The king now went from one pleasant tower on the Loire to another,
taking the Maid with him. Meanwhile, the English took and plundered some
of the cities which had yielded to Charles, and they carried off the
Maid's armour from the chapel in Saint Denis, where she had dedicated
it, 'because _Saint Denis!_ is the cry of France.' Her Voices had bidden
her stay at Saint Denis, but this she was not permitted to do, and now
she must hear daily how the loyal towns that she had won were plundered
by the English. The French garrisons also began to rob, as they had
done before she came. There was 'great pity in France' again, and all
her work seemed wasted. The Duc d'Alencon went to his own place of
Beaumont, but he returned, and offered to lead an army against the
English in Normandy, if the Maid might march with him. Then he would
have had followers in plenty, for the people had not wholly lost faith.
'But La Tremouille, and Gaucourt, and the Archbishop of Reims, who
managed the king and the war, would not consent, nor suffer the Maid and
the duke to be together, nor ever again might they meet.' So says Cagny,
and he adds that the Maid loved the fair duke above other men, 'and did
for him what she would do for no other.' She had saved his life at
Jargeau, but where was the duke when Joan was a prisoner? We do not
know, but we may believe that he, at least, would have helped her if he
could. They were separated by the jealousy of cowards, who feared that
the duke might win too much renown and become too powerful.