Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 167 Interrogation
On January 13, 1431, just three days after King Henry VIII met Jeanne and angrily left, Jeanne's trial began. However, Jeanne's trial was not conducted by a secular court, but by a very special group of people…

The Church of Battle.

According to the church, they are warriors who wage a spiritual battle against the evil in the world, hence the church is also known as the fighting church.

This trial involved theologians from the University of Paris and numerous church figures, who accused Jeanne of heresy, distorting doctrine, claiming to hear the voice of God, and inciting ignorant believers to participate in struggles between secular nations in the name of God—a serious act of heresy.

Unlike secular states, the Church was not interested in territorial disputes between kingdoms, and it did not matter who the King of France was, but it was extremely interested in Jeanne, because according to Jeanne, her existence was simply upsetting the foundation of the Church.

If God does not guide believers through the church, then where is the church's authority as God's earthly representative?
Jeanne, the woman who claimed to be able to hear the voices of saints, was already a thorn in the side of the church.

However, this is naturally supported by the British, since the current King Charles of France was put on the throne by Jeanne herself. If the person who crowned the French king is judged to be a witch, then the legitimacy of the French king will naturally be questioned.

Therefore, under the threat from the British, even many scholars who were focused on theological research and did not intend to participate in the national struggle were forced into this religious trial.

……

The morning was sunny and bright, and a large crowd had already gathered outside the religious court in the town center. Everyone was eager to see the "Saintess of Orleans". When the young woman from Orleans finally appeared in front of the crowd, it caused quite a stir.

"Wow..."

His hands were shackled, making a soft clattering sound as he moved. He was dressed like a boy, with two soldiers following closely behind him. Although months of imprisonment had made him somewhat haggard, his bright eyes remained as resolute as ever.

When the crowd saw the young woman from Orléans, they looked at her with awe, and as she moved forward, they parted like a tide, making way for her. Some devout believers made the sign of the cross on their chests, while some bolder women tried to touch Jeanne's clothes, arms, and hair, murmuring prayers for the saint's protection.

Regardless of the views of the church and the king, for most French people, Jeanne was a legendary saint, and superstition and worship of Jeanne were not uncommon in France at that time.

"Scatter! Scatter!"

The soldiers brandished their weapons, driving away the people who were trying to touch the holy site. Once Jeanne entered the Inquisition, the soldiers immediately closed the doors, preventing anyone else from entering and cutting off all attempts to peek inside.

"Bang..."

As the door closed, Jeanne's eyes were immediately drawn to the several bishops seated on the judge's bench at the top, flanked by numerous scholars. As Jeanne entered, the gazes of the scholars fell upon her.

Doubt, disdain, hostility, pity—these are just some of the many emotions that can be expressed in a single gaze.

“Jeanne de Acre, you are accused of seventy crimes… You plead guilty.”

The judge's bench was shrouded in darkness, obscuring the judge's face; only his deep, resonant voice could be heard.

He claims to be able to communicate with God, predict the future, mislead believers, dress in men's clothing, and is not affiliated with the church...

The voice listed numerous crimes one by one, and among those many gazes, Jeanne, all alone, appeared exceptionally small, like an ant before a giant.

But as she listened to the numerous accusations, her bright eyes remained unwavering. She simply raised her head, just as she had faced the British before—except that back then the British army wanted to destroy her body, and now the trial was attempting to destroy her spirit. "I don't admit it!"

Inside the courtroom, the resolute voice resonated powerfully.

……

The trial lasted a long time, during which a fierce debate broke out between the two sides. The Church did not care about Jeanne's secular identity, and they hardly asked about Jeanne's military campaigns. Instead, they paid special attention to Jeanne's understanding of the doctrine.

For the church, Jeanne's faith was the only issue of concern, as it concerned the church's authority.

"You claim to be able to hear the voice of God? Do you feel that you have received God's grace?"

This is a trap question because, according to dogma, God is unpredictable, and no one can know whether they have received God's grace. If Jeanne says yes, then she is a heretic, but if Jeanne denies it, then she is rightfully a liar and should be punished.

But Jeanne gave an unexpected answer.

"If I have not received it, I hope God will give it to me; if I have received it, I hope God will still give it to me."

This answer left the scholars present speechless. The wit in the answer far exceeded what an illiterate village girl could comprehend. However, after a brief discussion, the scholars questioned her again.

Do you believe that God despises the English, which is why He sent you to save France?

This is also a trap, because God does not favor or hate any country or people. If Jeanne's answer is wrong, she will be considered a heretic by the church.

"I do not know whether God loves or hates the English. I only know that all the English, except the dead, will be driven out of France."

The stubborn answer once again left the judges speechless.

The trial lasted a long time, four months, with constant exchanges and debates between the two sides. Jeanne displayed remarkable rationality, and even though the opposing side was a church that brought together countless scholars, she did not lose ground.

The church once tried to use torture to subdue Jeanne, just as they had done in countless trials, regardless of whether you were or not, once the instruments were on, you were either.

But Jeanne stubbornly replied.

“No matter what torture instruments you use, I will not yield. Even if I confess because of the pain, I will insist that all my confessions were made under duress.”

After the stalemate, the church had no choice but to abandon the use of torture. After all, Jeanne was no nobody, and many people were watching the trial. Numerous nobles came to Rouen to witness the outcome of the trial, and the church could not go against the gaze of so many people.

Ultimately, Jeanne reduced the 70 charges to 12. The church not only failed to find enough evidence of wrongdoing, but also lost face. These charges will be examined by many theologians in Britain to verify their accuracy.

Meanwhile, Jeanne fell ill...

(End of this chapter)