to the opinion of the masters. It was no longer than the Lord's Prayer
and consisted of six or seven lines of writing. It was in French and
began with these words: "I, Jeanne...." The Maid submitted therein to
the sentence, the judgment, and the commandment of the Church; she
acknowledged having committed the crime of high treason and having
deceived the people. She undertook never again to bear arms or to wear
man's dress or her hair cut round her ears.[2484]

[Footnote 2484: _Ibid._, pp. 52, 65, 132, 156, 197. U. Chevalier,
_L'Abjuration de Jeanne d'Arc_.]

When Maitre Guillaume had read the document, Jeanne declared she did
not understand it, and wished to be advised thereupon.[2485] She was
heard to ask counsel of Saint Michael.[2486] She still believed firmly
in her Voices, albeit they had not aided her in her dire necessity,
neither had spared her the shame of denying them. For, simple as she
was, at the bottom of her heart she knew well what the clerks were
asking of her; she realised that they would not let her go until she
had pronounced a great recantation. All that she said was merely in
order to gain time and because she was afraid of death; yet she could
not bring herself to lie.

[Footnote 2485: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 156, 157 (evidence of Jean
Massieu, Usher of the court).]

[Footnote 2486: _Ibid._, vol. ii, p. 323.]

Without losing a moment Maitre Guillaume said to Messire Jean
Massieu, the Usher: "Advise her touching this abjuration."

And he passed him the document.[2487]

[Footnote 2487: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 157.]

Messire Jean Massieu at first made excuse, but afterwards he complied
and warned Jeanne of the danger she was running by her refusal to
recant.

"You must know," he said, "that if you oppose any of these articles
you will be burned. I counsel you to appeal to the Church Universal as
to whether you should abjure these articles or not."

Maitre Guillaume Erard asked Jean Massieu: "Well, what are you saying
to her?"

Jean Massieu replied: "I make known unto Jeanne the text of the deed
of abjuration and I urge her to sign it. But she declares that she
knoweth not whether she will."

At this juncture, Jeanne, who was still being pressed to sign, said
aloud: "I wish the Church to deliberate on the articles. I appeal to
the Church Universal as to whether I should abjure them. Let the
document be read by the Church and the clerks into whose hands I am to
be delivered. If it be the