Nicolas Caval, born about 1390, was master of arts and bachelor of law in 1403, and licentiate in 1428.

He obtained from Henry V on January 16, 1421, a canonicate in the church at Mortain; he was received the following year as canon of the cathedral of Rouen in the place of Robert de Faubusson, who had remained faithful to France. He was living in Rouen before this date, and was a deputy to the Estates at Paris in 1424- In 1428 he was described as Dean of Nôtre Dame of Andely. He was named keeper of the seal of the church court in 1443, was curé of Critot and chaplain of the chapel of Nôtre Dame aux Béguines at Rouen.

Nicolas Caval died a few days before August 27,1457

He was, it would seem, a learned man, and a lover of books. He was devoted to Pierre Cauchon, and was the executor of his will. It was he who settled the expenses for the procession that followed the body of Pierre Cauchon from the church of Saint Cande to the Seine, in prayer, and he accompanied until the end the body of his friend. He was also a friend of Zanon de Castiglione, the bishop of Lisieux who was so harsh in his judgment of Jeanne.

Caval's opinion was in accordance with that of the theologians and the authority of the Abbot of Fécamp, Gilles de Duremort. When called to the Rehabilitation proceedings, in 1452, Nicolas Caval pretended, which was not true, that he had only heard Jeanne a single time.

He was a lamentable witness, who remembered nothing, saying for example "that he certainly believed that the English didn't bear any love towards Jeanne," that he "knew very well that she had been burnt, but whether it was justly or unjustly he would have to refer to the law and the trial."