3 The French word is _basion_, which in the sixteenth
century was often used to imply a sword; arquebuses and
musketoons being termed _basions à feu_ by way of
distinction. Moreover, it is expressly stated farther on
that Dumesnil had a sword.--Ed.
“In this wise Dumesnil reached the house of St. Aignan, which he found a
means of entering, and gained a closet up above, near the room where the
said St. Aignan and his wife slept. St. Aignan was without thought
of this, inasmuch as he was ignorant of the enterprise of the said
Dumesnil, being in the living room with one Master Thomas Guérin, who
had come upon business. Now, as St. Aignan was disposing himself to go
to bed, he told one of his servants, named Colas, to bring him his _cas_
(4) and the servant having occasion to go up into a closet in which
St. Aignan’s wife was sleeping, and in which the said Dumesnil was
concealed, the latter, fearing that he might be recognised, suddenly
came out with a drawn sword in his hand; whereupon the said Colas cried:
‘Help! There is a robber!’ And he declared to St. Aignan that he had
seen a strange man who did not seem to be there for any good purpose;
whereupon St. Aignan said to him: ‘One must find out who it is. Is there
occasion for any one to come here at this hour?’ Thereupon Colas went
after the said personage, whom he found in a little alley near the
courtyard behind the house; and the said personage, having suddenly
perceived Colas, endeavoured to strike him on the body with his weapon;
but Colas withstood him and gave him a few blows,(5) for which reason he
cried out ‘Help! Murder!’ Thereupon St. Aignan arrived, having a sword
in his hand; and after him came the said Guérin. St. Aignan, who as yet
did not know Dumesnil on account of his disguise, and also because it
was wonderfully dark, found him calling out: ‘Murder! Confession!’
By which cry the said St. Aignan knew him, and was greatly perplexed,
astonished, and angered, at seeing his enemy at such an hour in his
house, he having been found there, with a weapon, in the closet. And the
said St. Aignan recalling to memory the trouble and worry that Dumesnil
had caused him, dealt him two or three thrusts in hot anger, and then
said to him: ‘Hey! Wretch that thou art, what hast brought thee here?
Wert thou not content with the wrong thou didst me in coming here
previously? I never did thee an ill office.’ Whereupon the said Dumesnil
said: ‘It is true, I have too grievously offended you, and am too
wicked; I entreat your pardon.’ And thereupon he fell to the ground as
if dead; which seeing, the said St. Aignan, realising the misfortune
that had happened, said not a word, but recommended himself to God and
withdrew into his room, where he found his wife in bed, she having heard
nothing.
4 The _en cas_ was a kind of light supper provided _in case_
one felt hungry at night-time. Most elaborate _en cas_,
consisting of several dishes, were frequently provided for
the kings of France.--Ed.
5 In the story Margaret asserts that it was Thomas Guérin
who attacked Dumesnil.--D.
“On the night of the said dispute, and a little later, St. Aignan
went to see what the said Dumesnil was doing, and finding him in the
courtyard dead, he helped to carry him into the stable, being too
greatly incensed to act otherwise. And upon the said Colas asking him
what should be done with the body, St. Aignan paid no heed to this
question, because he was not master of himself; but merely said to Colas
that he might do as he thought fit, and that the body might be interred
in consecrated ground or placed in the street. After which St. Aignan
withdrew into his room and slept with his wife, who had her maids with
her. And on the morrow this same Colas declared to St. Aignan that he
had taken the said body to be buried, so as to avoid a scandal. To all
of which things St. Aignan paid no heed, but on the morrow sent to fetch
the two young men in the service of the said Dumesnil, who were at his
lodging, and had the horses removed from the said lodging, and gave
orders to one of the young men to take them back.
“On account of all which occurrences he (St. Aignan) absented himself,
&c, &c, but humbly entreating us, &c, &c. Wherefore we now give to the
Bailiffs of Chartres and Caen, or to their Lieutenants, and to each of
them severally and to all, &c, &c. Given at Châtelherault, in the month
of July, the year of Grace, one thousand five hundred and twenty-six,
and the twelfth of our reign.
“_Signed: By the King on the report of the Council_:
“De Nogent.”_Visa: contentor_.
“De Nogent.”
It will be seen that the foregoing petition contains various
contradictory statements. The closet, for instance, is at
first described as being near the room in which St. Aignan
and his wife slept, then it is asserted that the wife slept
in the closet, but ultimately the husband is shown joining
his wife in the bed-chamber, where she had heard nothing.
The character of the narrative is proof of its falsity, and
Margaret’s account of the affair may readily be accepted as
the more correct one.--Ed.