_, pp. 271, 272.]

[Footnote 1847: _Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris_, p. 235.]

Meanwhile, it was his endeavour to foster a good understanding
between them, which, eloquent preacher though he was, he found very
difficult. Within the sisterhood there were constant suspicions and
disputes. Jeanne had been on friendly terms with Catherine de la
Rochelle at Montfaucon in Brie and at Jargeau; but now she began to
suspect her of being a rival, and immediately she assumed an attitude
of mistrust.[1848] Possibly she was right. At any moment either
Catherine or the Breton women might be made use of as she had
been.[1849] In those days a prophetess was useful in so many ways: in
the edification of the people, the reformation of the Church, the
leading of men-at-arms, the circulation of money, in war, in peace; no
sooner did one appear than each party tried to get hold of her. It
seems as if, after having employed the Maid Jeanne to deliver Orleans,
the King's Councillors were now thinking of employing Dame Catherine
to make peace with the Duke of Burgundy. Such a task was deemed
fitting for a saint less chivalrous than Jeanne. Catherine was married
and the mother of a family. In this circumstance there need be no
cause for astonishment; for if the gift of prophecy be more especially
reserved for virgins, the example of Judith proves that the Lord may
raise up strong matrons for the serving of his people.

[Footnote 1848: _Trial_, vol. i, p. 106.]

[Footnote 1849: _Ibid._, p. 107.]

If we believe that, as her surname indicates, she came from La
Rochelle, her origin must have inspired the Armagnacs with confidence.
The inhabitants of La Rochelle, all pirates more or less, were too
profitably engaged in preying upon English vessels to forsake the
Dauphin's party. Moreover, he rewarded their loyalty by granting them
valuable commercial privileges.[1850] They had sent gifts of money to
the people of Orleans; and when, in the month of May, they learned the
deliverance of Duke Charles's city, they instituted a public festival
to commemorate so happy an event.

[Footnote 1850: Arcere, _Histoire de La Rochelle_, 1756, in 4to, vol.
i, p. 271. _Trial_, vol. v, p. 104, note. Vallet de Viriville,
_Histoire de Charles VII_, vol. ii, pp. 24, 75 _et seq._, 219, 279.]

The first duty of a saint in the army, it would appear, was to collect
money. Jeanne was always sending letters asking the good towns for
money or for munitions of war; the