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the　property　of　the　abbey　by　marriage　with　a　bondswoman。　Now；

therefore；　is　there　need　to　exercise　the　right；　and　to　make　use　of　it

so　that　it　would　not　be　lost；　weakened；　worn　out；　or　fallen　into

disuse；　which　would　occasion　a　thousand　difficulties。　And　this　is　of

higher　advantage　to　the　State　and　to　the　abbey　than　your　stones；

however　beautiful　they　be；　seeing　that　we　have　treasure　wherewith　to

buy　rare　jewels；　and　that　no　treasure　can　establish　customs　and　laws。

I　call　upon　the　king's　chamberlain　to　bear　witness　to　the　infinite

pains　which　his　majesty　takes　every　day　to　fight　for　the　establishment

of　his　orders。〃



〃That　is　to　close　my　mouth；〃　said　the　chamberlain。



The　silversmith；　who　was　not　a　great　scholar；　remained　thoughtful。

Then　came　Tiennette；　clean　as　a　new　pin；　her　hair　raised　up；　dressed

in　a　robe　of　white　wool　with　a　blue　sash；　with　tiny　shoes　and　white

stockings；　in　fact；　so　royally　beautiful；　so　noble　in　her　bearing　was

she；　that　the　silversmith　was　petrified　with　ecstasy；　and　the

chamberlain　confessed　he　had　never　seen　so　perfect　a　creature。

Thinking　there　was　too　much　danger　in　this　sight　for　the　poor

jeweller；　he　led　him　into　the　town；　and　begged　him　to　think　no　further

of　the　affair；　since　the　abbey　was　not　likely　to　liberate　so　good　a

bait　for　the　citizens　and　nobles　of　the　Parisian　stream。　In　fact；　the

Chapter　let　the　poor　lover　know　that　if　he　married　this　girl　he　must

resolve　to　yield　up　his　goods　and　his　house　to　the　abbey；　consider

himself　a　bondsman；　both　he　and　the　children　of　the　aforesaid

marriage；　although；　by　a　special　grace；　the　abbey　would　let　him　his

house　on　the　condition　of　his　giving　an　inventory　of　his　furniture　and

paying　a　yearly　rent；　and　coming　during　eight　days　to　live　in　a　shed

adjoining　the　domain；　thus　performing　an　act　of　service。　The

silversmith；　to　whom　everyone　spoke　of　the　cupidity　of　the　monks；　saw

clearly　that　the　abbot　would　incommutably　maintain　this　order；　and　his

soul　was　filled　with　despair。　At　one　time　he　determined　to　burn　down

the　monastery；　at　another；　he　proposed　to　lure　the　abbot　into　a　place

where　he　could　torment　him　until　he　had　signed　a　charter　for

Tiennette's　liberation；　in　fact　a　thousand　ideas　possessed　his　brain；

and　as　quickly　evaporated。　But　after　much　lamentation　he　determined　to

carry　off　the　girl；　and　fly　with　her　into　her　a　sure　place　from　which

nothing　could　draw　him；　and　made　his　preparations　accordingly；　for

once　out　of　the　kingdom；　his　friends　or　the　king　could　better　tackle

the　monks　and　bring　them　to　reason。　The　good　man　counted；　however；

without　his　abbot；　for　going　to　the　meadows；　he　found　Tiennette　no

more　there；　and　learned　that　she　was　confined　in　the　abbey；　and　with

much　rigour；　that　to　get　at　her　it　would　be　necessary　to　lay　siege　to

the　monastery。　Then　Master　Anseau　passed　his　time　in　tears；

complaints；　and　lamentations；　and　all　the　city；　the　townspeople；　and

housewives；　talked　of　his　adventure；　the　noise　of　which　was　so　great；

that　the　king　sent　for　the　old　abbot　to　court；　and　demanded　of　him　why

he　did　not　yield　under　the　circumstances　to　the　great　love　of　the

silversmith；　and　why　he　did　not　put　into　practice　Christian　charity。



〃Because；　monseigneur；〃　replied　the　priest；　〃all　rights　are　knit

together　like　the　pieces　of　a　coat　of　mail；　and　if　one　makes　default；

all　fail。　If　this　girl　was　taken　from　us　against　our　wish；　and　if　the

custom　were　not　observed；　your　subjects　would　soon　take　off　your

crown；　and　raise　up　in　various　places　violence　and　sedition；　in　order

to　abolish　the　taxes　and　imposts　that　weigh　upon　the　populace。〃



The　king's　mouth　was　closed。　Everyone　was　eager　to　know　the　end　of

this　adventure。　So　great　was　the　curiosity　that　certain　lords　wagered

that　the　Touranian　would　desist　from　his　love；　and　the　ladies　wagered

to　the　contrary。　The　silversmith　having　complained　to　the　queen　that

the　monks　had　hidden　his　well…beloved　from　his　sight；　she　found　the

deed　detestable　and　horrible；　and　in　consequence　of　her　commands　to

the　lord　abbot　it　was　permitted　to　the　Touranian　to　go　every　day　into

the　parlour　of　the　abbey；　where　came　Tiennette；　but　under　the　control

of　an　old　monk；　and　she　always　came　attired　in　great　splendour　like　a

lady。　The　two　lovers　had　no　other　license　than　to　see　each　other；　and

to　speak　to　each　other；　without　being　able　to　snatch　the　smallest　atom

of　pleasure；　and　always　grew　their　love　more　powerful。



One　day　Tiennette　discoursed　thus　with　her　lover〃My　dear　lord；　I

have　determined　to　make　you　a　gift　of　my　life；　in　order　to　relieve

your　suffering；　and　in　this　wise；　in　informing　myself　concerning

everything　I　have　found　a　means　to　set　aside　the　rights　of　the　abbey；

and　to　give　you　all　the　joy　you　hope　for　from　my　fruition。〃



〃The　ecclesiastical　judge　has　ruled　that　as　you　become　a　bondsman　only

by　accession；　and　because　you　were　not　born　a　bondsman；　your　servitude

will　cease　with　the　cause　that　makes　you　a　serf。　Now；　if　you　love　me

more　than　all　else；　lose　your　goods　to　purchase　our　happiness；　and

espouse　me。　Then　when　you　have　had　your　will　of　me；　when　you　have

hugged　me　and　embraced　me　to　your　heart's　content；　before　I　have

offspring　will　I　voluntarily　kill　myself；　and　thus　you　become　free

again；　at　least　you　will　have　the　king　on　your　side；　who；　it　is　said；

wishes　you　well。　And　without　doubt；　God　will　pardon　me　that　I　cause　my

own　death；　in　order　to　deliver　my　lord　spouse。〃



〃My　dear　Tiennette；〃　cried　the　jeweller；　〃it　is　finishedI　will　be　a

bondsman；　and　thou　wilt　live　to　make　my　happiness　as　long　as　my　days。

In　thy　company；　the　hardest　chains　will　weigh　but　lightly；　and　little

shall　I　reck　the　want　of　gold；　when　all　my　riches　are　in　thy　heart；

and　my　only　pleasure　in　thy　sweet　body。　I　place　myself　in　the　hands　of

St。　Eloi；　will　deign　in　this　misery　to　look　upon　us　with　pitying　eyes；

and　guard　us　from　all　evils。　Now　I　shall　go　hence　to　a　scrivener　to

have　the　deeds　and　contracts　drawn　up。　At　least；　dear　flower　of　my

days；　thou　shalt　be　gorgeously　attired；　well　housed；　and　served　like　a

queen　during　thy　lifetime；　since　the　lord　abbot　leaves　me　the　earnings

of　my　profession。〃



Tiennette；　crying　and　laughing；　tried　to　put　off　her　good　fortune　and

wished　to　die；　rather　than　reduce　to　slavery　a　free　man；　but　the　good

Anseau　whispered　such　soft　words　to　her；　and　threatened　so　firmly　to

follow　her　to　the　tomb；　that　she　agreed　to　the　said　marriage；　thinking

that　she　could　always　free　herself　after　having　tasted　the　pleasures

of　love。



When　the　submission　of　the　Touranian　became　known　in　the　town；　and

that　for　his　sweetheart　he　yielded　up　his　wealth　and　his　liberty；

everyone　wished　to　see　him。　The　ladies　of　the　court　encumbered

themselves　with　jewels；　in　order　to　speak　with　him；　and　there　fell

upon　him　as　from　the　clouds　women　enough　to　make　up　for　the　time　he

had　been　without　them；　but　if　any　of　them　approached　Tiennette　in

beauty；　none　had　her　heart。　To　be　brief；　when　the　hour　of　slavery　and

love　was　at　hand；　Anseau　remolded　all　of　his　gold　into　a　royal　crown；

in　which　he　fixed　all　his　pearls　and　diamonds；　and　went　secretly　to

the　queen；　and　gave　it　to　her；　saying；　〃Madame；　I　know　not　how　to

dispose　of　my　fortune；　which　you　here　behold。　Tomorrow　everything　that

is　found　in　my　house　will　be　the　property　of　the　cursed　monks；　who

have　had　no　pity　on　me。　Then　deign；　madame；　to　accept　this。　It　is　a

slight　return　for　the　joy　which；　through　you；　I　have　experienced　in

seeing　her　I　love；　for　no　sum　of　money　is　worth　one　of　her　glances。　I

do　not　know　what　will　become　of　me；　but　if　one　day　my　children　are

delivered；　I　rely　upon　your　queenly　generosity。〃



〃Well　said；　good　man；〃　cried　the　king。　〃The　abbey　will　one　day　need　my

aid　and　I　will　not　lose　the　remembrance　of　this。〃



There　was　a　vast　crowd　at　the　abbey　for　the　nuptials　of　Tiennette；　to

whom　the　queen　presented　the　bridal　dress；　and　to　whom　the　king

granted　a　licence　to　wear　every　day　golden　rings　in　her　ears。　When　the

charming　pair　came　from　the　abbey　to　the　house　of　Anseau　（now　serf）

over　against　St。　Leu；　there　were　torches　at　the　windows　to　see　them

pass；　and　a　double　line　in　the　streets；　as　though　it　were　a　royal

entry。　The　poor　husband　had　made　himself　a　collar　of　gold；　which　he

wore　on　his　left　arm　in　token　of　his　belonging　to　the　abbey　of　St。

Germain。　But　in　spite　of　his　servitude　the　people　cried　out；　〃Noel！

Noel！〃　as　to　a　new　crowned　king。　And　the　good　man　bowed　to　them

gracefully；　happy　as　a　lover；　and　joyful　at　the　homage　which　every　one

rendered　to　the　grace　and　modesty　of　Tiennette。　Then　the　good

Touranian　found　green　boughs　and　violets　in　crowns　in　his　honour；　and

the　principal　inhabitants　of　the　quarter　were　all　there；　who　as　a

great　honour；　played　music　to　him；　and　cried　to　him；　〃You　will　always

be　a　noble　man　in　spite　of　the　abbey。〃　You　may　be　sure　that　the　happy

pair　indulged　an　amorous　conflict　to　their　hearts'　content；　that　the

good　man's　blows　were　vigorous；　and　that　his　sweetheart；　like　a　good

country　maiden；　was　of　a　nature　to　return　them。　Thus　they　lived

together　a　whole　month；　happy　as　the　doves；　who　in　springtime　build

their　nest　twig　by　twig。　Tiennette　was　delighted　with　the　beautiful

house　and　the　customers；　who　came　and　went　away　astonished　at　her。

This　month　of　flowers　past；　there　came　one　day；　with　great　pomp；　the

good　old　Abbot　Hugon；　their　lord　and　master；　who　entered　the　house；

which　then　belonged　not　the　jeweller　but　to　the　Chapter；　and　said　to

the　two　spouses：



〃My　children；　you　are　released；　free　and　quit　of　everything；　and　I

should　tell　you　that　from　the　first　I　was　much　struck　with　the　love

which　united　you　one　to　the　other。　The　rights　of　the　abbey　once

recognised；　I　was；　so　far　as　I　was　concerned；　determined　to　restore

you　to　perfect　enjoyment；　after　having　proved　your　loyalty　by　the　test

of　God。　And　this　manumission　will　cost　you　nothing。〃　Having　thus　said；

he　gave