Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (Complete Edition). Mark Twain

      "Were they often renewed?"

      "Yes. When the lances were broken they were renewed."

      The purpose of the question unveils itself in the next one.

      "Did you not say to your men that pennons made like your banner would be lucky?"

      The soldier-spirit in Joan was offended at this puerility. She drew herself up, and said with dignity and fire: "What I said to them was, 'Ride those English down!' and I did it myself."

      Whenever she flung out a scornful speech like that at these French menials in English livery it lashed them into a rage; and that is what happened this time. There were ten, twenty, sometimes even thirty of them on their feet at a time, storming at the prisoner minute after minute, but Joan was not disturbed.

      By and by there was peace, and the inquiry was resumed.

      It was now sought to turn against Joan the thousand loving honors which had been done her when she was raising France out of the dirt and shame of a century of slavery and castigation.

      "Did you not cause paintings and images of yourself to be made?"

      "No. At Arras I saw a painting of myself kneeling in armor before the King and delivering him a letter; but I caused no such things to be made."

      "Were not masses and prayers said in your honor?"

      "If it was done it was not by my command. But if any prayed for me I think it was no harm."

      "Did the French people believe you were sent of God?"

      "As to that, I know not; but whether they believed it or not, I was not the less sent of God."

      "If they thought you were sent of God, do you think it was well thought?"

      "If they believed it, their trust was not abused."

      "What impulse was it, think you, that moved the people to kiss your hands, your feet, and your vestments?"

      "They were glad to see me, and so they did those things; and I could not have prevented them if I had had the heart. Those poor people came lovingly to me because I had not done them any hurt, but had done the best I could for them according to my strength."

      See what modest little words she uses to describe that touching spectacle, her marches about France walled in on both sides by the adoring multitudes: "They were glad to see me." Glad?

      Why they were transported with joy to see her. When they could not kiss her hands or her feet, they knelt in the mire and kissed the hoof-prints of her horse. They worshiped her; and that is what these priests were trying to prove. It was nothing to them that she was not to blame for what other people did. No, if she was worshiped, it was enough; she was guilty of mortal sin.

      Curious logic, one must say.

      "Did you not stand sponsor for some children baptized at Rheims?"

      "At Troyes I did, and at St. Denis; and I named the boys Charles, in honor of the King, and the girls I named Joan."

      "Did not women touch their rings to those which you wore?"

      "Yes, many did, but I did not know their reason for it."

      "At Rheims was your Standard carried into the church? Did you stand at the altar with it in your hand at the Coronation?"

      "Yes."

      "In passing through the country did you confess yourself in the Churches and receive the sacrament?"

      "Yes."

      "In the dress of a man?"

      "Yes. But I do not remember that I was in armor."

      It was almost a concession! almost a half-surrender of the permission granted her by the Church at Poitiers to dress as a man. The wily court shifted to another matter: to pursue this one at this time might call Joan's attention to her small mistake, and by her native cleverness she might recover her lost ground. The tempestuous session had worn her and drowsed her alertness.

      "It is reported that you brought a dead child to life in the church at Lagny. Was that in answer to your prayers?"

      "As to that, I have no knowledge. Other young girls were praying for the child, and I joined them and prayed also, doing no more than they."

      "Continue."

      "While we prayed it came to life, and cried. It had been dead three days, and was as black as my doublet. It was straight way baptized, then it passed from life again and was buried in holy ground."

      "Why did you jump from the tower of Beaurevoir by night and try to escape?"

      "I would go to the succor of Compiegne."

      It was insinuated that this was an attempt to commit the deep crime of suicide to avoid falling into the hands of the English.

      "Did you not say that you would rather die than be delivered into the power of the English?"

      Joan answered frankly; without perceiving the trap:

      "Yes; my words were, that I would rather that my soul be returned unto God than that I should fall into the hands of the English."

      It was now insinuated that when she came to, after jumping from the tower, she was angry and blasphemed the name of God; and that she did it again when she heard of the defection of the Commandant of Soissons. She was hurt and indignant at this, and said:

      "It is not true. I have never cursed. It is not my custom to swear."

      Chapter 11.

       The Court Reorganized for Assassination

       Table of Contents

      A halt was called. It was time. Cauchon was losing ground in the fight, Joan was gaining it.

      There were signs that here and there in the court a judge was being softened toward Joan by her courage, her presence of mind, her fortitude, her constancy, her piety, her simplicity and candor, her manifest purity, the nobility of her character, her fine intelligence, and the good brave fight she was making, all friendless and alone, against unfair odds, and there was grave room for fear that this softening process would spread further and presently bring Cauchon's plans in danger.

      Something must be done, and it was done. Cauchon was not distinguished for compassion, but he now gave proof that he had it in his character. He thought it pity to subject so many judges to the prostrating fatigues of this trial when it could be conducted plenty well enough by a handful of them. Oh, gentle judge! But he did not remember to modify the fatigues for the little captive.

      He would let all the judges but a handful go, but he would select the handful himself, and he did.

      He chose tigers. If a lamb or two got in, it was by oversight, not intention; and he knew what to do with lambs when discovered.

      He called a small council now, and during five days they sifted the huge bulk of answers thus far gathered from Joan. They winnowed it of all chaff, all useless matter—that is, all matter favorable to Joan; they saved up all matter which could be twisted to her hurt, and out of this they constructed a basis for a new trial which should have the semblance of a continuation of the old one. Another change. It was plain that the public trial had wrought damage: its proceedings had been discussed all over the town and had moved many to pity the abused prisoner. There should be no more of that. The sittings should be secret hereafter, and no spectators admitted. So Noel could come no more. I sent this news to him. I had not the heart to carry it myself. I would give the pain a chance to modify before I should see him in the evening.

      On the 10th of March the secret trial began. A week had passed since I had seen Joan. Her appearance gave me a great shock. She looked tired and weak. She was listless and far away, and her answers showed that she was dazed and not able to keep perfect run of all that was done and said. Another court would not have taken advantage