From the beginning of Joan of Arc's trial, many observers noted that head judge, Bishop Pierre Cauchon, and his court seemed hostile to the Maid of Orleans. Cauchon and the other judges were supporters of King Henry VI of England, who claimed also to be king of France. The English wanted Joan convicted as a witch and a heretic to dispel the notion that God was on the side of the French. In his interrogation of Joan, Cauchon posed subtle questions based on the intricacies of church law and theology. He seemed to choose his questions to lead Joan into making incriminating statements.

In the early weeks of the proceedings, it appeared that the trial might resolve in the maid's favor. Before the trial, matrons determined that Joan was a virgin. Since it is common knowledge that witches live lives of sexual depravity, it seemed it would be difficult to prove Joan a witch. During questioning, Joan's clear, simple, forthright answers frustrated her expert accusers. In addition, serious procedural flaws, including the fact that Joan was brought to trial before being formally charged with a crime, threatened the legitimacy of the trial.

But in the end, the English prevailed. After failing to find fault with Joan's Christian beliefs, Cauchon fell back on the only offense of which Joan was clearly guilty - the wearing of men's clothing. For reasons that remain unclear, perhaps in response to her voices or to the court's breach of its promise to house her in a church prison with female guards, Joan once again put on men's clothing. In the end, the judges deemed this gesture sufficient proof of heresy, and they sentenced her to death.