Witnesses to Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years’ War

Group 1 | Group 2

Group I: Testimony from Joan of Arc’s Condemnation Trial

How do firsthand accounts reflect on Joan of Arc’s role in the Hundred Years’ War and her posthumous rehabilitation?

• The English View of Joan’s Childhood: From the Act Of Accusation Prepared By The Promoter:
  ARTICLE 4, ARTICLE 5
  Third Public Examination starting with the words, "In your youth, did you play . . ." This excerpt can serve as a companion piece to Jean Morel of Greux, laborer
• ARTICLE 17, ARTICLE 18
  Fourth Public Examination starting with the words "When you were at Orleans. . ."
  This excerpt can serve as a companion piece to those about Joan at Orleans.
• ARTICLE 12, ARTICLE 13, ARTICLE 14, ARTICLE 15
  Fourth Public Examination from the words, "Was it God who prescribed to you the dress of a man?" to "I have done nothing in the world but by the order of God." This excerpt can serve as a companion piece to those about Joan and Men’s Clothing
• Joan’s Voices — ARTICLE 10
  Third Public Examination starting with the words, "How long is it since you heard your Voices?" and ending just before the words, "In your youth, did you play. . ."

• What does this excerpt tell us about the events that the speaker witnessed?
• What does it tell us about Joan’s actions and behavior during these events?
• What does the testimony tell us about the person giving the evidence?
• What does the excerpt convey about the speaker’s point of view and motivations? Is this person a supporter or an opponent of Joan?
• If you did not know which trial this evidence came from, would you think this came from Joan’s trial for heresy or the subsequent nullification trial? Why?
• What does this excerpt tell us about Joan’s motivations?
• What can we learn from this excerpt about her goals?
• What does this testimony tell us about her strengths? Weaknesses?

Explain how you came to your conclusions. You should also think about the following questions while reading these excerpts:

• What evidence from the excerpts tends to support the thesis that Joan was guilty of heresy?
• What potential bias in the excerpts should be noted?
• For which questions did no evidence surface, pointing toward the need for further research? 

Group II: Testimony of Joan’s Friends from Her Nullification Trial

How do firsthand accounts reflect on Joan of Arc’s role in the Hundred Years’ War and her posthumous rehabilitation?

• Joan’s Childhood: Jean Morel of Greux, laborer. Joan’s Voices Maître Pierre Cusquel, Fourth Examination.
• Joan at Orleans: Louis de Contes, Joan’s Page. Father Jean Pasquerel, Joan’s Chaplain starting with "When the Fort of Saint Loup was taken" in Father Jean Pasquerel, Part I and then continuing on Father Jean Pasquerel . . . Part II.
• Joan and Men’s Clothing: Joan Recants: Raymond, a Knight. Joan Recants Her Recanting: Maître Jean Beaupere, Master in Theology, Canon of Rouen
• Joan’s Military and Political Strategies: The Duke D'alençon starting with the words "I did not see Jeanne from the time she left the King. . .";
• Maître Guillaume Manchon, the notary for Joan’s Trial of Condemnation, testifying in 1449 about the attitude of the English during Joan’s first trial (from the beginning to the words, "I nevertheless wrote only according to my hearing and knowledge"). Massieu (Further examined): another witness on the English attitude toward Joan.
• Brother Ysambard De La Pierre, Second and Third Examinations: Joan in prison to her execution

• What does this excerpt tell us about the events that the speaker witnessed?
• What does it tell us about Joan’s actions and behavior during these events?
• What does the testimony tell us about the person giving the evidence?
• What does the excerpt convey about the speaker’s point of view and motivations? Is this person a supporter or an opponent of Joan?
• If you did not know which trial this evidence came from, would you think this came from Joan’s trial for heresy or the subsequent nullification trial? Why?
• What does this excerpt tell us about Joan’s motivations?
• What can we learn from this excerpt about her goals?
• What does this testimony tell us about her strengths? Weaknesses?

Explain how you came to your conclusions. You should also think about the following questions while reading these excerpts:

• What evidence from the excerpts tends to support the thesis that Joan was innocent of heresy?
• What potential bias in the excerpts should be noted?
• For which questions did no evidence surface, pointing toward the need for further research?