s esquire, d'Aulon, who had attended her throughout her
campaigns, was made before the Vice-Inquisitor of that province, John
Despres.

All these depositions are recorded in Latin, the only exception being
that of d'Aulon, which was taken down in French. All those written in
Latin have been translated into French by M. Fabre, and published in
his _Proces de Rehabilitation de Jeanne d'Arc_.

Among the witnesses first appear the friends and neighbours of Joan of
Arc in her childhood and early years. From her birthplace came her
greatest friends, Henriette, Mengette, and Isabellette. The first of
these, in the year 1456, was aged forty-five, the second was a year
older, and the third was in her fiftieth year. All three were the
wives of labourers. Henriette was married to Gerard, Mengette to John
Joyart, and Isabellette to Gerardin d'Epinal. To the child of the last
Joan had stood god-mother. Next came from the same village three older
women, all three being god-mothers to Joan. In those days the French
peasantry seem to have had an almost unlimited number of god-fathers
and god-mothers. These were named Jeannette, widow of Thepelin de
Viteau, aged sixty; Jeannette Theverien, aged sixty-six; and Beatrix,
widow of d'Estelin, a labourer of Domremy, then in her eightieth year.

After these three god-mothers, came to give their evidence her
god-fathers. Four of these appear--John Rainguesson, John Barrey, John
de Langart, and John Morel de Greux. Of these four god-fathers, only
the last one seems to have been called to give evidence; he was in his
seventieth year. Gerardin d'Epinal, husband of one of the god-mothers,
also gave his evidence; it was his son Nicolas for whom Joan of Arc
had stood sponsor. In those days it was held that the god-mother of a
child stood to it in the relation of a second mother: hence originated
the term of 'commere' and 'compere,' which Joan gave the d'Epinals.

Six labourers, who had been playmates with Joan in childhood, then
came forward. These men, named respectively Le Cuin, Guillemeth,
Waterin, Colin, Masnier, and Jacquard, were between the ages of
forty-four and fifty. All these humbly born witnesses agreed in their
answers to the twelve questions asked them in the following order:--

1. When and where was Joan born?

2. Who were her parents? Were they of good character and of
good repute?

3. Who were her god-fathers?

4. Was she piously brought up?