e 1431.

In that dark stone chamber with its groined roof, besides the
prisoner, were present Cauchon, with the Vice-Inquisitor, the Abbot
of Saint Corneille of Compiegne, William Erard, Andrew Marguerie,
Nicolas de Venderes, John Massieu, William Haiton, Aubert Morel, and
the infamous Loiseleur. Ranged round the circular walls were placed
the instruments of torture, and men skilled in their use were ready at
hand.

'Joan,' said Cauchon, who had now dropped his hypocritical semblance
of sympathy, which he had assumed when interrogating the prisoner in
her cell, 'I command you to tell the truth. In your examination many
and various points have been touched on, about which you refused to
answer, or, when you did so, answered untruthfully. Of this we have
certain proof. These points will now be read to you.'

What was then read was probably a summary of the articles of
impeachment.

Cauchon then continued: 'If, Joan, you now refuse to speak the truth,
you will be put to the torture. You see before you the instruments
which are prepared, and by them stand the executioners, who are ready
to do their office at our command. You will be tortured in order that
you may be led into the way of truth, and for the salvation of your
body and soul, which you by your lies have exposed to so great a
peril.'

It was at this terrible juncture that Joan showed her indomitable
spirit more clearly than at any moment since her capture. In front of
her lay the rack upon which, at a signal from Cauchon, her limbs would
be wrenched asunder; but her reply, as given in the minutes written
by the clerk who was present, bears the ring of a courage superior to
all the terrors which confronted her.

'Even,' she said, 'if you tear me limb from limb, and even if you kill
me, I will not tell you anything further. And even were I forced to do
so, I should afterwards declare that it was only because of the
torture that I had spoken differently.'

That was an answer which sums up the whole folly and crime of
obtaining evidence by means of torture, and recalls Galileo's famous
phrase when in a somewhat similar situation.

Cauchon then again ordered Joan to tell them of her revelations, and
asked her if she had again sought counsel from her voices.

She had, answered Joan.

'And have they,' asked the Bishop, 'foretold what will now happen?'

'I asked them,' answered Joan of Arc, 'if I should be burnt, and they
answered: "Abide by your Lord and H