Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 1.djvu/99

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her bosom.[1] She then humbly entreated the beadle that he would procure for her the church crucifix, in order that she might fix her eyes upon it until the moment of her yielding up the ghost. A clerk of the parish of St. Saviour's, in compliance with her request, then brought the cross, which she eagerly seized and pressed with fervour in her arms, recommending her soul to God, Saint Michael, and Saint Catherine, continuing to grasp the same until her arms were bound upon the scaffold. The English, impatient to behold the sacrifice of their unhappy victim, began to murmur at these delays ; upon which, without any ceremonious form or sign of judgment, they destined the heroine to the flames, ordering the executioner to do his duty.

Two serjeants then repaired to conduct the prisoner from the scaffold upon which she had first been stationed; when she kissed the crucifix, bowed to the assistants, and descended of her own accord, followed by brother Martin L'Advenu. A troop of armed Englishmen then seized upon the prisoner, and dragged her to the stake with every mark of furious exultation. The seneschal of Rouen and his lieutenant were not allowed time to pronounce any sentence against the accused; they were not even consulted; but Jeanne was hurried away to death, invoking the name of the Almighty, and frequently exclaiming: "Ah! Rouen, Rouen! seras-tu ma der-niére demeure?—Ah! Rouen, Rouen! wilt thou be my last residence?"

At the foot of the stake the mitre of the inquisition was placed upon her brows, whereon were written these words: "HERETIC, RELAPSE, APOSTATE, IDOLATRESS;" and on a tablet in front of the scaffold the following lines were traced, in large characters:-

JEHANNE, QUI SE FAIT NOMMER LA PUCELLE, MEURTERESSE, PERNICIEUSE, ABUSERESSE DE PEU-PLE, DEVINERESSE, SUPERSTITIEUSE, BLASPHE- MERESSE DE DIEU, MALCREANT DE LA FOI DE JESUS CHRIST, VENTERESS¥Y, IDOLATRE, CRUELLE,

  1. ↑ "She displayed," says Massien, "great, evident, and clear signs of contrition, penitence, and fervour it the faith, as well by her piteous and devout lamentations, as by invoking the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin, and all the saints."—Chaussard, vol, i, page 125.
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