Jean d'Estivet, called Benedicité promoter-general of the diocese of Beauvais, was canon of Beauvais and Bayeux. On January 16, 143o, he was named canon of Bayeux and was declared by Pierre Cauchon exempt from the tithes to be levied on the clergy in capacity of student of law at the University of Paris. One finds him later at Rouen, where, on April 25, 1437, he obtained a canonial prebend.

He was a former student of law at the University of Paris, intimately connected with Pierre Cauchon, and like him was a fugitive.

He was an evil man, even according to Manchon's testimony. He was one of Jeanne's most obstinate judges. He insulted her in prison, treating her as a prostitute. Entirely devoted to the English, Jean d'Estivet insinuated himself into Jeanne's cell, like Loiseleur, pretending to be another prisoner.

According to Guillaume Manchon, it was he who sent the Twelve Articles to Paris without completely correcting them. He is the author of the list of charges, read at the session of March 27th, and he ordered Jeanne to be taken back to the castle of Rouen after the abjuration.

The recorders, whom he paid for their work, detested him, for he was so overbearing with them. Boisguillaume charged him with great responsibility in his testimony at Jeanne's Rehabilitation: "And believed that God, at the end of his life, punished him, for he ended miserably: he was found dead in a certain sewer outside the Rouen gate."

This accident, which happened on October 20, 1438, was fabulously interpreted as punishment for his conduct during the Trial, but Jean d'Estivet was at that time the holder of many benefices.