and had gone straight to him, although he was but
poorly clad and surrounded by his baronage.[1571] It was said that she
had given the King a sign, that she had revealed a secret to him; and
that on the revelation of the secret, known to him alone, he had been
illuminated with a heavenly joy. Concerning this interview at Chinon,
while those present had little to say, the stories of many who were
not there were interminable.[1572]

[Footnote 1571: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 116, 192. _Chronique de la
Pucelle_, p. 273. _Journal du siege_, p. 47. Jean Chartier,
_Chronique_, vol. i, p. 67. _Relation du greffier de La Rochelle_, pp.
336, 337. Martial d'Auvergne, _Vigiles_, vol. i, p. 96.]

[Footnote 1572: _Trial_, vol. iii, pp. 103, 116, 209, _passim_.
_Journal du siege_, p. 48. Th. Basin, _Histoire de Charles VII_, vol.
i, p. 68. _Mirouer des femmes vertueuses_, in _Trial_, vol. iv, p.
271. Pierre Sala, _ibid._, p. 280. Morosini, vol. iii, p. 104.
Eberhard Windecke, p. 153.]

On the 7th of May, at four o'clock in the afternoon, a white dove
alighted on the Maid's standard; and on the same day, during the
assault, two white birds were seen to be flying over her head.[1573]
Saints were commonly visited by doves. One day when Saint Catherine
of Sienna was kneeling in the fuller's house, a dove as white as snow
perched on the child's head.[1574]

[Footnote 1573: _Journal du siege_, p. 294. _Chronique de
l'etablissement de la fete_, in _Trial_, vol. v, p. 294.]

[Footnote 1574: AA. SS., April 3rd. Didron, _Iconographie chretienne_,
pp. 438, 439. Alba Mignati, _Sainte Catherine de Sienne_, p. 16.]

A tale then in circulation is interesting as showing the idea which
prevailed concerning the relations of the King and the Maid; it
serves, likewise, as an example of the perversions to which the story
of an actual fact is subject as it passes from mouth to mouth. Here is
the tale as it was gathered by a German merchant.

On a day, in a certain town, the Maid, hearing that the English were
near, went into the field; and straightway all the men-at-arms, who
were in the town, leapt to their steeds and followed her. Meanwhile,
the King, who was at dinner, learning that all were going forth in
company with the Maid, had the gates of the town closed.

The Maid was told, and she replied without concern: "Before the hour
of nones, the King will have so great need of me, that he will follow
me immediately, spurless, and barely staying to