Every now and then he stopped and asked questions, and Joan replied. The nature of the Church Militant was explained, and once more Joan was asked to submit herself to it.
She gave her usual answer.
Then she was asked:
“Do you believe the Church can err?”
“I believe it cannot err; but for those deeds and words of mine which were done and uttered by command of God, I will answer to Him alone.”
“Will you say that you have no judge upon earth? Is not our Holy Father the Pope your judge?”
“I will say nothing about it. I have a good Master who is our Lord, and to Him I will submit all.”
Then came these terrible words:
“If you do not submit to the Church you will be pronounced a heretic by these judges here present and burned at the stake!”
Ah, that would have smitten you or me dead with fright, but it only roused the lion heart of Joan of Arc, and in her answer rang that martial note which had used to stir her soldiers like a bugle-call: