; and he had the
audacity to qualify them--and probably included himself among them--as
being _benins et pitoyables_, having no wish to inflict corporal
punishment upon Joan, but filled only with the pious desire of leading
her into the way of truth and salvation. 'Seeing that,' he continued,
'she was not sufficiently versed in such weighty matters as those they
had now to deal with, they in their pitifulness and benignity, would
allow her to choose among the learned doctors present, one or more to
aid her with counsel and advice.'

The Bishop had probably guessed that by this time Joan of Arc would
have ceased to care for the benefit of counsel, having had to do
without it till now; and his asking her whether she wished for it was
merely made in order to appear as an act of judicial indulgence on his
part--perhaps, also, what Lohier had urged regarding the illegality of
trying his prisoner without giving her the help of counsel may have
influenced him.

In a few simple words Joan of Arc thanked the Bishop and the others
for the offer, of which she, however, declined to avail herself. She
added that she felt no need now of having any human counsel, for that
she had that of her Lord to aid her.

Thomas de Courcelles next proceeded to read the articles contained in
the act of accusation. These were so long that they occupied the
remainder of that and the next day's sitting. This first series of
articles--for there were forty more to follow--consisted of thirty
heads, and forms one of the most glaring examples of what the human
mind is capable of inventing when thoroughly steeped in bigotry,
stupidity, and cruelty. The Bishop of Beauvais may have been
congratulated on producing the most momentous mass of accusation,
intended to destroy the life and reputation of a peerless and perfect
woman and to blast the career of his native sovereign: it only
redounded to the Bishop's everlasting shame and infamy.

We will spare the reader a detailed summary of these
articles--articles which have the lie so palpably and strongly writ
all over them, that we can but hesitate whether to be more surprised
or disgusted that even such a man as Cauchon could dare to bring them
into court.

The preamble of the articles gave the gist of what was to follow, and
showed up the true spirit of Joan's 'benign and merciful judges.' It
consisted of one long string of abuse, in which the terms 'sorceress,'
'false prophet,' 'a practiser of magic,'