Saint Joan

it that she has been guilty also of offences which expose her to minor penances? I share the impatience of his lordship as to these minor charges. Only, with great respect, I must emphasize the gravity of two very horrible and blasphemous crimes which she does not deny. First, she has intercourse with evil spirits, and is therefore a sorceress. Second, she wears men’s clothes, which is indecent, unnatural, and abominable; and in spite of our most earnest remonstrances and entreaties, she will not change them even to receive the sacrament. Joan Is the blessed St. Catherine an evil spirit? Is St. Margaret? Is Michael the Archangel? Courcelles How do you know that the spirit which appears to you is an archangel? Does he not appear to you as a naked man? Joan Do you think God cannot afford clothes for him? The assessors cannot help smiling, especially as the joke is against Courcelles. Ladvenu Well answered, Joan. The Inquisitor It is, in effect, well answered. But no evil spirit would be so simple as to appear to a young girl in a guise that would scandalize her when he meant her to take him for a messenger from the Most High? Joan: the Church instructs you that these apparitions are demons seeking your soul’s perdition. Do you accept the instruction of the Church? Joan I accept the messenger of God. How could any faithful believer in the Church refuse him? Cauchon Wretched woman: again I ask you, do you know what you are saying? The Inquisitor You wrestle in vain with the devil for her soul, my lord: she will not be saved. Now as to this matter of the man’s dress. For the last time, will you put off that impudent attire, and dress as becomes your sex? Joan I will not. D’estivet Pouncing. The sin of disobedience, my lord. Joan Distressed. But my voices tell me I must dress as a soldier. Ladvenu Joan, Joan: does not that prove to you that the voices are the voices of evil spirits? Can you suggest to us one good reason why an angel of God should give you such shameless advice? Joan Why, yes: what can be plainer common sense? I was a soldier living among soldiers. I am a prisoner guarded by soldiers. If I were to dress as a woman they would think of me as a woman; and then what would become of me? If I dress as a soldier they think of me as a soldier, and I can live with them as I do at home with my brothers. That is why St. Catherine tells me I must not dress as a woman until she gives me leave. Courcelles When will she give you leave? Joan When you take me out of the hands of the English soldiers. I have told you that I should be in the hands of the Church, and not left night and day with four soldiers of the Earl of Warwick. Do you want me to live with them in petticoats? Ladvenu My lord: what she says is, God knows, very wrong and shocking; but there is a grain of worldly sense in it such as might impose on a simple village maiden. Joan If we were as simple in the village as you are in your courts and palaces, there would soon be no wheat to make bread for you. Cauchon That is the thanks you get for trying to save her, Brother Martin. Ladvenu Joan: we are all trying to save you. His lordship is trying to save you. The Inquisitor could not be more just to you if you were his own daughter. But you are blinded by a terrible pride and self-sufficiency. Joan Why do you say that? I have said nothing wrong. I cannot understand. The Inquisitor The blessed St. Athanasius has laid it down in his creed that those who cannot understand are damned. It is not enough to be simple. It is not enough even to be what simple people call good. The simplicity of a darkened mind is no better than the simplicity of a beast. Joan There is great wisdom in the simplicity of a beast, let me tell you; and sometimes great foolishness in the wisdom of scholars. Ladvenu We know that, Joan: we are not so foolish as you think us. Try to resist the temptation to make pert replies to us. Do you see that man who stands behind you? He indicates the Executioner. Joan Turning and looking at the man. Your torturer? But the Bishop said I was not to be tortured. Ladvenu You are not to be tortured because you have confessed everything that is necessary to your condemnation. That man is not only the torturer: he is also the Executioner. Executioner: let The Maid hear your answers to my questions. Are you prepared for the burning of a heretic this day? The Executioner Yes, Master. Ladvenu Is the stake ready? The Executioner It is. In the marketplace. The English have built it too high for me to get near her and make the death easier. It will be a cruel death. Joan Horrified. But you are not going to burn me now? The Inquisitor You realize it at last. Ladvenu There are eight hundred English soldiers waiting to take you to the marketplace the moment the sentence of excommunication has passed the lips of your judges. You are within a few short moments of that doom. Joan Looking round desperately for rescue. Oh God! Ladvenu Do not despair, Joan. The Church is merciful. You can save yourself. Joan Hopefully. Yes: my voices promised me I should not be burnt. St. Catherine bade me be bold. Cauchon Woman: are you quite mad? Do you not yet see that your voices have deceived you? Joan Oh no: that is impossible. Cauchon Impossible! They have led you straight to your excommunication, and to the stake which is there waiting for you. Ladvenu Pressing the point hard. Have they kept a single promise to you since you were taken at Compiègne? The devil has betrayed you.