Joan of Arc's Letter to the Hussites (March 23, 1430)

Introduction and Context
This is a letter dictated by Joan of Arc threatening to lead a crusading army against the Hussites, a religious / military faction in Czechoslovakia considered "radical Catholics" or "Proto-Protestants", being composed of the followers of the dissident theologian Jan Hus plus various other groups with a common grievance against the Church or the government of the Holy Roman Empire. In the letter, Joan denounces their theology as a "mad and obscene superstition", and threatens to add her own leadership to the ongoing crusading efforts against them unless they, quote, "return to the Catholic faith and the original Light".
Ironically, the German Inquisitor Johannes Nider, working from badly muddled information provided by pro-English partisans, would later cite this letter among his collection of allegations - perhaps the first and only time that someone's crusading zeal against heretics would be included among such a list.

On a final contextual note: some people have been shocked by the violent threats against the Hussites contained in this letter, but it needs to be remembered that - as with her efforts against the English - she was responding to an existing state of war being waged by her opponents. She specifically refers to their attacks on churches and monasteries, and it may not be coincidence that the letter was sent out following a particularly vicious campaign by the Hussites which had devastated significant areas in Silesia, Hungary, Lusatia, Meissen, and Saxony - precisely the sort of campaign against civilians which always upset her. This is the setting for the threats of violence.

The Text
The original version of the letter was translated into Latin by her scribe and confessor, Jean Pasquerel, since Latin was the most convenient means of communicating with the Hussites (who, unlike the English commanders, spoke little or no French), which is why Pasquerel's name appears at the bottom of the letter - as in fact was frequently done in that era when a scribe recorded a letter dictated by someone else.
Such translation would account for the linguistic style: while the views expressed in the letter are consistent with what we know of Joan's opinions, and some of her distinctive manners of speech are also in evidence, the occasional difference in style is an expected consequence of the conversion out of French; whereas the other letters were sometimes recorded directly in her rural Barrois/Lorraine dialect. [click here for an article on these issues].
An English translation is below, with notes and commentary on the right; a transcription of the original language is also available.

English Translation Notes and Commentary
Jesus, Maryⁿ¹
For a long time now, common knowledge has made it clear to me, Joan the Maiden,ⁿ² that from true Christians you have become heretics and practically on a level with the Saracens [i.e., Muslims];ⁿ³ you have eliminated the valid faith and worship, and 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,ⁿ⁴ you mutilate the articles of the Faith, you destroy churches, you break and burn statues [of the saints]ⁿ⁵ 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 [currently] hinder your unlawful effortsⁿ⁶ 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 warsⁿ⁷ 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,ⁿ⁸ 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,ⁿ⁹ 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 [i.e., Sully-sur-Loire] on the 23rdⁿ¹⁰ of March, to the heretics of Bohemia.
Pasquerel [Joan's confessor and scribe]ⁿ¹¹

Note 1:
"Jesus, Mary" was her standard introduction at the beginning of most of her letters.
Note 2:
"The Maiden" or "Virgin" ("la Pucelle") was her chosen nickname, explaining that she had promised her saints to maintain her virginity "as long as it pleases God". Like many female saints, she would be canonized as a "Holy Maiden".
Note 3:
The Islamic Saracens were the other group which she advocated crusading efforts against.
Note 4:
There were a number of theological differences between the Hussites and the Church. Some of the Hussites abolished virtually every aspect of traditional Catholicism in ways that foreshadowed the Protestant Reformation; but the chief tenet for which they are best known was their belief that the laity needed to take communion under both kinds (i.e., the wine as well as the bread) as a necessary condition for salvation. They therefore bore an image of the communion chalice on their flags, shields, etc, and were sometimes known as "Utraquists" (from the Latin phrase "sub utraque specie" - "under both kinds"). The moderate branch of the Hussites were granted a special dispensation to practice this form of communion by the terms of the compromise worked out with the Church in 1433.
Note 5:
Some pro-Hussite clergy had taken to destroying the artwork and saints' relics in their local churches, and entire monasteries were destroyed by Hussite armies.
Note 6:
'Unlawful' in the sense of 'against the laws of the Church', of course.
Note 7:
Joan, needless to say, did not refer to the conflict as the "Hundred Years War" - a modern label for this long series of conflicts between France, England, their various allies and proxies, and related groups.
Note 8:
This comment sheds some light on her thoughts at this point. At the time the letter was dictated, there was a dubious truce in effect with the English and Burgundians, but she would shortly take the field again toward the end of the month.
Note 9:
A common saying based on the famous statement from Acts 26:14 - "....durum est tibi contra stimulum calcitrare".
Note 10:
Fabre's translation of the Latin version gives this number as "23"; Quicherat's transcription of the German version reads "3".
Note 11:
Friar Jean Pasquerel, of the Order of Saint Augustine, served as Joan’s confessor, scribe, and (here) translator, hence his signature on the Latin version sent to the Hussites.

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Translated by Allen Williamson