From her latest siege the Maid rode to attack La Charite. But, though
the towns helped her as well as they might with money and food, her
force was too small, and was too ill provided with everything, for the
king did not send supplies. She raised the siege and departed in great
displeasure. The king was not unkind, he ennobled her and her family,
and permitted the dignity to descend through daughters as well as sons;
no one else was ever so honoured. Her brothers called themselves Du Lys,
from the lilies of their crest, but Joan kept her name and her old
banner. She was trailed after the Court from place to place; for three
weeks she stayed with a lady who describes her as very devout and
constantly in church. People said to Joan that it was easy for her to be
brave, as she knew she would not be slain, but she answered that she had
no more assurance of safety than any one of them. Thinking her already a
saint, people brought her things to touch.
'Touch them yourselves,' she said; 'your touch is as good as mine.'
She wore a little cheap ring, which her father and mother had given her,
inscribed JHESU MARIA, and she believed that with this ring she had
touched the body of St. Catherine. But she was humble, and thought
herself no saint, though surely there never was a better. She gave great
alms, saying that she was sent to help the poor and needy. Such was the
Maid in peace.