Joan of Arc's
Responsio Mortifera
[mortal (fatal) response]
to the vice-Inquisitor and
her other judges.

     Now Cauchon, as an advocate experienced in dealing with the law, knew that, according to the rules of the Inquisition courts, none but those who, having recanted their heresy, had relapsed, could be condemned to suffer death by burning. And having succeeded in making the wearing of man's clothes (it is certain, from the evidence given by Jean Massieu, that the wearing of such clothes was expressly mentioned in the cédule) the symbol of Joan's failure to submit to the Church, he might be fairly sure that she would, without much delay, show herself to have relapsed by retaining her male attire. Events were soon to prove him right. (Ibid., p. 218)
     ... Sunday, May 27th, Cauchon learned that Joan had resumed male attire. On the following day he went to the prison, accompanied by the vice-Inquisitor and several assessors. The following is from the official record:
     'The Monday following, 28 of the month of May, on the day following Holy Trinity, we, judges aforesaid, went to the place of Joan's prison to see her state and disposition. Were present the lords and Masters Nicolas de Venderes, Thomas de Courcelles, Brother Isambart de la Pierre, Guillaume Haiton, Jacques Camus, Nicolas Bertin, Julien Floquet and John Gray.'
     'Joan was dressed in a man's clothes, to wit tunic, hood and gippon (a short robe worn by men) and other man's clothes, attire which on our order she had formerly left off and had taken women's clothes: therefore did we question her to know when and for what cause she had again put on man's attire.'
     Joan: I not long since resumed man's attire and left off woman's attire.
     Question: Why have you assumed this male attire and who made you take it?
     Joan: I have taken it of my own will. I have taken it because it is more licit and fitting to have man's clothes since I am with men than to have woman's clothes. I have resumed it because what had been promised me has not been observed, to wit that I should go to mass and should receive the Body of Christ and should be taken out of irons.
     Pierre Cauchon: Have you not made abjuration and promised especially not to resume man's clothes?
     Joan: I would rather die than remain in irons; but if it be permitted me to go to mass and I be taken out of irons and that I be put in a pleasant (gracieuse) prison, and that I have women, I will be good and will do what the Church wishes. (The item 'have women' is down in the French Minute but not in the official text of the proceedings.)
     Cauchon: Since that Thursday, have you heard the voices of Saints Catherine and Margaret?
     Joan: Yes.
     Cauchon: What did they tell you?
     Joan: God has sent to me by Saints Catherine and Margaret great pity for the mighty betrayal to which I consented in making abjuration and revocation to save my life, and that I was damning myself to save my life.
     (Here the clerk has noted in the margin, responsio mortifera, mortal (fatal) answer.)

[ Joan of Arc, by Herself and Her Witnesses, Regine Pernoud, Stein and Day, New York, 1969, p. 220.]