This week’s discussion of both the Inquisition Nullification trials of Joan of Arc has sparked my interest regarding the roles
the notaries played in both trials. Historian Craig Taylor makes several mentions
of both the positive and negative roles notaries played in both trial outcomes.
Firstly, the presence of notaries at a private trial such as Joan’s Inquisition
Trial reveals the advanced society that was both a record-keeping people, and a
society with highly educated elite. The notaries were concentrated at work,
translating Joan’s French answers to their Latin dictations. This, however,
also presents a problem with the trial records that survive today. Joan’s
responses in French were first translated to Latin by the notaries, later back
to French by scholars and now translated to English for the purposes of
knowledge. One wonders what, if anything, got lost among this translation
shuffle. Also highly problematic is how to interpret Joan’s recorded responses.
Were the scribes attempting to create a negative image of girl who was harsh in
her words, often interrupting the elite deciding her fate? Or was she rather
exercising her bravery and rejecting her traditional, confining female role? It
is hard to tell, scholars warn.
There are many images that depict Joan at her trial, all
with varying body language, dress, and overall trial scenes. Below is the image
I selected, as I believe it depicts both a certain image of Joan and her judges
(notaries too!). What first caught my attention was the dark haired Joan; an
image rarely depicted, with artists overwhelmingly favoring a lighter, more
blonde version of the Pucelle. The notaries are shown intently writing and
looking to Joan to record her response, the King-like figure in front of her, presumably
judging her (although not quite historically accurate). The King holds his hand
to his chin as if considering a thought or seemingly perplexed and in a deep
state of consideration. Joan herself is depicted with a submissive stance,
hands gently folded in front of her body, one foot forward, in what could
possibly be men’s clothing. While this is just one image of the Inquisition
Trial, it is an image with both a clear idea of the legal proceedings occurring,
and the “Soft Joan” image of the Pucelle as an innocent, gentle woman.
