THE FRENCH SPIRIT 



33 



showiog miracles, that she is sent by God, as was Moses aud John the 

 Baptist ; rebel to the holy faith by remaining under the anathema 

 framed by the canons of the church, and by not receiving the sacra- 

 ments of the church at the season set apart by the church, in order not 

 to have to cease wearing the dress of a man; blasphemous in saying 

 that she knows she will be received into paradise. Therefore, if after 

 having been charitably warned she refuses to re-enter the Catholic 

 faith, and thereby give satisfaction, she shall be given over to the sec- 

 ular judges and meet with the punishment due to her crimes. 



The sentence was pronounced that Joan of Arc be put 

 to death by fire, as a heretic. Her judges declared : 



By our present sentence, which, seated in tribunal, we utter and Decree 

 pronounce in this writing, we denounce thee as a rotten member, and Death 

 that thou mayest not vitiate others, as cast out from the unity of the 

 church, separate from the body, abandoned to the secular power as, 

 indeed, by these presents, we do cast thee off, separate and abandon 

 thee ; — praying this same secular power, so far as concerns death and 

 the mutilation of the limbs, to moderate its judgment towards thee, 

 and, if true signs of penitence should appear in thee, to permit that 

 Sacrament of penance be administered to thee. 



When the maid heard the sentence from the bishop, 

 she exclaimed, " Alas, am I to be treated so horribly and 

 cruelly ? Must my body, pure as from birth, and never 

 contaminated, be this day consumed aud reduced to ashes ? 

 I would rather be beheaded seven times over than on this 

 wise. Oh ! I make my appeal to God, the great Judge of 

 the wrongs and grievances done to me. Bishop, I die 

 through you." 



On the 24th of May, 1431, two lofty scaffolds were 

 erected, on which were to be seated cardinals, doctors, 

 inquisitors and bishops, to feast their eyes in seeing the 

 bui'uing of Joan of Arc. On the other scaffold was to be 

 placed the victim, with the fuel somewhat below, so the 

 flames would rise and envelop her. 



The execution was ordered to be carried into effect. 

 She was covered with a long white garment such as crim- 

 inals and victims of the Inquisition were generally arrayed 



Appeal 

 for a 

 Soldier's 

 Death 



The 

 Execution 



