J.—­’We left for fear of the Burgundians, and I once left my father’s house and went to Neufchateau in Lorraine, to visit a woman named La Rousse, where I remained for fifteen days.’

B.—­’What was your occupation when at home?’

J.—­’When I was with my father I looked after the household affairs, and I went but seldom with the sheep and cattle to the fields.’

B.—­’Did you make your confession every year?’

J.—­’Yes, to my curate, and when he was prevented hearing it, to another priest, with my curate’s permission.  I think on two or three occasions I have confessed to mendicant friars.  That happened at Neufchateau.  I took the Communion at Easter.’

B.—­’Have you received the Eucharist at other festivals besides that of Easter?’

Joan of Arc said that what she had already told regarding this question was sufficient.

‘Passez outre’ is the term she used, not an easy one to translate.  Perhaps ‘that will suffice’ is like it.

Beaupere now began questioning Joan of Arc regarding ‘her voices,’ and one can imagine how eagerly this portion of the prisoner’s examination must have been listened to by all present.

‘When did you first hear the voices?’ asked Beaupere.

‘I was thirteen,’ answered Joan, ’when I first heard a voice coming from God to help me to live well.  That first time I was much alarmed.  The voice came to me about mid-day; it was in the summer, and I was in my father’s garden.’

‘Had you been fasting?’ asked Beaupere.

J.—­’Yes, I had been fasting.’

B.—­’Had you fasted on the day before?’

J.—­’No, I had not.’

B.—­’From what direction did the voices come?’

J.—­’I heard the voice coming from my right—­from towards the church.’

B.—­’Was the voice accompanied with a bright light?’

J.—­’Seldom did I hear it without seeing a bright light.  The light came from the same side as did the voice, and it was generally very brilliant.  When I came into France I often heard the voices very loud.’

B.—­’How could you see the light when you say it was at the side?’

To this question Joan gave no direct answer, but she said that when she was in a wood she would hear the voices coming towards her.

‘What,’ next asked Beaupere, ’what did you think this voice which manifested itself to you sounded like?’

J.—­’It seemed to me a very noble voice, and I think it was sent to me by God.  When I heard it for the third time I recognised it as being the voice of an angel.’

B.—­’Could you understand it?’

J.—­’It was always quite clear, and I could easily understand it.’

B.—­’What advice did it give you regarding the salvation of your soul?’

J.—­’It told me to conduct myself well, and to attend the services of the Church regularly; and it told me that it was necessary that I should go to France.’