and throughout the loyal provinces were to be seen carved and
painted images of her which were worshipped by the faithful. Thus,
even during her lifetime, she enjoyed certain of the privileges of
beatification.[1833]

[Footnote 1833: Noel Valois, _Un nouveau temoignage sur Jeanne d'Arc_,
in _Annuaire bulletin de la Societe de l'Histoire de France_, Paris,
1907, in 8vo, pp. 8 and 18 (separate issue).]

North of the Seine meanwhile, English and Burgundians were at their
old work. The Duke of Vendome and his company fell back on Senlis, the
English descended on the town of Saint-Denys and sacked it once more.
In the Abbey Church they found and carried off the Maid's armour,
thus, according to the French clergy, committing undeniable sacrilege
and for this reason: because they gave the monks of the Abbey nothing
in exchange.

The King was then at Mehun-sur-Yevre, quite close to Bourges, in one
of the finest chateaux in the world, rising on a rock and overlooking
the town. The late Duke Jean of Berry, a great builder, had erected
this chateau with the care that he never failed to exercise in matters
of art. Mehun was King Charles's favourite abode.[1834]

[Footnote 1834: _Trial_, vol. iii, p. 217. De Beaucourt, _Histoire de
Charles VII_, vol. ii, p. 265. A. Buhot de Kersers, _Histoire et
statistique du departement du Cher, canton de Mehun_, Bourges, 1891,
in 4to, pp. 261 _et seq._ A. de Champeaux and P. Gauchery, _Les
travaux d'art executes pour Jean de France, duc de Berry_, Paris,
1894, in 4to, pp. 7, 9, and the miniature in _Les grandes heures_ of
Duke Jean of Berry at Chantilly.]

The Duke of Alencon, eager to reconquer his duchy, was waiting for
troops to accompany him into Normandy, across the marches of Brittany
and Maine. He sent to the King to know if it were his good pleasure to
grant him the Maid. "Many there be," said the Duke, "who would
willingly come with her, while without her they will not stir from
their homes." Her discomfiture before Paris had not, therefore,
entirely ruined her prestige. The Sire de la Tremouille opposed her
being sent to the Duke of Alencon, whom he mistrusted, and not without
cause. He gave her into the care of his half-brother, the Sire
d'Albret, Lieutenant of the King in his own country of Berry.[1835]

[Footnote 1835: Perceval de Cagny, pp. 170, 171. Berry, in _Trial_,
vol. iv, p. 48. Letter from the Sire d'Albret to the people of Riom,
in _Trial_, vol. v, pp. 148, 149. Marti