Jean Rabateau 1435 affidavit regarding Joan of Arc at Poitiers
Original letter in French
Jehans Rabateau, advocat en parlement, du roy nostre sire, confesse avoir eu et receu en sa maison de la ville de Poitiers, Jehanne la Pucelle, du temps qu’elle vint à Poitiers pour la fait de la guerre et du royaume, la comme de ce temps ma maison fut la sienne.
Et est vray que durant ce temps je la vis et cognus bonne, honneste et de bonne renommée, simple et sans malice, humble et devotte, et n’y aperceus chose qui ne fust bonne et louable.
Et sçay bien et certain que plusieurs notables personnes, tant clercs que laiz, vindrent souvent la voir et parler à elle, et fut par plusieurs examinée et interrogée sur la foy et autres choses touchant sa personne et sa mission.
Et en tout ce que j’en ay veu et ouy, n’ay trouvé chose que bonne, selon mon sens et entendement.
En tesmoing de ce ay signé ces présentes de mon seing manuel et fait mettre le scel.
Faict en l’an mil quatre cens trente et cinq.
English
I, Jean Rabateau, advocate in Parliament of our lord the King, declare that I received and lodged in my house in the city of Poitiers Joan the Maid, at the time when she came to Poitiers for the matter of the war and of the kingdom, and that during that time my house was hers.
And it is true that during that time I saw and knew her to be good, honest, and of good reputation, simple and without malice, humble and devout, and I perceived in her nothing that was not good and praiseworthy.
And I know well and with certainty that many notable persons, both clerics and laymen, came often to see her and to speak with her, and that she was by many examined and questioned concerning the faith and other matters touching her person and her mission.
And in all that I have seen and heard of her, I have found nothing but good, according to my sense and understanding.
In witness whereof I have signed these presents with my own hand and caused the seal to be affixed.
Done in the year fourteen hundred and thirty-five.