lf-a-dozen judges,
and the following charitable exhortation, as the chronicler styles it,
took place.

'We have come,' began Cauchon, 'to you with charitable and amiable
intentions, to console you in your sickness. You will remember, Joan,
how you have been questioned on various matters relating to the faith,
and you know the answers you made. Knowing your ignorance relating to
such matters, we are willing to send learned and well-versed men in
such matters.' Then turning to the lawyers and others present, the
Bishop continued: 'We exhort you to give Joan profitable counsel on
the obligations which appertain to the true doctrine of the faith, and
to the furtherance of the safety and welfare of her body and soul.
'Joan,' continued Cauchon, 'if there be any one else you wish to
consult in this matter, we are ready to send for such in order that
they may aid you. We are men of the Church, ever ready to aid those in
need of advice good for the soul as well as the body, and ready to
benefit you or any of your own kith, or ourselves. We should gladly
give you daily such to advise you. In a word, we are ready, under the
circumstances, to aid you, as does the Church itself, ever ready to
help all such who will willingly come to her. But beware to act
against our advice and exhortation. For if you still should refuse to
submit yourself to us, we shall abandon you. Judge then of the peril
you lie in in that case. It is this peril which we hope to prevent you
from falling into with all our strength and all our affection.'

To this Mephistophelean address Joan of Arc made the following reply:
'I render you my best thanks for what you have said respecting the
salvation of my soul; and it seems to me, seeing the illness I am now
suffering, that I am in danger of dying. If this is to happen, God's
will be done. I will only ask you to allow me to confess, and to
partake of the Blessed Sacrament, and that my body may be laid in holy
ground.'

Cauchon replied as follows: 'If you wish to receive the Sacraments of
the Church you must confess yourself like a good Catholic, and you
must also submit yourself to the Church. If you persevere in not doing
so, you cannot obtain what you desire, except that for Penitence,
which we are always ready to administer.'

Joan wearily said to this: 'I have then nothing more to say.'

The Bishop, however, had no wish that the interview should end thus,
and continued: 'The greater your danger of now d