May 29

May 29, 1431

Tuesday, May 29th

The next day, the Tuesday after Holy Trinity, May 29th, we the said judges assembled in the archiepiscopal chapel of Rouen the following doctors and persons learned in theology and both canon and civil law:

• the reverend fathers in Christ the lord abbots of Ste. Trinité de Fécamp, of St. Ouen of Rouen, and of Mortemer;
• the lords and masters Pierre, prior of Longueville-Giffard,
• Jean de Châtillon,
• Erard Emengart,
• Guillaume Erart,
• Guillaume Le Boucher,
• Jean de Nibat,
• Jean le Fèvre,
• Jacques Guesdon,
• Pierre Maurice, doctors of sacred theology;
• Jean Garin
• and Pasquier de Vaulx, doctors of canon law;
• André Marguerie,
• Nicolas de Venderès, archdeacons of Rouen;
• William Haiton,
• Nicolas Couppequesne,
• Guillaume de Baudribosc,
• Richard de Grouchet,
• Thomas de Courcelles, bachelors of sacred theology;
• Jean Pinchon,
• Jean Alespée,
• Denis Gastinel,
• Jean Maugier,
• Nicolas Caval,
• Nicolas Loiseleur,
• Guillaume Desjardins, canons of the cathedral of Rouen;
• some masters, others licentiates, in canon or civil law or medicine;
• Jean Tiphaine,
• Guillaume de La Chambre,
• Guillaume de Livet,
• Geoffroy du Crotay,
• Jean Le Doulx,
• Jean Colombel,
• Aubert Morel,
• Pierre Carel, licentiates in canon or civil law or masters or licentiates in medicine;
• Martin Ladvenu, brother
• Ysambard de La Pierre,
• and master Guillaume du Desert, canons of the church of Rouen.

In their presence we the said bishop set forth that since the last public session held in the same place on the eve of Whitsunday, we had according to their advice caused a public admonition to be addressed to Jeanne: and certain points on which she was judged in the opinion of the University of Paris to have fallen short and erred, were explained to her.

We exhorted her to reject them and to return to the way of truth. As she in no way acquiesced, and as neither she nor the Promoter had anything further to say, we pronounced the case concluded and ordered the parties to appear on the following Thursday to hear the sentence, as is declared above. Then we reminded them of what happened on Thursday, how the said Jeanne, after the solemn sermon and admonitions addressed to her, had recanted and abjured her errors, and with her own hand signed the recantation and abjuration as is more fully set forth above.

And how on Thursday after dinner we and the vicar of the Inquisitor and assessors had charitably admonished her to persist in her good purpose and to keep herself from relapse: how, obeying the orders of the Church, Jeanne put off male costume and wore woman’s dress.

But that led on by the Devil

She had once more before many witnesses declared that the voices and spirits which were wont to visit her had returned to her and told her many things: and that Jeanne had once more rejected woman’s dress in favor of male costume.

That when we were informed of this we visited and examined her.

Then in the presence of the lords and masters above mentioned we caused to be read the last confessions and assertions of the said Jeanne, namely those which were made before us on the previous day, and we asked of those present their counsel and advice.

They gave their opinions as follows:

Master Nicolas de Venderès, licentiate in canon law, archdeacon of Eu and canon of the cathedral of Rouen, considered that Jeanne should be held a heretic; when the sentence had been pronounced she should be given over to the secular justice which should be prayed to act towards her with gentleness.

The reverend father in Christ Gilles, lord abbot of the monastery of Ste. Trinité de Fécamp, doctor of sacred theology, declared that Jeanne was relapsed. Nevertheless it would be well to read over to her the formula she had recently heard, to explain it and preach the word of God to her. After that the judges would have to declare her a heretic and abandon her to the secular justice, praying it to act towards her with gentleness.

Master Pierre Pinchon, licentiate in canon law, archdeacon of Jouy, canon of the churches of Paris and Rouen, considered that Jeanne was relapsed, and he referred to the masters of theology upon the subsequent procedure.

Master Guillaume Erart, doctor of sacred theology, sacristan and canon of the churches of Langres and of Laon, considered that this woman was relapsed, and therefore she should be abandoned to the secular justice: concerning the remainder he held the lord abbot of Fécamp’s opinion.

Master Robert Ghillebert, doctor of sacred theology, dean of the chapel of our lord the king, gave an opinion following that of Guillaume Erart.

The reverend father in Christ the lord abbot of the monastery of St. Ouen of Rouen held to the opinion of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Jean de Châtillon, doctor of theology and canon of the church of Évreux, gave a similar opinion. Master Guillaume Le Boucher, doctor of sacred theology, declared this woman was relapsed and should be condemned as a heretic. Upon the remainder he referred to the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

The reverend father Pierre, lord prior of Longueville-Giffard, doctor of sacred theology, declared that if after the period of the Passion this woman confessed this point contained in the formula, he accorded with the judgment of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master William Haiton, bachelor of sacred theology, considered that in view of the articles which had been read this woman was relapsed and should be condemned as a heretic: upon the remainder he referred to the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master André Marguerie, licentiate in civil law and bachelor of canon law, archdeacon of Petit-Caux and canon of Rouen; master Jean Alespée licentiate in civil law, canon of Rouen; and master Jean Garin, doctor of decrees and canon of the church of Rouen, gave opinions in accordance with that of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Denis Gastinel, licentiate in both canon and civil law, canon of the churches of Paris and Rouen, declared that this woman was a relapsed heretic, and should be abandoned to the secular authority, with no prayer for mercy.

Master Pasquier de Vaulx, doctor of decrees, canon of the churches of Paris and Rouen, held to the opinion of the lord abbot of Fécamp. with no prayer for mercy.

Master Pierre Houdenc, doctor of sacred theology, declared that in his estimation and in view of the decisions and ways of this woman, she had always been a heretic, and was in fact relapsed; therefore she should be abandoned to the arms of the secular justice according to the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Jean de Nibat, doctor of sacred theology, considered that this woman was relapsed and impenitent, and should be esteemed a heretic. This is the opinion of the abbot of Fécamp. so frequently mentioned.

Master Jean Le Fèvre, doctor of sacred theology, declared this woman to be obstinate, contumacious, disobedient; and upon the rest he referred to the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

The reverend father in Christ Guillaume, lord abbot of Mortemer, doctor of sacred theology, held to the opinion of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Jacques Guesdon, doctor of theology, accorded with the opinion of the said abbot of Fécamp.

Master Nicolas Couppequesne, bachelor of sacred theology, canon of the cathedral of Rouen, accorded with the opinion of the said lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Guillaume du Desert, canon of the church of Rouen, gave an opinion in agreement with the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Pierre Maurice, doctor of sacred theology, canon of Rouen, considered that this woman should be esteemed and judged relapsed; he adhered to the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Guillaume de Baudribosc, bachelor of sacred theology; master Nicolas Caval, licentiate in civil law; master Nicolas Loiseleur, master of arts; master Guillaume Desjardins, doctor of medicine and canon of the church of Rouen, adhered to the opinion of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Jean Tiphaine, doctor of medicine; master Guillaume de Livet, licentiate in civil law; master Geoffroy du Crotay and master Pierre Carel, licentiates in civil law, gave opinions following the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Master Jean Le Doulx, licentiate in canon and civil law; master Jean Colombel, licentiate in canon law; master Aubert Morel, licentiate in canon law; brother Martin Ladvenu, of the order of Preaching brothers; master Richard de Grouchet, bachelor of theology; master Jean Pigache, bachelor of theology; and master Guillaume de La Chambre, licentiate in medicine, gave opinions in accordance with that of the said abbot of Fécamp.

Master Thomas de Courcelles, bachelor of theology, canon of the churches of Thérouanne and of Laon, and brother Ysambard de La Pierre, of the order of Preaching brothers, gave opinions in conformity with the decision of the lord abbot of Fécamp who has so frequently been mentioned. They added that this woman should be once more charitably admonished for the salvation of her soul, and be told that she had no further hope in the life of this world.

Master Jean Maugier, licentiate in canon law, canon of the church of Rouen, followed the opinion of the lord abbot of Fécamp.

Finally, when we had heard the opinions of them all we thanked them and concluded that the said Jeanne should then be proceeded against as relapsed, according to law and reason.