View source for Joan of Arc Letter to the Hussites

Saint Joan of Arc's "Letter to the Hussites" 

On March 23, 1430, Joan dictated a letter to the Hussites, a proto-Protestant movement that challenged Catholic and papal authority in Bohemia. We do not know to whom the letter was sent, but it was likely sent to the King of Hungry, Sigismund of Luxembourg, who was prosecuting the Crusade against the Hussites at the time.

== Letter to the Hussites  ==
<blockquote><center>Jhesus † Maria</center>
For a long time now, common knowledge has made it clear to me, Joan the Maiden, that from true Christians you have become heretics and practically on a level with the Saracens. You have eliminated the valid faith and worship, and have taken up a disgraceful and unlawful superstition; and while sustaining and promoting it there is not a single disgrace nor act of barbarism which you would not dare. You corrupt the sacraments of the Church, you mutilate the articles of the Faith, you destroy churches, you break and burn statues which were created as memorials, you massacre Christians unless they adopt your beliefs. What is this fury of yours, or what folly and madness are driving you? You persecute and plan to overthrow and destroy this Faith which God Almighty, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have raised, founded, exalted, and enlightened a thousand ways through a thousand miracles. You yourselves are blind, but not because you're among those who lack eyes or the ability to see. Do you really believe that you will escape unpunished, or are you unaware that the reason God does not hinder your unlawful efforts and permits you to remain in darkness and error, is so that the more you indulge yourselves in sin and sacrileges, the more He is preparing greater suffering and punishments for you.

For my part, to tell you frankly, if I wasn't busy with the English wars, I would have come to see you long before now; but if I don't find out that you have reformed yourselves I might leave the English behind and go against you, so that by the sword - if I can't do it any other way - I will eliminate your false and vile superstition and relieve you of either your heresy or your life. But if you would prefer to return to the Catholic faith and the original light, then send me your ambassadors and I will tell them what you need to do; if not however, and if you stubbornly wish to resist the spur. Keep in mind what damages and crimes you have committed and await me, who will mete out suitable repayment with the strongest of forces both human and Divine.

Given at Sully<ref>Sully-sur-Loire</ref> on the 23rd of March, to the heretics of Bohemia.

Pasquerel<ref>Joan's confessor and scribe, Jean Pasquerel</ref></blockquote>

== Quicherat on the Letter to the Hussites ==
In Volume V, Quicherat reprints the letter in German. He introduces it (Vol V, p. 156):

<blockquote>An enticing introduction to a letter that is easily recognized as having been originally written in Latin. It was brought to light by M. de Hormayr in the ''Taschenbuch für vaterländische Geschichte'' of 1834. Although the editor remains silent about the provenance of this document, it nonetheless bears the marks of unquestionable authenticity. Composed by a cleric, it reflects the style of a mind trained in literary exercises, and consequently it cannot be compared to any of the other letters of the Maid. We refer the reader to our Volume IV (p. 503) to consult the testimony given by the Dominican Johannes Nider regarding this letter." (Translation by ChatGTP). </blockquote>In the original French: <blockquote>"Introduction alléchante d’une lettre qu’on reconnaît facilement avoir été écrite primitivement en latin. Elle a été mise en lumière par M. de Hormayr, dans le ''Taschenbuch für vaterländische Geschichte'' de 1834. Quoique l’éditeur se taise sur la provenance de cette pièce, elle ne laisse pas que d’être d’une incontestable authenticité. Composée par un clerc, elle respire la recherche d’un esprit formé aux exercices littéraires, et ne peut être comparée, par conséquent, à aucune des autres lettres de la Pucelle.

Nous renvoyons le lecteur à notre tome quatrième (p. 503), pour prendre connaissance du témoignage que le dominicain Jean Nider a porté sur cette lettre.")</blockquote>

Following that reference to Jean Nider's work from the 15th century, from Quicherat, Vol IV, pp. 502-504:

<blockquote>Furthermore, within the span of ten years, there appeared in France a certain young woman — as I previously mentioned — named the Virgin Joan, distinguished, as was believed, both by prophetic spirit and the power of miracles.

She always wore male clothing and could not be persuaded by any doctor, however learned, to lay aside such garments and be content with women’s attire, even though she openly declared herself a virgin and a woman.

“Under this male garb,” she said, “as a sign of future victory — both in word and in appearance — I am sent by God to assist the true king of the French, Charles, and to establish him in his kingdom, from which the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy seek to drive him.”

At that time, those two were united in mutual slaughter and warfare, and were severely oppressing France.

Therefore, Joan constantly rode with her lord like a knight, predicted many future and present events, took part in certain military victories, and performed such marvels that not only France, but all Christian kingdoms, were astounded.

At last, Joan’s presumption went so far that — before France had even been fully secured — she began to threaten the Bohemians, where there was then a multitude of heretics, through letters.

As a result, secular and ecclesiastical authorities, both regular and monastic, began to doubt what spirit governed her — whether it was divine or diabolical.

Certain very learned men therefore wrote treatises about her, in which they expressed not only differing but even opposing judgments of the Virgin.

After she had greatly aided King Charles and helped to secure his kingdom for some years, she was at last — as is believed — by divine will, captured by the English army and imprisoned.

Then, a great multitude of masters of both divine and human law were summoned and called to examine her over many days.

And as I heard from '''Master Nicolas Amiçi''', a licentiate in theology and ambassador of the University of Paris, she at length confessed that she had a familiar angel of God, who, in the judgment of the most learned men, was determined to be an '''evil spirit''', based on many conjectures and proofs.

It was through this spirit that she had been made a kind of '''sorceress''', and by public justice she was consigned to be consumed by fire.

As to this history, the '''King of England''' made it widely known by written report to our Emperor '''Sigismund'''.

At the same time, two women arose near Paris, who publicly claimed they had been sent by God to assist the Virgin Joan; and, as I heard directly from the said Master Nicolas, they were consequently arrested as '''sorceresses or witches''' by the inquisitor of France.

They were examined by many doctors of sacred theology and were eventually found to be deceived by '''delusions of an evil spirit'''.

One of them, realizing through the instruction of the masters that she had been seduced by an angel of Satan, repented of her actions and promptly renounced her error, as she ought to have done.

The other, however, '''persisted in her obstinacy''' and was '''burned at the stake'''.</blockquote>

In Latin:

<blockquote>Fuit praeterea, infra decem annorum spatia, notiter in Francia quaedam, de qua praemisi, Virgo Johanna nomine, tam prophetico spiritu quam miraculorum potestate, ut putabatur, clarens.

Haec enim veste virili semper utebatur, nec ullis doctorum quorumcumque persuasionibus emolliri potuit ut tales deponeret vestes, foemineis contenta, praesertim cum se palam virginem et foeminam esse protestaretur.

Sub hoc, inquiunt, habitu virili, in signum futurae victoriae, ut verbo praedicem et habitu, a Deo missa sum juvare verum Francorum regem Carolum et in suo firmare regno, a quo eum fugare nituntur rex Angliae et dux Burgundiae.

Pro tunc enim hi juncti mutuo caedibus et armis Franciam premebant gravissime.

Igitur cum suo domino Johanna continue velut miles equitabat, futura et facta multa praedicebat, victoriis bellicis quibusdam intererat, et alia mira talia perpetrabat, de quibus nedum Francia, sed omnia Christianorum regna stupebant.

Ad tantam denique praesumptionem venit Johanna ut, nondum adepta Francia, jam Bohemis, ubi haereticorum multitudo tunc fuit, minas intentaret per litteras.

Dubitabant exinde saeculares et ecclesiastici, regulares et monastici, quo spiritu regeretur, diabolico an divino.

Scripserunt proinde quidam viri litteratissimi tractatus ejus ex parte, in quibus, non modo diversa, sed etiam adversa de Virgine senserunt.

Postquam autem regem Carolum in multis juvisset et firmasset regno, annis quibusdam, demum, nutu, ut creditur, divino, per Anglicorum armatam capta est et incarcerata.

Accersitis autem et vocatis in magna multitudine magistris, tam divini quam humani juris, multis diebus examinata est.

Et prout a magistro Nicolao Amiçi, licentiato in theologia, audivi, qui ambassador fuit universitatis Parisiensis, tandem ipsa fassa est se habere familiarem Dei angelum, qui judicio litteratissimorum virorum judicatus est esse malignus spiritus ex multis conjecturis et probationibus.

Per quem spiritum velut magam effectam, ipsam ignibus per publicam justitiam consumi permiserunt, et prout de hac historia rex Angliae nostro imperatori Sigismundo satis late scripto tenus historiam innotuit.

Eodem tempore duae feminae prope Parisius surrexerunt, se publice dicentes missas a Deo ut virgini Johannae essent in subsidium; et quemadmodum a praedicto magistro Nicolao vivae vocis organo audivi, obinde velut magae vel maleficae per inquisitorem Franciae captae sunt, et per plures sacrae theologiae doctores examinatae, tandem repertae sunt maligni spiritus deliramentis deceptae.

Unde, cum una ex eisdem feminis se per angelum Satanae seductam conspiceret, ex magistrorum informatione a coeptis resipuit, et errorem, prout debuit, statim revocavit.

Alia vero in pertinacia permanens, ignibus consumpta est.</blockquote>

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[[Category:Letters of Joan of Arc]]