THE SEVENTY ARTICLES Tuesday, March 27, 1431 ARTICLE 21 Jeanne, by temerity or presumption, had caused to be written certain letters at the head of which she placed the names 'Jhesus Maria,' with a cross in the middle. These letters she caused to be addressed in her name to our Lord the King, to my Lord of Bedford, Regent of France, to the lords and captains who were then at the siege of Orleans, containing a number of things wicked, pernicious, contrary to the Catholic Faith, the tenor of which is found in the Article which follows: ARTICLE 22 Tenor of the letter ARTICLE 23 The tenor of the letter contained in the preceding Article proves well that Jeanne had been the sport of evil spirits, and that she often consulted them to know what she ought to do; or, at least, that, to seduce the people, she imagined these inventions by lying or wickedness. ARTICLE 24 Jeanne had gravely misused the names "Jhesus Maria" and the sign of the cross placed beside them ; it was understood between her and her people that, when they saw on her letters these words and this sign, they were to do the contrary of what she wrote: and, in fact, they did do the contrary. ARTICLE 25 Usurping the office of Angels, Jeanne had said and affirmed that she had been sent by God; and she had said this even for cases which tend openly to violence and effusion of human blood: a proposition the most foreign to all holiness, horrible and abominable to all pious souls. ARTICLE 26 Jeanne, being at Compiegne in August of 1429, did receive from the Count d'Armagnac a letter of which the tenor forms the article which follows. ARTICLE 27 Tenor of the said letter. "My very dear Lady - I humbly commend myself to you, and pray, for God's sake, that, considering the divisions which are at this present time in the Holy Church Universal on the question of the Popes, for there are now three contending for the Papacy one residing at Rome, calling himself Martin V, whom all Christian Kings obey; another, living at Paniscole, in the Kingdom of Valence, who calls himself Clement VII; the third, no one knows where he lives, unless it be the Cardinal Saint Etienne and some few people with him, but he calls himself Pope Benedict XIV. The first, who styles himself Pope Martin, was elected at Constance with the consent of all Christian nations; he who is called Clement was elected at Paniscole, after the death of Pope Benedict XIII, by three of his Cardinals; the third, who dubs himself Benedict XIV, was elected secretly at Paniscole, even by the Cardinal Saint Etienne. You will have the goodness to pray Our Savior Jesus Christ that by His infinite Mercy He may by you declare to us which of the three named is Pope in truth, and whom it pleases Him that we should obey, now and henceforward, whether he who is called Martin, he who is called Clement, or he who is called Benedict; and in whom we are to believe, if secretly, or by any dissembling, or publicly; for we are all ready to do the will and pleasure of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Yours in all things, COUNT D'ARMAGNAC." ARTICLE 28 To this letter Jeanne did send in answer the letter signed with her name, found in the Articles which follow. ARTICLES 29 and 30 Letter of Jeanne to the Count d'Armagnac. "Jhesus Maria." "Count d'Armagnac, my very good and dear friend, I, Jeanne, the Maid, acquaint you that your message has come before me, which tells me that you have sent at once to know from me which of the three Popes, mentioned in your memorial, you should believe. This thing I cannot tell you truly at present, until I am at rest in Paris or elsewhere; for I am now too much hindered by affairs of war; but when you hear that I am in Paris, send a message to me and I will inform you in truth whom you should believe, and what I shall know by the counsel of my Righteous and Sovereign Lord, the King of all the World, and of what you should do to the extent of my power. I commend you to God. May God have you in His keeping!" |