THE 'TRIAL OF JEANNE DARC. 475 one of the charges, her inscribing sacred names on her banner was another. The charges, in short, were the condensed statement of her own answers, the chief point of offence being that she claimed for her mission super- natural authorization and aid. The outward and visible sign of this pretension was the wearing of men's clothes. The patience of the court with their contumacious prisoner was remarkable, and seems to indicate that the court as a body meant to try her fairly, and that there were members who desired her acquittal. Eight learned doctors were next appointed to visit her in her room, and give her a solemn and affectionate admonition, and urge her, by timely submission and repentance, to save her body from the fire and her soul from perdition. They performed this duty well. They offered to send her other learned men, if she would designate them, who would visit her, instruct her, resolve her doubts, and guide her into the true way. She thanked them for their pains, adhered to all her pretensions, and refused to change her dress. " Let come what will," said she, " I shall not say or do otherwise." After days of further deliberation, they caused her to be conducted to a chamber of the great tower, in which were the apparatus of the torture, and the men in official costume who usually applied it. " Truly," said she, as she looked upon the hideous implements, " if you tear me limb from limb, and separate soul from body, I should say nothing other than I have said ; and even if I should, I should forever maintain that you made me say it by force." And she went on to speak of her voices in her usual manner. The court decided that, considering " the hardness of her heart," the punishment of the torture would profit her little, and that therefore it might be dis- pensed with, at least for the present. One learned and pious doctor thought that the torture would be a " salu- 29
