Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/10

x with the same title in 1642. In the Vatican, among the manuscripts of the Queen of Sweden, is a dramatic piece in verse, entitled, Le Mystere du Siege d'Orleans. Of my unfortunate predecessor Chapelain, I have been able to learn nothing but from Boileau. The Pucelle of Voltaire I have not read.

The following account of the imprisonment and execution of the Maid, I translate from Millin's National Antiquities of France. "JOAN was oppressed with outrages of all kinds: at every question they called her Joan the Heretic—the Sorceress—the Lascivious. Questions the most ridiculous were put to her; her confession was drawn from her, yet could they not find her culpable. The University of Paris assembled, and pronounced her a Heretic and Schismatic. The account of the process was read to Joan, and she complained fruitlessly, that her answers were falsified. They threatened her with the stake if she did not abjure: they read to her a passage which contained a promise to quit the habit of a man, and never again to bear arms. This writing she thought she signed, but they substituted another, in which she confessed herself an Harlot, an Idolatress, a Sorceress, Seditious, &c. &c.—She was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment."

"But this was not what had been promised to the English, and to satisfy them, it was necessary to destroy the unhappy JOAN. She had promised never more to wear the habit of a man; during the night they removed her own clothes, and placed in their stead those of a man: in vain did she demand her own—they were refused—vainly did she say that death was threatened her; her prayers were unregarded. She remained in bed till necessity obliged her to cover herself with the apparel of a man. Then was she seized, declared to have relapsed—excommunicated—crowned with paper upon which was written—An Heretic! an Apostate! an Idolatress!" and then reserved for punishment, "guarded by an hundred and twenty armed soldiers."

At last she was condemned to the flames. Over the stake was placed a large writing, bearing these words:—"JOAN, ,