p to
the Inquisition of France, as demanded by the University of
Paris. The Bishop proceeded to form at Rouen a "court of
justice" for her trial, and on February 21st the Maid was
brought before her judges--"Norman priests and doctors of
Paris"--in the chapel of Rouen castle. The trial lasted
until May 30th, forty sittings being held--some of them in
Jeanne's prison, where for a time she was kept in an iron
cage.

Commanded to take "an oath to tell the truth about
everything as to which she should be questioned," she
replied: "Perchance you may ask me things I would not tell
you. I do not like to take an oath to tell the truth save as
to matters which concern the faith." She fearlessly tried to
guard against violation of what she considered her right to
be silent.

In "this odious and shameful trial," says Guizot, "the
judges' prejudiced servility and scientific subtlety were
employed for three months to wear out the courage or
overreach the understanding of a young girl of nineteen, who
made no defence beyond holding her tongue or appealing to
God, who had dictated to her that which she had done."
Formal accusation was made under twelve heads or articles,
based on the preliminary examination, and the trial
proceeded to its merciless end.

In Passion Week, Jeanne d'Arc fell sick. Her temptation began, no doubt,
on Palm Sunday. A country girl, born on the skirts of a forest, and
having ever lived in the open air of heaven, she was compelled to pass
this fine Palm Sunday in the depths of a dungeon. The grand "succor"
which the Church invokes came not for her; the "doors did not open."

They were opened on the Tuesday, but it was to lead the accused to the
great hall of the castle, before her judges. They read to her the
articles which had been founded on her answers, and the Bishop
previously represented to her "that these doctors were all churchmen,
clerks, and well read in law, divine and human; that they were all
tender and pitiful, and desired to proceed mildly, seeking neither
vengeance nor corporal punishment, but solely wishing to enlighten her,
and put her in the way of truth and of salvation; and that, as she was
not sufficiently informed in such high matters, the Bishop and the
Inquisitor offered her the choice of one or more of the assessors to act
as her counsel." The accused, in presence of this assembly, in which she
did not descry a single friendly fac