Henry Beaufort and Joan of Arc
- gilldavid560
- Jul 16
- 1 min read
Despite his many accolades, Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester, Cardinal, Lord Chancellor, scion of the Plantagenets and chief bank roller to the English monarchy during the Hundred Years War, is possibly most famous for presiding over the trial of Joan of Arc as mentioned in the Farnham Herald recently.
However, was he really there? This still proves controversial, as the full record of her trial, listing all those who took part on a daily basis, shows that Cardinal Beaufort was not present. His sole appearance is on the day of her abjuration 26 May 1431, which she later withdrew.
The formal record also does not include Beaufort's presence at her execution although legend has it that he wept as he viewed the horrible scene as she was burned at the stake and It is also believed Joan handed her silver ring to Beaufort moments before she was burnt at the stake. This silver ring remained in England for the next 500 plus years until it was bought back for the French nation by the Puy de Fou foundation in 2016.
Bishops of Winchester were some of the most able, and politically powerful men of their age. The Bishop's Palace in Farnham Castle welcomes visitors to explore their history and discover fascinating insights on guided tours on Wednesday afternoons at 2pm.