They could never have understood each other because she was simple, he subtle; because she was a prophetess while he was filled with courtly knowledge and lettered grace; because she believed, and he was as one not believing; because she was a daughter of the common folk and a saint ascribing all sovereignty to God, while for him law consisted in feudal uses and customs, alliances and treaties;[1244] because, in short, they held conflicting ideas concerning life and the world.

The Maid's mission, her being sent by Messire to recover his duchy for him, would never have appealed to the good Duke; and Jeanne would never have understood his behaviour towards his English and Burgundian cousins.

It was better they should never meet.
[Footnote 1244: For him every treaty of peace was a good treaty, even that of 1420, the Treaty of Troyes (Pierre Champion, _Le manuscrit autographe des poesies de Charles d'Orleans_, Paris, 1907, 8vo, p.
32).] The capture of Jargeau had given the French control of the upper Loire.

In order to free the city of Orleans from all danger, it was necessary to make sure of the banks of the lower river.

There the English still held Meung and Beaugency.