all be
stationed in a suitable place so as to surprise the confidences of
heretics and to overhear their words."[2191]

[Footnote 2191: Eymeric, _Directorium_, part iii, _Cautelae inquisitorum
contra haereticorum cavilationes et fraudes_.]

As for the Bishop of Beauvais, who had ordained and permitted such
procedure, he found his justification and approbation in the words of
the Apostle Saint Paul to the Corinthians: "I did not burden you:
nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile." "_Ego vos non
gravavi; sed cum essem astutus, dolo vos cepi_" (II Corinthians xii,
16).[2192]

[Footnote 2192: L. Tanon, _Histoire des tribunaux de l'inquisition en
France_, p. 394.]

Meanwhile, when Jeanne saw the Promoter, Jean d'Estivet, in his
churchman's habit she did not recognise him. And Maitre Nicolas
Loiseleur also often came to her in monkish dress. In this guise he
inspired her with great confidence; she confessed to him devoutly and
had no other confessor.[2193] She saw him sometimes as a shoemaker and
sometimes as a canon and never perceived that he was the same person.
Wherefore we must indeed believe her to have been incredibly simple in
certain respects; and these great theologians must have realised that
it was not difficult to deceive her.

[Footnote 2193: _Trial_, vol. ii, pp. 10, 342.]

It was well known to all men versed in science, divine and human, that
the Enemy never entered into dealings with a maid without depriving
her of her virginity.[2194] At Poitiers the French clerks had thought
of it, and when Queen Yolande assured them that Jeanne was a virgin,
they ceased to fear that she was sent by the devil.[2195] The Lord
Bishop of Beauvais in a different hope awaited a similar examination.
The Duchess of Bedford herself went to the prison. She was assisted by
Lady Anna Bavon and another matron. It has been said that the Regent
was hidden meanwhile in an adjoining room and looking through a hole
in the wall.[2196] This is by no means certain, but it is not
impossible; he was at Rouen a fortnight after Jeanne had been brought
there.[2197] Whether the charge were groundless or well founded he was
seriously reproached for this curiosity. If there were many who in his
place would have been equally curious, every one must judge for
himself; but we must bear in mind that my Lord of Bedford believed
Jeanne a witch, and that it was not the custom in those days to treat
witches with the respect due to ladies.