Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc — Volume 2 by Mark Twain
page 183 of 260 (70%)
page 183 of 260 (70%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
Of course, the sixty-six articles were just a rehash of the things which had come up in the course of the previous trials, so I will touch upon this new trial but lightly. In fact, Joan went but little into detail herself, usually merely saying, "That is not true--passez outre"; or, "I have answered that before--let the clerk read it in his record," or saying some other brief thing. She refused to have her mission examined and tried by the earthly Church. The refusal was taken note of. She denied the accusation of idolatry and that she had sought men's homage. She said: "If any kissed my hands and my vestments it was not by my desire, and I did what I could to prevent it." She had the pluck to say to that deadly tribunal that she did not know the fairies to be evil beings. She knew it was a perilous thing to say, but it was not in her nature to speak anything but the truth when she spoke at all. Danger had no weight with her in such things. Note was taken of her remark. She refused, as always before, when asked if she would put off the male attire if she were given permission to commune. And she added this: "When one receives the sacrament, the manner of his dress is a small thing and of no value in the eyes of Our Lord." She was charge with being so stubborn in clinging to her male dress that |
|