De quadam puella

De quadam puella (Summer 1429?)

In our Taylor book, there was a source called De quadam puella, written sometime in 1429 and the author remains a mystery because modern scholars are not fully convinced that it was written by Jean Gerson. In this treatise, it presents positive and negative views of Joan, certainly whether or not she truly was a virgin pucella sent by God. 

A couple questions are asked by the author in the source,” should one believe that she is truly a young girl, human and natural, or was she changed into a similar, fantastical likeness of a person”? (Taylor 113).

Second, the author asked,” If it is through a superior cause, is this for good, and therefore by a good spirit, or for bad, through an evil spirit”? (113).

Examining these questions, he presents propositions in support of her and later on, near the end of the treatise he ultimately opposes her.

 He starts by presenting proposition of supporting her, he states,” It must be simply affirmed that this is a true Pucelle and a genuine person of human nature”(113). It is convinced that she is a human because of her human actions. And according to Taylor,” The young female is continually found to conform with other men in human actions, speaking, desiring food, eating, drinking, staying awake, sleeping, and other similar things”(113). Based on her “human activities” we know Joan was indeed a person of human nature and not immortal or essentially evil. 

In the author’s IV proposition he states,” It is consonant with the holy scriptures that God may present the joy of salvation to people and to kingdoms by means of the weaker sex and innocent youths”(114). Based on our previous sources, we’ve learn there are other women before her who were also messengers and sent by God other than men. 

The treatise also presents the negative positions about Joan. In proposition number 1, he states,” Many false prophets have come, claiming to have been sent from God by divine inspiration”(115). And according to Taylor,” in the law of the gospel, many will say that they come in my name and many will be deceived by them”(116). This is saying that there have been many before Joan who has claimed false prophets; therefore that questions Joan’s creditability.  In the V proposition that opposes her, states,” This Pucelle commits two actions which are defined as forbidden in the holy scriptures” (117). Taylor defines these actions based on her cross dressing and cutting her hair as a man (117).

I found this source really interesting because although the (mysterious) author presents a fair amount of positive and negative points about Joan, I am not fully convinced that the author was supporting Joan. It ultimately opposes her. This is not surprising because of the time period and the situation that Joan was in. If the author had written the treatise twenty years later, perhaps it would support Joan more.

What do you guys think?

Source:                            

Craig,Taylor. Joan of Arc: la Pucelle. Manchester University Press, 2006. Print.