278.] In colloquial language, a maid (_une pucelle_) was a girl of humble birth, who earned her livelihood by manual work and was generally a servant.

Thus the leaden pumps used in kitchens were usually called _pucelles_.

The term was doubtless vulgar, but it had no evil meaning.
In spite of Clopinel's naughty saying: "_Je legue ma pucelle a mon cure_," it was used to describe a respectable girl of good morals.[569] [Footnote 569: La Curne, under the word _Pucelle_; Du Cange, ad.

v.
_Pucella_.
_Je laisse cent sols de deniers A ceulx qui boivent voluntiers Et s'ay laissie a mon cure Ma pucelle quand je mourrai,_ says Eustache Deschamps (quoted by La Curne); Du Cange cites a will of 1274: "afterwards I leave to Laurence _ma pucelle_ and twelve _livres_ of Paris."] The tidings that a little saint of lowly origin, one of Our Lord's poor, was bringing divine help to Orleans made a great impression on minds excited by the fevers of the siege and rendered religious through fear.

The Maid inspired them with a burning curiosity, which the Lord Bastard, like a wise man, deemed it prudent to encourage.