Canon Loyseleur—"Proceed directly from Satan. A flagrant proof that Joan is an invoker of devils, hence a witch, hence deserving of the fagot."
Bishop Cauchon—"One moment—a stone lies there in our way. It will have to be removed."
Canon Loyseleur—"What stone, monseigneur? I do not see the said stone."
Bishop Cauchon—"Our canon law admits a qualification in avowals concerning supernatural matters. Thus the tribunal would find itself prevented from passing sentence upon the Maid, if by some mishap, instead of her declaring affirmatively: 'I have heard the voices,' she were to say: 'I believe I heard the voices.' The doubtful form would cause the principal charge to fall. Now, then, I fear that whether guided by the instinct of self-preservation, or whether properly indoctrinated in advance, Joan may give her answers such a form as to perfidiously raise an unsurmountable obstacle in our way. Do you understand me?"
Canon Loyseleur—"Perfectly, monseigneur. But how shall we manage it that instead of saying: 'I believe I heard the voices,' Joan shall say: 'I have heard the voices'?"
Bishop Cauchon—"Nothing is simpler. All we need is to have a councilor, in whom Joan may have full confidence, dictate to her certain answers that will be certain to lead to her condemnation."
Canon Loyseleur—"Monseigneur, the girl is of extraordinary intelligence and is gifted with exceptional sound judgment. That is her reputation. How can we expect her to repose blind confidence in an unknown adviser?"
Bishop Cauchon—"My son in Christ, what is your name?"
Canon Loyseleur—"My name is Nicolas Loyseleur."[112]
Bishop Cauchon—"I believe the name is truly predestined."