women, I have
forbidden you to come into my company." And she drew her sword and
struck one of them on the head, so sore that she died.[1803]

[Footnote 1803: Eberhard Windecke, pp. 184, 186.]

The tale was true; Jeanne could not suffer these wenches. Every time
she met one she gave chase to her. This was precisely what she did at
Gien, when she saw women of ill-fame awaiting the King's men.[1804] At
Chateau-Thierry, she espied an _amiete_ riding behind a man-at-arms,
and, running after her, sword in hand, she came up with her, and
without striking, bade her henceforth avoid the society of
men-at-arms. "If thou wilt not," she added, "I shall do thee
hurt."[1805]

[Footnote 1804: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 90.]

[Footnote 1805: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 73.]

At Saint-Denys, being accompanied by the Duke of Alencon, Jeanne
pursued another of these wantons. This time she was not content with
remonstrances and threats. She broke her sword over her.[1806] Was it
Saint Catherine's sword? So it was believed, and doubtless not without
reason.[1807] In those days men's minds were full of the romantic
stories of Joyeuse and Durandal. It would appear that Jeanne, when she
lost her sword, lost her power. A slight variation of the story was
told afterwards, and it was related how the King, when he was
acquainted with the matter of the broken sword, was displeased and
said to the Maid: "You should have taken a stick to strike withal and
should not have risked the sword you received from divine hands."[1808]
It was told likewise how the sword had been given to an armourer for
him to join the pieces together, and that he could not, wherein lay a
proof that the sword was enchanted.[1809]

[Footnote 1806: _Ibid._, p. 99.]

[Footnote 1807: _Ibid._, vol. i, p. 76.]

[Footnote 1808: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, p. 90.]

[Footnote 1809: Jean Chartier, _Chronique_, vol. i, pp. 122, 123.]

Before his departure, the King appointed the Count of Clermont
commander of the district with several lieutenants: the Lords of
Culant, Boussac, Lore, and Foucault. He constituted joint
lieutenants-general the Counts of Clermont and of Vendome, the lords
Regnault de Chartres, Christophe d'Harcourt and Jean Tudert. Regnault
de Chartres established himself in the town of Senlis, the
lieutenant's headquarters. Having thus disposed, the King quitted
Saint-Denys on the 13th of September.[1810] The Maid followed him
against her will no