to act Saint
Catherine and the Lorraine shoemaker, had no very decided opinion on
the subject, still it seemed to him by no means unprofitable that
Jeanne for her soul's welfare should be tortured. The majority of
doctors and masters agreed that for the present there was no need to
subject her to this trial. Some gave no reasons, others alleged that
it behoved them yet once again to warn her charitably. Maitre
Guillaume Erard, doctor in theology, held that sufficient material for
the pronouncing of a sentence existed already.[2431] Thus among those,
who spared Jeanne the torture, were to be found the least merciful;
for the spirit of ecclesiastical tribunals was such that to refuse to
torture an accused was in certain cases to refuse him mercy.

[Footnote 2430: _Ibid._, pp. 401, 402.]

[Footnote 2431: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 402, 404.]

To the trial of Marguerite la Porete, the judges summoned no
experts.[2432] Touching the charges held as proven, they submitted a
written report to the University of Paris. The University gave its
opinion on everything but the truth of the charges. This reservation
was merely formal, and the decision of the University had the force of
a sentence. In Jeanne's trial this precedent was cited. On the 21st of
April, Maitre Jean Beaupere, Maitre Jacques de Touraine and Maitre
Nicolas Midi left Rouen, and, at the risk of being attacked on the
road by men-at-arms, journeyed to Paris in order to present the twelve
articles to their colleagues of the University.

[Footnote 2432: _Recueil des historiens de la France_, vol. xx, p. 601;
vol. xxi, p. 34. _Histoire litteraire de la France_, vol. xxvii, p.
70.]

On the 28th of April, the University, meeting in its general assembly
at Saint-Bernard, charged the Holy Faculty of Theology and the
Venerable Faculty of Decrees with the examination of the twelve
articles.[2433]

[Footnote 2433: _Trial_, vol. i, pp. 407, 413, 420. M. Fournier, _La
faculte de decret de l'Universite de Paris_, p. 353. Le P. Denifle and
Chatelain, _Chartularium Universitatis Parisiensis_, vol. iv, pp. 510
_et seq._]

On the 14th of May, the deliberations of the two Faculties were
submitted to all the Faculties in solemn assembly, who ratified them
and made them their own. The University then sent them to King Henry,
beseeching his Royal Majesty to execute justice promptly, in order
that the people, so greatly scandalised by this woman, be brought back
to good doctrine and h