.[2738]

[Footnote 2738: Inquiry of 1476, in G. de Braux and E. de Bouteiller,
_Nouvelles recherches_, p. 10.]

Then, when she had had enough, she went away.

Whence came she? No one knows. Whither did she go? She may probably be
recognised in an adventuress, who not long afterwards, with her hair
cut short and a hood on her head, wearing doublet and hose, wandered
through Anjou, calling herself Jeanne the Maid. While the doctors and
masters, engaged in the revision of the trial, were gathering evidence
of Jeanne's life and death from all parts of the kingdom, this false
Jeanne was finding credence with many folk. But she became involved in
difficulties with a certain Dame of Saumoussay,[2739] and was cast
into the prison of Saumur, where she lay for three months. At the end
of this time, having been banished from the dominions of the good King
Rene, she married one Jean Douillet; and, by a document dated the 3rd
day of February, 1456, she received permission to return to Saumur, on
condition of living there respectably and ceasing to wear man's
apparel.[2740]

[Footnote 2739: Or Chaumussay. Lecoy de la Marche, _Une fausse Jeanne
d'Arc_, Paris, 1871, in 8vo, p. 19.]

[Footnote 2740: Lecoy de la Marche, _Une fausse Jeanne d'Arc_, in
_Revue des questions historiques_, October, 1871, p. 576. _Le roi
Rene_, Paris, 1875, vol. i, pp. 308-327; vol. ii, pp. 281-283.]

About this time there came to Laval in the diocese of Le Mans, a
damsel between eighteen and twenty-two, who was a native of a
neighbouring place called Chasse-les-Usson. Her father's name was Jean
Feron and she was commonly called Jeanne la Ferone.

She was inspired from heaven, and the names Jesus and Mary were for
ever on her lips; yet the devil cruelly tormented her. The Dame de
Laval, mother of the Lords Andre and Guy, being now very aged,
marvelled at the piety and the sufferings of the holy damsel; and she
sent her to Le Mans, to the Bishop.

Since 1449, the see of Le Mans had been held by Messire Martin
Berruyer of Touraine. In his youth he had been professor of philosophy
and rhetoric at the University of Paris. Later he had devoted himself
to theology and had become one of the directors of the College of
Navarre. Although he was infirm with age, his learning was such that
he was consulted by the commissioners for the rehabilitation
trial,[2741] whereupon he drew up a memorandum touching the Maid.
Herein he believes her to have been verily sent