2 This story, given in Boaistuau’s version of Margaret’s
tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
_Heptameron_ at the ‘Paris Bibliothèque Nationale’, was not
included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
a story called _The jests made by a Grey Friar_, for which
see _post_, p. 95 _et seq_.--Ed.
In the household of Madame de la Trémoille there was a lady named
Roncex, who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery
of the Grey Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place
whither her maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl
named La Mothe to keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to
be seen, left her in the room, and went alone into a darksome privy,
a place used in common by all the friars, who had given such a good
account therein of all their victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth
the whole place, were thickly covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres
that had passed through the friars’ bellies.
The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she
could--
“La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!”
The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
saying to every one she met--
“Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish
her in yonder privy.”
They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy
lady crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and
cleanse her, and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to
touch them with her garments lest these also should be defiled.
The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to
her hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great
shame on hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was
waited on by men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which
a woman could be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she
soiled what was still clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover
herself, forgetting the filth that she was in for the shame she felt at
sight of the men. And when she had come out of that foul place it was
necessary to strip her naked and change all her garments before she
could leave the monastery. She was minded to be angry with La Mothe for
the aid that she had brought her, but finding that the poor girl had
thought her in a yet more evil plight, she put aside her wrath and
laughed like the rest. (3)
3 It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
MSS. of the _Heptameron_. It is given as Roncex in the copy
here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Trémoille, alluded to
at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
Francis de la Trémoille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
Louis II. de la Trémoille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the château of
Thouars.--L. & Ed.
“I think, ladies,” said Nomerfide, “that this story has proved neither
long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected.”
At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said--“The story is
indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid.
But now,” she added to Nomerfide, “since you have finished so soon, give
your vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn.”
“Since you desire me to atone for my fault,” answered Nomerfide, “I give
my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
than say anything foolish.”
Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good
sense, and thus began--“The story I am minded to relate is intended to
show you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and
how hard it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever.”
[Illustration: 093.jpg Tailpiece]
[Illustration: 095a.jpg The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
[The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
[Illustration: 095.jpg Page Image]
_TALE XI._ (B).
_Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons_. (1)