![[JOAN OF ARC (c.1412-1431)]. Document signed by Guillaume Leprevost, deputy of the bailli of Caux, Neufchâtel, 20 May 1416, addressed to [Gille de Lépée,] vicomte de Gournay, A PAY ORDER FOR THE FUTURE EXECUTIONER OF JOAN OF ARC, GEOFFROY THÉRAGE, who is to be paid 72 sols and six deniers for dragging and hanging one Colin Rastel 'pour ses demerites', in French, on vellum, 7 lines on one membrane, approx. 80 x 265mm (tear at left margin, 45mm, perhaps from a filing thread, a few other small punctures or losses, lower margin irregularly cut), 19th-century endorsement in red ink at upper left.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10455_0036_000(joan_of_arc_document_signed_by_guillaume_leprevost_deputy_of_the_baill055842).jpg?w=1)
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[JOAN OF ARC (c.1412-1431)]. Document signed by Guillaume Leprevost, deputy of the bailli of Caux, Neufchâtel, 20 May 1416, addressed to [Gille de Lépée,] vicomte de Gournay, A PAY ORDER FOR THE FUTURE EXECUTIONER OF JOAN OF ARC, GEOFFROY THÉRAGE, who is to be paid 72 sols and six deniers for dragging and hanging one Colin Rastel 'pour ses demerites', in French, on vellum, 7 lines on one membrane, approx. 80 x 265mm (tear at left margin, 45mm, perhaps from a filing thread, a few other small punctures or losses, lower margin irregularly cut), 19th-century endorsement in red ink at upper left.
'Au viconte de gournay, ou a son lieuten[ant] salut. Nous avons tauxe A Gieffroy t[er]rache bourrel du bailliage de rouen pour son salaire davoir traine et pendu au gibet du neufchastel feu colin rastel qui par vous a este a ce condempne po[ur] ses demerites la som[m]e de lxxii s, vi dt ...'
Thérage had been the Rouen executioner for more than 25 years when he was charged with the burning of Joan of Arc in the Vieux-Marché of Rouen on 30 May 1431, and with casting her remains into the Seine thereafter: he is reported to have had some difficulty in tying her to the pillar where she was to be burned, on account of its unusual height. Witnesses at the saint's posthumous rehabilitation testified to Thérage's sense of remorse at the manner of Joan's death, and reported that he was particularly struck at the fact that her heart initially remained intact despite the flames. Thérage's name is known from eight receipts preserved in the BnF, including one of 25 March 1432 for executing 104 French soldiers who had attempted to capture the castle of Rouen – a feat for which he earned 111 livres and 13 sols.
'Au viconte de gournay, ou a son lieuten[ant] salut. Nous avons tauxe A Gieffroy t[er]rache bourrel du bailliage de rouen pour son salaire davoir traine et pendu au gibet du neufchastel feu colin rastel qui par vous a este a ce condempne po[ur] ses demerites la som[m]e de lxxii s, vi dt ...'
Thérage had been the Rouen executioner for more than 25 years when he was charged with the burning of Joan of Arc in the Vieux-Marché of Rouen on 30 May 1431, and with casting her remains into the Seine thereafter: he is reported to have had some difficulty in tying her to the pillar where she was to be burned, on account of its unusual height. Witnesses at the saint's posthumous rehabilitation testified to Thérage's sense of remorse at the manner of Joan's death, and reported that he was particularly struck at the fact that her heart initially remained intact despite the flames. Thérage's name is known from eight receipts preserved in the BnF, including one of 25 March 1432 for executing 104 French soldiers who had attempted to capture the castle of Rouen – a feat for which he earned 111 livres and 13 sols.
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