And now on holy days the folk of Domremy must needs go to hear mass in the church of Greux.[372] [Footnote 372: _Trial_, vol.ii, p.

396, _passim_.] So full of danger were the times that the villagers were ordered to keep in fortified houses and castles.[373] [Footnote 373: S.Luce, _Jeanne d'Arc a Domremy_, pp.

clxxx, 230.] Meanwhile the English were laying siege to the town of Orleans, which belonged to their prisoner Duke Charles.

By so doing they acted badly, for, having possession of his body, they ought to have respected his property.[374] They built fortified towers round the city of Orleans, the very heart of France; and it was said that they had entrenched themselves there in great strength.[375] Now Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret loved the Land of the Lilies; they were the sworn friends and gentle cousins of the Dauphin Charles.

They talked to the shepherd maid of the misfortunes of the kingdom and continued to say: "Leave thy village and go into France."[376] [Footnote 374: _Mistere du siege_, v, 497.] [Footnote 375: _Chronique de la Pucelle_, chs.