It was the very time when that of Bale had been convoked.

"Ah!" said Joan, "I would fain surrender and submit myself to the council of Bale." The Bishop of Beauvais trembled at the idea of this appeal.

"Hold your tongue in the devil's name!" said he to the monk.

Another of the judges, William Erard, asked Joan menacingly, "Will you abjure those reprobate words and deeds of yours ?" "I leave it to the universal Church whether I ought to abjure or not." "That is not enough: you shall abjure at once or you shall burn." Joan shuddered.

"I would rather sign than burn," she said.