good informed Catholics, such a great lesion in the holy faith,
such an enormous peril, obstacle or hurt to all the estate of this realm, has not
occurred within human memory to compare with the escape of this woman by
such damned ways without fitting reparation; but it would be in truth greatly to the
prejudice of your honor and of the most Christian name of the house of France, of
which you and your most noble progenitors have been and still are loyal protectors
and the most noble principal members. For these reasons, most feared and
sovereign lord, we beseech you again
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in all humility on behalf of Our Saviour's faith, and for the conservation of the Holy
Church and the protection of the divine honor, and also for the great benefit of this
most Christian realm, that it may please your highness to transfer this woman into
the hands of the Inquisitor of the Faith, and to dispatch her safely thither, as we
formerly besought, or to surrender this woman or have her surrendered to the
reverend father in God my lord bishop of Beauvais in whose spiritual jurisdiction she
was apprehended, that he may try her in matter of faith, as it is reasonable and
fitting for him to do to the glory of God, to the exaltation of our said holy faith, and
to the profit of the good and loyal Catholics and the estate of this realm, and also
to the honor and praise of your highness, whom may God keep in good prosperity
and in the en