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32X

PZ
3

'^■^

TlfK

OLD CHEST;

JOUUXAL (IF A FAMILY OF TKKFHKNCII I'KOI'IJ.;

PROM THE

fnrrobi'nohin ^Timr.*! to otti* (Dton 23as<9.

TRANSLATrD PEOM THE FRENCH,

JiY AXNA T. SADLJER.

.^^

NEW YORK :

T). & J. SADLTEIl & CO., ;}i BARn.AT fir

MoNTnEAL ; ^75 Notre Dame Rtp.kkt.

1875.

\ !■■'■

•4

s^,

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year i3;s, by

1). & J. SADLIKR & CO.,
in the OlTice oflhe Librarian of Congress, ut Wusliinglon, D. ('.

on, D. ('.

V-

I ,

IMIKFACK TO TIIK FIIIST AMKIdCAX
KDITION.

Tin-, little ■work now tor tlio liist tiiiK'
j)ul)lislH'<l ill til'! Kiijj,iisli JMiiLinant' i»
. soinetliiii;^: iiioiv tluiii t\ storv; it, is a
series of ]iistorii';il skctclics, iu I Ik; tbrm
of a family cliroiiiflc, following the
eoiir.so of Freiioli history (Vom the early
tlays of the first, or IMeroviiiijian dynastv,
to the reiu'ii of Napoleon I.

Tiio plan of the work, althouo;!! siin-
])le, is i'.igeiiious and artistic, showin<i;
])oth leariiin;; and ability on the part of
the author. In the lirief sketeh uiven
of each succeed iiiij; representative of tiie
Dnchaisne iiunily, the manners and eus-
toniH of that i)articular aire in which lie

.| Piifiu. /.I till lurst AiUiriidii /•.,/ifh>ii.

livi'(l jirc .skill'iilly iiitrodiiccd, ms it \\<rc,
ill !i binrH-cyo vitiw, mikI llic iciidirif^
event or events of tin; respective peiiods
graphically descrihed and intei'woveii
Avitli tlie lliread nt' tlie nairative.

Such woi'ks as this, written, as it evi-
dently is, by :i devout Catholic, are cal-
cidated to benefit the youthiid reader
l)y cultivating a taste loi- historical read-
iiiU', and at tlu; same tinier couveyini^ to
the mind a certain aimiunt of accurate
liistorical iiit'orination. In this little work
we have a photographic! view, so to. say,
of th(^ ages as the}' passed over thc^
fair lan<l of France, their chief charac-
teristics made real and very striking to
the youthful I'cader. AV(! hav(> tln^ an-
cient (iaids, *he Fiaidcish soldiers of
CharlemagiK', tln^ moid< in his cloister,
the itinerant church-builder and his ])ious
craft, tin' soldier of Civcy, tlu' 'JVoii-
badoiir, the treasurv-clerk in the ti/ne

Itli'll.

It WtTc,

i('ii(r.ii<4

TWOVCII

I it cvi-

iiic cal-

reader

■:il reutl-

>''"!< to

aecui'ato

It' work

t().s:iy,

KCV tllC

cliaiac-
kiiii; to
\\\o. an-
liers of
cloister,
is j)ioiis

I' J I'OII-

le li/iiP

IVi/ihi' A' ///, /'y-,/ .\iu,n\,!ii liifitioii. 5

of Collx'lt, the nrieu-a<le Inllowel- cf
(^'oliu'iii and Ids j.ioiis and taitlit'id Ca-
tlicdic l.rotlier, \\w i.Inl..s,.j)li(.r.I,..,Mker (.f
the ei.i^diteentli eeiituiy, (!ie l,ijive soldier
of the (Jraiid Army, and still other re-
I)resentativ(. types «,t' classes faiflifidly
d»'j)ieted hy a !iiaj)liic pen L'uided l)v
the spirit of i.afh. It i<, however, a
very unJ)^eten(lin^' volnine, and as such
.we lioj),. it may jind favor in the eye.s
of yoiiij'' and old.

COXTEXTS.

Ifveiitli

IntrcKlui'tion,

Notps if aor(,'iut<, IildiiU (if Klnon,

l.—Tho rnuiklKli Mol.licr-FitUi Cuntury. .
11. — Tlio Coiivi'i'sii):!— HixUi C'l'iitliry, .
III.— Tilt) Mdiik— lit'Vt'iitli Cetitury,
I\'.— Tlio Boldlor— Eit;lit!i Ccnturj-,
v.— Til'' I.iilKircr— Xiiitli Cciitiiry,
VI.— TIii> I'ilgrini— Tenth Cimtiir-,
Vn.— TheCliinvli-niiililcrimiUlH'TniiilMKhnir— K

CVntiiry

VIII.— Tho CnisiuIiT— Twelfth Century,
IX.— The! iiTf—Thii-tootmt!i Century, .
X. — Tho "lolilior <( ('ret\v- -.r.-iciiucs lioiihoninio —

ourtooiith ('o.i',-.iry,

XI. — Tho t'itiziMi—l'iftccuth Century, ....
XII.— Catholic ui\il I'rotosfunt— S:.Ttocnth Cciitiry, .
XIII.— Tho Treasury -Clork—SeventocnthCentury,
XIV. — Philosoiiliy— r,i;,'liteoni.h Century,
XV.— Tho I'oiitoon-Jlau of El.1.-

III
l(

:.••,»
:!7

•1!)

TO
K(l

s.-

1(10

uy
i:m

ir.i

104

;

-4'«^J!y B IMa ''l 8aaElM! Tp fm '»ff»l w^ i j i J» ii lji i i ii i mn i ji w i^tj -

'-.Jfe

THE 01.1) (Ml EST.

JNTHODUCTlUis;.

Ik is — I \v!i.s staying in llio pubiirljs ol' a town
in tlio north of l-'raiicc, wiiei-c my lu'i.uhbor was an
old gardener in liunible circumstances \vllo^o name
\yas Piorro Duchaisne. My uiiulim- overlooked his
little garden, Avhich, gymmotrically dividetl into
throe i)arts, wa.s arranged in bed.s of hyacinths,
tulips, irinks, rose.-', fneh.sias, dahlia.*, and chrj'san-
themums. Home rare flowers were ])rotected from
the wind by bcll-.shaped glass covers, whicli iit-
tractcd the heat of the sun. Peach-trees, vines,
and a fig-tree covered the walls of the little house
whoi'o the old man lived alone, on the modest in-
come which his flowers brought him every week
when he took them to the city.

I took an interest in old Pierre's labor.<, his se-
clusion, and poverty ; for the good man's ajtiiear-
ancc denoted that his labor alone kept him from
indigence — indigence whicli was jirond and re-
signed, but bitter :'.:m1 jval.

No one helped him in his work ; being an old
soldier, he had not niarriid ; and (»i<l age had
come, and lie had not the .'strong iirm of a .^o).i or

■t\ !

1 i

i ;
i 1

I -

f n

77/t' O/,/ C/usl.

tlio t^kill'ul liiiml (if ii gent If aiul i>ions diiiiglilor to
K'vvo liiin. I vainly i-ouglit to render liini some of
those R'rviees wliieli liind ]ieoi)le"s hearts to each
other : tlio old man was ])nnid— I tihonid have said
stoically proiid, if ho had not always phown hini&clf
a flood and fervent Calholie.

One day, however— it Avas a fcorehing morning
in Jnne— I did not see him vvaiiderinp; around his
garden, with his walerinp-vot in his hand. I
looked at the hou-^e ; the doir and tlic shutters
Averc closed, and the dog, lyir.g in his corner, was
howling mournfully. Feeling uneasy, I went over
the liedgo, and ojiened the inner door, wldcli was
only on the latch, and found Pierre, half-dressed,
lying on his hed, as though he were dead. I ran
to him, and raised him. I saw that luemorrhagc
of the lungs had reduced him to the last degree of
Aveaknei^s and exhaustion. He recognized me, and
pressod my luuul. I did all in my power for him,
and soon the physician and the - parish-priest
brought him, one the impotent remedies of his
profession, i:nd th. other tiie j)owerful consolations
of his ministry. Old Pierre lived three days after
this; during that time I never left him, and he
Lcemed touched hy niy nadines:; to console and

serve him.

About evening on the third i!ay he called me,
and said, in a bi'^ken voice, "I feel that I am
going. . . AH is over witii mc, good neigh-

bor.'^ ... In Uvs than two hours 'vom now,
perhaiis, 1 shall tel. 1m- good Clod of your kindness
to mo. I w<mld wi.-li to leave you sonu'ihing ; but I
have nothing. Yel. stay ; you see that old chest ?
. . , It contains some papers which belonged to

*fej

(liiuglilor to
him Bouic of
iirts to each
lid have said
lown hini&cll

ing morning
r around hia
is hand. I

tlie shutters
s corner, ■vvas
, I went over
r, wliich was

half-dressed,
dead. I ran

lueniorrhagc
iast degree of
lized nic, and
wer for hi in,
■ ])ari.sh-priest
nedies of his
1 consolations
L-ee days after

him, and ho
) console and

lie called me,
x'l that I am
', good neigli-
irs ■'viiin now,
vour kindness
iflhing; hut I
lat (dd chest ?
h liclonged to

The Old Clust. II

my father, and wliicji Jiad been left to hiin hy his
father. ... It is an old family relic ; but a
learned man, to whom I showed it once, told mc
tliat it was a curiosity. . . . Would vou like
to have It, my dear neighbor ? It i.s yours ^; I give
It to you, . . . Take also my poor doir, 'Tctu' :
she will not know where to go, poor animal. G.xjd-
by, my dear sir; pray for me. . . . "Who
would have said (hat an old pioneer of General
Eblo would die in his bed ? . . ."

Ho foil back on his pillow ; his eves became
fixed ; his hands groped about on the qui'u ; . . .
.he priest came in just then, and held the crucifix
before him. . . . Pierre kissed it fervently,
and all was ovei-.

•After having followed the humble hearse of the
old soldier-gardener, I took possession o^ the l<-i,ry
which his friendship hud left me. I took htmo
letu, who never stooped howling and snuf-
Ihng the spade, the pruning- knife, the waterin-
pot, and all the implemerts which had I,een usc^d
by her poor master. Bolorc opening the box I
cxannned it. It was a curious chest, covered with
carving, representing the celebrated women of the
Bd)lo, amid a foliage of flowers and fruits • dn^t
and moths were silently consuming that domestic
monument of anotlier age. I opened with some
d.fTieulty the lul, which was swollen by damp, an.l
1 took out an enormous bundle of i.apers and
parchments— old Pierre's Icoacy.

On going home, I examined" the manuscripts.
The oldest of them were in a beautiful running
han^ of the Merovingian times, and dated from (ht
Abbey of Elnon, now called Saint Amand They

The Old Chest.

luul l)ccu written in his leisure nonicnts by a pious
monk, iind continued by liis dcsceiultints. This
family tradition extended through several cenmries
down to ourokl soldier, who luid liimself, in an un-
certain hand, traced his recollections of Moscow.
In a word, I had before my eyes the comidctc his-
tory of an humble family, who, though always ob-
scure, had yet been connected with the important
events of their several epochs, forming one phase of
those great oceans of men, one of the voices of those
immense multitudes, one of the wheels of those
powerful levers, which change and overturn the
face of the world. I have made some extracts from
this family journal, continued during so many
ages, and it is these pages which I now present to
the reader.

■kl

1 l)y a pious
mis. Tills
il cciituncs
f, ill im un-
of ^Moscow.
)nij)lctc his-
iilways oIj-
3 important
mo phase of
ices of tlioso
els of those
vcrturn the
xtraets from
ig so many
w present to

NOTES UK skim; Ids,

MONK OK ]:l.von.

■ I worLB hero record wliai; I have learned at mv
parents' liresido of tlie liistory of my ancestors, and
jiarticularly oi' tlieir conversion lo tlio faitli of
Clirist. I desire tJiat these pages, transmitted to
my descendants, mny teacli thorn fidelily to tlie
Lord, who deigned to dra\v tlicm from tlie bosom
of harbarism and bring them witliin the i)alo of
the Catholic Clinrch. Onr Lady and St. Benedict
assist mo in my -work, iind nniy those wlio read these
pages pray for mo, a miserable sinner !

tut; FRAKKISn SOLDI KR—T-IFTII CKNTURY,

Cloijion, Chief or King of tlic Salian tribe, cher-
islicd the desire of penetrating into Giiul, Avlicro
the Fniukish tribes I'ad iilrcutly maile various
settlements. Encamped on the banks of the
Khine, in the thick and gloomy forests of Belgium,
or among tho swamps of Batavia, lie encpiircd Avitli
eager curiosity of that beautiful country Avlicrc,
over tho fertile fields, extended like a network, the
broad Koman roads, conneeting one with the other
important towns, defended by largo ramparts and
crenelated towers, IIo Avas told of the riches con-
tained in tho houses (*f the wealthy Gauls, or Gallo-
Romans, who liad brought the luxury and tho gor-
geous wealth of Italy to the banks of tho Seine and
Loire. These accounts, Avhich caused explorers to
be sent every year from beyond tho Hhine, excited
thccovetousncss of the long-haired King ; he trans-
mitted it to his con'panions, and all formed the
project of advancing 'nto Gaul, and avenging tho
injuries which they lu/1 received from the Roman
armies. They incited c-.cli other by bitter taunts,
by fierce defiance, and 'bus whetted their swords
and their hearts. Tho I'sserabled army, under tho
command of Clodiou, crossed the charcoal foivst,
ne;ir Touruay, and marched towards the city of

Cand)rai.

Till- Oiii ( 7,,sf.

»5

JKNTUnY.

11 tribe, t'licr-
Giiul, Avhcro
iiaUo viirious
aiiks of fclio
s of Belgium,
iKjuirod Avith
u'.ilry where,
network, the
ith the other
i-ainparts and
■le riches con-
luls, or GaUo-
: and the gor-
Lho Seine and
1 explorers to
Ihine, excited
ing ; he trans-
1 formed tlio
avenging the
n the Roman
hittcr taunts,
their swords
my, under the
liarcoal forest,
Is the city of

The peaceful inhal)il;inls ;aw with terror (liis
horde of Ijarbitriaus, wiic-i^ \ ery ii,s])ect Vv-au f riglit fiil.
Of tall and robust slatiiiv, they fastened their
tawny iiair over (heir foreluads. and let it Call
down their backs, like a Jior.se";; iaii. 'I'hey had n»
other clotliing ncr armor tlsaii ;■. long linen gtirmcn^
fitting close to their bodies ; from llu'lr ginllo hung
Ji large sword, and they held in their liaml either an
axe, Avhich from them way call Fraiikish, or u pike
curved like a fish-hook. All Iheso men were pas-
eiomitely fond of why-, in the midst of battle,
■wounded, mutilated, tliey remained standing, aj)-
parcntly insensible lo pain, and using their hist
Birength to deal tJieir c;:emy ii (Inal l)low.

"Who can tell the fear, the ine.\]>restible anguisli
of the faithful friciuls of Jo:u;.t Clirist, when Ihcy
Kaw that horde of p.;gans descending, furious and
implacable, on that oonntry recently conquered to
the dominion (>f the Good Shepherd ? 'J'lic Chris-
tians fled before them, and took refuge in gloomy
caverns, there to assist ;it the holy mysteries. When
the barbaiians succeeded in (ii ling any of them,
they lashed them Avith whips or slew them
•with their HW(n-ds. The greater number,
v/ho had hidden in subterranean passages,
perished there fi'om suffocation. Ifenco there
were no more priests, no mure saciilices : the traces
of the divine worshi]) everywhere disappeared.
Some were cast down from the top of tottering
ruins, otliers were cotisumed by flames. Some,
however, survived and persevered, strengthenino"
each other l)y mutual exhortations, so as not to fail
at the final moment. In overcoming nature in
obedience to religion, it was sweet for them to think

Tlu Oulitu-^t.

lllllt ill It;.: t llu'N ^slunild lin-l : ;:iavr ill lllf Ih.SOII'

of tlu'ir comUiy. " Why ^hoiiM ur wisli/'^ tiii'l
Uiev, "li» Kiirvlvc uiir holy ivli,i,a<)u ? Is v. mil
better for u^ lo dif uilli lior ? " Whoever fnun
fc:ir abiimloncd liis fiiitli wiia hold us giicriloglouf.
He wlio liiid Iho coiinijrc io iicconuiliKh Ibc saiTidco
waa proehiimcd a victor ami ;i coiKiueror. I'rk'sls
clad in their VL'stmcnts vvcro seen falling at the foot
of (he altar ; anil, iiinong the eoii)se.j K-allored lien-
and tlieroou tlio ground, they v.crc rceofaiized by
their Baeerdotal ornanient:^ I'.uL thi.s impious fury
'vas not directed against the i)ricKts alone : the
whole i)eople v.ero condcnuied to nlaughter. The
lav/ of God and that of humanity were at cnec vio-
lated. . . . The blood Hpilled in the churches
remained there fitaguant. iso one came to remove
the dead and give them burial. Land of (lanl,
Ihou dids-t tints expiate thy former ferocity.*

Among these tierce pagans Ava!4 a Foldier, of ob-
gcuro origin, but valiant and v.orthy (f flio.name of
Franh, wdiich means proud, brave, fierce, (iuiubcr,
ihirf v.ashisnanu'. hadtaheuanacti\e part in all
tlie conte.^trf lu'twceu the Pranhs an.l the Roman
legion^t; and, entering witli his comiyaniouri the
town of Cambray, lie expected t ) obtain a large
b,)(,ly. Thev advanced towards :i chapel, dedi-
cated to thc'Saviour, where, it v.as said, tho piety
of the Chrlslians had collected precious vessels,
tissues of silk and gold, destined lo envelop the
bodies of the saints. Gunthev, being lirst, forced
the door, which, coming off the hinges, •[)resenied
to tlio cruel eyes of the victors a iiitial)le speehicle.

*This passjigc is lo Ik> foun.l in \\\<^ Clironiclo of Bal.lcrio.

'/'//<■ O/iW'usf.

(lie linsull'
iisll,'' Cl'ic'il

I.^ ir. !iut
jcvcr from

ifrik'git)ue.
lie SiicrificG
r. Priosls
;at tliofoot
.Uoivd licre

iipiuuH fury
ulouc : the
iter. Tho
it once "vio-
10 cliurclics
to remove
1(1 of (liinl,
.•ity.''=

(lier, of ol>-

<lio. iiaitio of

. (luiulicr,

part in all

the Roman

[)Mni(ms llu'

.aiu ;i large

lapel, 'locli-

d, tin piety

ous vessels,

envelop the

lirst, forcc'.l

's, present etl

)lc spechicle.

! of Baldcrio.

Women ami old men, who lillcd tli(> chapel, were
jirostrale on tlie stones, whieli tliey watered witli
tlieir tcai's. The wiiile-Iiaired priest was at Ihc
altar, kneeling heforc the silver taherr.aelo, which
contained tlii. body and blood* of tho Saviour.
lie was repeating aloud, in the name of that de-
solate iH'ople, the I'enilential I'salms. When
Gunther entered, the jjcople rose (umultuously,
the terrified women ser^'anied, the men tried to op-
jioso tho young soldier with their feeble arms.
(JuiiLher raised the terrilile axe, two women and an
old man rolled, bloody corpses, at his feet ; he passed
over their bodies, and walked towards the altar, at-
tracted by tho silver which glittered in thesunlight.

Tho priest elasi)ed the tabernacle, and sought to
miiko for it u rampart of his body. . . . lint all in
vain. . • . As a holocaust victim, his blood staiiu'd
the altar-stone. When the work of blood and
])illago was ended, Gunther looked around him. In
the shade of ii pillar lie saw a young girl who had
escaped the sword, and who, i)alc! with fear, wit!i
closed eyes and hands clasped, seemed to await tho
fatal blow. Guntliei ran towards lier, and, seizing
her by her long fair hair, he dragged her to the
middle of the chapel, erying out :

*• This is my part of the booty ! "

" Be it so,"' said the other soldiers.

But tho captive, throwing 1 rc^ If at his feel,
said, in a tone of anguish :

" Would to God that I were amongst the dead, like
my mother, my father, and my brol;her, v.iiom thou
hast just slain ! '"

And she pointed with lier hand to the corpses of
those whom Gunther had struck down.

The Old Chest.

•'Four nolliinir, woiimn,"' answered nuiitliov
coldly, "thy fiile .-^Imll l)o loan hursli lliim ilioii
tliinkost. 1 will sell thoo iiM sorvant to tin wilV^
of Cliullun, our cliiof, uinl tliuii wilt Bpin her wool
and flax."

So sayinp, lie ltd his slave to a house whose
owners he had driven away ; hut, as they were
uhout to enter, they were met hy u woman, wlu>
was venerahlo at oneo from her old age, her
white hair, and grave and austere faee.

This matron liravely advanced, and, pushing
Gunther aside, she took in her arms the young
cai)tive, who clung to her like the ivy which
twines its delicate stems around the tree which
Bcrves for its support.

" Let go my slave ! " cried Gunther. " She he-
longs to me hy the right of war. I cliose her
as my part oi the hooty. Let her go, 1 tell
thee f I want to sell her to Ligoude, the wife
of our king."

" Thou wouldst sell her 1 '' replied the old
woman sorrowfully. " Sell my Ida, the daughter
of my daughter, the daughter of martyrs ! Sell
a Christian maiden to a harbarous queen ! Well,
man, I can buy her from thee. I will give thco
whatever thou and thine have left me— some
jewels, a farm on the hanks of the Escaut, a herd
of oxen— I will give all for my daughter's freedom.
Accept, Sicumber, accei)t my offer, and a moihei-'s
blessing will fall on thee everywhere."

The Prankish soldier reflected. Wealth nnd
property were offered to him, who had been hither-
to poor, and possessir" nothing but his soldier's
coat, lie did not hesitate about accejiting it, but

Tlic lV,f Chest.

»9

I fluiiflic

Ihaii ilioii

Lo \\\K wifo

ill licr wool

onso wlioao
1 tlii-y wiMV
onmn, who

I ago, licr
,'t'.

(1, pusliing

the young

ivy wliicli

tree wliicli

"Slic 1)C-

[ olioso her

go, 1 toll

Ic, the wifo

:«(l llio old
lio dtmgliter
rtyrs ! Soil
ecu ! Well,

II give ill 00
mc — same

caiit, ii herd
}r's froodom.
\ u moiliei"'8

Woiilth mid
boon hilhor-
hirf soldior'H
•ting it, hut

lio wished, at Mie ^iiine lime, (n secure to liitnself
irrovociilily llie pu, c -ion ol' tlie.>e gt)0(ls. 'I'lien--
fore he aiiswereil eulijly, "1 ri'tuse, and I keep niy
hlave."

'• What, then, wonllst thou havo?"eriod 15a, ido
tearfully. '* WouMst thou have my freedom ? I
will ho thv .slave— I will .-erve thee ; hut let Ma ho
free."

•'That cannot he," said (Junther. '• I wi.sii tliy
daughter to stay v.ith me, fur 1 would marry her."

" Thou !— a 'soldier ! U it possihle ? 'Caii I
sanction the aliiamo cf Christ with Helial ? Xo,

never

'• Clioo.^o I If thou dost refuse, I will hcU Ida to
Clodion, my master; I will take possession of thy
goodH, and liioii liiyself shalt he my slave. If thou
dost aeeopt my olfer, I will at oneo marry Ida
according to the manner of the Franks, and
I will he a faithful liii.si)an.l to her, for she jileases
me."'

Uagondo hcsought him in vain. She could ohtaiii
nothing, and her grandcinld was forced lo ol)ey iiie
will of the victor. Ida oidy ohtained hy her tears
that the hlcssiiig of a priest should sanctify their
marriage, in which tlie hride swore fidelity to her
hushand hel'oro Christ, and the hridegroom took
as witness the idols dear to the Teutons.

It was thus that Gnuther, the Frankish s(ddier,
planted in Gaul the foundation of his family. l»y
taking a wife and capturing lands.

After some years Ida gave birth to a son, and
siie her?elf, like Rachel v.l (d<i at the birth of her
dear Benjamin, was brought to the verge of the
grave. In i)resence of her grandmolli( r. IJagonde,

Tfw Old CInst,

hIic tdolv lu I' I'liilil ill her iinii.-:, iiml hmIiI, in n,
<l\iii{j Vdico, '• T-nnl (iml Aliiii^'lity, my I'l'nyi n
liiiNo nut tilitiiiiu il lliiil till' !iii.--l"iiii(l uImiiii tlidii
(litlst i'liuoso I'lir me liii.i ciiilinurcl lliy law ; Imt,
here is tlio diiid whom I tiskotl of (luo with tio many
tears. I give Iiitii In IIkc, I coisicratc him to
tht'c. Lord, let him he a Chrisliaii. ami ht him
not lielie the .^afrcd character which 1 am ahout to
imi)riiiL on him liy holy haptihin.''

And (ho poor mother jioiircd the lioly water on
the forehead of the new-h >rn diiid. Thi>s was the
last act of lier life. Slii' died next day, mourned
ulike by lit r |i,i";ni hii^li;:nd and h( r Ciiri.-tiau
grunduiuther.

1 I

!!'

i '

Hiiiil, in ii
my pi'iivcM
\Umiiii lliitit
_V law ; Imt-
ith t^oiuuiiy
'Site liiiM to
ind K'l him
in alH)ut to

1y Wiilfi" on

'liit! WHS till"

ly, nidunicd

r (Miriisliiiii

II.

iiii: (oNVKUsiox — SIXTH okniI'iiv.

OoNTUAN, tilt' soil ul' Ida and (inntini'. alllioutjli
having' ivfi'ivod at Ids l)irlli llic soal tit' liaplisni,
was not liroiifilit npa Cliiisiian. Mis <:randnintln'r,
Hairondt', had ilicd hcl'oiv he iiad t'oint' to tlic aj^tMil'
reason, and hf was cdiioati'tl liv his t'alhtf in tlio
c'iMU'l and tlisscdiitf fn-tonis of pairaiiisni. Like all
yoiinj,' iiK'H t)f tlio Franlxish racf, hf nndt'it'd iidli-
tary wrvico ; ho fou;:lit in tiie war against tho
linr;;undians iinil the Gttths in Spain, and, like all
his I'oinpanions, ho took ])art in tho sacrik'fiions
festivals and iniprri; worshi[) oUVrt'd to tho ^^otls of
(rcrmany. lie l)olic'Vi'd in I'ato, in niagic, and
soniolinies, to render his ,1,'ods t'avoralde, ho wont to
olTer saorilioo on tho hill of IJiandin,* where
Toulatos hatl a coleliralotl teni))io. O the inorey
of the L'U'd ! On that same hill where the devil
was worshippoil tnir hlossod Fatlier Saint Amand
eonseerated a monastery to tho i,dory t)f Jesus Christ.
'Pimt place, once ahominahle, is henoeforth sanctified.
I, Sorgius, who write these lines, have seen that
honso of prayer, and l)lesse(l the name of Ood.

Now, one day — Clovis, the illustiious kinf» of tlic
Pranks, was tiien rei<;ning — one day, as Gontran
was going from Camhrai to liis little farm, ho saw

•'• Kuai- (iui.d.

f'^

The Old Chest.

on the road an old m.ni, who, from liis long tunic
and the cro';,s which hung on his l)rca3t, lie recog-
nized as a Christian i)ricst. It was, in fact, tho
l)iou8 Berthold, the coniiKinion and brother of
Vi'dastus, Bishop of Arras and Camhrai. Tho
priest went, as the Apostles did of old, from town
to town, bringing the good tidings, and preaching,
at the peril of his life, tho lessons of his Divine
Master. Perhaps Gontran knew him ; it may bo
that, he had l)efore met the ambassador of Jesus
Christ. However it Avas, at the sight of the holy
old man tho idcdator's blood boiled, aiid, urged by
the spirit of murder, he ran forward, raii^od his
axo, and dealt Bei thold a blow on the forehead. Ho
staggered back wounded, but, overcoming the pain,
ho wiped away the blood which was running down
his pale face, and said to trontran in a calm and
gentle voice :

<'My son, what have I done to thee ? "Why dost
thou strike me r"'

"Because thou art the enemy of my gods, and
oonse(iuently my enemy."

" Thy enemy !— I, my son ? Divine Goodnesa
forbid ! Undeceive thyself, lleceivc my pardon ;
and houceforth remember that a soldier should not
strike an old man."'

So saying, Berthold went his way, although with
difficulty. Gontran took another road, and walked
on pensively. He afterwards confessed that, in
going away from the old i)riost without throwing
himself at his feet and asking his pardon, he re-
sisted a holy voice which spoke in his soul— lie
obeyed tlio ancient enemy, wlio incites to prido
those whom huiuiJllv alone could save.

wl
to
la!
ilc
fla

in
hi
in

br
Tl
hi

sti
th

sa
of
m

to
of

be
pa
ha
fr

tunic

.•ccog-

t, the

Lcr of

The

town

iliing,

)ivinc

iiy b'J

Jesus

i holy

ed by

;d his

i. Ho

pain,

down

n and

y dost

s, and

xlncss
trdon ;
!d not

1 with
v'ulked
lilt, in
•owing
lie re-
ul — lie
I prido

77ic Old Chest.

Two days after this, Gontran was riding along
the banks of tlic Eicaut, the nuuldy waters of
which, swollen by heavy rains, rushed along like a
torrent. On the other bank was a farm, where
laborers were threshing wheat on the barn-yard
lloor. The horse, frightened by the noise of tlic
flail, began to plunge, and, obeying neith(M' bridle
nor spur, threw off his master, who rolled senseless
into the water. "When lie came to life, he found
himself lying on a bed of fleecy wo(jl ; a man bf^nd-
ing over him was v,atching anxiously for his first
breath and his first look. (lontran tried to rise.
Tiie man took him gently in his arms, and said to
him kindly :

" Well, my son, how is it with thee ?"
The sound of his voice drew^Gontran from his
stupor. His eyes opened, and, O the goodness of
the Lord ! the eyes of his soul were at the same time
opened. JIc recognized the priest Berthold —
Berthold whose wet garments s'lowcd that he had
saved the life of his would-bo murderer at the risk
of his own — Berthold whoso forehead still bore the
mark of Gontran's axe.

" What ! it is thou ! '' said the soldier—" thou !"
He dared not ?.iy more, and he turned his face
to the wall to hide his tears.

It was indeed Berthold, who, through the mei -y
of the Lord, had saved the idolater as the water
was about to swallow him np. The holy priest had
been at the farm, where some of the laborers, still
pagans, were preparing to receive the grace of
baptism. He had come to instruct them, and
from an upper room he had recognized Gontran,
and had seen him disapi)car l.>cnealli the waves.

«li-

T/ie Old Chest.

tJonsultiiig only liin clinrity, lu^ i)luiigucl into tlic
river iinil brought Gontran uuOonscious to tlic shore.

For Hovoval days G.)ntriin was cared far hy tho
people of the fiirm. IIj rcceiN.d llicir attentions
in silence, always ab.sorbed in thought. At length
about the dawn of tlio fifth day lie rose and went t)
Ucrthold's room. The ])iio5t was kneeling, with
hands raised to Iieaven ; lie seemed as if imi)loring
mercy of tho L:)rd. Wlien lie heard Gontran's
steps lieliind him, ho rose, held out liis hand, and
said gently :

" Weleome, my son. I was vninking of thee."

'• And I, priest, have not ceased to think of theo
for several days. Thou hast saved my lifi — I who
would have taken thint. .Thou didst tliat in tho
name of Christ, ami 1 think that the God who
makes thee so good ij the true God. I want to
believe in Christ : tell nio what I must do.'"

'•What! my ?liild, my brother, thou wilt l.o
ours ? I will lead thee as a new Bhocp to the fold
of the good Slieplierd,''

*• Priest, if I believe what my grandraotlier loid
me in iliC early days of my ehildhocd, I have al-
ready received on my head the water which makes
Christians ; she said my mother baptized me. Theie
i.j iit Cambrai ii priest to whom liagomlc has oi'-
ten related this. "'

"God had merciful designs on thee; he does
not grant to all the same grace. lie d(X'S reveal to
all his holy law ! "'

As ho said these w<}rds, IJerthold shed tear.! of
jov. Gontran was looking at llu; erueifix.

'• This, ihen,'' .said he, '• is the God whom I must
henceforth adore ? '

3d into the

tlic shore.

far by tlio

attentions

At Icnglli

nd wont to

}ling, with

inij)luring

(lontnm's

hand, and

of thcc."
link of iheo
lifi — I wlio
,liat in tlio

God who
I want to

do.'-

ou wilt 1.0
to tlie fold

uother toid
I, I have al-
lich makes

1 me. Theio
)dc luui oi'-

; h(> docs
!es reveal to

led tear.! of

fix.

honi I )iiu»t

77/<' O/,/ C/us/. 25

" Yc.s niy dear son, it i.s il:e imago of ilie Cod
who created thee, who died to .<ecuro for thee clertia I
life ; tlus is! the God of eha.ste, of meek and Imnilile
souls; to serve him worthily, wo must have llie.-im-
plieity of a child ar.d tlie courage of a mariyr."
'And what oiTerings does this God demand ?"
•Thy lieari, my son ; none oilier. But we shall
continue this coiiversation later ; now, content thy-
self with saying often, from the depth of thy soul :
'True God, grant that I ni:iv know iind iove
thee.' "'

This prayer, which Gontran had ou his lip.^ till
the hist moment of his life, was undoubtedly enica-
cious ; for only 11 very few months had elai).-:ed 1h'-
foro the idolater received the rile of bajnism, tin;
Eucliaristic bread, and the s.itramcnt whicli give.^
light and strength to the Christian. Then the old
man died in him, and on his ruins arose tI;o new
man, hrought forth by grace and docilo to its in-
spirations. The new Christian was s\.n assiduous
in the t.-.nples, faithful in prayer, visiting with
fervent tears the tond)s of the martyrs ; now (ho
mysterious cryi)t where Saint Piat received his
death-blow from the hands of a T'oman lictor,
again tiic fountain near which Saint Chrysole was
beheaded ; or, following liko a child the footsteps of
Bcrthold, his father in the faith, he accompanied
him in his apostolic wanderings tlirough the coun-
tries of the Atrctates, of the Xervians, and of the
Menapians, (o whom the fiiiliful priest sougiit to
bring the mild light of the Gospel. Xot daring to
aspire to the sacerdotal honors, Gontran shared the
])erilons life of the missi(jnavy, going from cliv l(t
city, from town to town, seeking, in the name of

II I

77/,' Ol.iCJuit.

his diviiu' MiisUT, a Houl wliifl. ho lulgl.t v:in:<..Tn
from slavery, aiul l-rin- fonli to ll>o liberty of the

chihlreii of <ln(i.

Lord, I iiin over-.vhelnunl with gratitude and love,
thinking of those saintly men Avhom thou hast
sent to barl)arian?, to worsliippers of the devil, in u
word, to our ancestors, to In'ing them to thee, aiut
Fccnre to them peace and salvation, ^^hat did
they not suffer, thcFC men of whom the world was
uot' worthy! Fatigue, toiLsomc and continual
journevs through wild countries, hunger, thirst, the
sacrifice of every good, the rending asunder of those
ties dearest to "the liuman heart, outrage, moehery,
the distrust even of those whom they came to con-
vert ; at length, and but too often, tortures and
dc-ith • such has been the h.L of the aml^assadors of
the living God. charity of a God which he has
beou pleased to communicate to his creatures !
charity of creatures who sought to make known to
their brethren that (U.d, so great and s-o good!
my soul is lost in wonder, and I cun only repeat,
" God is admirable in his works ! God is admirable
in his saints!"

This life of danger and fatigue was that ot
B^rthold, and Guutran shared it wit!i faithful de-
votion. For ten years he followed him, as loving
as a son, as submissive as a slave, bound to the
missionary's lot by that indestructil)le chain wluc.x
unites virtuous Irarts, and which, broken on earth,
Avill be more strongly renewed in heaven. Bert hold
was now very old ; but ho would not gtop, his rest
was elsewhere; and he repeated with Saint laul,
" Woe. to mo if I convert not. ' "
Urged by his zeal, he went to preach to the in-

tr-aai^

it VU'.l;^iim

rty of the

1 ami love,
tliiin liiii^t

(lovil, \i\ 11

ihco, iind
AVliiit did
world was
continual
thirst, tlio
or of those
, inoclvcry,
mc to con-
I'turcs and
assadoi's of
lich he has
itiu'cs !
3 known to
1 Ro good !
Illy repeat,
! iulniirahlo

lis that of
laithful dc-
1, as loving
and to the
hain whioli
■n on earth,
, Bcrthold
op, his rest
^aint Paul,

1 to the in-

The OI,n'Jicsf. 2-j

habitants of a village .situated o!i that hill which
still hi-ars thcnaiiiL' of tliu ancionl trilm of Cal-
tiaiis; •■■ hilt these uiiliappy idolators refused to
Juar liiiu ami chased luin from the villaEre with
stones. Gontran cntild not defend Ids master
as he was unarme<l. r.erlhold wished for no
other sword than wonU:, no other violence than
that of ],crsuasioii. They liotli iled, followed by
the curses of a senseless peojjle. Gontran su])-
portod the <dd man ; but, after they had gone about
ii mile, ]5erth(dd said to Inm :

"Let us stop, my son, my strength fails me."
He sat down under an oak, on the moss which Iho
Avinter had 'sjiared, anil Gontran watched him in
real alarm, for it seemed to him that Deatli had
idrcady set his seal on that ])aUid face and those
trend )ling ]i2)S.

'• Fatlier," said he, "' thou art sulTering. . . ,"*
"A little, mv son: the ilesh grows weak. . . .,
I thirst!''

Gontran ran to a l)rook whoso murmur was
heard as it ilowed through a thicket of holly, its
water swollen by the Xovendjcr rains. lie filled
tl'.e gourd and l)rought it to Bcrthold. Tlio latter
sought to raise it to his lips ; but lie stojjped.

'•' My thirst will soon be quenched, . . ."said
he. "Gontran, my son, my race is run, I feel it.
. . . Pray for me, ami receive my blessing for
all thy love and care. Mayest tliou be blessed
a thousand times ! N'ow let us pray for those poor
idolaters ! " So saying, he began the Lord's Prayer,
be repeated it several times, mingling with it ar-

• Near Oasscl, in the Dupartcmcnt dn Nord.

— — tr*Mwr«mp«

The Old Clicst.

(lent supplications for the pnpans. . . . Atlcngtli
liis voice ceased. . . . Gontrun, avIio was sup-
porting him, looked at him in torrf«r, . . .
felt his motionless pulsc,his icy heart, . . . Tho
missionary was no more, and, faithful to tlie chanty
which had guided his life, even in dyin-, ho
thought not of himself.

At length
O Wilri sup-
r, . . .

. . Tho
the c'liarity

dyinj:, lie

III.

TIIK MONK — SKVENTir CKNTfRY.

GoNTRAN" niiirricd a young Cli.istian pirl, and
ended liis days in peace and in works of i)ioty. I,
Scrgiiis, am lii.s grandson, and it was from liimsolf
that I learned the particulars of h>3 conversion.
lie was won to Jesus Christ by all-potent charity,
■and entire tribes of savage pagans were conquered
by tlio saniL arms. Now, this Avholc country is un-
der the blessed yoke which the Saviour Jesus canio
to Ijring to the Avorld ; tho Xervian forests are
l)CopU'd Avitli })ious tribes, who practise labor
and prayer in common, according to tlic laws of
God and of Saint Benedict. May the God of mercy
bo ever blessed ! Neither Jupiter nor Teutates
now have altars in these regions, so long bowed
down under the Avorship of false gods ; the spirits
of evil no longer haunt the cross-Avays or the foun-
tains. . . . Christ alone reigns, llis is tlic
empire ! And, if the descendants of the Gauls still
kneel under tho oak, it is to venerate the blessed
Mother of God, Avhom the shepherds place among
tho foliage. ... If an altar be raised in Avild
and waste places, it has been sanctifled by the blood
of tho great victim of Calvary. . . . Fly, fly, ye
l)owcrful enemies, gods of hell, who ruled oi'r

!:'J

■ ^

I i

The Old Chi St.

anccstory, lly ' Tlic Lidii of tlio trilic (if .liidu lias
ci)ii((ucrc(l.

I liavo not, lil\(> my fatliprs, any AvarliUo ad'on-
turos nor Ktriking coiivcrsioii to rolatu.

Born witliiu tlic fold of tlio .Saviour Jesus, I was
nouri.^licd at my niotJicr'.s \\\ko. with llio milk of
lioly doctrine. I liavc been told (hat, when a littlo
child, I wus seized with an illness which threatened
my life. ... I wa.s goiiii; to die. . . . ^^y
mother, my father, my grandmotlu'r, stood round
my cradle,, and watched for the siffn.s of approach-
ing death on my face. . . . The breath of this
mortal life was tremhling on my lips, when my
mother threw herself on her knees before u crucifix,
and cried : "Lord Jesus, wIk; didst restore the son
of 11 poor Avidow, eavo my child, and I give him to
thee— I dedicate him to thy altar !*"■'

Afy father and my grandmotiier conlirmed (his
vow, and the Lord accepted it. The gates of heaven
closed, a peaceful sleep came upon me, and knit
again the bonds Avhich bound me to earth ! . . .
I lived, and when I had attained the age of seven
years (it Avas the year of our Lord fitn) my parents
brought me io the monastery of Ehum, not far
from the city of Tournay. A thick forest cu -ered
the place which the servant of God had humbly
sidicited from tlie charity of King Dagobcrt ; on
a si)ot which had been cleared with much diHiculty

* I even observe, in the rule of Saint Benedict, that they did
not fear to consecrate children before they came to the age
of reason ; the parents, without fear of t3-rannizing over them,
liolievod that tliey could dedicate themselves to f!o<l from tlieir
( laiUe. (Bossuet, "Sermons sur les Obligations do TEtat reli-
gieux.")

The OU C/ust.

3«

.liiilii has
ko lid' 011-

3118, I was

milk of
I'll ■.! littlo
lircalciit'tl

. . >ry

()(I rmiml
iliproacli-
th of this
■\vlicn my

1 cnicinx,

I'O tllC KDll

vc liim to

rmod (his

of heaven

and knit

• • • •

of seven
ly parents
1, not fur
t CO •eretl
1 humbly
3bert ; on

diilicnlty

lat they did
) to the age
; over tliciu,
Ifroni tlicir
3 1'Etat reli-

wus erected ular^'c lioiise, built of wood and covered
with Ihateh ; a liell, hiiii;:r <>n the top of the build-
ing, rang out the hours (if prayer, and warned the
religious, laborers, oi' shepherds afar o(T in the
fields to raise their souls from earth and unite in
spirit Willi tlieir iu'etliren jirostrate before (Jod.
We Avere received at the door of the monaslery by u
monk, who salntfd us and letl \\^ lo Ihc guest-
chamber. After some UKHiients' rest, wo were con-
ducted to the chiireh, v.here the jirior awaited n.-.
ISly mother wept. I rememlier her tears I i\ly
father took my hand and led mo to the altar, where
lie made mo kneel before the prior, saying, "I,
Landoald, a free man, ami Clothsinde, my wife,
give and dedicate to Cod, Our Lady, and SI. Beiie-
"dicl, tlirough your hands, most revereml lord, our
son, Sergiiis, the lirst-born of our mai riago, that in
this monastery of ]']]iioii he may serve Clod in the
religicnis proiV.aeioii, and, if it jdeuse his great
mercy, in the sacerdotal niinislry."

The prior answered kindly. He cut otT a lock of
my hair. I took off my little coat, I was clad in a
gown and a black cowl, and from that moment I
•was an oblate of the monastery of Elnon.

The Lord, Avho had undoubtedly accepted my
mother's vow, gave me inclinations conformable to
my destiny, and he granted to my mother a happy
fruitfulness which repaid her for her sacrifice.

Since my seventh year, I have never left this
lionse, and I have become an unworthy religious of
the Order of St. Benedict a.nd a still more un-
worthy member of the sacerdotal body. I have
nothing to relate of myself; my life has jiasscd
tran()uil and oliscure, leaving no trace amongst

Tlf

■w

77/r Old Oust.

iiu'ii, nor ill my own nii'mory, wlicro the diiys, each
likii till" (illur, iiiv liisl ill (lie uiiirnrm sluMlcsof tlio
jniHt, Tlii'(>ii;;li (iliodieiuu I liavo taken ]i:iit in I ho
hiboruof M-y brt'thren, tlio counigeoua work of the
lahorers, the censelesH toil of (he writers, tlio iiiios-
lolic labors of the iiii-^ionaricH, Imt I luivp ahviiys
Been iny.'-clf last of all in nurit, in labor, and in
virliii'. 0,1 r bk'.^M'd father has ordained that to
prayer, iiu'ditation, llu) .sin/^jinL; of hymns and of
l)salms, Avo add the eiiitnrc i i' ktters and the labor
of our hands. Everywhere tlie sonsoC St. Beiiedlet
till llio waste and barren lands, fertilize the nioora,
dry up im]im'o swanijis, and ^dlier around Ihcir
]i()or inonasleries tlie dwrliinj^s of iiicclninics and
of laljorcrs, to whom the cross serves as a rallyinj^-
jioint and a refuge.

AVho can fathom the det^igns of rroviilenee ?
reriiai):^ tlieso villages, built in the shado'v of the
cross, may become populous towns, and Gaul, like
Italy, shall see smiling i)lains surmounted by the
towers and battlements of lier wealthy cities. AVe,
too, cultivate these fields, bo long neglected or
devastated jiy -war ; harvests now avuvc where for-
merly arose a tlil(\ forest, the haunt of brigands
and of Avild l)casts ; cottages aro hidden in the
shade of our bulfry, and mo seek to give failh,
light, and haiiiiiiie>s to th()i:e Avho dwell near us.
Other duties and other labors besides these oeeui)y
X13 ; the Church, our mother, has kept the deposit
of ancient letters, about to perish in th.e storm
■\vliieli the barl>arous Xorili let loose on tiie more
favorjd and uk/IV brilliant countiics<f the Pouth.
She has kepi, as ;•. in'udent parent keejis for her
children, ;ii''>rluuu ■which the will cue day restore

The Old Oust.

iivf, ciich
ilcHof the
trl ill I ho
rk of tlio
tlio iipos-
\v 111 ways
r, iiiul in
1 thut lo
IS iiiul of
(ho lahoi'
Ik'iietlict
10 moors,
lid ihcir
iiic's iiiul
ralljiiig.

viilencc ?
)'v of Uie
(iiiil, like
il l»y tlic
cs. AVe,
Icctod or
hero for-

hrigaiuls
n in tlio
vc f.iiili,

nciu- us.
;o ocenity
c deposit
lie .slonu
I ho luoro
10 Soulli.
i for lur
:v rcsluro

to tlioin ; and wo, dovolod to stndy and rooolloo-
tion, proscrvo for tlioso who hhall ooiiio aftor us
tho hoaiiliful iiispiratioiH of (ho Holy Fadu-rs and
tho loaniiii-,' of iuiti(iiiily. Wo transoribo 'oookd
which have oscajK-d tho rava<,'os of time and of tho
harhariaiis ; wo also rooord, in our doniostio aiinaln,
iiionioralilo faots in tho livos of ^'roat Korvantn of
Clod, whoi^o nioniory and oxainjilo odify us. . . .
Tho works of tho saints t^hoiiid not ho forgotten,
and ho wlio would not lose ono of (hoir hones
tihoiild no nioro ])orniit tho niomory of (hoir \irtiios
and of their iniraolos to perish iinion^fst men.

Some ainoiii^ us write the history of thO events
Avhioli are taking place in that world in which wo
• ■• - wo lon^'or live : tho intrigiios of courts, (ho revolu-
tions of kingdoms, and tho Kiiecessiou to thrones,
so often disputed. Othoru (each theolofry, morals,
the olonieiits of ycienco, to the yoiiny scholastics;
and v.e all ondotivor to keep hiirning tho ( <rch of
human and divine knowkdpo, bo roughly shaken
in these days of wars and disasters. Others, in
line, more fortunate than laborers or men of
learning, bear to tho heathen the good tidings of sal-
vation, cultivate that vast field in which reapers are
filling ignorant and thirsty kouIs wilh the true
science of truth and of life. God — may his name
be blessed ! — has granted me tho grace sometinios to
follow in liis iijiostolio pilgrimages our blessed father
and founder, Amand, and to be tho unworthy witiiois
of the virtues of tho servant of God. I followed him,
ospoeiully, along the banks of tlio Ilscaut, amongst
those fierce idolaters who inhabit Blount IJlandin,
and who, according to common opinion, owe the; ■
name to the Vuudals. I will not relate tho won-

.34

r/ir OU C/hsf.

(Urn of lii.H |iiiacliiii^', imr llic iiiii-.iclt -i uilli uliicli
it wiirt linnimd, nor tlii' (^iifTcriiij;H wliicli lu! ciKliiitil
80 jovfiilly ill till' tiiiiiii' (if Ills (inly nuislcr, Jc.'^iih
C'liri.-t ; I will iiuTC'ly, fcr lli<i.-o wIkmmiiiu' iiftcr ii.-,
iiamit(^ tlu! c'onvi'i'.'Mon wliich KmI to all tlio otlicfs,
hikI whose rccoilcctinM ^till lives in ciircomilry. I
iiin old iii>\v, Iiiil I lo\o to nrall the iirodi^'irs of
I'lcrcy wliicli I llicn vitiiessed. I repeat them lo
oiir youn^ hretliivn, so that they iiiay Icani nevt r
In (loiilil, of the fToodnesH of tlie Lord.

Iiavo, Count of Hasliania, Avas Hiill •,iliiiiL'i'd in
the errors of pagaiiisin, and lie insiiiitd in his
vassals, in his eoiiipanions-in-aniis, and in I ho
» hase. a i)rol'oiiiid terror, which was jiistilied hy
the lieeutioiisiiess of his morals and the harshiUK}
of his cliaiacter. lie was marrieil to a Chrislian
ladv, and he had one ( hi!il, an innoec nt. lillle
(ivaliire, whose ]ti'ayer ami piirily were pieasin;,' lo
tiio Most ni;,di. (iod efisl an eye of merey on tho
dwcdlin^ of Havo, and he i-ent him the cross, which
is always iiie messenf^er of his merey. Bavo's wife
die(' and tho heart of tho licrec prolligate was
hrok ' I saw liim tlieii, that i)affan on whom waa
]ioircd fortli the penerons halm of tho cross ; ho
came, urged l)y a mysterions power, to throw liim-
self at tho foot of Amand, -whohO name liad poiio
forth tlirough all tho country, like the sweet scent
of a ripe Hold winch Cod has blessed. Amand
dwelt in tho monastery which ho had founded and
dedicated to the apostlo Saint Peter, on !Mount
Blandin, and T was with him. I saw aiiproaching
a man of tall stature, of fiorco and haughly
coiinlona'ice, contracted hy oTcrwlielming sorrow.
lie came hurriedlv into the cell, and threw himself

ic lifter iiiJ,

the otlllTH,
III! Ill IT. I

ri)ili;,'iis (if
fc tluin to
L'lirii never

[iluHL'ed ill
I'dl ill 1 1 in
1(1 ill lliu

iistilied by
liiirsliiuiia
I, Clu'lsliiin
»e( lit, liltlo
pleiisiii;:f to
LMTy on liiu
ross, wliicli
Huvo's wil'o
illigiito was
wiiom wati
! erosH ; lio
tlirow liini-
3 liiid polio
iwcct Hcent
1. Amand
innded and
on !Mount
liproaclung
d hauglily
ing sorrow,
row himself

Tlw Ol,l Cliist.

iil.ilic f.rt ofoiirl.lesMd fiiihcr, f-ayin;.'. in a lndL. n
Mtice, •• I iiave sinned, i |,;ae otretided the f.'reat
(•oil . r heaven, liy o|)|)ivs-iii<,' tlie weak and

ilieddiii',' iiiiioeeiil, 1.1 1! ||,.|y iioiililT, pivo ino

uiso eoiiiKsel us to tlio salvation .1" my ,m,iiI ! I
vi>li to iiitrlfy and eorreet, niy life. I |.i;,,'c myselt*
in your liand.v, man of (iod, Il.ive jtiiy „ii "me I
Havo nie I '

Onr lioly fallicr, overulu lined A\illi ji.y, could
aiiHwer only l.y hi.s (car.s ; lio ela.sped iJav'o in hi.)
anii.s and \ve[)t, on hii wwk, liko tlio fatJier of I lio
l)rodl;,Ml son, tho aacro.! i niw of the Fallitr (,f
^lerey. He Mpoko to jiim (!ie words of ,'^alvation
and of life, which the i)a,','aii ivceived resiieelfiillv ;
iind IV.iin tliat, d ly (he man of iiiiiiiiilv died oiil.
aliil ,!;a\(! plaeo (o tho new man, who draws from
JesiH Chrisl- tho sap of life. The lion of l.attleH
lieiMiii,' ji mild and •gentle lamh ; works of pcnaiieo
and of charily (lllcd np his days; he wepi, for his
ownsuis; ho dried tho tears of his hrelhren, and
soon, as (ho diviiio praee, when it overcomes ii
heart, always tends to a moro iierfeefc state, Bavo
soHeited t!io dorical tonsiiro, and suhmitted to
regular discipline, iiikUm- tho Ahhot Florhert, and
no one cmld liave reeo,C;iiized in tho anstero
penitent, the liery Coiinl. d'llashanie. His avoii-
derful penaneo astonished and converted even
those whom tho words of Amaiul could not win.
How cm ;i religion he doubted Avhich tints tnuis-
forms lioarts? The rapacious and bloodthirsty
profligate, whom all that barbarous jieoplo knew
and feared, liad bccnnio an hnniblo recluse, shut
lip in a voluntary jiris'Hi ; he slejtt on tho stones;
his food was coarse liread ; his body was covered

The Old Chest.

i:, !

witli hiiir-cloth ; lie \\'oro fottcra on his feet, like
those wiUi which the jailers of Rome sliaclclcd the
feet of the confessors of tlio faitli. For three }-ears
Biivo persevered in this solitude and this expiation;
at the end of that time the angels called him to
come and receiw^ the victor's crown. ... lie
died, and barl^arous tribes, whom his arms could
never subdue, came to receive, at his glorious
sepulchre, the eternal light of faith. . . . His
memory is still dear to me ; . . . I prayed for
him on earth, and I am eonfldout that he is pray-
ing for mo in heaven. . . .

Now 1 am old. . . . My hand can no longer
guide t'.io plough ; my dimmed eyes no longer
permit mo to do the writer's work ; my broken
voice can no longer teach the evangelical truths to
the people ; but young, active brethren, burning with
a Ixjly zeal, take the place of those who first under-
took the work. . . . AVe berpieath to them the
task Avhich avo have commenced. .... They
will clear these forests and these moors.* Tliey
will preserve the deposit of science and of noblo
traditions, ami, above all, they will spread the
apostolic (ire over the earth. . . . Iluniblo
servants of God,faitlif ,il messengers of Providence,
they Avill labor for the good of their brethren,
without other hire than the eti'rnal goods. May
Gad bo Avith them, and may he deign to grant to
mo, Scrgius, a sinner, rest Avith the many holy
souls who have already been admitted to the mar-
riage-feast of the Lamb ! Amen.

* TGi) Boiiodiotiuo mouks w jro tlio cluarors of Eui-opo. (J ui-
zot.)

s feet, like

uicklcd tlio

three }'cai'3

i cxpiiitiou;

lletl him to

. . IIo

iirina could

is glorious

. . His

prayed I'or

he is pray-

11 no longer
no longer
my broken
il truths to
liming with
first undcr-
to them tlic
. . They
.rs.*' Tliuy
id of noblo
i?pre;ul the
. Ilumblo
Providence,
r brethren,
oodri. May
to gnuit to
many holy

'i'C<.^^m^

^^■f^y^<:.^

1) the mar-

Suropo. (jui-

■-

IV.

THE SOLDIEE — EIGHTH CEXTURY.

I, Gherold, grandson of Landoald, conforming
to the custom of my fathers, dictate to my nephew,
Matfrid, religious in the Aljliey of tlio Holy Se-
pulchre (Saiut-Sopulclire), a short account of what
I have soon in my campaigns, under Charles !Martel,
Dul<o of fhu Pranks, and under Charlemagne,
King of the Fnaiks and most pious Emperor of the
West.

Although living in the most remote extremity of
Gaul, we have learned, nevertheless, tliat strenglli
and power arc no longer in tlio hands of tho race of
Clovis, tlio Avarlikc king of our fatliers. Tho
mayors of tho palace of Anstrasia, tho Pepins, havo
bccomo tho cliicfs and leaders of tlic people. I
havo fought under their command, and I think
that God, who desires tho glory and salvation of
the Franks, has opposed to these terrible enemies
— tho Frieslandcrs, tho Saracens, tho Saxons, and
the inhabitants of Gascony — cliiefs capable of lead-
ing to battle the most valiant people that exist
under heaven.

Duke Charles, tho son (jf Pepin and Ali)luiido, his
Becond wife, i)osscssed the principality of tho

Gauls, and, without being ji kiuir, all the regal

;;7'

3!^

'/'/.',• ( I/,/ ( V/r.sf.

})a\vor was coiieciilnitc'il in iiis liiin;]... Jlo ^^ovonioil
tlio po<)j)!o at lionio iiiul protcctcMl tlu'iu aljroail.
Wedwclt 111 peace, (•;i!tiva!iii,:^ our little farm. I was
tlio'.i yoaii,?, wli'ii .sLraniji' lu'ws s[)roa(I tlirouijfl. (!io
coualrifs of (lie I'aiisis, of llie S.ii.-.suiinais, and tlio
Canibresi.-J. It was sai(rtliat hordes of barbarians,
coniin^;^ from tlio descris of Africa and Asia,
crossing tlie mountains of (lie Gascons, and (hroiigli
plains and giir'jfes, liad conu- to invade the lands of
tlio Franks. It was also said that tlio King of
Aqnitaino, old I'^ude, defeated by these pagans, h:.d
como to Dnko C'hi'.rles Ij'^giii^ him to savo t.io
whole country of the Franks, threatened by the
disciples of Mohammed. The pagans, it was .-aid,
were going to cross the Loire, and tlioir arms and
their brutal avarieo would not spare the sanctuary
of the blessed Saint Martin. . . . TIicso news
were conllrmcd. Soon trumpets and clarions were
heard sounding in tlie cities of Xoustria and Aus-
trasia, in tlie forests and the lields, iind troops of
Avarriors hastened towards tiie Loire. I was'callcd
upon, like other men of my age, to render military
service. It was in the month of October, of the
year 733, not far from the city of Poictiers, that
the armies met ; and for seven days Ave Avaitcd,
without bending the bow or draAving the sword.
"We, the soldiers of Duke Charles, saw jiassing b^'-
fore our lines the :Mussulman chiefs, mounted on
light steeds, covered with long, white cloaks,
armed with short swords or barbed arrows, A^hicli
they threw ami caught again while their horses were
galloping. Tiiesc barbarians, with their black eyes
and tawny skins, looked at us in surprise, and
pointed out to each other our long-haired chiefs

OgOVCi-IlOiI

111 iiljroatl.
nil. I \v;i3
irou;j:I. the
is, aiuUlio
)arl)!U'iiuis,
uul Asia,
1(1 ihrou^^li
10 lands of
) King oi
;igaiip, lii.d
J save t.io
ed lij- t!ic
t wa:? .'■aid,
arjiia and
fiaiu'tiiary
Iicsc news
[•ions were
and Au3-
t roups of
was'callod
)i' military
cr, of the
tiers, that
va Avaitcd,
ho sword,
assiiig 1)0-
ountod on
cloaks,
iws, A^hioh
orscs wore
black eyes
prise, and
rod chiefs

y/v ih'JC/ir.sf. jfj

Willi their irli.tering trills. On the seventh day (ho
battle hcgaii. The Miiysiilmans sent a slnna-r of
arrows on our army, but the long lino of the Trank.s
never wavered under tiial fearful shook ; like a
wall of iron, like a rampart of iee, the ji^'oplo of
the Xorth remained pressed one against the other
iis though they were of marble. ^ We all had but
one heart, as Ave all had o!io faith. Twenlv times
did the pagans charge upon us, as rapid'as the
thunderbolt, as impetuous as the angry oecaii ;
twenty times ('id they advance to break against thj
wall of \V'<]\ and of steel which we opposed to them.
At sunset the Avail was shaken. Duke Charles led
us on to the combat, and our swords were plun-ed
to the hilt in jiagan blood. Night alone put^m
end to the ' ntle. Duke Charles gave the signal
to retreat, .. id, brandishing our swords in dolia'nco,
Ave pas-..dlh> night on the plain. Xext dav the
Aral) tents Avere empty; the jiagans hail" iK.,|,
leaving behind their treasures, which fell into our
hands. We took again our homeward way.
Charles, having collected the spoils of the encm-,-,
returned to France in the glory of his triumph.

As for mo, I tried to do my duty, incited, above
all, by the great thought that I Avas fighting in the
name of Christ, in the name of the Roman Church,
and to defend the Empire of the Cross against the
imjilous votaries of Mohammed. In the name of the
Lord Ifouglit with the sword and tho//v/«/(v,* and
I venture to hope that at the great day tiie Just
Judge Avill not forget his soldier and servant.

I was in other wars wiih Duke Charles and his

♦ A weapon of the ancient Franks.

40 The Old Chest.

sons, PG]iin and Karloman. I fought against the
inilomitiil)lo Frir -hinders, cnlreuchod in tlieir islt.s
and marshes; against the Saxons, obstinate wor-
sliippers of tht- Teutonic gods; I had tlie hap-
piness of receiving the hcnodiction of the most holy
rontifl, Bunifacc, sent to evangelize these people,
by the order and under the protection of Popo
Zachcry and Puke Charles ; I saw Lord Pepin
elevated to the regal dignity, according to the
words of the Sovceign Pontiff Zachcry, who de-
creed, " He who ])osscssc3 the regal power should
also enjoy iho honors of royalty " ; and one day,
going to the monastery of St. Sithin,* I saw there
Childeric, the descendant of Merovreus, who, de-
posed and shaven, had been placed among the
monks. Tliese are events which I have witnessed,
anil in which I have taken part, fighting under
the command of the princes who now possess the
sovereignty of the country of the Franks.

Although old I followed the army of the most
mighty King Charles, who was marching. against
thc^Lombard's and their king Desiderius. And this
is what I heard related by a worthy priest.

One of the first lords of the Frank kingdom,
named Ogger, having incurred the wrath of the
terrible Charles, had taken refuge with King Desi-
derius. Hiving heard of the approach of the
dreaded Charles, Desiderius and Oggcr went up on
a very high tower, whence they could see from all
sides the°irrival of the Frankish army. They at
first perceived a warlike equipage more numerous
than those of Darius and of Julius Ciesar. And
Desiderius asked of Ogger :

• At !jt. Omer.

ig.iinst the

their i^<k.-i

linate wov-

l the liiii)-

most holy
CSC people,
)U of Popo
liord Pepin
1112 to tho
y, who (Ic-
wcr should
(1 one day,

1 saw Ihcro
IS, who, de-
among the
c witnessed,
iting under

possess tho
ks.

>f tho most
liini!;. against
s. And this
est.

ik kingdom,
vrath of the
I King Dcsi-
)ach of tlio
• went up on

sec from all
y. They at
re numerous
Dtesar. And

The Old Chest.

'•Ts not Cliarlcs \vii!i that givat arinv?''

And Ogi^^er ansutivd : "Not yet."'

^I'ext came mimbor.s of trjho.s a.«.«eniMcd from
all parts of tho vast omplro of (lie Franks. Desi-
deriu.s after liavingi^ccii tiioni, Paid to Qfrijer :

"S'lroly Charles is triumpiiantly a'dvancin'r
camoiij. \ that multitude ? " '"^

"\o, not yet, not yet," replied Oggor.

Then Dosiderlus began to bo disturbed, and said :
_" What sliall Ave da if Iio couu's acc()m])anied l)y
still more warriors than ilicse ?"

"Thou shalt. see liow ho will come," answered
Oggcr ; " but I know not wliat will become of us."

Whilst tlicy thus discoursL'd, tlie King's iiouse-
liold appeared, with his body-guards, wlio never
, know rest. At tliis siglit, Dcsidcrius, bewilderc 1,
cried :

" Surely tin's is Charles ? "

And Ogger repeated : '' Not yet, not yet."

Next eame tlio l)ishops, i)riests, and ecclesiastics
of the royal cliapcl, witli their retinue. Desiderius,
desiring deatJi, and no longer able (o bear thcligiit
of day, murmured, sol)bing ;

"■ Lot us descend and hide ourselves in tlie deptiis
of tlie earth, tliat we may not sec the face of so ter-
rible an enemy."

The treml)li)ig Ogger, who know the splendor and
ai)parel of tlic incomparable Charles, having learned
it by experience in better days, said tlien :

" Wlieu tliou soest t'no grain bristle with fright
in tho fields, the Po and the Tosino become as dark
as iron and overflow with their blackened waters
the walls of the town, then IImu mave.^.t believe in
the arrival of Charles."

.}.?

Tin Old Clii^t.

Jlc iuiil JiiiL yi't, IniisluHl spoakinr; wlioii tlicy
l)egiiu to SCO in thn Avest like a dark cloud driver,
by tlio wind, Avliichcliiiiipjcd the liglit of day into
funereal shadi's; then Charles npproachin';' gra-
dually, llio liriglitnes.-! of liis arjiisi brouglit to tlio
men .shut iij* in flio town a day niovo gloomy than
any night.

Then in porson came Charles, that man of
iron, his hcail covered by an iron helmet, his arms
enclosed in iron mail, his chest and shoulders of
granite were protected ])y ii coat of iron, he held in
liis left hand an iron spear, and his right was ahvays
laid on the hilt of his inviucibla sword ; his boots,
like those of his soldiers, were bound witli iron, and
his rdiield was all of iron. All wlio preceded him,
all y.iio marched beside him, all who followed, the
Avholc army, had imitated (licii master as far as Avas
in each or.e's pov.er ; the fields atul the plains Avero
all of iron; the iron bayonets reflected every ray of
the sun. The ramparts shook with fright, the
boldnes.i of the young man Avas subdued, the Avis-
dom of the old men put to naught, and all the citi-
zens cried Avith confused noise :

"Alas ! how much iron ! hoAV much iron !"'

Ogger saw all this Avith one rapid glance, and
said ta Desiderius :

'•\3cliold him Avhom thou hast l)een seeking!"'
And so saying, ho fell down almost lifeless, . . .

Such Avas the master Avho commanded us — the
chief whom avc folloAved. May God grant long life
to our most mighty emperor ! For him I have
shed my blood ; for him my son died at Ronces-
vaux, crushed by tho rocks Avhich the treachc ous
Gascons hurled on tho armA', led by Roland, tlio

whoii tlicy
loud diivf!'.
)f day into
ic1uii;j: gra-
uglit to tlio
;loomy thuii

at man of
t, his nrma
lioulder.^ of
, lie licld in
, v.'MS ill ways
; his boots,
th iron, and
K'cded him,
Iloucd, tho
s far us Avas
plains ■\vcro
■very ray of
fright, the
)d, the Avis-
all the citi-

ron ! "'
glance, and

seeking !"'

ess. . . .
lhI us — the
nt long life
ini I have
at Roncos-
ircacht ons
uoland, tlio

The Ohi C/usf.

raptain ; hut I do not regret either my blood nor
even t!ie life of my heloved s-on, since lioth lia\e
been given for the Church and the blessed kingdom
of the Franks.

THE LAliOUKn — NIXTIl CKNTrUY

"My granilfiillier, of liappy memory, of ton re-
peated an cx])res.sioii •wliicli lie heard from I lie lips
of the miglily Emperor Charlemagne, in whose
army he had served. 'J'hat prince, being one day
in a seai)ort town, saw from afar ship.s remarkable
for tlieir structure and the ease of their movements.
At this sight the pious Charles, leaning on a
window-sill, remained long lost in thoiiglit, his face
bedewed with tears. As none of his courtiers
dared to question him, ho himself explained to
them the cause of his tears. "Know ye,"' said
he, " my faithful friends ! why I have wejit so
much ? I fear not that those people can harm mo
by their vain threats ; but it afllicts mc much tliat,
while I am living, they dare to insult this shore,
and I am oppressed Avith sorrow because I foresee
how many evils tliey will cause to my descendants
and my subjects."

Tlie words of that most wise emperor arc ac-
complished. fatal days ! The ships whicli ho
saw were those of tlio pagan Nortlimen — those
pirates who come every year, on their vessels as
light as birds, from the far iS'orth, and follow
the course of our rivers, burnin?, ]iillaging, and

'/'//«■ (>!,! ( /.v.v/.

•J?

, (jfU'ii rc-
im I lie lips
in whose
ng one day
remarkable
tiovcmeuts.
iiiii.;^ on 11
lit, liirffacc
d courtiers
plained to
r ye,"' said
vo wept so
1 harm mo
much that,
this shore,
I foresee
loscendants

ror arc ac-
i which ho
lien — those
f vessels us
and follow
lairiiifT, and

dcvaslaliii;,' all l»cf«irc llieiii. I Wi.s \<>m];s, and I
had been a-nt with a niessau'c from my father in a
farm situated not far rrom llaspres, iii CaiMJiresis,
when Isaw In the dislance a prodi^iinns crowd of
Jieojile, and I heard the solemn chanting of tho
Psalms. I approached, and I saw monks, wearing
tho liahit of Saint Benodi' *, walking barefoot,
CHirrying on their shoul' ., shrine covm>d with
jdates of g(dd. I was tri.i that these religious were
coming from ;lio interior of Xcustria, from tho
Alibey of Jiimi.'ges, whence they liad tied before
the Norman pirates, and that they were coming lo
hide in their domain of Haspres the rrlics of tJieir
blessed founders, Saint Ilngli and Saint Achard, Jt
was jiitiablo to see Christian priests Hying iKfore
, the pagans. In all oiir churches tho invocation
was added to (he Litany of tho Saints, "From tho
fury of the Korthmen, Lord, deliver us!"' Wo
were living peacefully on our little farm, my wife,
my children, and I, Hugo, grandson of Ci'u'rold.
The country was at peace, and wo gathered w .tliout
fear llio fruits of our lalior, when the tales of
travellers and pilgrims informed us of the desola-
tion in all the towns situated on the banks of
rivers. Tho large and noble city of Anvcrs, f-cated
on the banks of (lie Escaut, had just been burned
by the fierce sea-kings; tho banks of the Soinme
were devastated ; iirovinces and (owns dcpojmlated ;
the few inhabitants who survived lied in every
direction, powerless and terror-stricken, or fell
beneath tho sword. The bodies of (ho saints, so
long preserved in the monasteries wliieh they had
f.mnded aiidedilied by their examples, werc'])rough(,
into tho cnclosnre of tho r'lies. Dan'/cr was

'/'//(• ( V^/ Cliisl.

coining,' to us. On all h,1,.m utn- mvii lalioivivt

wliosi' liDiisos iiiul liiir\r-!s had hccii ;,'i\iii to tiic

lliiiiK's, cliiin,!! ;ii'(i|)le wlid.si- eves luid \wv\\ put out,

widowoil wives and orpliiiMcd cliildrcii. And im

rcniedy for tlioso {:rcnt evils! Tlicse l)jirl.;iii;iMs

como moro numerous tiiiiti .stiow-llakes in winter;

they iire lianly, rapacious, and indel'ati^'alde. Our

lord, Baldwin, called tlie IJald,* tried to fortify liis

towns by surrounding' tlieni with ditelies aiul

walls ; hut, alas I of what use arc uefcnees of stono

if men's liearts ])o feehlo and eowardly ? f Like

others, 1 liavo under;rone the misfortunes of the

times in which we live; may it please (lod to cparo

my descendants !

It was at the close of the year 881 ; the Lord had
blessed our labor ; the barns and cellars were over-
llowini? with (lie crops, and our stalls were tilled
with cattle. I was.returnin;,' from the Moiuisterv
of Elnon, the prior of wliicli — a learned man — had
given mo some cordials for one of my servants, who
Avas ill of a mali,i,'nant fever, and I was going home-
ward with a joyful heart, for I tliought that my
wife would be wailing for me at tlia lirosidc, plying
her distalf, and that my children Avould be glad at
my return.

The sun was setting and tlio horizon was red.
... I thought it was the mists of an autumn
day, reddened by the sun's last rays, which thus
colored tlic heavens ; I;iit soon a thick black snndvo
and sparks went np into the air, and hid the sua

* Baldwin tho Baltl, socoml Count of Flandci-s.

+ A.'cordin^; t > tlii- aocounl; of historians, tlio torrilioj
pnoplo n.) loii^ir dai-c-l i,. dufond tlieniselves n-aiiist tl;o
Noi-thincMi.

•

ilu- iU,l I lust.

-M

II hlliiH'cr:'
CM to t!ll>

II |iiil mil.
Ami iKi
l)!irli;iri;iiis
II wiiiliT;
iltli'. Our
I'lirtify Iiis
Li'Iics iiiul
s of stoiio
? t Liko

lOS (if tllO
1 In f-|):iro

liOnl liild
voro ovtT-
lore lilk'd
ilduaslcrv
nan — hud
tL".ts, wlio
npf lioine-

tliat niy
k', plyiii,:;
a glad at

was rod.

aiituiiin
lioli thus
ck sniidio

the sun

o tcrrilk'd
vaiiist tho

from my view. ... I ha.-litu'd iii\ .-lt'|- : a
lit Ih' liill I'linciah'd iii\ iiniisc fniin ni(> : I (■liiiilicd
it and wcnl (h)Uii llio other side (|uiik(r lh;:ii
lh(iii'_dil : . . . ami ! f-aw, ... hols'
(iod I 1 ^a\v my Iiou-c in llanus, liciii,;,' rt'iluci'd to
a fiiiM'i'al |iik', IVom which cainc forth lire and
Kinokc ; th'.' stalik'S, ctdlars, harn.", wore huriu'il.
Not a cry imr a voi(v vwww from
anionu'.-t tlio ruins; I duricd forward, 1 caHcd.
No oiH' a' ■"Wci'cd inc. . . . < * iiiih:i|ipy man tiiat
[was! ... I ran all over Ihc faun : . . .
ruin and deatli oseiywherc I . . . l>nt,comiii;r
to a Held which wu.s watered liy ihc Kseaid, I saw
at, a distance the li,i,dil. narrow \(.-se!, w hicii had
ljr(n;;iht tile Norllimen to oiirsliore. . . . They
were llyiii.:, tiie papins, llie tliievis, the murderers.
I was followin:^' lliein wiih in v eyes and my im[io-
teiit curses, v.lien a IVeliic /jfroaii reaehi'd my ear.
I looiied ; and ill tiic /xi'uss (Ui the hank
1 found my youn^e.-t ehil!i,niy little Baldwin, who
had heou thrown there naked, and with a large
Avound on his hip. 1 look him in my arm-;, and he
knew me :

'•() fatlier I" ,:aid he in w faint voice, "wicUi'd
men canve ; they shut nmtiier and my hrothers up in
the stahlos, and hurned them, and they hurt me
very much." . . .

(ireat (rod I i)ar(lon me if I then cursed those
who had hrougiit so many misfortunes on mv
hous'.' ! 'J'hy nu)st sweet .Son Jesus ])raycd for hi,-;
■murderers, and I. miscrahle tiinncr, could oidy
curse them ! But I ow ask thee that the hlood
ef those innocent victims, of my good wife
and my iirecious flanghtrred children, jnay

4«

/■//.• OU Clust.

iis(Tii,l to ihy il,r,„„. m„| |„,y ^,riicc, for thevio
jm;,':iiis 1

I possi'sscd ti(.(liiii;r iK.w Itiit my 1:111(1, ,<■■( ripped
and liaiv. Fur lulp and proliviidii I paid trilmlo
of that, which I had ludd frco from my ancostor.-',
to till) Alihoy of Saint Aniaiid, of wiilcli'l bocamo u
vassal. . . . Liberty, family, forlnne, I I0.4
all in one day. From tho fury of the :Nurlliman,

Lord, deliver us!

However, reliiriou?! nro lenient masters ; they
brouf^iit lip my son Haldwin.and inslrueted him in
human science; and, under the command (d" the
brave and holy Gozlin,"" Abbot of Saint Amand,

1 had the happiness of fii^'Iitin,;,' the Norllimcn.
. . . I .siw tiieni van. pushed by the Lord Count
of llainaiit, U.'gnier, called Long-Xeck, and I
know that, on every side, the owners of the hind
lire fortifying the towns and cities, trainin^:,' their
vassals to arms, in order to resist the incursions of
the i)irate8. Our ])riests and itisliop.: are seokin;:r
lo subject them to the laws of the Gospel; the
lime is perhaps not far distant when the.-e woes of
our ago will cease ; but who among the living
can forget the churches profaned, the cities and
villages burned our women, our children dving in
torture, and even our liljcrty sold, because the sea-
kings consumed our j)atrimony, and trod our in-
lieritanco under foot ? Thou hast willed it, O
Lord ! Rlcssed be thy will.

♦Onzlin, Abbot of Saint Araand, and afterwards Bialiop of
Paris.

?)J

for llit'.so

1, ."Iriiipcd
liil triliiilo
iuui'stursi,
[ bccatiio H
If, I l()>t,
I'urlliniaii,

crs ; tlipy
('<1 him ill
lul dl' llic
^ Ainaiul,
lorlliiiR'ii.
ivd Coiiiit
k, and I
tllC 1:111(1
liii;,' tiii'ir
irslons of
3 seckiii,!^
i[)v]; Uio

woes of
10 liviiii:^
itios and
tl.viiig in
) (he 8('a-

1 onr in-
xl it, O

I Diahop of

VI.

ynv. rii.f.KiM — Ti;NTir ( dvtiuy.

I, ii<)lii:i;T, unworthy |iiiiir ul' \Uo Altbcyof Saint
Aniaud, at tlio riMjiu'tit of Baldwin, fornicriy
hroiiniit up in this nionaHtery, linvo written tho ac-
count of his life and the conff^fision of lii.s faults.
He (lioiight that (his account niipht Fcrvc to in-
struct covetous and ambitious men, who ipaui[ter
(lie passion ^ of princcsnnd the^'rea(, (o the duinna-
tioM of tlieir own soul.-'.

Baldwin, the son of nii(> of our vas.-sals, having
early {^iven e\ideiu'c of a (piick mind and a rare in-
(elli/^^enco, was, through the charity of the Abbot
(iozlin, instructed in hunnin sciiMice ; but, what-
ever care was (aken to inculcate in him the spirit,
of jiiety andof humility, without which all rriencc is
vain, he testified from his youth the desire of rais-
ing himself above his condition, and a great ardor
in his projects of ambition and of wealth. One day,
Count Baldwin, commonly called the Bald, having
come to visit our monastery, took notice of young
Baldwin, who had had occasion to make himself
agreeable to tho i)rineo 1)y some slight service and
by his lively sallies. Tho Count wished to attach
him to his household, and asked him of us. Wo
coidd not refuse, and Baldwin followed his lord with
n hcnrt full of inv and hope. He mm.s emplovcd

4».

5'^

The Old C lust.

Jimoiigst the grooms of tlio hounds, und there again
lie pleased the Marquis, and by his intelligence,
Jiptitude, iind cxtniordiuary zeal he graduiuly
g-iined his whole confidence.

K is well known what was then the condition of
the Frankish kingdom. 'J'lie loids, who were so
submissive formerly under the i)owcrful liand of
Charlemagne, felt thcmsolvcs strong in their turn
under feeble kings; and one of them— Eudes,
Count of Paris— maintained himself for some
years on the throne of Fr.mce, notwithstanding
the claims of the lawful heir, young Charles, son
of King Charles the Bald. The prelates, howcvei-,
and the whole priesthood, remei bering their oatii,
given of old to the father of the most pious empe-
ror, and by which all ;lio chiefs of the F.anks
pledged themselves to never recognize as king a
man who was not of the race of Pepin ; and, faith-
ful to that vow of their predecessors, Foulqucs,
Archbishop of Itheims, and his suffragans, the
metropolitans of Treves, Cologne, and Mavcnco,
crowned the young Charles as king. The power-
ful Prince of Flanders ranged himself under the
command of his true sovereign, while Herbert,
Count of Vermandois, one of the most powerful
lords in the kingdom, openly espoused the cause of
the Count de Paris. Thence sprang a deadly
hatred between Count Baldwin' and the house of
Vevmandois ; and in the wai- which took place
between the partisans of King Charles and those
of King Eudes, the brother of the Prince of Flan-
ders, Kaoul dfe Cambrai, surnamed on account of
liis bravery Taille-fer (Cut-iron), perished by the
hand of Herbert of Vermandois. This was a -^reat

I \i

1 there again
intelligence,
3 gradui'.ily

!< nidi I ion of
ilio ■\vcrc so
'ul hand of
1 tlu'ir turn
?m — Eudes,
for somo
itbstanding
iliarlcs, son
s, howcvei',
their oatii,
)ioiis empe-
;he F.anks
! as king a
and, faith-
Foulques,
agans, the
Mavcnce,
Lhe power-
under the
3 Herbert,
t powerful
lie cause of
a deadly
3 hotiso of
ook place
and those
■e of Flan-
iccouat of
ed by the
as a great

The Old C/icsL

affliction for Count Baldwin, who lo'cd this bro-
ther above all creatures ; and, in place of turning
to the Lord, who would have comforted him in hit
allliction, he revolved in his mind projects of ven-
geance, forgetting him who has said, "Vengeance
is mine, and I will repay." One day, while hunting
in the forest of Mormal, it chanced that he found
himself alone with his servant Baldwin. The
Count was not, as usual, inspired by his favorite
exercise ; with spear down, he rode along, lost in
his own dark thoughts, when Baldwin, who was
somewhat familiar with him, ventured to say :

" 3ry good lord, thy thoughts are not here ; and
yet the forest is line and the game abundant.''

" I am following another scent," said the prince,
looking at his vassal ; " but to reach (hat quarry I
would need a faithful arm and a steady hand."

'' If one knew the game, good lord, one might
pounce upon it."

•' Knowst thou the mortal enemy of my house ?
What bloody wolf rushed upon the brave Kaoul ?
Blood calls for blood."

" It shall have it. But what would the hunts-
man obtain ? "

"Gold, and the friendship of his lord."
Two days after, Herbert de Vermandois, on go-
ing forth from his castle, received a mortal wound
from a dagger, and some time after Baldwin gave
up his post of groom of the hounds, to become his
lord's secretary.

It was a great crime, a cruel murder, which for
long after frightened the lords in their castles, as
well as their subjects in their huts ; but soon a
greater crime terrified all Ciiristendom, 1 have

The Old Chest.

paid before that the Lord Foulqncs. Archbishop of
KhciniH, was the friend, the father, and protector
of the young King Charles. The latter had just
granted to him the Abbey of St. Sithin, or St. Ber-
tin, which tlic prelate dearly loved, for it was there
he had spent his youth. But Count Baldwin, by
a gcandalous abuse, which li..s become too common
in our days, desired to possess, although a layman,
this house of God, the patrimony of which be-
longed to the poor ; and when he saw his hopes
frustrated, he conceived against tl venerable
Foulques a hatred which could only end in blood ;
and a second time (0 unhappy fate of princes !)
Baldwin was near him, as the dagger is found
ready to the hand which is about to use it for
murder. King Charles and Archbishop Foulques
had met at the mi' nor of Compiegne ; the old man
had come to take leave of his young king ; he
was journeying along the road to lUieims, sur-
rounded by a few followers, when Baldwin, fol-
lowed by some hired assassins, fell upon him
and pierced him wiih his lance. The parricide
was accomplished. That wretch, brought up with-
in the sacred walls of the Monastery of St. Amand,
did not fear to shed the blood of the pontiff of the
Lord.

From the Rhine to the Pyrenees ilcw like wild-
fire the news of this crime. Baldwin, under the
powerful protection of the Prince of Flanders,
ran no temjioral risk ; but the Church, neverthe-
less, had still her thunders. A council, assembled
at llheims, pronounced sentence of excommu-
nication against the assassins of the most pious
Foulques : '• Let them be cursed,"' cried the bishops ;

)ishop of
irotcctor
had just
• St. Ber-
I'iis there
hviu', by
common
layman,
liich bc-
lis hopes
cnerablc
II blood ;
princes !)
is found
3C it for
Foulques
old man
ing ; he
ms, snr-
win, fol-
lon him
parricide
up with-
Amand,
iff of the

ike wild-
uder the

Flanders,
iievcrtlic-
sseniblcd
xcommu-
ist pious
bishops ;

The Old Chest.

" cursed in the city, cursed in the fields, cursed in
their offspring, cursed in the fruit of their lands,
and their herds of oxen, and their flocks of sheep ;
let them bo cursed coming' in and going out ;
cursed within the house, cursed without. May
their bowels rot ; let no Christian even salute
them ; let thei-i receive the burial of the ass, and
lot them lie on the dunghill in the face of the
whole world.'"*

Under the protection of the prince whom he had
served with such arduous fidelity, Baldwin feorcd
nothing, and he lived in great wealth. Several
years elapsed thui5, during Avhich great events were
accomplished. The Xormans, under their chief
KoUo, made an alliance with the Franks ; they re-
ceived as their domain fair Keustria, with its fertile
fields, its limpid waters, and, converted to Chris-
tianity, they really formed a part of the Frankish
nation, dear to God and man ; young King Charles,
too feeble to resist his great vassals, was seized by
the i)crfidiou3 Herbert do Vermandois, and shut
up in the tower of Poronne, thence transported to
Orleans, where he died in the year of Christ 92!».
Raljjh, Duke of Burgundy, was seated on the throne
of Clodowig and of Charlemagne. On his deatli,
the last descendant of the race of Pepin, Louis
IV. d'Outremer, ascended to the place of his an-
cestors, but only for a few days. Those were troublous
and disastrous times ; hatred and murder seemed
as nothing to the men of that age ; like Lamech of
old as it is written in the Book of Genesis, they
said, hiughing, " I have just killed a man I "

* Acts of the Council of Rheims.

The OU Chest.

William Loiig-Sword, Duke of Normandy, pevisli-
cd, through sliumeful treachery, slain l)y the order,
and perhaps by the hand of Arnoul, Count of
Flanders and son of Baldwin. . . . These
fierce lords thought only of blood and violence, and
their fatal passions ji'-vays found docile instru-
ments uround them. Baldwin, who had passed
from the service of the father to that of the son,
was, he confessed to me, the witness, if not the
accomplice, of this murder. But there the grace
of God awaited him.

The sight of the forsaken corpse of this prince,
but lately so brilliant andso chivalrous, recalled to
the troubled conscience of Baldwin the murders
■which the waters of human prosperity could never
Avash away He looked at, touched those wounds,
and he remembered. He confessed his iniquity be-
fore the Lord his God, and he desired to do
penance, lie immediately left the Isle of Pec-
quigny, where the murder of that powerful lord
had been accomplished, and, walking day and night
barefoot, he went to throw himself at the feet of
the pious Bishop Ausbert, then occupying the See of
Cambrai. There hG confessed his crimes, and asked,
on his knees, humbled under ashes and hair-cloth,
to be released from the Anathema of Holy Church.
The pious prelate did not close his door on this
sinner whom the Shepherd of the sheep brought
back on his shoulders, but he prescribed to him,
as his canonical penance, a fast of three years and
a t)ilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre of our Lord.

Baldwin obeyed, but before setting out on his
long journey he gave to the poor the wealth which
he had acquired by bloodshed, and after journeying

i I

, porisli-

order,
ount of

The30
ucc, and
instru-
passed
the son,
not the
le gruco

i prince,
called to
murders
Id never
wounds,
luity be-

1 to do
of Pec-
■ful lord
!id night
3 feet of
he See of
id asked,
lir-clotli,
Cimrch.

on this
brouglit
to him,
ears and
Lord,
it on his
th which

The Old Chest.

day and night, clad in a poor woollen tunic which
concealed a hair-clotli, fasting, praying, and living
on alms, lie reached (lie sliorcs of Provence, and
there embarked for Palestine. IIo visited in turn
the sacred place.'^, and all v ere witnesses of his pen-
ance and his tears. How could the sinner refrain
from sobbing and beating his breast at sight of tlie
Moun+. of Olives, of Gulgotli:), of the sepulchnil
cavo where the fSaviour slept for three days, follow-
ing step by step the sorrowful footprints of the Son
of God upon earth ! Ibit to the just tears shed on
the foot.-t.ps (if Jesus Christ, our sweet and merci-
ful Saviour, the numerous pilgrims who visit the
Holy Land mingle those which arc forced from
thein by the sorrowful fate of Christian people who
are there, praying and suffering around the sacred
tomb, and each day subjected to the outrages of the
inlkh'ls. O Lord ! why dost thou delay in aveng-
ing thy peojde, and delivering from the oprvession
of unbelievers these memorable places, which thou
didst choose thyself, to consummate there the
greatest of sacriiices ?

It is only at the price of gold that pilgrims aro
admitted into the sanctuaries, and often their blood
waters the threshold.

Baldwin had the happiness of suffering for Jesus
Christ many humiliations and outrages, which,
doubtless, served as expiation for his crimes in the
eyes of the just Judge, who also saw the deep re-
pentance of his soul ; and, after three years passed
in prayer, mortification, and persecution, lie re-
turned to Europe, and received absolution of his
crimes.

He asked to retire amongst us, so as to end in

The Old C/ust.

solitiulo lii^ lifo, coiitaiuinatoil hs tloiilings
and intorcourKO with the world ; and, as u
lay brotlicr in tliis holy house, he long edi-
fied ns by the severity of his penance and by
his love of humiliation. Often, at the request
of the Father Abbot, ho would tell us of his long
journeys ; he described the Holy Places, -which arc
to all of us as our own country ; he rcpresrnted to
US those vast multitudes of pilgrims, that peaceful
army, Avhich ask no other favor than that of being
allowed to weep at the tomb of its Saviour.; he also
made us weep relating the sufferings and insults
which faithful Christians undergo, and we all shud-
dered, saying : " Who then shall deliver them ? "
But, alas ! what does it matter ? The trials and
pleasures of earth shall soon end ; we are approach-
ing the end of human things ; when this century
has elapsed, the world shall have rendered its ac-
count tc its Judge, and the fire of heaven, coming
down on the earth, shall have consumed the i)laco
of our exile. The air, the land, and the sea are full
of warning ; there is in the ocean extraordinary
movements ; a whale, Avhich is no other than the
leviathan of the Scriptures, has come aground on
the coast of Normandy ; the elements are disturbed
at their approaching dissolution, and men's souls
are turning towards the God who is soon to judge
them. Everywhere people are becoming detached
from perishable goods ; they are given to the poor,
to churches, to monasteries. Once more, alas !
what does it matter ? Soon shall the poor be first
ii^jthe kingdom of God, earthly churches shall be
changed into eternal tabemacles, and the inmates
of monasteiies shall be judged according to the

77u' I Vd (. lust.

graces 'vhich thoy have received and the use they
have made of them. . . . May the Mas^^er lind
us with loins girt and with lamps lit !

I forgot to add that Haldwin died on a.«i;e.« seven
years after his entrance to the Monastery of Elnon.
When dying, he made a j)ul)lic confession of his
crimes, and recommended himself to the prayers of
his brethren. If any one comes after me and reads
this, let him i)ray for us, poor sinners !

This was written in the first year of the reign of
Ilngli Capet, Godha\ing transferred to this power-
ful family the sceptre Avhieh had remained for two
hundred and thirty-five years in the hands <if the
descendants of Charlemagne.

■.li

;i \

CHAPTKR VII.
THE ciirurn-nriLDER axd ihe tuoubadour —

ELEVENTH CENTURY.

We were four brother.-!, sons of TurolJ, a tenant
of the Al)hey of Ehion, and descondunts of Bahlwin,
formerly secretary to the Lord Count of Flan-
ders, and since lay brother in the Monastery
of Saint Amand, where he ended his life
in penance. The monks were good and lenient
lords to us, liberal and benevolent, and, com-
paring our lot with those of the vassals of the
lay lorda, cjuld only tliank lloaven. Slill, my
young brother, Ilervo, who liad been taught Kome
learning by one ol tlie monks, became dissatisfied
and disgusted with tlie rudeness of our vassals.
lie secretly left our fatlier's house and the abl)ey
lands, and Hod, without letting any one know
wl ithor ho was going nor the plan whicli ho had
formed. Some thought that ho had gone to tho
Holy Land, others believed that he had retired to
some desert place to lead the life of a hermit. It
seemed to me that a certain love of adventure had
alone drawn him away, and I cherished the hope of
one day seeing him again.

Liko mv elder brothers, I desired nothing else
68

7'//r Old Clii'st.

than tho i)eacefu! life which I had seen my father
and mother lead ; but I wished to share this life
with a young girl, whose father was a vassal of tho
Count d'KsiK'. a patron of tlie Abbey of Elnou. I
loved her and she loved me, and our hearts were
torn when her lord dispo.s^'d of jier ir marriage to
one of liis people. Alone in the world, my father
having just dieil, wounded to the depth of my soul,
I presented myself to the Father Master of Novices,
that I might bo received as a lay brother, but ho
wished to try my vocation, and put mc off for.'^mo
time. I was returning from tlie fields one evening,
thinking sadly of my l)otrothed, now sitting by the
hearth of another husband, when, near a little
chapel dedicated to tiie Blessed Mother of God, I
saw a man kneeling in prayer. He was clad in' a .
poorcamelot blouse, and carried on his shoulder a
mason's trowel and hod. Ho had a quiet, good-
natured face, l)ut when ho raised his largo gray eyes
it seemed as if his thought penetrated into your
soul, like a wedge into wood.

'• Good rest to thee, master," said I to him.
"God give it to thee, my brother," answered ho
kindly. '• Couldst thou tell mc the name of tho
country in which I now nni ? "

" Thou art on the lands of tho Abbey of Saint
Amand. Yonder is tho sjiro of the church and
the blue roof of tho monastery ; around it the town
of Saint Amand, where a free fair is hold to-dav.
Is it there thou art going, master P"

" Xo, my brother, I desire neither tho pleasure
nor tho business of tho Avorld. I wish to And a
lodging for tho night, and to-morrow at the hour
0. prime I will proceed on my way."

1'^

CHAPTKR VII.
THE ciirRrn-nriLDER axd hie tuoubadoith —

ELEVENTH CENTURY.

We were four brother.-!, sons of Turold, a tenant
of the Al)l)i'y of Ehion, and (loscondunts of Biihlwin,
formerly secretary to the Lord Count «)f Fhm-
dern, and since lay brother in the Monastery
of Saint Amand, where ho ended his life
in penance. The monks were good and lenient
lords to us, liberal and benevolent, and, com-
paring our lot with those of the vassals of the
lay lords, cjuld only tliank lloavon. Slill, my
young brother, Ilcrvi', who liad been taujrht Kome
learning by one of tlie monks, became dissatisfied
and disgusted with the rudeness of our vassals.
lie secretly left our fatlier's house and the abbey
lands, and Hod, without letting any one know
wlithor ho wa-s going nor the plan whicli ho had
formed. Some thought that ho had gone to tho
Holy Land, others bolieved that he had retired to
some desert place to lead the life of a hermit. It
seemed to me that a certain love of adventure had
alone drawn him away, and I cherished the hope of
one day seeing him again.

Liko mv elder brothers, I desired nothing else
68

k
c

tl
o
L

n
k

JR—

nant
win,
Thn-
stcry
life
lient
com-
f the
, my
Konu'
isficil
ssuls.
lb bey
know
3 had
tlio
•cd to
.. It

hail
)po of

1 elsio

7'//r Old Chest .

than the i)eaccfiil life which I liad seen my father
and molhor lead ; but I wished to share this life
with a yniinn: girl, wliosc father -.vna a vassal of the
Count d'Ksiic. a patron of tlio Abbey of Elnon. I
loved her and she loved me, and our hearts were
torn when her lord disposi'd of her ii marriage to
one of his people. Alone in the world, my father
having ju.st died, wounded to the depth of my soul,
I presented myself lo the Father Master of Novices,
that I might bo received as a lay brother, but ho
wished to try my vocation, and put mo off for.mio
time. I was returning from tlie fields one evening,
thinking sadly of my l)etrothed, now sitting by the
hearth of anotlier husband, when, near a little
chapel dedicated to tiie Blessed Mother of God, I
saw u man kneeling in prayer. Ho was clad in' a
poorcamclot blouse, and carried on his shoulder a
mason's trowel and hod, lie had a quiet, good-
natured face, l)ut when ho raised his largo gray eyes
it seemed as if his thought penetrated into your
soul, like a wedge into wood.
" Good rest to thee, master,*' said I to him.
"God give it to thee, my brother," answered ho
kindly. '• Couldst thou tell mc the name of tho
country in which I now nm .? "

" Thoii art on tho lands of tho Al)bey of Saint
Amand. Yonder is tho sjiro of tho church and
the blue roof of tho monastery ; around it tho town
of Saint Amand, wlierc a free fair is hold to-day.
Is it tliero thou art going, master P"

" Xo, my brother, I desiro neither tho pleasure
nor the business of tho world. I wisli to find a
lodging for tho niglit, and to-morrow at tho hour
o: prime I will proceed on my way."

i«r-

r,.)

Thr (V.i Ck

ixr.

•' Come lo tlic iihlti'v," saiil J. '• Straiipors luci
Avoli'onio tlioro."

'• Tjjt us pi) there,'' Huiil he, " under the cjiro of
f{,.<I iuid of Our Lady."

We took the way to llio monastery. The bell
w:iH slowly ringinj^, and its voice came to us
throu;:h the i)ure, cool evening nir.

• Brother Damiiso is in his agony," saitl I. '• lie
is slill very young."

'•' The life of man is as a few days," answered
ray comp.iv.lon. *• Ilappy is ho who has trio one
thing neccssnry."

Reaching the abl)ey, he stopped, and considered
for some moments its majestic structure, its thick
walls, picrood with small grated windows, the for-
tified works on the outside, which were intended to
defend the house of God from the incursions of
the Northmen, the church built iu wood and
brick, the arched porcli of which was guarded by
two marble lions, between which the lord abbot
sat when disi)ensing justice to his vassals.

" It is a fiiie building," said I.

" It bears tlic- stamp of i)ast ages — of barbarous
ages," answered the mason; "to-day, thanks to
tiie zeal of our pious King Robert and the learned
Pope Sylvester,* who sits in the chair of St. Peter,
finer monuments arc being raised, witli God's good
aid."

Whilst he p ^'die thus, the door of the abbey
opened ; the broJier porter introduced us iuto
that part of the house reserved for guests, and soon

♦ Sylvoster II. (Gorbort). This learned Pop© gave a power-
ful im])ulso to all tbe arts.

TIti- f V,/( lust.

:cr8 aro

ciiro of
he bell

to in

. '-lie

iswcroil
fno one

.sidcrcil
3 thick
;ho for-
ndf tl to
;i()ns of
0(1 and
rdod hy
1 abl)o"t

rbarous
ankd to
learned
. Peter,
I's good

i? idibcy
lis into
nd soon

) a power-

H' •uhor.|,nst,..am... ,vi,i,prc.athumilitv, townsh
'';;^;:--nc.rs foot, whilst lhoronan.Pp;o,nred„

\^ the v,.,I of tho holy Aposdo. Poter .-.nd Paul
AVhenlhomasonplaood himsolf .(, (he tablo. (ho
Lost romamod (o .orvo him. and allowed no ,
«t«y un.d tho ..lo.sing of (he abbov gates. Thev
.ogan to oonvorso. and n.y eompanion gave manV
|'ioof.-,(,f loarningand wisdom.

'•Wl.Ithei- art (hon going?" at l.ng.h aske.l
.o-i.MVl^- dost thou not take ad^^n.aio:

t'H' three day. of ro,st (hat onr house otters t.M.il-
gnm.iand travellers 'i" '

••My rest is not here,-' answered the mason
-■■.ng. "My work and my companions:::;;
"I- • • • I am going (oLaon. to,],, (hero as
niueh as I can of the Lord's work ••

"And what is that work? Who .rt thon ?"
I -•im a bnihlor for the good God, a miserable

nnd unworthy mond,er of those pious eorpor.
^ I'o endeavor, in all phu-os. oi(hor to repair ol

HmrelK. or t., build new and mo

r mz knowest. most reverend father in God, our

orefathers were muoh alarmed at tho approa h of

J.C jearonc thousand, whieh thev thonyht would

'nng tho end of the world and the great d ,y o

^l'v;no justice ; but when that voar had pa4d

•■"Hi I'opc was renewe.1 in their hearts, the world

comed to a-cvivo. Tho sacre.l basilicas wo.^ re'

»mlt, from bottom to top, i„ almost all ,,.u,s of

he world, especially in Italy and Gaul, aithou,^
the greater number were still solid enough to re-

'" "'"' '-''^' ••^''^•'' "~ '<• "ho would raise the

6»

The Old Chest.

I ;■:.

richest iiiul most hciiiitiftil i hurclii's ; one would
liiivo Biiid tliiit the wliolc world, by common con*
Bont, hud thrown olT its rag.i to cover il.<elf with
new churches as witii u white piirment. My
brethren and I Inive consecrated our HlriMiglli and
our lifo to this generous toil ; we go from city to
city, bod and trowel i'l band ; everywhere wo
build tabcrnacleH to the hidden God, wo raise asy-
lums of prayer, we strive to make the very stonca
thomselves speak a lanpuape wortliy of the Creator ;
and we hope, as the wages of our labors, to obtain,
after the evil days of this life, a place in tliafc
divint) city, whose foundations are of jasper, and
its walls of precious Rtoues." .

The unison had become animaled ; his eyes
shoue with faitli and fervor. The monk listened
attentive and charmed ; and I . . . something
said to me in the dejUhs of my soul. "Go and do
likewise. Work for God, forgot the world, and
thou wilt find peace.''

The bell announced the closing of the gates. . I
left the mason and the monk, and I went to the
church, which was left open on account of the next
day's fcstivtil. The father-master of novices was
iu the confessional ; I knelt at his feet, and told
him simply what I felt. He listened with much
kindness and attention, and answered :

" It is a great and holy work, my son, to which
thou wouldst consecrate thyself. Thou wilt labor
not only for the present time, but for future gene-
rations—for those ages of little faith which shall
come after tis, to which the great monuments
erected by your hands shall record the glory of
God, the beauly of his house, and the woiulors of

The Old Chtst.

vol) Id

C'Otl-

' with

I and
ity to
wo
) iisy.
itoncii
iiitor ;
bhiin,
tlittt
, iiud

cyca
iti'iiod
tilling
lul do
, and

ua. . I
to tho

next
;8 was

1 told
imich

which
labor
gcuc-
I shall
nicnts
ory of
lor.s of

hJH love. Thou art niihappy in tin- uoijd, I think ;
thou art not called to th(» rolipioua life which thou
didst wish to crnhraco ; imt it may ho that what
thou now foclosL is u divine inspiration. . .
If so, thou wilt ho frco to follow it. Tray, inv s.m,
and I will also pmy for thoo and with thee. . . ."
Some days passed, durin;,' which tho mason did
not leave the ahbcy. llo cdilicd the religious hv
liis spirit of piety and of penance, and he excited
such ardor in tho young novices that they wished to
go with him to build temples to the glory of tho
Most High (Jod. ^fy resohitioii remained un-
shaken, and the Father Ahixit gave ww. iiermission
to depart. I left tho farm to my oldest brother
Nicholas, tho mill to my young brotlier William ; I
took with mo only a cross of olive-wood, which my
uncloIJaldwin had brought back from the great
pilgrimage, and I uet out poor and free.

Wo repaired to tho city of Laon, whoso Bishop
was rebuilding the principal church, which had
boon destroyed by tho barbarians of tho North.
Oh ! what a fipectaclo my eyes beheld. Innume-
rable workmen, ranged under the orders of a chief,
called the Master of Art, were occupied, some in
cutting tho stone, in carving the heads of pillars,
the hmd-rilievi, the statue::; of saints ; others wore
cutting and fashioning the wood, ])ounding tho
mortar, handling the trowel, or doing duty by
carrying building matcnals or eatables.

All worked without other salary than their dailv
bread. It was a marvel to see powerful men, proud
of their birth and riches, accustomed to a life of
ease and luxury, fasten themselves to a car with
traces, and drag stones, lime, wood, and all tho

I
1

T/ii' Old C/ust.

nccessrti-y materials for the construction of the
sacred eclificc. Sometimes a thousand persons,
men and women, were attacliod to the same car
(they beinj^ sometimes so large), ind yet there w.'i.s
perfect silence, not the slightest whis^per being
heard. Wlicn they stopped on the road, they
sj-okc but only of their sins, which they confessed
with prayers and tears ; then the priests busied
themselves in extinguishing Jiatred, having debts
,;i. "tted, and, if they found one hardened enough
r * to pardon his enemies and refuse to listen to
these pious exhortations, he was immediately un-
fastened from the cart and dismissed from the
pious company.*

I was presented to the corporation by my com-
panion, who seemed to exercise some authority
over them, \. Jch was undoubtedly duo to the ad-
mirable talents which frod had given him. He
directed the labors of the masons, and under his
direction I learned to erect walls, to build and to
adorn the buttresses, to design the elegant outlino
of arches, and to raise majestic towers to the clouds.
I was at length,, after some pious ceremonies tho
secret of which is kept among us, received among
the affiliated, and sent, under the orders of our
chiefs, wherever the glory of God i-equired it, tiiat
being the solo object ' ' our art and our labors. I
went on, for my poor share, to erect the glorious
Monastery of Saint ^fartin of Tours, and the
church which King Robert was having built at
Orleans in honor of Saint Aignan, the patron of

•'■ Tlieso details iire also in !i loKov of Itaiv.io-i, .\.bIjot of Kaint
rierroof Dives, in ^orniandy, IMJ,

th;
t\v
an
coi
ho
on
Mi
Ap

hci
tor
spi
on
wil
figi
l.rt
gal
ele

0f(

in
or
th:

(ir

dai

of,

ant

cat

rat

thi

The OU Chest.

I the
•sons,
car

C W.'i.S

being
they
fessc'tl
msiccl
debts
loiigh
en to

y "i»-

II the

com-
liority
10 ad-
IIo
31" his
nd to
utlinc
lords.
es tho
imong
:)f our
, that
rs. I
orious
d the
lilt at

of Saint

th:it city. This building was forty fathoms long,
twelve in tliicKnc^!^, ten iu height, with si liundrcd
and twenty-three windows, and nineteen altars,
consecrated to as many saints. The front of this
hon.sc of God was built with admirable skill, and
on the same plan us that of the Convent of Saint
Mary Motiier of Christ, Saint Vital, and Saint
Actricohi, at Clermont iu Auvercfne.

Tho saci-cd art made great ])rogrcss ; tho low,
heavy pillars of the cathedrals built by our ances-
tors were gi'adually raised ; the elliptical arches
sprang u]) in l)older curves ; the towers rose liigher
on rows of trii)le arches ; the poilals were decorated
with ornaments and carvings of fruits, pearls, the
figures of men and beasts ; and even some of our
l)rethrcn, giving birth to new ideas, raised, elon-
gated the curves of tho arches, which, in their
elegant designs, resembled two hands raised and
joined in prayer. To this form they gave the name
of ogival. Others, seeking idways to serve the Lord
in the person of their brethren, built hospitals
or threw bridges over rivers ; and 1 have heard
that, in Provcr.ce, a shepherd named I3enez3t, in-
.'^l)ired by God, built, without any human knovkuge
or resources, an admirahle bridge over the most
dangerous ))art of the Ilhonc. May God aid men
(jf good-will !

As long as God left mo strength, I consecnited it
to these pious labors, happy in working for heaven,
and to roaiize, in raising these chapels, churches,
cathedrals, the grandest idea vthich it is given lo
man to conceive hero below — the worship and ado-
ration of the Sovereign Lord. I was liapjiy in
thinking tiiat iifter us, when wo have long I'd-n

The Old Chest.

sleei)ing forgotten in our graves, generations will
coino and pray bencatli these vaults raised by our
hands ; I felt an iuelTablc consolatior^ in collecting
the stones for the altars on which the most sweet
Saviour Jesus will immolate himself till the end of
time; I redoubled my confulenco in Mary, Our
Lady, Mother of God and our hope, when I contri-
buted to build her chapels, Avhcrc so many afllicted
souls shall come and find peace ; and the m 'mory
of all these iiouses of God, to which I brought my
stone and my sweat, still consoles and rejoices me
now Avhen I am old and infirm at my fireside. I
was already old, and was still working at the build-
ing of the ciiapel of the Monastery of Ferri^ro in
Gatinoia, where travellers and the sick were received
and siieltercd, when I was asked to assist in carr}'-
ing a poor sick pilgi'im into tlic interior of the
house. I went, and I saw a man of some forty
years, who seemed overcome Avith fatigue and ill-
ness. He had with him a shophei"d's scrip and a
viol. I raised him, and helped to place him gently
ou u bed ; there his oyc? opened, he looked at me,
and I seemed to meet my mother's look, Avhich re-
turned to me through the eyes of her last born, my
young brother Ilervo. I kept apart while they
attended to his first wants, and when he was alone,
inside the serge curtains, T went and knelt beside
him. lie was not aslt'op. lie spoke in a weak and
fevcrisli voice, and his words were like the cadence
of the hymns and canticles which we sang as we
went to work. I took liis hand, he turned towards
me ; his eyes shone like a dying Limp.

" What wouldst thou of nio :" said he.

''I would know tliy name."'

tl
oj
m
ai

m
m

ill
hf

wi
sh
an
F,

'»-ii

Thr OU L lust.

"My name is Ilervi'. and I am a troubadour at
the court of tlio ui(;.sL mighty Loril William, Duke
of Kormanuy, . , .' I geek a lay in honor of
my Lady iMary, ^lotlier of God ; but my thougliti
are conftiscd ; . . . I am suffering."

"Ilervi'," eiied I, '• wort thou not born on the
lands of tlio Abltoy of EInon ?''

"It is true; and the taste for tlie gay art, the
love of adventure, has led me far from my family
and my country.''

" Ilervi', dost thou not know tliy brother
Simon ?'' ...

He raised himself and looked at me for a mo-
ment; then he threw his trembling arms around
my neck, and said with tears :

'■ Is' it thou, my brother ? I see, then, one of
my own before I die. Blessed be God, and thee,
most sweet Virgin I''

We embraced each other with inexpressible joy,
though mingled with bitterness, for I felt that I
Lad found my brother only to lose him. In broken
words he told mc his life ; ho had been famous, ho
had composed lays, songs, fables, which had
Auni the applause of no1)lo ladies, of i)rincep, and
of barons; and his sickness had attacked him in
the midst of his success and his glory. . . . He
oU'ercd to God tiie sacrilice of his life, and yet he
spoke one of his verses, and said :

"I shall not be forgotten. . . . Mv versos
will go down \m posteiily. Tlio song of Rohnul
shall bo sung in the hall of b.inms to excite faith
and valor in the minds of the young men. . . .
Fuirdamsels will repeat my lays and my songs."' . . .

He interrupted himself, and exclaimed : "Alas !

Til,- DUI i'liisf.

my .Saviuiir, par-l.) i ;i proud .sinner. \W merciful
to liiiu at the ('ay of judgmoiit"

Towards morning he grew worse ; lie a,skcd for
and received tlie Sacraments ivitii great devoiion,
and about noon of tiie same day he died. . . .
O merciful God ! roccivo liis ,=oul into i)aradise.

1 had Ie:ir..(Hl to road, and I examined the paper.s
U'ft b\ II, y [)oor hrollier. 'L'iiey Avere rhymes, 8on)e
linLslied, s'une uueonipletcu thoughts, of wliich ho
l)ore tile f^eeret into tlic grave.

Old age liad come ; my hand was heavy and my
eyes were diin ; I left Hie corporation and nty
lirelhren in hiljor and in prtiyer ; I returned to
Elnon to die, where my father and mother had
died. My brotlier Nicholas was living, and had
several children ; but I heard strange things con-
cerning my brother William the miller.

The land v.liich ho held had been sold to the
Baron of .Mort main. William had followed his lord
over the sea to the country of the English. The
Duke of Normandy headed this expedition ; he con-
((ucred the land ; from being a duke ho became a
king, and all who had accompanied him had great
gain. The poor foot-soldier, avIio had crossed the
sea with a stuffed doublet and ti bow of black wood,
donned the shirt of mail and mounted the steed of
a knight ; the mere knight became rich enough to
raise a banner and asseml)le a company of men-at-
urm.s; the Xorman herdsmen and Flemish '..-eavers
became nobles ; it was said that William had mar-
ried an English girl of noble lineage ; ho had be-
come the possessor of her lands^ and one of the
feudal lords of the kingdom wliieh the Coiuiueror,
as they call him, had founded. .Alav the,«e riches

b(
a£
re
ov
Jt
ca
so
D

The OU Clii'st.

lerciful

ccd for
vol ion,

• • •

ise.

?, some
1 it'll lie

iiul my
lid nty
iicd to
er had
id had
'% con-

bo not a curso to him ! Wo shall iiovci- seo liim
again. As for mu, with my brother and liis cliihl-
ren, I await in peace tlie lioiir of my death. I tliink
over the labors of my youth, and from tho.so eartiily
Jerusalcms which I hel])cd to build, my mind is re-
called to the heavenly Jerusalem, to which I hope
soon to be admitted, through Iho grace of the
Divine Saviour, Jesus.

to the
lis lord
TIio
iccon-
:anie a
. great
ed the
wood,
;eed of
Ligh to
len-at-
eavcrs
' ni ar-
id be-
)f the
ueror,
jifhos

VIII.

TiiK riasADrn — twklitii (M'.XTrnY.

I WAS still very yoim<r, a little boy of scarcely
thirteen, mIicu .sDmethiiig extraordinary took place
in the coi'jitiy ia wliieli we lived. Every one,
monks, barons, frco-holders, vassals, men, women,
children, coming from the most distant places,
crowded under the lindens which surrounded the
church, and waited there, in great fear and rever-
ence, as if they expected either the bisliop or the
sovereign of the country. The bells rang ; I was
waiting like the others, souicd on a block of stone,
and my heart boat, I knew not why. At longtii
was heard in the distance the sound of footsteps
and of horses ; the monks were chanting " Bene-
dictns qui venit in nomine Domini!"* the people
cried '• Noiil ! Noel ! " f the ranks opened, and the
Lord Abbot appeared, having on his left tiio Lord
d'Esne, a patron of the Abbey, and on his right u
small man of low stature, clad in a woollen cloak,
carrying a pilgrim's staff, mounted on a mule, and
of very unpretending appearance ; and yet all the
honors were directed to him. lie got down from
his mule, threw himself at the feet of the Lord

* " Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lonl ! "
+ Literally, "Christmas."

a?
f(

Pl
tl

ed
CI
si(
Ci

ai:

thi

th(

frc

th(

rci

sui

an(

!!n(

the

hac

shr

chi

of!

exa

mil

wit'

dea

'Ihc Old ill, St.

scarcely
)k pliice
iiy one,
women,

places,
led the
I rover-

or the
; I was
I stone,

longtli
)otstcps
" Benc-

people
md the
e Lord
right u
I cloak,
lie, and
all the
n from
e Lord

[1 ! "

Abbot, whoso blessing he Immbly received, and
af^ccndod a little i>latform which had been erected
fnr him. Thence he cast a long look on the peo-
ple, raised hi,s eyes to heaven, and, in a low and
thrilling voice, ho uttered words that I have never
forgotten.

Ho spoke of the Holy Land, which he had visit-
ed, of the glorious sepulchre of onr Lord Jesus
Christ, of the jjlace.s which had witnessed his Tas-
sion, of the Garden of Olives, of the Pra.'torium, of
Calvary ; ho recalled all the memories of our faith,
all that our divine and most sweet Saviour suffered
for us ; he told how he had seen the places watered
by the blood of our IJedeemer, how he had followed
the sorrowful Way of the Cross, kissed the stone of
tlie most Holy Sepulchre ; and when the picture of
the love and sufferings of Jesus had drawn tears
from all eyes, then he reminded the muKitude that
these holy and venerable places were in ilie poAver
of unbelievers, tliat the disciples of Mohammed were
reigning there where Christ had deigned to live, to
suffer, and to die. He dcscriljcd the profanations
and sacrileges which ho had wil:nessed, the torments
and tlie persecutions tiiat a godless people made
those endure who went to visit the Iloly Land. He
had seen Christians loaded Avith irons, dragged into
slavery, fastened to the yoke like beasts of burden ;
he had seen the oppressors of Jerusalem sell to the
children of Christ the permission to salute the tomb
of their God, wring from tliem their very bread, and
exact tributes even from poverty ; he had seen the
ministers of God torn frojn the sanctuary, beaten
with scourges, and condemned to an ignominious
death. ...

7"'

Tlu Old r/u-st.

As he woiil 1)11, all hearts swelled with anger ami
with grief. A dull niurimir ran through tlic crowd,
women wept, men placed tlieir hand on tlioir knives
or their sword.s. At length the Lord Gaultier do
Douai, who was amongst hi;^ hearer.s, advanced the
first, and asked to enter in the *' Way of Ood," and
the Lord Abhot immediately took from the hands of
the prior a cross of red cloth, which he fastened on
the shoulder of that bravo knight. Every voice
cried out ''God wills it ! (iod wills it I"' and the
men went in hundreds to receive the cross, and
pledge themselves ])y vow to the truce of God with
Christian people, and to war against the infulcls.
The priests blessed those who received the sign of
the holy war, saying :

" Receive this sign, the symbol of the passion and
death of the Saviour of the world, so that in thy
journey sin and misfortune may not overtake thee,
and that thou mayest return hai)pier, and, above
all, better, to thy kindred."

And the jieople repeated :

''lis wlio will not bear his cross and come after
mo is not worthy of me."

Others exclaimed :

" The coward remains liehind ; for me, I will

go."

The poor pilgrim who had thus put into Ihe

hearts of all this great and ardent desire was called

Peter tl>c Hermit.

Soon the castles jind the fields were deserted ;

roli'dous went forth from the cloisters, hermits

quitted their solitudes, and, like a torrent, this in-
calculable multituLle ruslied towards the East. Of
these brave men, a great number following the lead

The Old C/u-st.

2;er and
crowd,
•knives
Itior do
Ljcd the
il," and
lands of
}ncd oil
y voice
md the
ss, 11 nd
nd with
infulels.
sign of

ion and

in thy

ko tlioi',

1, above

no after

, I will

nto the
IS called

cpcrtcd ;
hermits
this in-
iist. Of
the lead

of Vtmh'm- Sans Avoir, perished in llie forests of
Eastern Europe; others, wi.'^erimd more prudent,
under the command of a knipht of our countrv,
Godfrey dc Bouillon, advanced to Jerusalem, "l
liavc heard from men, learned in the things of
Ciod, (hat the whole Eastern Church had known
licforchand ..f the wonderful event which was to
deliver it ; (lie saints and the kings of apes pone
hefo'c had announced to thojiatriarchs and hishoj.
the arrival of the crusaders, and the shade cf
Charlemagne was seen exhorting the Christian.' .-.
combat the infidels.

The holy city was taken after mnny battles f.!)(.
great hardships endured by the Christians; the
Lord Godfrey was elected king, but -he • i-l
neithci- bo consecrated nor crowned king of Jeiusa-
lem, because he did not wish to wear a crown of
gold where the King of kings, Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, wore a crown of thorns on the day of
his passion. In the hall of the baron as in the hut
of the serf were sung the cx])loits and the valor of
the aufenders or the cross, and almost every family
congratuhitcd itself on having given a soldier to
Jesus Christ and a martyr to heaven. All were
eager to celebrate the glory of the most ])i()us God-
frey, that of Tancred, and of the Count of Flanders,
our mighty lord, Eobert, who Mas called the
son of Saint George, the lance and sword of Chris-
tians.

But, notwithstanding the valor of these bravo
knights and their successors, and of all the Chris-
tian people who marched under thei/ command,
the unbelievers ceased not to threaten the Huh
City, and, forty-five years after the taking of .Joru.

riu Old (-■//<. s/.

BulcMi, tlic ciiiisK (if our Liinl .lesii> aiitl tlic frmit
voyispo beyond the sen wen- pmiclail iig;iiii. It \v;is
in' tho ivign of Louir) llic Sovoiilli, 'I'liiorry of
Alfiu'O beiii;: Count of I'lamlcr-w 1 who write thin
luid l>ivn from my youlli in tlic service of tlio
AblK'y of Kliiou, jinil r iiiid piined some renown in
tlic use of Ibo bow iiud arrow, biiving loved urnis
jis well i!h) the plon;;!!, ulien (be pliiec where I
dwell was exehan^ied lor some lan<l (f the Siie dc
Noyeiles, and I ])assed with tlie Boil into the ser-
•vico of the ut'W lord. This was in the year of Our
Ltrd lUa. I was p;ricved at seeiu},' myself with
my children friven over to the service of any othci
miister than ihc monks, Avho Avere good and gcntlo
lords to us; but my heart was comforted when my
master idaced me in the innnl)er of bis men-at-
jirnis, and the holy war was proclaimed throughout
the barony. It was preached by tho IJlessed Ber-
nard, Al)iiot of Clairvaux, a holy man endowed
with the gilt of miracles. Being in the retinue of
my lord. I heard and saw this admirable n...n ; it
was at Etam])cs, where, in presence of the king
and tiie great barons, he jireaehcd the crusades.
He was irresistible; exhausted by the fasts and
privations of the desert, the breath of life being
harcly iu him, he p.ersuaded by bis aspect before he
did SCI bv bis words ; hi; voice was strong in a frail
bodv : simi)le with the simple, it was said that he
was" learned with tho learned, and abounding in in-
Bl ructions full of science and of virtue with men of
lofty mind. On hearing his discourse, which pene-
trated and inllamed the heart, all arose and asked
lor tho cross. ^My lord took it and caused his fol-
lowers to take it ;'aiul, about rcnleeust of the year

Tlw Old Chtst.

IS iiud llic jriviit
(.(l ag!iiii. It w;i8
iitli, 'I'liicrry of

1 who write tliirf
L) service of tlio
I some renown in
ving loved iirnjs
(' iiliuo wlierc I
(1 (if the Siie dc
^(lil into the ser-
1 the ,\-;ir of C)ut
eing myself with
, iee of any other
( good and gcnllo
iifoi'ted when my
■r of his men al-
ii nied throughout
the Blessed lier-
ly man endowctl
in the retinne of
Imirahlc n...n ; it
cnee of tlic king
icd the erusudes.
hy the fasts and
ath of life heing
s aspeet hi'forc he
s strong ill a frail
was said that he
1 ahoundingiu in-
irtue Avith men of
5urse, Avhieli pene-

avose and asked
ul caused his fol-
ilceost of the vcar

1 14T, wo set out on the holy pilgrimage. A\(' I'l-I-
lowed the hanner of the C'onni (f Maixh is, ( f
whom iny lord was ii vassal, 'i'lie il.iwer of rhi\aliy
had taken the cross; descrtcil towns and casilis
were seen with widows and orpiians wiio^e hn.-hamls
and fathers were still li\ing. ^Ve marched towards
the East, keeping in great jieuee and concord with
tlie inhahitants of the countries through which wc
jiasscd ; hut, when we had reached the fronticrsof
the (rrcek Knipire, the army iM'gau to snlftr from
want ; the inhaliitants Bliut themselves up in
(heir towns and castles, letting down to us their
jirovisioiis with cords from the top of (he walls.
This (ardy way of f.irnishing us with food could not
satisfy (he multitude of ])ilgrims, and, weary of suf-
fering from famine in a count ly iihonnding in
everything, they hegan to jirocuio what ti:(y re-
quired hy thefi. and ])illage. 1 sparcil as much
iis I could the jioor peasants, rememhering what I
was myself, and thinking, as I saw poor lielplcs
creatures, of my wife and my children whom J had
left so far away.

The Greck.s hastened Avith every means in their
])ower the departure of the Latins. The Germans,
suhjecis of the Emperor Conrad, took their way
(owards Phrygia, hut, having only provisions f(ir
eight days, and pressed hy an inealculahle nundiii'
of the enemy, they were ohliged to heat a retreat,
and their Emperor came to the King of France,
and said : '"'My Lord King, you whom nature has
given mc for a neighhor and a kinsmen, and whom
God has preserved to protect me in ;■. jiressing necessi-
ty, I wish to he no longer separated from you. Let
my tciitii 1c pitched where you think hcst, J only

The Old dhst.

Utfk you |() permit that my •■<>iii|iaiuf>ns.iii-uniiH may
join with vniiiH." 'I'iio Kin;,' rccoivcil him witli
jrivat Kiiitiiii'.-s ; iiiul fmm that linit« the two
arinicM inanhtMl togelhci'. and the Ein|Hnir had iio
0thri-(l\vcIiin;,'lhaM liialof llic Kin;,' <>f Fiaiicc.

Two (lays al'tci- K'avin.u' tln' town of Landicca,
tho army camo to the foot of ii hi^di. \>{ck\\ moun-
tain, and the kin^ wiit forward the Count do
Maurionnc ami (JcolTroy do I'lancofriii'. uitli ordor^
to oucupy the rn'>t of the mountain, and thus to
secure tiio Kifoty of Iho army. Hut. (hamo on
these imprudent and disloyal knigiiisl inf^tead of
oheyiiipf their jirince, they went down the opiio.^ito
hide of the mountain, and jdaiited the tents of the
vanguard in the plain, and the Turk- immedi.ilely
fell upon llie Christian hattalions. wiiich wero
peacefu'\y delilin;,' liiroiifrh the mountain pas.ses.
Thoy Hont njion us showers of arrows willi too sure
an aim, and horses, riders, and beasts of hunle.i,
rolling down the roeks, dragged witli thein into
the al)yss all that Ihcy met within fhcir fail.
The day was deelining, and the gulf was being
tilled more and more with the r"mnaids of our
army. The infidi'ls pursued us KW(-rd in hand ;
the eeutral wing of tlic army, where the poor un-
armed i)eople had gathered, was furiously attacked,
and the defenceless mnltitudo tied like a Hock of
sheep. The King of France, like a faitliful Chris-
tian and hravo knight, hastened to throw himself
into the thickest of the fight. Very soon separated
from his escort and left alone, he abandoned his
steed, and, seizing the branches of a tree, sprang to
the top of a rock. A number of the enemy rushed
upon him to make him prisoner, whil.-t others

riii- ou ciust.

s-m-iiniiH inny
veil him witli
tinit' (lie (w<»
[ilH'nir had iiu
; (if FiaiHc.
(if Laiidiccti,

1, fiU'Cl) IIKIUII-

Ihc C'dunt (1(^
10, uith (inleriL
1. and tlnis to
111, rhanic on
ts I instead (if
I tho Djijidi^ite
ic tints of iho
, - iniini'diati'ly
, wliich wiT'j
nntain i)a.>*riC's.
) with too sure
A'A of hnrdoj,
til them into
n their fail.
ulf wad Ijcing
mants of our
ord in liand ;
3 the poor un-
Duslyattactcc'il,
il\0 a Uock of
faitlifiil (luis-
throw himself
soon poparatod
alnuuloncd his
tree, spraiifr to
enemy rnshod
whi!.-t others

Hhiit lh( ir ;:rro\vs at him fmin iil'ur; lait, liiaiiks i !■
to (}od, his liauliirk iirc-crvcd oim, mid difiiiilii.},'
« it h his Moody ,<udrd the miKMhich Kr\(d him
li-i a i'c'fii;,'i', he htniik oil' the hands and the IiiudH
of scvinilof his tifnaihmts. The lattir. not knov.-
in.LT liim, and Ncciiif,' thai it wonid Ic dillitiilt to
fieiz.' him left him, to po and dispiite for the spoils
of the dead on the liattle-lield.

l're.ss(>d l»v nundiers, alarmed hy the ni;.dit, di.»-
handeil, and waiiderinu' on the inontitain-.-iihi^. the
army Keemed lost. I roniid invMlf, v. iili my i(^rd,
whose esq n ire 1 was, near the Ivevcnnd (Jraiid Mt;.'-
lor of tho Tem]dars, who was named Kvrard (Us
IJarres. It wnin;,' my heart to see the roekseovered
■with the liodie.i of our comrades, and k) many lira\o
men <:iven np (o the chains of the infidelH, like
theep to the knife of the Initcher. It secmeil ti
mo that lliey mi{,'ht ho saved, and, full of this
thoufrhl, I approached my master and tlic brave
Templar.

" What wouldst thou, (iilliert ? "' said the Sire de
Noyelles.

*• My hird," answered I, '•' and yon, valiant and
most Iieveri'nd (Jrand Ma. er, wonld you ])ermit a
j)oor man to tell ym what God has iKit into liis
heart?'

" Speak, my 'irother."

'•Speak with conlidence, fiilherl.''

"Well, tho army is lost if it continues to march
without orders. Let the Kin;: of France, or my
lord Thierry of Flanders, ( r tliou, most nol Ic lord,
ydacehimseli at tho head of ihcfcostrapfrlin?; hands ;
let the leaders choose some lieutenants, who shall
each have fifty men unclcr his orders ; let those men

The Old Chest.

liroccde and flank llic army ; lot tlio men-at-arms
Avho have lost ilicir horses 1)0 formed into troops of
arcliers to cover tlie rear-guard ; let us m.ircli as
close and united as is (lie holy trefoil, and the in-
fidels Avill retreat ! . . . Pardon my presump-
tion, noblo lord."' . . .

" Pardon thee ! " -jried the Grand Master. ' ' Bless-
ed be God, wlio has put into thy mouth the counsel
which must save the army ! Thou hast hidden
these things from the Aviso and prudent, Lord,
and thou hast revealed them to the t^imple ! "

*' Gilbert's advice seems very vvi;e,-' added the Lord
of Xoyolles ; "and, if thou thinkcst it best, Eeve-
rend Grand Master, mc shall go and communicate
it to my lord the King. Follow us, Gilbert."

I accompanied them to the King's ])rcsence, and
my lord disclosed to him the ])lan which I had con-
ceived. The King chisjied his Jiands and raised
them to heaven, saying :

'* Praise be to tlie Lord, our host shall be paved !
Gilbert, if I ever sec the land of France again, thou
slialt be free and rich ! — Reverend Grand ]\Iaster, I.
give thee command, save our brethren^ and I will
serve under thy orders as an esrjuire. Act, and
may God guard thee ! "

The Grand Master took the commanil, and he
manoeuvred with so much wisdom and jirudcncc
that the army was happily enabled to cross tlie
defiles, and arrive at the town of Satalia, where it
found provisions and rest. Glory be to God alone,*

♦History records that r. raan named Ciilbcrt, v/lioso country
and liucago wcro uiilcnowii, i avod by his wise coxnif-els the
Christian army from tlio danger into \vhich CJeoffroy do
Plaucogno and the Count de Maurioiine had thrown it.

=",^W(*s**t*w«tta

•^■•M)«MM>i<M>ia

The l\'J Clu-st.

meii-ut-arms
iito troops of
IS m.ircli !!s
and tlic iii-
iiy prcsunip-

tcr. "BIcss-
L the counsel
liiist liidden
int, Lord,
iplc ! "'
Jed the Lord
t l)Os(-, Iteve-
ommuiiicate
ilbcrt."
rcscncc, and
li I Iiad oon-
aud raised

-11 be paved !
again, thou
id blaster, 1
, and I will
. Aot, and

ind, and lie
id prudence
:o cross the
ia, where it
God alone,*

vlioso country
counsels the
. CJeotfroy do
5wn it.

'I'lii.s second crusade was nut Fuccessl'ul, and my
memory, eiifceljled by ape, cannot recall all llie in-
cidents of it. Gradually the mo<t powerful lords,
discouraged by ilic-e continual defeats, returned to
Europe ; the army loecanic more and more wcnkc'ied.
. . . I failbfully followed the fortunes of i;iy
lord, and with him I was enabled lo accomplish
(he object, cf the holy pilgrimage and venerate the
tomb of our Saviour. So many hardc-hips were
none too much for such ii luipiiincss.

I saw at Jerusalem the nu)st illustrious Countess
of Flanders, Sybille, devoted lo the c;ae (f (lie
poor i'.nd of lepers. ITcr lord and husband gave
her to Jesus Christ in the poor, and. in cr.tliangc
for his companion wliom he left in Palestine, h.e
brought liack v,-i(h Iiim a, dr(!p (C the divine blood,
received of old by Joseidi of Ariuialhea. AVe also
returned to France. I came back as I went, j)o(U'
and a serf. The King of France had I'orgntten his
promise. Tiie valiant Grand ^Faster who had l;c-
friendcd me died sword iu hand, ^fy lord, v.hibi
praising my services, and lauding the prudence and
courage of Gilbert, did not wisli (o deprive hi.;
barony of a vassal. ... I am what I was be-
fore. My children Avill be V hat I am. . . . .May
the will of God be praised ! A soldier of ihe cross
should not murmur !

IX.

TITH SKI?!' — TinUTKF.XTir rKN'TT-RV.

n )\v jriwu iiro tlie miseries of tlii.s a;?e I O most
sWv'jr. most moivifiil L:)ihI Jesus ! whiit have wo
done to thee that tliou shoulLlst subjeet us to such
slavery ! As men we are bound to tlie earth, avc
form part oi; the lautl on -wlucli we labor ; as soldiers,
we never li^ht for our owi cause ; as Avorkmen,
laborers, to others belong tho fruit of our labors.
Our lords weigh us down, as tho millstone docs tlio
gi'ain it grimls ; we find tliem'cverywhere.; there
is no freedom anywliere ; everything is burdened
Avith taxes, furniture, provisions, merchandise, land,
and water. For tho serf, the peasant, and even
the burgher in the towns, toll at tlie gates, on the
bridges, passing from one quarter to another ;
rights on tlio harvests, profits, forced laboi-, collec-
tions for I ho benefit of the lord, exactions of all
sorts. . . . We can only have our grinding
done in oar lords' mills ; we can only bake our
broad in tho common oven ; we cannot even marry
wilhout tin consent of our master, who disposes of
U3 as h'3 disposes of his hounds, or of the horses in
his stables, and if, by dint of our toil and savings,
wc leave when dying a few crowns or some furni-
ture, tho lord again can claim his share. Almost

77,7' 0I</ i'/.rs/.

I most

t have Avo
us to such
( earth, Avc
as soldicx's,
Avorkracn,
3ur labors.
10 docs tlio
icrc; thero
i burtkncd
idiso, land,
, and even
;tes, on the
3 another;
bor, collec-
tions of all
r grinding
y bake our
3ven marry
disposes of
le horses in
\(\ savings,
ome furni-
c. Almost

all these b)rds sock to force from tlicir vassal- all
that tlicv can pot : our comidaints are ansv.-cred by
blows or 1)V j\vrs. '•Ja(i[iics Bniiluuuiue luis abroad
back, he cau boar all !"' This iiv.l'al the baron,;
and their mon-at-arms keep fa\iiig. . • . Shall
not a day come v.hen Jaccjues Boidiomuie can show-
that he, too, has a strong hand and a free heart ?

II )v,-ever, we know how to light : our vigorous
arms u^e the pike and the axe, as they do the
scythe and the hoe; M'C have blood i;i cur vein:-.;
it boils in presence of the enemy ; antl it is wron,-;,
grievously Avrong, that the knights, covered with
their shirts of mail, mounted on their l)arbed steeds,
treat us with disdain, we Avho advance first and
without armor to meet the enemy. Foot soldiers,
say thev. Yes, foot soldiers who know how to
fight and to die ! My grandfather, a brave srpiire,
followed his master, Jean do Noyelles, to the
crusades; my father, the first bowman of tlie
country, signalized himself at the battle of the
Bridge of Bouvines, where he f(»ught beside his lord,
llasse de Xoyelles, grandson of Jean. But fortune
turned her back on the Flemings that day ; Phi-
lippe, King of France, gained the victory, and made
a prisoner of Count Ferrand, the husband of the
Lady Jeanne of Flanders. I have heard it related
bv those Avho were present that the peoide of Paris
sang a mocking song around the chariot in v.hich
Ferrand was 'b^^n\^i :

" Quatres forrants tres-bicn forres
Trainent Ferrand bioii er.ferri''."*

Chained he was for twtdve years. King Philippe

» " Foiu' stoods well shod

Dras Ferrand well chained 1"

Til.- Old Che St.

had honor and gain, and wo an increase of misfor-
tune. The Lord of Noyelles was also taken prisoner,
and his goods conliscatcd to the ])roflt of Gak'-s do
^lontigny ; but the King, who sought to taivc ven-
geance on the Flemings, ordered the serfs of tlie
l)arony to lie sent to other domains, and to bo
replaced by French subjects. Mv fatlicr, -with liis
children, was forced to quit iL country of his
ancestors, and was transferred to Picardy, on tlie
b;;rony of Coucy, and here it is that wo experience
all tlie worst evils of slavery ; here it is that I was
born, and for forty years I iiavo suft'ered, sweated,
and toiled for my masters, and . nt for those of my
blood and race. I took to AviiV ,; :-;erf like myself,
and everyday I see her woii.ring isvv-;iy her blood and
lier life in ungratoful tii'l My eldest daughter,
married bat a short time, wwi so brutally struck by
my lord's master of the h;»i/.,<l? that she died very
soon after ; my son, for hav" ti- killed a rab))it-dog,
passed twelve moniLi, and ..len another twelve
months, in the castle prison, ;tnd was only released
at (ho entreaty of my loi-d's wife, who took pity on
uio i>..or people of her domain.

Bui, 'viud as slie is, she cannot do mudi, and we
!I'.eu M'eighcd down with tuxes and ])ayn.onts, and
subject to the harsh seignioral justice. Some
amongst ns, becoming desperate, have joined those
bands which are called Lcs Padourmux.* Perri-
net, son of my neighbor Landry, has taken to the
road with them.

About Easter, in the year 12ol, an old man, with
a hnig beard and pale, thin face, began to wander

* Shojiherd boys.

/'/'/;■ OiJ Clusf.

>f inisfor-
priso.'ior,
Gali-V-! (Ic
take vi'ii-
Is of the
11(1 to be
Avith Iiis
•y of Iiis
', on tlie
xpcrionce
iiat I was
sweated,
iSG of my
myself,
)lood and
laiigliter,
jtruc'k by
:licd very
lj])it-dog,
I" twc'lvo
' released
k pity on

1, and wo
3nts, and
Some
icci those
" Porri-
?n to the

lan, with
) wander

ronnil the enintry; yonng men, lal)orer.s, and
especially shepherds, followed him eagerly, anil,
without consulting parents or masters, followed
tlie footsteps of this man, whom they called the
Master of the Shrphenl J>o>/'i. lie ])reaehed and
said: ''Heaven grants to the sim])licity of the
shepherds what il; refuses to the jjride of the
knights, luimely, to deliver the Holy Land, and
avenge good King Louis on the inlidels, "'

When, followed by his band, he passed through
the t;)wns and cities, it was like an army terrible to
all, and there were neither baililis nor sherilLs who
dared to oppose t'.ieni. The master preached ; but
he preached hatred to the clergy ; and the i)riests
were sorrowful at seeing the people exiioscd to so
great an error, and the complaints of the bisho])s
at length reached the ears of Queen Blanche, the
mother of King Loui-. She had before received
and well-treated the Master of the Shepherds ; but,
licaring the comiilaints of the clergy, she answered
simplv : "God knows I had hoped that these men
would recover the Holy Land; but, since they are
impostors, let theni Iv exeomnnmicatod, pursued,
and put to death." All these knaves were excom-
municated, the master had his head cut oif, and
tlie main body of the shepherds, terrified t the
death of their chief, dispersed without r tancc,
and were slaughtered here and there, ' mad
dogs, by the knights and men-at-arms."'' Perrinet
was never seen again ; his poor mothei led of a
broken heart. So it was sorrow and bitter anguish
everywhere.

* Soo Matthieu Paris and Ouillaumo do Nougi^.

The 01,1 Ch.st.

As for mo, now I am old. I liuvo lived in grout
poverty and trilmliition, distressed at my own misc-
riivT and lliosc of-othtTs ; I have ]iaid my dehc i:i
work and lighting, lur, wiien I was young, I joined
in tlic forty days' crusade against the lioretics of
Languedoe, oalleu Lcs Bons-IIommcs.'-' I saw
tliore groat feats of arms, and groat horrors revolt-
ing to Iranian nature. My hn-d followed the for-
tunes of the bravo knight Siuiou do Montfort ;
and, at the battle of :>[nret, I saw that invincible
man, courageous as Judas ^fachabeus, of whom (he
priosls toll us, wcop and lament at sight of tlio
corpse of his enemy, King Peter of ARi;5on. These
kniglits, tlieso proud barons, have therefore a heart
of flosli like our own. Alas ! Avhy docs not that
heart sometimes speak for us ? . . . Amongst
the great, one alone loves the iioor ; that is tlio
king. King Louis ; but he is away, and the lords
and barons hold their iron hand o er our heads.
Ah ! Jacques Bonhnmme, man of so/vicp, m:"in of
labor, man wlio ])ears heat and cold, who, then, shall
deliver thee ? Lord Jesus Christ, take pity on thy
poor people !

* Probably tlio Albigenses.

il ill groat
ow!i miix-
iiy (k'hc i:i
g, I joined
iiorcties of
•' I saw
Divs rovoll:-
(1 the for-
Jlontfort ;
invincible
w]i()m (he
:ht of tho
■n. Tliose
)ro 11 Iicart
1 not tluit
Amongst
liat i.3 tho
tho lords
mr heads.
\ m;"in of
then, shall
itv on thv

TIIK SOLWKU OF TliKCY rACQrES HOXHOMMK —

rOrUTKDNTU rEN'TUU V,

Tins ac'uount was written hy Sister Gertrude, :v
religious in the IIAtel Dieu, at Amiens.

As far back in the past us my meni;)i-v can reach,
it recalls only ruin and disaster. .My parents, jioor
serfs of the most powerful Count Enguerrand do
Coney, bore tho heat and burden >if the day ; they
labored and toiled all the year, from early morning
even in tho coldest weather, to pay the (axes and
tolls; my father and brothers ploughed and did
the carting for their lord ; jny mother and I sewed
diligently, and still bread was scarce, fear very
great, and the ojtpression continual. Sometimes
my father told ns that wlicn his father lived, nnder
the holy King Louis, times were better ; that his
grandfather, avIio jiad lived in Flanders under the
reign of King Philip Augustus, had often repeated
that in those tinus and those places life was most
sweet; but as for me, I think that in the land of
Franco the i)oor peasants and Avorking jieople havo
always been in great distress, for happiness does not
dwell witli slavery.

I Avas only a lildo girl when a great commotion
arose in tho country in wliich we dwelt. It was
said that the Kin,"' of (he English had crossed the

aa ifiyd ■BTtiagn . qa a

t t TiwaiM i wm MUM ! •

.So

y/;r Old Chest.

«';i Avith 11 great naval force, with the ilowcr of tlio
barons and kni-lits of Eiipl'iiid. and tliat tlicyoamo
to lay claim lo the cnnvii of Fniucc, tiicn \voi:i hy
our right und natural Lord Piiilip the Sixth, and
which iho King of England claimed bccan,«o his
inothcr was a princess of the French line. The
j)()or i)ooi)le and the lordsaliko delo.sted the thought
that an Englishman slioiild como to occupy tho
place of good King Louis, and reign over this fair
and huiiiitiful laud of France, the first among
Christian kingdoms. I rcmemher that in the eve-
nings, while stripping the liemp and spinning llic
llax, our good neighlK.rs talked of Uie Knglitih as
being like Turks and infidels. 'L'iierefore, when, in
tlic your of Christ 1341, all the lords who held land
.summoned their vassals to join the host of the
King of France, not one drew back ! My father
and my eldest brother Nicholas, who Avassuruamed
Grand Fcrri, followed the b.inner of the Lord do
Coney. They had m much the more heart in their
en terjn-isc because tliey knew well that the Black
Prince, son of the English King, Avas burning and
desolating everything on his Avay. iFen-at-arms
and citizens asked only for battle, and tho King,
who hud established his headipiarters aL Saint
Denis, wisiied for it more tiian any one. Tho
forces of King Edward were in Picardy, and tho
King had taken up his quarters at Oisemont. Sad
and melancholy as I have heard said, because ho
rightly judged that he Avouid be .«hut in betwoea
the army of the King of France and tJie scrong
fortresses of Abbeville and Saint Valery, He
wished mucli to pass the river Somme, and he
brought thithcrsomc men belonging to li;c country.

)wer (if tli(>

'11 WO) :i hy
Sixlh, and
)co!ini=o his
inc. Tlic
!h> thoii'Tlit
icc'iipy tho
V this fair
r.st iiniong
in tiio cve-
iiiiiiii<^ llic
l-tiiglisli as
', wlien, ill
licld liind

08t of tllC

My fatlicr
siiriiamcd
3 Lord dc
rt ill their
tho Bhick
riling and
?n-at-arms
the King,
aL Saint
lie. The
', and tlic
out. Wad
locauso ho
1 bct\vce:i
lie pcrong
eiy. He
', and lie
3 cuiinlrv,

T//f Old Chest.

offeringthcmmoneyif they wouhl show iiim how
to ford It. Then one of tliein, a oowardlv, troache-
reus licart was ho, showed him a pa.ssaw'eallod tlio
^Vhite Ford, from tho wliite pobbk^s and chiy
whicli formed tho bottom of it. The Kinrr of ]-:ng.
hind, as rejoiced as though he liad been given
twenty thousand crowns, immediately reached tlie
\V lute Ford, and liis army crossed tlio river, not-
withstanding the opposition of the Lord Codcmar
do Fay, a Norman baron, whoso little troop was
defeated and disjiersed. Tho English established
themselves amongst the woods of Crocv, in Pon-
thiou, and it was there that Philip's \wk came up
Mith tlioni. Alas ! it was a ].itiablo sight, we are
told, to sec that army in poor arrav, wearied,
• Jiarassed, having marched through a" dreneliing
min and a terrible thunder-storm, and advancing
towards tho enemy with tho setting sun in their eyes.
The Genoese archers began the battle ; but they
were assailed by Uie darts and arrows of (he Eii'^-
hsh, which pierced their arms and heads ; ami
when they sought to beat a retreat the kni-jits
trampled them under their horses' feet, cryrn- •
"Xow, (puck, slay this rabble, for tliev hindeV our
passage without reason!' Another blow; and it
was pitiable.

My father and the r/rrouZ/'nT-Hollowcd the ban-
ner of their lord, and tried to strike some blows
with tho axe and cutlass; they did their best, and
sought to make their way to where they saw the
banner of the Lilies wave (not tho sacred ori-
ilammo, which was never disidayed a^r;ii„st Chris-
tians). Now, our lord tho King was in great
peril of his life. His horse had just been stTiick

■Tlic OU C/Hsf.

(liiwii liy an arrow ; Im liiid tliLiilnit li\c Imroiis iiinl
f-i.\ly incn-nt-;;rnis iirmind liim, iiiul Iiis nnguish uf
liciirt was p;roat ; ho inTsistcil in roniaiuing ou tho
field. "Sire," said my Lord Etipucrraiid — "t^irc,
como away, it is lime ; do not tlirow your lifo
awii}' ; if you liavo lost tliis titno, you will wiu
another."

All was indeed lost ; King Edward and his son
wore masters of ilio Tror.iid. ]\[y father, however,
had .seized hy the hridle a riderless steed ; ho
hrought it * King Philij) i;nd said t(» him :
"Mount, sire, save the fortunes of Franco I"
These words seemed to reanimate the King ; he got
into the saddle, loft llio hatthvlield, covered v.itli
thousands of corpses, and wentforlli into the dark-
ness, for it was nigiit, >My hrother, the (h'and
Ferre, served him as guide, and hrought him to the
C.Witlo of La Bra^e; the gale was closed and the
druw-bridgo I'uiscd. They called for the master of
tlio castle, wlio appeared on the battlements, and
asked in a loud voice :

" Who is there ? Who knocks at this hour ?"

''Open, open, Castellan Knight,*' answered King
Philip. " It is the unhappy King of Frarce."

The gates were opened wide. They hrought f'.ic
King, at his recjuest, wine with bread so;, ked
tlicrein. The King, his suite, and the Grand
Ferru drunk each in turn ; then the troop set out
again, and my brother conducted the King and
the barons to the gates of Amiens, where they
found themselves in safety. Tlio King wished to
pay him, and pxwi^ him an angel.

Such Avas tlie liattle of Civcy, the beginning of
our miseries. Ahu; I on that spot fell the flower of

77/1 tV./ ( hi- St.

barons iiiid
(inguisli of
ing oil tho
11(1 — "t<iri',
VDur lifo
I will will

1(1 liis son
', however,
steed ; ho
[ to liini :
Franco !"
ip; hcgoL
vered witli
) (he (lark-
lio (hand
iiini to the
d iiiid I he
) master of
iivMitji, and

l.our r
cred King
aiice."
•on^lit tlio
1(1 soi, ked
ho Grand
ap .«ct ont
King and
hero (liey
wished to

ginning of
c flower of

tlic Frciiuh chivalry: hy which we must hclieve
tlii'l Ood h;l;^ h',mi( Ihe-e tilings I'or our sins, for
tli'.'io was IhiMi ill Fi'aiico great pride of lineage,
Oiivetou^ncsi of riches, and indeceney of eloliiing.
Il was no wonder that (iod (bought to ]ii'Mi>li tlio
nil.-deeds (if the Freneli hy the hcourges of his
right han.l. Thcneeforth tlic English established
themselves in France, and took, hy faniiiu\ the
city of Calais. Tlie wliole country IreinliUd, as
far as the river Loire ; there were none to o]iporo
tlie enemy, and tlie misfortunes of llu? p(^ople in*
creased from day to day. King l'liili}» died, end
his sou Jolm increased the taxes and l)iirdens
whicii weighed upon tlu^ iioojile. Eight farthings
on the iiound were paid on anytiiingsoldhy all jier-
Bons Avitiu.ut distinction ; and if these taxes and
exactions weighed upon the noble and the lich,
liov.' much more should the poor peasants complain,
who furnished to the lords the men and money re-
quisite for the v.ar ! Twelve.! years passed thus in
great misery and distress. The country v.as ruined,
King John talcen prisoner by tlio English after the
Irvttle of Poitiers, tlie kingdom given up to ])rinces
young in years uiul in experience, and wise and
prudent men could only deplore tiic cross with
which it pleased Goil to alllict oureountry. I)uring
these twelve years I lost my good mother. Tday
God grant her rest I

I was then twenty-three years of age; but tho
flower of youth d.)es not bloom for poor ])eo[ile,
whose lot is tho hard labor of tlio lields ; and,
besides, it had jileascd God to turn towards his
Divine ilajesly my heart and my tlionghts. Xow,
one day, r.s 1 was tendin:: niv Hock in a larfTO

(>■.) T/ii (Wi i'/irst.

i:ipiulii\v (if prceii prass. Wiitcrcil liy llu' Aiitliio
IlivtT, I 8,i\v iii)i)rn;icliiag (Uir voun;,' lonl, I'icTiv do
Coiioy. IIo iiilvunccd with ii jjay and pliiyfiil nir.
IiiH do!Ts jiinipiiig urouiul lilin. I aroso to saluto
him.

•'Good day to tlico, Kliopherdc.-;"," said ho.
*' I lost belong to the barony ?''

'• Vc'S, my lord ; I am I'jorra Duchai;3no'd
i:.i'.i.;:lilor.'

•• And a lovely girl, too !"' iinsv/crcd ho, jeering,
aid then ho added a great many moeking words.
IT V heart fiwolk'd. and it grieved nie to hear (his
l.Kigiiagt', whieh it seemed to mo was displeasing to
God ; but when the young lord Elretched his arm
towards me I IIlmI across the meadow. IL' pursued
i\\}, and his hounds ran barking after me. . . .
I was in great terror, and, rofommcnding my-c!f
to God, tiie Blessed Virgin, and the holy Shep-
herdess Solange, I jumped into the river, and re-
solutely crossed i(, llie water being up to my
shoulders. Oh ! surely the most sweet Virgin
assisted me in that hour.

>ry Lord Pierre Avatehed mo from the 1)ank,
angry and amazed, and his great hoiiiul, Fanfare,
loai)cd into the water aiul swam towards me, . . .
1 hastened as much as I eould. I heard his
howls behind me, and I saw that my good dog, Paei-
flqno, had followed me, and with one blow had
thrown to the earth my lord's dog. I did not ptop
ti look, and, running quickly tiirough laius and
^yways, I reached my father's house, and 1 carefully
sliut the door. My father came in just, at dark,
and he said to me :

*' Daugliter. thou canst go to led."

'^■.LL„l:i.:

the Aiitliif!
I'll, I'icTi'c do

pluyfiil iiii".
)so to Biiluto

I," e;iiil ho.

DiicbiU3no'd

1 ho, jccriii;;,
.'king words,
to hour (hi.s
lisplo;iJi:i,q to
hcd hi.< ana
lie iMirsiictl
1110. . . .

udiiif? iiiy-c!f
) holy S!iep-
ivor, and ro-
i; U[) to my
iwcct Virgin

n tho bank,
md, Fanfiiro,
Is mo. . . .

I I, I a I'd his
od dog, Paci-
10 blow had

did not stoj)
ih huua iind
lid 1 carofully
just at dark,

IMAGE EVALUATION
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la 1^

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^ 6"

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^9)

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The Old Chi St.

9«

I \»illiiiply oboycti, i'>!r I v,;i:-! weary ;:iul s;iil, itiil
I had slept for some Lours when iho toiiiid < f voices
awoke me. It w;is near midnipjlit, and T lieard the
matins liiigiiip: a( the Abl)ey of Dommartiu. Tlicy
were ispeakiii.u' low, and amonpsl the confiistd voiecs
I heai-d tho.se of my father and hrotlu'r,-:. I'aeifKjr.e
v.:is howlin-- in the yard, a.s if there was some otie
dead in the house.

reeliii;:; uneasy, I aro^e. I went down-stairs, and
lo(dved in. A lartre lire wa.i burning on the cottage
liearth, and the red llames, like tlie lire of hell, lit
np a nnmcrous eomiKiny seated at the fable where
Ave took our meals. My father and lirothers, Xieho-
las, Jchannel, aiul IJichard, were at the upper end ,
a nnmher of our neighbors were there ; there w( lo
Tristan, Cunir-Joyeux, Landry, Larehcr, Vicrron,
Longue-Jambe, and others besides ; but amongst
them was a frightful ligure, a man eovired with a
wolf-skin, and whose hairy hand res.ing on the
table v,as handling a eullass. ... At tliis
.«!ight I crossed myself, and recommended myself to
Saint ^liehael, the enemy of devils, and the prince
cf the heavenly hosts, and, reassured by tlie thought
that nothing could happen lo me without ihe per-
mission of God, I watched and listened. My father
was speaking.

" Is it agreed 'i'" said he. " .\re v,-e all of the same
ojjinion 't"

"All !"' answered the were- wolf. " We have suf-
fered too much. Are we not of the same ile^h as
tlic-^e proud lord.-;, and should we fear a coat of mail 't
Resides, the men of all the Amiencse viUages, of
Soissouais and lieauvaises, are determined, and. by
the cope of Saint Martin, there shall he fine spori.''

')-

'///,■ (V,t i V/rs:

'■ J:ic(Hios Boiilioinnio has .siilVrrcd (no miU'Ii iiu-
paLieiieo ! " eric'd Tri.stau. "Thi' hour irf cnmc lo
s!iow liis teeth I"

'• Our lords-, who lot tlicnisclvcs bo taken at
Poitiers, luivo levied their ransoms on our lands,
and I'ft lis naked," said another.

•' Ciinipanie's of inaranders Jiave Imrncd myfarni.
'i'liey killed my wife, whilst my lord, who saw the
l.avoe from liis e:ist!e, would not send a bolt against
ihi'<e miserable robbers."

••The lords did not do tlieir duty at Chvey, nor
at Poitiers," said the CI rand Ferro pravely. '•Tiiey
acted without union, or ol)edienee, or wisdom, and
t!u\v have left the kingdom to the mercy of strung-
ers.

" Lot lis hunt llic lords ! The Grand-Provost of
Pans, blaster Etienne Marcel, is already making
war on tliem."

"Take heart, and we shall bo masters in otir
turn." cried Longue-.)aml)e. "Lords and ladies
slniU work for ns ; it will be a great sight to see
tliem out milking the cows and turning up the
d'jnghill with their wiiitc hands. . . ."'

•* A trueo to this ! " said my father. " Let ns
deliver ourselves from servitude without oppressing
others. To-morrow at the free fair, will von all bo
t;.ere?"

•• All, l)y the Holy Cross 1" cried they, t'.ie were-
wolf like the others.

" The pass-word ?''

"Freedom!"

" Till to-morrow ! "'

They all went out, ra,- father and brothers with
them, and I remained lutli'-fainting with terror. I

'ihf (W/ Cf/tSf.

iii'h im-

•iiillC 10

ikon ;it
r la lids,

ly farm.
•;a\v I'lc
afrainst

•cv, nnr

■•Thoy

>m, ami

stning-

)vost of
making

in onv
[ ladio.s
; to SCO
up the

' Let ns
)rcssiiig
n all bo

were-

,r"^

rs with
ror. I

know not wlinl to dit, alone and uiilioul advice. I
dai'rd not diseioso it to any one, tliroii^rli IVai' if
injuring my fatlior and brothers, and I felt hciirt-
brokoii, thinking fhat French bl(j(id, Chri.s(i;:;i
l)lood, was about to llow iigaiii. I Iiegan to pray (o
God, and next morning and a jjart of (lie day fol-
lowing jirLsscd without my hearing human ppeeeli.
Toward?! evening a ueigiibor came in, and taid lo
me :

'• Knowe.^t, thou tlie new.-\ r'atlierine r ""
'"No, Susan ne ; I know noiliing," answered I,
trembling.

"Well, there has been great trouble at the free
fair ; the peasants took np bows and clubs agaiiitU,
tlie lords and their scpiires, and we are assured — I
•iell thee in confidence— that they have burned the
oastlc and killed the lord."

" But Avho did it ?" asked I, in terror,
" Who ? Our men ! thy fatlier at the head, and
the Grand Fern', and lliehard, and Jehannet, and
Warein, who became a wolf because tl e Loj-d de
Treville outraged and killed his daughter, and
many others ; without armor, with t^ticks and cut-
lasses, they have done wonders. IJcmeniber what I
teil thee, Catcau, all the gentlemen will be exter-
minated."

'•God forbid!" cried I; "tliev arc childn n (.f
God like us."

"Thou shalt see! tliou shalt see! and it will
be well done. Jaeipics lionJiomme shows himselJ'
at lail."

She went away, and I could cry at niv ea.e,
thinking of the danger in which my father and
brothers were, and of (he gieat rage which had b(( ij

•n

The OLI Chest.

oiikiiiillcd ii,2:aiiisl Cliristians. In a few tliiy.s tlie
rovoll had spread thmugli tlio whole comitrv; ii
liuudred tliousand peasants had tidveii up aniu ;
oastlcs, fortresses, households, were given up to the
llanijs ; the nohles iled twcniy leagues ut the ap-
l)roaeli of the '•Jaequcs"' ; nuitrons and maidens
fled from fear of being ill-treated and murdered by
M'ieked men ; even little ehildren, who had never
done harm, were slain. These hands went through
t'.u' country, ravaging and spreading ruin and desola-
tion all along their way. I learned, however, that my
father, who was a just man, contented himself willi
lighting for his freedom ; tiic (Jrand Ferre, in the
encounters with the knights and townsmen of J5eau-
vais, did woiulers ; Ids ;ixe hewed down men, as it
liad formerly hewed down the forest trees, and in
one of these engagements lie saved a poor, unhap-
])y lady, who with her little children was lleeii.g
from her burning castle.

Our poor Jehannet perished at the attack on. the
town of Meaux, made by the Jacques, reinforced l)y
a snniU force sent from Paris to their aid by Master
Marcel. The distress was great. This attack was
repulsed, and the defeated peasants were either
massacred by the sword or throv*-n into the Marno.
This was a fatal blow to the Jacques i)arty, and my
father and brothers, seeing that nothing could be
done in the vicinity of Paris, returned to Piear-
dy.

The De Coney domain was ravaged as though an
army of inlidels had passed througli it; and, one
night as I waiched, I saw the flames arise from the
high towers of the ancient manor. At the same
moment, a knock came at the door ; [ opened it :

iiys tlio
itrv; ii
I arm.' ;
[) to the
till' ap-
naidon.s
I'lvd ]>y
I iiovor
li rough
1 (losula-
Lliiit my
['If uilii
, in the
f J'.oau-
T., iis it
, and ill
nnlinp-
ik'oi;:g

: on.tlio
ircod by

Master

ick \vas

either

Mar no.
and my
ould bo
» Picar-

)X\^]i an
nd, one
om the
le same
ncd it :

yv/f o.'ii c/usf.

it v.',;s tlu' Craud I\ rn' : he was lialc, a ,d hlond
■Was il.)\vin;;f;'nni !i fjrcat Avnund in iiisjicad.
" Alas !"' said I. "what has lal'allcn tlue ? "
'* Sifter," .«::id ]•(■ ••f;i\{'mc lliyaiin : . . .
the blood is hlindii;^ me.'' . . . I led i.im lo
the lircsiile, lie sat down, and ncovered his
breatli.

'"1 am done for." said lie at ](iii;|]i; '-lail.
thanks to llcavc n, it was against ihe English. AVe
uere (niniiclied in a liitle fort, mar the Ab-
bey of Saint Coriuine, Avhcn the Engli.-h at-
tacked us, but with my good a\e 1 iiave ]int them
])ast doing any liarin. . . . i Killed fortv,
sifter."*

Whilst speaking, he reeovcrt'd a little strength ;
buL a moment aflir thejiallorof his faee and the
(i]ipres.-ion of ids poor chest showed \\\v.i the ];;',r.d
of God -was upon Jiini. lie eo\ild not sp.eak, but
he prayed in a whisper ; for he had great devotion
to the Blessed Virgin and the Saints, and he fell
a-lccp. Confused noises eame from afar ; mv lieart
was as if hehl in uAiee ; 1 felt death iirunml me.
. . . Tlic noise came nearer ; hurried steps were
heard in tlie path on the dry leaves, and a quick
knock at the door. . . . 1 again o])ened it. ami
a man rushed into the house.

'■ir you an; Christians,"' cried he, "give i:;e
shelter I I recognized h;i!i, and I jinshed him into
the stable, and clostd tlie door on him ; it Vias mv
Lord Pierre de Couey. Xi^diolas woke up, but, scc-
imr no one, he thought he liad been dreaming, a.ml
fell asleep again. I imide the sii'n of the erois, and

* " T'!ft( 're Chror/r;;-.!' " i".o'!*:-.i!!.;is.

KnriWitfWTBiiaa^

fiT.

T!h (1/,/ i'li.sf.

w.'iil into tlio slalili'; tlio ]ir()ii(l lonl wiis ilicic,
Icimiiig iipaiiist tlio cow rack ; l.c Wi;a pule, ir.i.l
scarcely ;ili!c to shiiid ; his velvet clothes .-•oilcil.
iiniildy, iiiul liloi)(l-staiiK'(l.

" Tliou hast .«avo(l uic," sai.Iiu' ; " the Jactiucs
Avcro on my track ; ... J .■^hould have lieeii
cniclly put to driith hut for thy iioMe cliarity ; hut
there they lire ; . . . t liey are kiiockiiii;- at Iho
<loor. ... If ihev come, I can die like a
kiii-ht :"

•• iJecommeiul yourself to (iod aud do not fear,"
said I to him, " t!iy hlood .siiali not he .siied on the
tiireshohl of our door."

I went out I it was indeed the Jacques, armed
to the teeth. Cod i:;ave me great eoura;^e.

" Whv," .said 1 to them— **whv do ve disturh
the rest of the Grand Fern', who has homo
liini.'clf so valiantly amontr-st ve. Ilj is slcei'inj? I

Tliey paw my hrother dying at the fireside, and
retired in .silence. Only one of them oirerod to go
and hring a monk from Dommartin. I accepted
tlic offer. . . . Xicliolas Avas lighting against
di'ath, and jirostvato on the floor I prayed (Iod to
K;)are him for some hours. At dawn, tlie monk
came and reconcili'd my poor hrother v>ith his God.
I saw him die. ... O Ood I how full i.s our
life of bitternes.s.

I left in the nionk',s care my Lord Pierre, who
■wa.s still concealed in the .<tahle. They de])arted,
and I renuiined alone for the burial of my poor
brother. From all sides came bad tidings ; the
Jacques were defeated and hunted like Avolves.
The King of Z^avarre. aided hv the fount do Saint

Tlie OU Cha^t.

lllCIC,

soilod.

I- ; lait,
ill l!io
like ii

fear."
oil tlie

arnieil

listiirl)
bonio

'i.iiig :

0, iiiul
lo go
ccptcil
gainst,
lod to
monk
.sGo<l.
i-s uur

?, Avlio
lartoil,
y poor
i ; tlio
.•olvcs.
Saint

Pol, liati, il. was .-aid. Killed (lircn tliousand of
thorn : and Iwastol.llliat my J"alli<r liadlK'on taken,
and was to Iic liiiiig in tlu' fown of .Montdidicr. to
servo as a Marning and an oxani])U'. At this nowa
I liad Imt one thought— (o savo my fatlior from the
executioner's liands, and to go and ask Ids iiardoi-,
were I to wear my logs od'. I left my brother's
body in eliargo of n neighlior, and I hastened to the
A])liey of Dommarliii, whilher I knew that mv
Lord i\(' Coiuy and the ladies of his house had re-
tired. In my hoart J had no terror ; my great sor-
row took away all fear and aitjireheusion ; aiil
■when I arrived I boldly demanded to b'> lod to the
presoiiee of the lonls and ladies. I w;i ; lod to llie
giiest-cluimbors, and I found my Lord Enguorraiid
do Coney and my Lord Pierre fully armed, and the
■ vtiung ladies sad and sorrowful. I went in fear-
lessly; I went towards iny Lord I'icrro ; I throw
myself on my knees before him, saying :

'•Thoii didst ]ironii-'e to grant me a giaee ; T
come to claim it now. . . . T'ardon. iian'lon
for my father I"

"Wliat !" cried ho, "it is my good hostess— she
who saved me from the Jacques, and (ho looked at
mo closely) it is the l)eautifulshc|dierdcss."

"Yes,"' saiil 1, '• I am that unliajipy croatnro I
Pardon, my lord, pardon for my fatlior, who i.s
going to be hutig I''

"And Avho is your father, my child r" asked mv
Lord Lnguerrand.

"One of your vassals, my l,.nl, Jiicques Dti-
chaisnc, the (i rand Foriv's father. . . ,"

'Sly lord turned sorrowfully away; Iho vouiig
ladies looked at mo with tears in their eves ; imd as

mm^.m. Li n!

«.S

//.r (K,/ I Vi.s/.

. ' 1

I |H'r.-i^i(il i.i ilr.;p;^iii;; iii_\.«(ir uluiij,' nii i.iy I.iu'CN,
my Jjoid lliigiu'rniiitl huid in !i Itmo of /,'rit'f :

'• I wii^li it ucro in my jiowcr Id ivstoro you your
futlier ; hut, my jtoorfrjrl, tlio cva'culiuiuM' lias dono
lii.) v.'ork ; jiiiil (liis mdiiiiiifc ymu' i'allur Iiti:'. [layctl
llio tk'lit Mliic'h wo all must one day jiay, . . .
If I had hiKiwii that you had raved my iou, I wciuld
have a.skc'd life I'nr lit'r. . . . "

IIu 8pok(' ; l)Ul I licard r.') i.K'i'". . . . Ivais
tdmost dead M'ith Korniw ; . . . i he yuunj]' ladies
sDoke to mcpfentlv; Ihev made i:ie lie down in ;i
lieautit'ul l;ed, Iiuni,' witii curlains ; l)Ul for many
•lays and mauy iiiyhls I had ii mali^'nar.t i'ever,
durinj^ whieli I. saw around my pillow cither f'ihhcts,
to which vv(;ro liun;,'ohl luru in agony, or the pale
face of my hvulher, dyinj^ liy tho hearth of our
lionio, or tho wcre-wulf cxtendinj:; his hairy hands to
seize me, or my Lord Tierre Htandin.i; in tiio stahle,
tmd myj-elf huried i:i the v.atcrs of the Aulhie, and
Ktruggiin.'? without power to save nivhcif. . . .

When I was hetter, my Lord Enguerrand and
the Lady do C'oiu'y Kent for mo to couic to them ;
they spoke kindly, and my lord ^aid to me :

*• Ciitherine, I owe );iy kou's life to ihee ; thou
art good and virtuous ; I wish to make Ihee forget
thy mi.<fortunes ! I will free tlue, and give thee
in marriage to r.iy lv-i[uire Tou.«saiiit I'.e C'harny ;
thou Khait hri;ig hini for thy iiorlion tho
lands whieli l!iy fillier rcitcd. Art, thou eon-
tout?"

'•.My ]i>:\],'' t;:i;wered I, "I Idcss (uui for tho
kindaes.-; Avhieh ho has ])ut into thy heart ; hr.t I
havo but one favor to ask from thy gooduci.-; : Let
mo enter religion, that I may bo the servant and

i.iy I, lues,
rid":

I you your
r has (lono
luiii [iiiyi'd

u, I Would

. I \wis

uu;' ladius

lown iu u

I'tii" luauy

[lilt IVvcr,

■ tho [lalo
Lh of our
y luuuls {()
ho slablc,
ulhic, aud

■rand and
to Iheni ;
t' :

liOL' ; Ihuu
hi'c Torget
<:\\e Ihcc
( Iiarny ;
rlidu t'lo
thou con-
id for tho
irt : hut I
nctrf : Lot
I'vant and

y/v (>'/ (V.Ys.'.

i-'lH)rsi> (f i.ur S.aiour .FisuH Chri.l. Thai i.-i all I
visli for iu tho wurlih'

'•■ Thy dc-iro t^hall lie ii(coiii]ili,h( d." .siid iho
I,:'.dy do Couoy ; "and Ihou. Calliorino. w ill ]irav
frr i':>."

"'i'ho goods -wldoli (hou ihi.-t n'fuso, C'alhorino."
iiddod my lord, "I wUl giNc lo Ihy hi'olhor iJich-
ard. I found h'nu in ])riMin, nod 1 lia\r hoconio
liis f-oourilv. I''roni tliis ihiv I'orlh lio is cnfirolv
froo."

I k!.<s((l my lord's liaud, i;s liajijjy ::s I (ould
licncoi'orlli 1,0. I cuUicd (ho ll(/til Dicu at
Anuons, tho roligious (f which wiro in prcal ii -
nownfor jiicfy and \irtuc; fir (iuring tho lUack
Phiguo they liad tcm'.cd iho .-ick witli gcntlcncts
ami Iiuiniliiy, ^'^■po^ing their livt's without tliinking
of worldly glory, ami J, thou^di unworthy, was rc-
coived ui!U)ngst tlu ni. I made my |irofo?>iou umlor
tho name of Si!»tcr (icrlrudo. ^ly hrother Kichard
i.! now 11 liurghcr cf (his ninio (own (i Amiou;,
There ii.'li'l r':ivat mi cry in the land of France :
the i!ngli>:!i are tlie rnh rs ; rich and poor, noldcs
and serfs, arc oppre.-sed, and wo expect from (iod
idon.o delivoranco fn m fo many evils.

Our old sisters ccmeliincs repeat iho projdiccy
of ^Mirlin, -who foretold (hat ii virgin, from tho
nuir. hcs cf Chiunpagr.e, v.onld tavo rrance. ()
Queen (f Virgin.;! jiray that i'u may be fo, and
deliver (Iii.i jjoor j eojilo x.ho ]io])e in (h.oe.

Writti'U in the ninth year of (ho reign of ( harles
v., whom r.ir.y Clod grard.

XI.

TIfi; ('ITIZKV — I- 1 IT K I ; N'T I r ( rVTIUY.

My graiulfiilluT, Uiclnu-il Diiclmi.-no, Iti'iiifjj linn-
oriil)ly onilowt'il wiili llu> jjonds of tliis ciirtli, had
no (lilliciillv in ul)t;uiiiii'' I'miu llic 'mkhI citv of
Amic'ii.s tlio iij;Iit of citizcnsliiii ; iiml, iis ho hud
loariU'(l ill youlh tlio trade ot" Idacksiiiilh, lio do-
sircd lo istaljliiili hiiiitt'If and to found a house.
Thorcforo he sold to tlio Lord Toussaiul do Chaniy
tlio goods witli uliit'h my Lord dc Coufy had vi\-
dowod him, and witli tho iiroroods ho filloil up a
line hlack-niith's slioj), boing lirst, howovor, adiuit-
ted into tlio lionorablo corporation of workers in
iron, after liaxing nuulo, as jiroof-i of his skill in
tho crafl, a i)loug!isliaro, a ehiinney-i)ioee hearing
tho arms of the good city, and some lire-arms. He
was received ; and, a sliort time after, lie look to
wife A;':i'.'.-' D.ima/.c, the danglit<>rof the Syndic of
tho corporation, who was the mother of my most
Inmnrod father. They lived long years in i)caeL',
and arc now lying together in the Chureli of S.iint
Ki'niy under tho Idiio ilag, near the haptismal
font.-'.

Often, in tlie winter evenings. I curiously en-
quired of my grandfatiier, Master Damaze, as to the
origin of this corporation of Amiens, so noted for

its privileges, and for the great freedom granted (o

too

'iiif]f linn-
arlli, liaii
il cily of
3 1)0 hud
), he (Ic-
a liDiisi'.
Clianiy
had (11-
fcd uj) a
r, adniit-
yi'kcr.i in
i sUill i.i
3 hcarhiLf
ins. IIo
' t()ol< to
iyiidic of
my most
In peace,
of S.u'nt
iai)tisniai

nisly en-

a,s to the
noted for
ranted (o

77u' ( '/</ iV/iSf.

loi

it liy il-i lords ; and (his is what he (old nie. havinj,'
leaiiu'd it hiinselt from his rathers, and liy tlic ri'ad-
ing of honio ehivrterc, which, from his oflice of Syn-
dic and .Ma,i,ds(rate of (he town, he liad fif(|iifflitly
had in his hands.

It was in (he year of tlie Inearnat'on lli;J ; tlio
ancient and celehrated eity of Amiens had then lor
its liisiiop and lord (icidTrey, a man of hi};li liiieape,
and full of /oal for ivli;,d(»n and virtue, lie dearly
loved (lie people, and he vvislied every one to have
freedom, :ind protection for hisju'rsonand i)roj)erty.
ile readily yiilded U> (he reiiucsl of the l)iir;,diers,
ami ^'ranted llieni a municipal ;,^)Vcrnment and lawn
full (d" wisdom and justice. But the good hishop
was not the only lord of (he cily. Three powerful
liiy lords shared with him the sovereignty, and
those latter were neither as mild nor as (lenient as
was th? miui of (Jod. One of thcni, Count Cnguer-
rand de Hovcs, sent a;i;ainst the (own his wlndo
force of knights and archers ; he sought to hecomo
its sole master, and, in this impicnis war, the good
Bisiiop GeolTrey's goods were not spared. The
irnel iMiguerrand and his son, Thomas de Marie,
dishonored their I'ailli and their knightly fame in
oppressing the weak, killing the defenceless, and
carrying lire even to tlie monasteries and the hcdy
churches. Great distress was in all tlie country,
and the good bishoj), seeing the nusery of his jjco-
plo, distrusted himself. He sent his pastoral staff
and ring to the Bishop of Rheims, and Mishcd to
retire to the Cliartreux ia the diocese- of Grenoble.
The then reigning king, Louis the Fat, urged by
the entreaties of tiie clergy, who brongld under his
notice the grievances of the |ieoj)le, took up arms

] ;

I !

lOJ

TIic U'ui Ciust.

ii-r;iiiiit 'Uhomas dc 31;irlo, and chasLiscd i!ic :iu-
diicily of Iho fierco l)an)n. Tho Lord Kiag cuicred
Amiuns at the licad of Ids army, and l)y \\\i pre-
sence revived ilio hopes of the citizeiii;. By liis
side, Bishop Gooftrey, wliose lioart Vv-as witli his
flock, knelt in prayer at the tond) of Si.. Aclicul,
whilst the citi/,ens with the royal troops went to
attack Chatiilon, a little fort overlooking tho to'.vn,
jind commanded by one of tlio four allied lords,
named Adam. Evcii the women bore tliomselves
with great courage in the attack oa the fortress.
TIio king received an arrow in h-slKuibork, :!nd the
fort was only taken after a Ijlockade of two years.
Therefore, to found this corporation, to give liberty
to our fathers, and to oppose successfully those ter-
rildo lords, Avho were alike enemies of the sovereign
and of the peojde, it required the concurrence of a
ludy bishop, phiced by our Mother the Universal
Church in the ranks of tho blessed, of w just and
c;varageous king, and of the citizens of this, great
city. The liberty which we enjoy has been pur-
cliased with much bloodshed, and with many liard-
s'lijis ; we should respect it, then, as tlie .richest
inheritance which our fathers could have left to
their children, and eternally praise tlie great God,
wliose mercy has drawn u.s, as the ohihhen of Is-
rael, out of the house of bondage, and from under
the yoke of capt vity.

Slill, our fathers and ourselves have ahso knijwn
evil days. Wiio can tell what hard.-hins the pre-
sonco of the English has imposed npon us ?
unexampled misery ! since the day wlie.i the
jrentb Kintr Charles lost his rea-zm, t'.iere h.is been
no p:,ic.' in the kingdom of France. .V civil v.ar

iii

d the iiu-
\g cul-cred
y lii.-< pre-
:. lly Ills

wit'.i lli-i

I. Aelic'.il,
;3 wont to
tin to'.vn,
iod lords,
hoiiiscdvcs
> fortress.
k, and the
two yeiirs.
ivo liberty
tlioso tcr-

sovcrci;T;n
ivnce of ;i
L'liivcrsal

just and
this, givai
boon pur-
lany luird-
ho richest
ve loft t^)
jroat God,
l:on of Ls-
roni under

Iso known
)3 tlio pre-
. us?
wiion the
h:is I)."cn
eivil war

'J7u- Old Clti-sl.

\o\

broke out between the Burgundians and tiie Aruia-
gnaes.

Tiie English took advantage of the dissensions in
the royal council, the want of union and liarniony
botwcen the king's uncles, to invade once more this
kingdom, which they had coveted for more than
!5i.\ly years ; and then was seen, horrible to think,
ii mother, a (jnoen, deposing her son and the licir of
!!:o many kings, in favor of a foreign prince, an
enemy to the raoo and t) tlic country of France !
Paris and all the cities of the kingdom were t .\-
liausicd in their iinancos, ruined by taxes and suti-
isidies, overwhelmed with distress. Epidemics,
severe cold, famine, decay of industry and com-
merce, all corxbined to ruin and harass the ])cople ;
in those times were seen on the highways and in the
streets scores of little children, crying out, '•lam
starving,"' and hard was the heart that would not
pity them, l)ut the poor householders could not
help them ; for thera was in the good towns neither
wheat, nor broad, nor wood, nor coal, and the taxes,
exactions of all kinds, rained down like hail froin
hell.

The most Christian king fared no better than his
subjects. He was ])oo'-ly and humbly served in the
Hotel <lo Saint Pol, v.ith few al;tendants, -with the
exception of old followers, and but little state.
During this time, at the Louvre the Englisb King,
Henry, was displayiiig great pomp and pageantry,
as thongli he were king of the wdiole -world, a thing
■which was grievously displeasing to the hearts of
all true rrondimcn. Tlie laborers were still more
unfortunate than the citizens; robbed, ruined, op-
lircssed, they left their wives and children, saying,

' If!

I '

I I

104

The Old Chest.

'* L.'l evoi'vlliiiiL; pi ii> ilic devil; liltlc \vc ciiro
what becomes of us ! "' an;! they became robbers in
the wooils, and recruited companies of bri,':- ads.
The poor king passed from life to death, and the
popular sorrow wa-^ increased, in seeing, O pitiable
sight ! the funeral of the King of France headed by
an Englisliman, the sword of the King of Franco
borne before Fnglishnien, and the people with sighs
and lamentations cried, as they followed the coflln of
King v.;harles VI : '• dj.u\\;t prince ! avc shall
never soc thee again ; we shall have nothing but
wars, since thou has left us. Thou art gone to thy
rest, and we live in tril)ulation and sorrow."'

My grandfather had seen King Cliarles tiie V.,
called the Wise, and his son and successor Charles
VI. ; my f.ithcr lived under the gentle dauphin,
who was called Charles VII., surnamed the Victo-
rious, and many a time he told us children how
the kingdom of the Lilies was recoverctl by an
huml)le and sim])le shepherdess, who would rathor
have spun beside her mother, but who saved the
kingdom of I'rance, because God willed it ! and
l^ecause Saint Louis and Charlemagne were kneel-
ing before the throne of God, praying for their
successors I" It was marvellous how she bore her-
self in her position, and how grandly and impres-
hively she spoke, whilst in all other things she was
;:he most simido shepherdess that ever Avas I But
a man was found. I say it to the honor 01 the third
estate nr burghers, who by natural and human
means aided in preserving the state which Jeanne
had recovered. This man was called Jacques Cceur ;

* " I'rolcsilo la Pucollo"—" Trial of Uic Maid of Orleans."

_■ wo caro
oljbors in
bri'r- iids.
, :uul tlic
) pitiable
loaJcd by
)f Franco
,vilh sighs

coflin of
Avc shall

tiling bnt
n\c to thy

V."

s tiic v.,
ir Charles
tlaupliin,
the Victo-
idrcn liov»
;-cd by an
lid ralhor
saved the

1 it ! and
ere kneel-

for their
bore hcr-
d impros-
gs she was
nis ! Bnt
L the third
lid human
ch Joanne
ues Cojnr ;

The Old Chest.

105

and 11 cousin of mine, my mother's nephew, who
was long employed in the counting-house of a rich
merchant of Bourges, told us wonderful tales of
liim.

At that time, King Charles VII. had already re-
covered a part of liis kingdom from the English.
But he needed Parisian coins or royal money to
drive them finally from Normandy. Then came a
man of low Uneaf/c, as the lords expressed it, Avho
uttered these noble words :

" Sire, what I have is yours !*'

The King, wlio at tlio time had neither goods
nor means, requested him to lend him some money
to carry on the war iu Normandy, and Jaecpies
Cceur collected for him four hundred thousand
pounds.* The soldiers were paid, and did their
duty so well that the English, bafllcd and discom-
fited, were obliged to depart from the kingdom of
Erance. To olTer such a sum to his lord had been
no easy matter for Jacques ; according to . he ac-
count of my cousin Norbert Damaze, a reliable
man, lie owned seven ships, Avith which he carried
on an immense trade, sending to other countiies
the wines, fruits, and grains from the fertile land
of Prance, the camelots and other stuffs, the works
of our artisans in iron and copper, and bringing in
return spices, medicinal drugs, balms, perfumes,
wax, honey, glassware, gilt leather, silks, and
metals, Avhich come to us from other climes. He
was the owner of mines of copper and lead, master
of the mint, silversmith to the King of France.
Abundantly rich, perhaps too much so, he liad

L'f Orleans."

* About sixteen millious "f francs.

3
1

1
I

1 06

TItc Old Chest.

built ill Bourgos (he most heantit'iil iiouso in Frauoc,
in which lie .s'.idwc:! little \vi;5dom ; lie possct-'kHJ
twenty-two lordships, which were the cause of great
troubio to him ; he rendered to (he country and
to the king most glorious .services, which provoked
the wrath of the v»'icked. And yet was the silver-
Kmith los^ dosorving than the lords, the Dunois,
the Li Hire.-', the Xaintrailles I I'oor Jacques
Cuaur -was accused to our lord the King,''-' im-
])ri.soned, stripped of his goods, and condemned to
make restitution. But in this extremity he found
love and loyalty amongst his clerks and sales nen,
assisted them with their savings, and furnished
him with the means of reaching the Papal terri-
tory. Pope Calixtus III. honored this great and
generous man, and gave him commaiul of the fleet
whicii lie Avas arming against the Turks ; but
.lacques, overwhelmed with grief, died in the Isle of
Scio. ]\ray Crod grant jieaco to his soul, good and
loyal as ho was in all things, and a great honor to
the burgher race frcmi which he sprang !

■'■' Jac(iuP3 t;(BUV wa:! accuse \ of havin.T; iinpoverisherl the
country by exporting copper to the intidcls, and if ho did ex-
port copper it was in cxchango for Egyptian co'tl ; of having
nlt^-red tho money for Ids own boneflt, whilst it was In wh.o
liul C3tablislied o'-der i'.i tlia monetary systems : of liaving
.sent arms to tho Turks, and ib w.as prove! that t'leso arms
wore prca r.it3 fro:n Charles VII. to tho Sultan of Egypt; of
liaving restored tj his Mussuhnan ma-^ter a Cln-istian slave
v.ho iiad taken refuge 0:1 board 0:10 of his vessels— tliu pro-
mise of not taking away slaves v.-a;s on;^ of the express con-
ditions of cDarusrcial i.itjrcourso with tho L'vant, and
J-ic(iuoi Ca>ur vras ojiigo.l t ) :,ub:u:t to it. Tho clergy nobly
•spousril the silver.!mith'sc.r:s3 ; Top? Nicholas V. wrote to
tho Khig in favor of t:>o ac -used, and tho Church thowed her-
fc'f oncc> nj)re fh? pi-otoctois pC i inniinc:? .T.id nenius.

Tiic Old Clusl.

107

France,

of groat
itry and
irovokcd
10 silvor-
Dunois,
Jacques

mncd to
ic found
lie? ncn,
iirnished
lid torri-
roat and
tlic licet
ks ; but
le Isle of
ood. and
lonor to

risheii the
hn did cx-
of liaving
as In vho
of having;
;ieso ariu.'i
Egypt ; of
tiau slave
— thu pro-
l)rcss coii-
raut, and
vgy nobly

, Ml'OtO to

lowed her-
nia.

A.sforu.<, wc liavo livi'(l in uidropoacct'iil day.- ilum
thoic of our falluT,-;. liOui.s the Eleventh rei^iiii
undisputed over Iho laud of France, having no
other enemy to fear than the liory and irrilahlo
Dulcc of Burgundy, last male heir of tiiat powerful
I'ne, an oifslioot ef the French Lilies. In the he-
giniung of his roigu inucli tr(iu!)le was made hy tlio
great vassals on pretence of tlie puhlic good, but
tlic King's great wisdom extricated lum from (his
dilemma. lie was gradually seen sh-ildug down
all the branches of the feudal tree which eclipsed
tiie majesty of the cimwii, and souglit .<u])p(irt fror.i
the men of low tlegree. in whom he found gooil-
will, wisdom, and loyally. Often have I seen that
King, perfectly simple, clad in a short coat, with an
old doublet of gray fustian, a felt hat, and a modest
chaplet of medals, despising the vain niagnilicencc
with which the great of the earth usually are at-
tired, keeping iw, greater state than when he was
the poor exiled dauphin at GenalTe, and reserving
the fruits of his savings for more useful things. Of
the ideasures of kiugs ami great lord i lie had u
fondness for one only, the chase, and this he kept
for himself alone by edicts so harsh and so rig- .)u;?
that it was a less erime to kill a man than a boar or
stag.

Our beautiful i)rovinco of Picardy, the ancient
appanage of our kings, was more than any other
the prey of my Lord of Burgundy, v.ho wished to
recover possession of the Picardian towns, formerly
delivered to his house by traitors. Jly eldest daugh-
ter, Beatrice, who was married to ]\IasterAngc Gai-
ly, a ficrivencr of Bcauvais, oftentimes related the
marvels and the feats of tiic siege cf tluit cilv, and

;lf

I OS

The Old Oust.

Mio iniigiiiinimous virtue (lisplaycd liy (lie citizens,
Avlio (lofoiulcd at tlio sumo tiiiio, against tlic terrible
Duko of Burgundy, tlieir goods, (lioir iionor, tii' ir
lives, and tlic frontiers of tlio kingdom of France.
It ivas in tlio year ]4T;». , . . I'jic Duke of
Burgundy rodo liiniself at tiie liead of liis nrmy,
which was formida1)lc! and imposing to see, but tlic
citizens -wero not afraid. The company of archers
did wondeis; the women and young girls had as-
sembled at the shrine of the Blessed .Saint Anga-
dresme, patroness of the city.* But they did not
conlinc their efforts to prayer and lainenlation ; they
mounted the rani])arts, carrying t(» tlie defenders of
the city supplies, provisions, cordials; and, more-
over, they aided in the rigliteous defence of their
city, rolling great stones down upon their assailants,
and pouring upon their heads boiling Avatcr and
oil. In vain did the enemy several times attempt
to scale the ramparts ; they Avere always repulsed.
. . . The women and maidens (and, thanks be
to Heaven, my daughter showed that she came of a
good stock) cried, " Saint Angadresme to our aid !"
and they threw the cruel Burgundians into the
ditches below.

A simple and modest maiden of Beauvais, named
Jeanne Four(|uot, made herself remarkable. She
snatched from the hands of a Burgundian standard-
liearcr the banner which ho was about to plant on
the walls, and as she made use of a small axo she

* Saint Angmlresmo was the (lauRhtor of Robert, Keeper of
■,he .Seals to Clotairo ; from her childhood sIio consecrated her-
; elf to retii-cmoiit and to tho service of Ood, and received the
^eil from tho hands of Haint Owen. Sho died in tho vcar
6t'8.

Tlw OlJCIust.

1 09

L'ltizcns,
terrible
ir, 111' ir
Fraiifo.
lake of
.s nriny,
but the
iirchers
hiicl as-
t Aiigii-
did not
II ; tlicy
iders of
i, inoro-
if their
ailaiits,
tor and
ittcmpt
pulsed,
ink 3 bo
mo of a
raid!"
ito the

named
;. She
mdard-
lant on
ixo she

deeper of
ited lier-
ivod the
ho year

»♦,

and lior descendants bavo bmiu' tlic .^uruaiiic .if
Ilarlntlr, wliiob i'^ sliU dear to llio nioiiiory of the
people of Boauvais. One of (be pates of tlie tnwn
liad been foreed in by l)lo\vs of tlie eulvcrin ; llie
IJurgundians rushed forward to er.ter through this
opening, but the eourage of the citizens increased
at sight of such grc; t jierii ; they lioaped together
wood, pitch, and itots of oil behind the broken gate,
tliey set tiro to it, a ul ojiposed to tho enemy, for
Avant of a rampart '-f stones, a raminirt of unceasing
Ihinies, ke[)t up i>y beams and planks from tlie
nei'dilioring houses. The enemy retreated, and
after twelve lumrs' sicgo and combat the citizens
v.'ero reinforced by companies of artillery, bowmen,
and gual•d^^, come from Amiens, from 8enlis, from
Paris, and from Tapper Normandy, for in such cir-
cumstances brother does not abandon l)rother, the
fingers of the hand aid each other, and, when one-
good town sulTers. all tlu^ others are pained and
sorrowful.

lU'fore many days liad i)asscd there were ^o many
men in the town that tliey would have sniliccd to
defend not only one wall, but tho liedge of a tield.'='
The siege lasted a month all but five days, and, full
of rage, Duke Charles Avas compelled to decide on
i-etreating without trumpets, repulsed by the citi-
zens, -who had saved their honor and the welfare of
the kingdom. King Louis was grateful : he grant-
ed to tho citizens of his good town of Beauvais tho
right of holding noble licfs, without paying taxes
oH)eingheld to militia service, tho free election of
the mayor and of the members of their corporation.

* l-^xprosslir.is lie Comniines.

^ir

Ilti Old Clu-^t.

and (lie ricrht df iissoml)lin,<.; in tlii.' Iiousof of citizens
t:) (Ic'liheralo on llioir c")!iiini)!i iiitcMvst ; ho c.\tmi)t-
cil tlicin fniiii (1k> poll-hix, aiul various othcrn, Iio
enjoined tlio c-itublislinu'i;! of ii >"o!oiirn lUMcc.-sion
every y.wx, jiiul coinrnaiiilcil that the liravc women
of I5oaiivui.s sliould iicneefortii niarcli in front of the
men at (he a!)uve-nientioned jji-occssion ef Saint
Angndresnie, and he dispensed these honorable wo-
men from all the suniptiiarv laws rcspeeling their
garments, rings, and jewelry.

Five years after, the (leree Dnko of Burgundy
perished, as was sujiposed, at the battle of Xaney,
under the blows of the Swiss ])easants, by whom,
twice before, ho had been phamefnlly and entirely
vuiHiuished. Tlie crafty Louis had often saiil '• I iiat
he knew no belter means of avenging himself on
CMiarles llian to let liini throw liimseif again.-t the
Germans,** and t!ie event sliowod how clear-sight-
ed was the King of France.

At tho t;nv,> i;f my Ti -.rd of Ilurgundy's death, h^
had just ]iromi.-:ed to aid and supixirt King Kduard
of England, i:i recovering the kingdom of France.
But (iod delivered ns from such calamities, lie
permitted tliat the rich and glorious house of Ihir-
gundy, whith had been honored far and near, per-
ished miserably i;i tho jierson of Charles, who left
n.j m lie heirs, and t!iat gradually, by wars and by
troatic.-^ the crown of l'"ran:o recovered its righls
over ^;o many dr.ciiies ami larldonis, so many lord-
slii])s,, which had bcc^ held by the heirs of Philip
tho Bold, to the great detriment of the kingdom of
the Lilies.

* Bco Coinmincs.

The Old Chat.

I I I

if citizens
> cxctni)!-
hcrn , lie
rncc.-si.iii

C WdllU'll

intdf tin.'
of Sain I
i'aI)lo \vo-
iiig tliL'ir

iirp;ini<ly
' Xaiioy,
y whom,
ontiivly
id '-lliat
mst'lf (111
iiii.>t the
ii'.'-sic-lit-

oatli, Ii >
Ivluard
France.
ics. llo
of Bill',
par, per-
^s\w left
and liy
s \\'t\\\-&
w\ lord-
l Philip
crdoni cf

Whatever wore tlie siilTerinjrs wliich tlie pt>|inla<e
still endured by the raising' ol' taxes anil inciea.>-(> cf
tolls, coni^idcrinp llio times of tmr falheis wc^lmnld
esteem ourselves fdrliinale. The Kin;:' has at heart
preat froDd-nill for \\^\ he favor.; ei)niinere«,' and
trailie hy land and sea ; he grants preat freidom lo
nniny towns •, in line, he loves those wlio are the
life (if the state, and they in tlieir tnrn oupht to
cherish him. May (iod prant him lonp lite — for
ho is anxious to live — to him and to his po.stcrity !

I shall not see his royal descendants reipninp
and llourishinp ; lam «dil ; my children, praise !e
to God, arc lionoraldy settled ; one of them, Au-
gustine, is a poldsmith, and excels in his craft ;
the second, Taliian, a scrivener and compiler id'
rubrics, lias quitted our city of Amiers to settle in
Paris, v, licre ho dwells not far from the C'luireh (.f
Saint Jacques-dc-hi-Houcherio ; Beatrice, my
dauphter, i-s hapi)y and much esteemed in her
town of Beauvais; Fran';oise, my younpest child,
left us to devote herself to t!io service of (J:id in
the austere Order of the Boor Clares. Thu3 families
are scatterctl accordinp to tho will of Almiphty
(iod. I did what I could for my children, first in
toachinp thorn to lovo and serve Cioil, then in in-
structing them accordinp to their state and con-
diiion.

All of them know hov,- lo nail and write ;
they are not obliped to juit for seal or signatures,
at tho bottom of documents or letters, a tool of
their trade — tho blacksmith, his hammer; tho
car[""iter, his plane ; the inason, his trowi I." . . .

■•' AVo liavc rccn r-'.r.ry I'.ccv.ir.rn'r. nd Icltcrr. cf niecliar.ics
signed with l-.aibnicus unit uinr ni.irl i::.- lis, icjifnr.i:i t; thu

f I

ira

T,tc Old C/nst.

I Jiol.l 11 litilo kiiowlcdgo pood in nil coiKJitions ;
I tlunk this opinion is giiiiiinff more and nioro, and
(liat It soon will 1)0 11 diHgraoo for any ono not to
know how to road, oithor for amusoniont or ncoos-

Hitv.

tonls„r tlicir prnft, an the HlRnntiiro. Tt w„h tl,o plrlK^ion
of-arrns. Mr. (iontil Ivslnnips. nt Lill... hns nmi.y pniH-r
signed a )ii8 vuluuble wlleutioii.

pont-
Hthus

iiditiuiis ;
loi'p, and
10 not to

)!• lU'CCS-

Maix coot-
injH'islhus

MI.

CAIIMiI.ir \.,,/ I'KcrilSTANT

SIN ri r.xTii

1, 'iiii; ;:n':ii-i:niii(l.H)i) if Ihal Aml)nisc' Du-
cliaisno who c.-leriiicd Kiuiwletljjfc so lii;i:lily, ainl
till" prandson (if aMasU'r J''al>iaii, list' fonipik'r, Ikim;
addi'il sumo iiolo.s (o those which my I'atlicrs (may
their souls rest witli (fod I) iia\t' lali(iriou>iy traccil.
\\\' live ill slraii^'c times, and all around u^ is dis-
sension (if minds, dis(()rd, and malice. Often liave
I hoard said hy eliurcli ixdple, '• There must lie
licre.-ies.*' JJitler neeepsity of (Piir conditio'i vu
earth, where we can iieitlicr have peace nor rest ;
for to eniimeraie the stixains (.f li!(.(id wliieli here-
sies liave caused to How i.i somethim,' inipossihle.
In tlio last eeuUiry, as I liave heard rehile(| hy the
Bolieniian and lln'iparian students wlio eoine
to seek kuowleilue at \Uv I'liiversity of Paris,
Germany was harassed liy the cruel wars of
John Ziska and his followers, the olTsiniiii,' (tf
llie damnalile heresy of John IIuss ; and in the
beginning- of this century, i.ndcr King Francis I.,
it was a^aiii froiu fJormany that, tho ever-to-l»c-lu-
mented error of Luther came to us. Iievolt nirainsfc

God andagainsl the iiowers of the earth is all tluiti

»i»

'> I lie tlisci|iK.,

r I. Ill Ik r, (if

w.i-^ I'n.iiplit (.1 II

••Wimt is (;.mI:-' „.k..,| ,|,op,.,.I KinirS.i
LmiHuf il,..siiv,l,. .luiinill,..

•'/;;"'•■• "'H«-,.|v,l I,,.. •• i.s .sumc.tlm,^. ,., pK„l
llpti tlicivciiii lie ii(.ilu'ii;r heller."

••''n'lv.-sahllhrliolv'Ki,,;:, -_vo.ih.,v..ai,.su,.re.|
"<■ ;i.vk nf l.rlVticM, 'Wliiit U voiir

[{lit

i ' I »,» .1 ' "■ I'll in 1 Will

!*'"'• '.'"'V"""!-! in.Mv.rll.u.s it w.mM K.Vm :

'^"""■'.''"'" "' '••■' "' "•.isc-t.,i,vr:,Mm.t 1,0; fur

u'luni.sK.s,,sr,.-.vilsui,iHMvoc.annon,voi.i.::„,|

.;:"'';''• ^:''''''-'f -■'•'- i-''.^'A,nii,H null.

l.o.v.,M,.s.nlK.avni. Uut .l,n.„,.i. .livincfrnwo
the km^'il...,. of France., thouplMnmi. imiunllnl
'"•^ >v.n;ui,...l ('.tI.„ii..:aIHio,i.h,t Ui. L.I of
t..c" lli..M.ennts vvuv mt.. ^^nninMen. ionl... m„.I
.■voM .i.'^'c.noratcmmsofSain, Lmu'.. (!,. citizens
.f 1,0 owns tl.og,,,,., iHn,,leor,i,eeo,u,(rywm.
faithf.il. am lu.vo nnt penniKe.itl,, kinfr.lom ..f

mvLilu.sto n.etlR.ren...nufit.siuuient inu-rilv.
I"". a.s Liu. k,n.ir,ln,n HnlFeml. ead, family l,a,l l„
I»ay M.m.. mln... to f|,, pnlili. misfurtu'iioH. an.l

tluTcMvero fiMv wlm Innl m,L tomunni tiKMlefeeti,
of somcM.f their children.

;nuTe wore three l.n.thor.s of us, Cla.nlc. Fran-
'/'•'^■. .;muI myself, who was name! Thihaiit. We
wore lu the (Worofyo;,,!, ji.st at the time when
tlio rclisnms ilispntes reaehc.l their hci-hl The

JJ'"M.Kin.Cl,ark.sthoXiu.huasa,ni:;or:n,Hler
^.0 ivgency of Queon Catherine, aa,| it uas whi.-
pcm], amongst ns citizens of I'aris, that the inno-
vation, meet wit], proat .neco.8 at court. Jlicliel
do IHopital. then Chancellor of the real

111

im, Mas a

Tlif ('/,/( lust. 1 1 5

very ilnul.tful Callidlic, timl Iiis wife ami all Iii.^
family wir.' rn.tistaiilH ; tlic I'riiui'of Coml.'. an
olistiiuid' JIii;:iK'm>t, \va>i<'m' uf tin- Kiii^'VcmiiHil ;
UacpariK' Colifjny (>ee'm<(l to lia\t' \\w tdiirulciict' of
llii'Qiucii liop'iil, (((wlidiii 111' |iiiiii(i'(l out iIk'imo-
K's.-ioiis of till' i'ii'r<.'y art an I'a.^y )nvy with wliicli
til lill tlif vdiil in till' royal tivasitiry. Aiitoino do
Bourlioi), Kin;,' of Navanv, wiio \va« also a Iliifiiic-
iiot, liiiil ju,>t in'on apiininti'd lii'iit('!iaiit-;,'oiici'al of
tlio Kiii^T'lom ; tlio foii'i^rn worsiiip was imu'tisi'd
even in the royal imhuc <»f tlic liHiiMv, and on woak
iiiinds llusi' i'.\am|ili'.-i ^railmilly rMTci.-i d a fatal
iiilliii'iico. TiiL' younfrost td' my lirotlu'rs, Franvois,
liad prolitcil litllo liy tlio virtuous oxamplosof tlioso
^'oiie liffoiv. Ill' was u youn^' man of llcry temper,
opposed to restraint, an enemy to work, and wlmse
iiielinalions deeply ^'rieved oiir worthy and lioiiored
mother. Even on her d^^'athbcd it troubled her,
and she prayed to the sweet Jesus and the Blessed
Virgin for her poor Fraii(;ois. Alas! if she eoiild
have foreseen the future, with what bitterness of
heart she would have left the earth ! Wo soon pei-
eeiveil that our brother shunned our Foeietv, and
ne;,de''ttd the trade of f^oldsmith in wliieh we weiii
all employed, my eldest brother being ilie master,
and wo working as his aids and assistants, whilst
wo waited to be reeeived as masters. Wc learned
that Franyois had appeared at Protestant sermons,
wliieh wore then delivered in various parts of the
city, and that i:e had e-eii partaken of the Lord's
Sujiiier with them. It was llidy Tliursday. My
brother Claude, a manof great virtue and of eminent
piety, liad passed his day in the eliurehes before the
sacrament of (iio altar; I bad just enme down

fff

ii6

The Old Chest.

from tlio workshop, ■\vhcro I liud given llic last rub
of tlio polisliiiig-iron to uclialicc ordered forKust.r
.Sunday l)y the euro of Saint Germain I'Auxerrois;
our old Aunt Martlic had set tdc tabic for the colla-
tion, and, wjiilst awaiting our coming, she stitched
away at clothing destined for the poor of the
parish, for she was the almoner, and was very
zealous in seeking out the unfortunate. Wc were
waiting for Franyois, when the door of tlio back-
shop opened, and ho entered abruptly. Looking
at the table, with a dc,1ant air, he stiid shortly :
"Is that all the supper?"

Now, the pupper, according to custom in Lent
and penitential times, consisted of dried fruits and
of last year's apples; and, certainly, it was a
wedding-feast compared to the privations of so
many religious in their cloisters, who, on so me-
morable a day, eat nothing but bread and water •
and still more the Fathers of Saint Bernard, founded
by Joan de la Barriure, ate this bread on their knees
and drank the water from skulls, which they used
instead of cups and glasses.

'• Eh ! is it not Lent ?" said Aunt Marthc gently,
" and could we use any other food ? "

'•' Those arc superstitions taught by the priests,"
cried Franvois, "and I no longer pretend to con-
form to them."

So saying, he sat down, drew from under his
cloak some slices of salt meat, and began to eat.

'^Brotlier, what are you doing ?" cHcd Claude.

" louarc outrageously violating the precepts of the

Church, and I siuill not suffer it in my jn-esence

nnderthc roof which sheltered our worthy parents."

'•I no longer recognize your Clinrch, nor lli'o

The Old Chest.

llic last nib
lfor]-::i.sf>,r
'Au.\c'iTi)is ;
1' llic colla-
lio stilched
)or of llie

I was vei'y
We wore

tlio back-
Looking
liortly :

II in Lent,
fruits and

it was ii
ons of so
on so mo-
k1 Avator ;
I, founded
leir i^nees,
they used

lie gen tl}',

priests,"
J to con-

inder his
to oat.

Claude.
)ts of tlio
presence,
parents."

nor \\\c.

laws whicli make slaves of men I I am a man, I
am free, and to all three of you I declare that I
have ahjurcd it, and that henceforth I belong to
the Communion of Calvin."

"0 wretched boy I" cried my aunt.

"Brother, retract your words," said Claude :
" such treason is not possible. The son of our virtu-
ous parents cannot be an apostate."

" I am not an apostate, but a reiormcr," answered
Franij'ois ; " the jargon of prioots, monks, and de-
votees has no more influence over nu>. I belong
to the free worship, in whicli each man is to himself
his own church and his own light."

"Poor deluded bov ! do you assume tliat your
single and fecl.iie jmlgnient is Aviser than the
Church founded by Jesus Christ, and comirmcd by
sixteen centuries of persecution ajid 1 triumi)li ?
Do not (|uit the fold, my brother ; the shee]» who
stray from it arc lost ! It is i)ride which causes
von to follow the con'.iiion way, and to embrace
these novelties ; it is pride which invites you to
join a wandering iloek, beguiled into the way of
perdition, rather tlian remain a disciple in the
school of truth, letting yours^df be led by the hand
of the pastors in the right way. Kenonnce the
spirit of falsehood, my dear brother I and be sub-
missive in order to be saved."

" That is enough of preaching, brother Claude,"
re])lied Fran<;ois : " your words are as idle as the
drifting snov,-. It is a thing decided upon, done,
and consummat'd. I am a Calvinist, and in sjjite
of all you can say, to-morrow I dcj ;'t with the fol-
lowers of the Prince of Condc."

The^e wonls Idled us witli consterniition ; poor

liH

J !

AmiL ^[.irllio kiu'il; down before Francois ; my bro-
Ihtr "jiml I iiiiiilorcd liiiu : ;ill wan u>cle.-^:; ; ^iic
f'.iild (if iicnlitiuii k'ft our duolliiirr, and wo soon
learned (liai, ivnoiiiicin;^,' liis faitli, a.s lie iiad ro-
nounecd Uic lioiiorahle empluymciit of liis fatlieiv,
li: liiul enlisted amongst impious Gennaii fout-sol-
diers and other i)rolligates, wiiom the Prinee of
'"'(indc kejjt in his relimie. This was for iis the
stibjeet of great alllief ion, and shanio anionpst our
Jieighbors and associates, for it Avas well known
what lidelily the t!'ades])e()ide of Paris had shown
towards t!ie Holy Sec and the good and ancient re-
ligion, ^ly brother Claude especially took this
grief to heart, and became more than ever assidu-
ouj iajirayer, meditation, the ollice^ <f the Church,
and i:i jiractices of jiusiere penance, and his design
became but too ap{)arent. At length he disclosed it,
and told us, A\ith mingled gentleness and firmness,
ilu'.t he had resolved to leave the world, to serve
(tod in tho religious life, and that he had chosen
the Order of Capucliins, as lieiiigone of tlie"])oorest
ami most penilcnlial that could be found.

■■ W e inust make reparation for that ])oor unfor-
tunate," said he to me, "that the v.rath of God
may not come down upon him. I willingly oiur
myself to the Divii.e ^lajesty lo obtain mci'cv I'oi'
our uiduijipy brother."

A f e V days after tiiis conver.sition, my worthy
l)n;tlicr set out for Augoiimois, where he wa.-', ac-
coniiiig to the will (f his ! upcrior.--, to enter the
Xoviti.ite of the Capuchin Brothers in the city cf
Angoulome. I bitterly lamented his departure,
deploring tlic i'atid inr.cjvatioiis wliich had thua
separal.d, fi'om Mich <!ilTerent motives, three bro-

(;oi.s ; my \tra-

and wo soon
Iri lie iliul vc-
' liis fatlieiv,
nan foot-.5ul-
10 Prince of
s for us tlio
anioiipst our
well known
i liatl t^Iiown
il ancient re-
ly took this
ever assidu-
flie Cliureli,
id his dosipi
di.scloscd it,
lid firinnc??,
rid. to servo
had clioseii
r tlie'])oorcst
nd.

])oor nnfor-
•ath of God
lliiiEfly otTer
1 iiurcy l'(»r

my worthy
i lie wa.-', ae-

enter tlio
. tlio eily of

depiU'ture,

1 liad tlu'.fl
■'. three hro-

/'/. ()/,/ ( '/us.'.

1 I)

; tiers who had been from t liildhood .<o cln.-elv ui.iied,
iiiul iivinir in .•^^iich iiitiinacy and eonlidenco ih;',! i:
h:;dieinud that deiith alone cmld have fcundoiid
fo ftron;;- an alliance ; and, in regretting niyFaiiilly
brother Claudo, I btill wept for the fail Of "the un"-
lortunate Fraiwyois,

rublif affairs were occupy in^- every mind. The
rrinee (f Co:\de had thrown off tlio iiM.-k, and
ojienly i:Kinife>ted Ids desipi of ;;ui)portiiig llie new
reiiiridu by force of arniti; Gas[)arde C'oligiiy joined
l.im ; and, at the licad (;f tlic Huguenot army, thev
niri)rised the city (t Orleai;;-, which tb.ey made
their ]iead(piarters, alter having, however, ]ih:r.-
dcred the Catholic churches and confiscated the
Church goodj— that is to .-;iy, the iiatrimony ef tlic
]H:or. The sectaries (,f Calvin thought thc'mselvts
then superior to their rdveiTarics ; tiiey asicmbkd
tumultuously, and, in the towns where thev wire
nnmerons, they tei/.cd upon (ho churches, ] icfarcd
the lioly altars, and inlHcted must frighd'i;! u-.y-
iurcsupon ihe priests and Iho faithful. Such n:-
mors of iiicir ( ruelty went abroad as filled all hon-
est hearts with horror; i-.evcr had the^ land ot
France been alliicted by ro many sacrileges, ncr I y
so much barbarity.

In this interval, I received a letter from mv br..-
tlier Claude, which I insert here. He wrote :

" Axfion.KM K, J n ue ;.'.'., i ,".(:•.'.
'• Pkaci; 1!i: with \'()r I
" liEUjvEi* BuoTin:!: :

'•It has jueased the Loiil td try i:> 1 v gre i c a-
lamiiicj si'.u-o I last wrote to u.u. Vna lurve 1 1 ;■-
ha])S Iieard that lids city of Angouirmc, besieged
by theiruguenofs, has al last f.illiii Info ll'.eir liandst

I20

The 01<I Chest.

tliey seized ujmn llio pules of (he city, ami liavo
ravaged and despoiled all the places coiisecratoa
(o Iho Lord, although a treaty, confirmed hy oaili,
secured to priests and faithful Catholics the free
I'.xercisc of their religion. The liouses and i)er-
sons belonging to our holy order have n«jt been
spared, and the Lord has pertnitted, for his greater
glory, that many among us resisted even unto
blood. Perhaps it may be agreeable to you to know
the names and deeds of the now confessors. There-
fore, I will cite JJrother Gre'.let, Sujierior of the
Convent of St. Francis, in this city, who, from
hatred to (he true religion, was hung and strangled
on the gallows, btl'oiv (he eyes of (laspar deCo-
ligny, the chief of these rebels. Heady to appear
before God, witii the cord already around his neck,
this courageous priest jjrodicted to Coligny a (erri-
l)lo and bloody end. . . . May God avert from
him this pro])hecy, and have mercy on that ]ioor
sinner ! Brother Jean Viroleau, reader of the same
monastery, was inhumanly massacred by the here-
tics, as also an old man of eigli(y, Brother Joan
Avril, who was beheaded ! A learned doctor of
theology, Brother Pierre Boumeau, also gave his
blood and his life for the same holy cause. The
Huguenots took, and shut up in a house belonging
to a citizen of the town, named Papin, thirty Ca-
tholics, Avhom they put to death by various tortures.
Some died by starvation, others were sawed in two,
others burned at a slow (Ire— horrible cruellies,
v.liieh arc repulsive t'» the natural gentleness of
our nation. A we, thy magistrate, Jlessire Jean
Arnold, v,as strangled, after having undergone va-
rious torture.; ; w widow, who was venerable alike

The OUChcst.

\2\

ios 11 10 freo
M iind per-
not been

Ills greater

even unto
on to know
irs. Tliere-
n'or of tlio

who, from
d strangled
[)ar (le Co-
s to appear
d his neck,
:ny :i teni-

avcrt from

iliat ]ioor
if the same
y the ]>ere-
jther Jean

doctor of
gave his
mse. The

belonging
thirty Ca-
is tortures,
ed in two,

cruel licj-,
itleness of
ssire Jean
ergonc va-
able alike

from her a<;e and virtue, fell info iIr. hinids of these
rullians, who would not respect the old age of their
mother, and was dragged through the streets and
put to death. Another Catholic lady, liavinggiven
hosi)itality to some Huguenot soldiers, was burned
in her own house ; a saintly priest, in the vicinity
of Angouli'me, was scalded with boiling oil, and
pierced with dagger strokes.* Heaven is lilled with
our lioly confessors ; but hoAv disgraceful to the
lnnd of rruncc is sucli barbarity ! Our enemies and
murderers are distinguished from us by no aj i:a-
rent sign, neither of language nor of bearing ;
they have the same laws, manners, and even air.
. . . Alas I they arc of the same blood and
the same race ! . . . I jiavo learned that our
brother Fran<;ois is witli the impious band wh i't
has tilled our city witii blood ami carnage ; I en-
deavored to see him, urged by the natural frie:.dship
of al)rotherand by the holy all'ection of u Clnis-
tian ; but he avoided me, and has left the city.
. . . ]Vight and day I besiege Heaven with
my prayers for this lost sheep of tlic ilock ; T in-
voke in his behalf the martyrs of our own time,
whose blood has been shed by him and liis ; that
blood is always beneath the altar, crying out ; but,
like that of the most sweet Jesus, it cries for mercy
and not for vengeance ! Pray, also, ]?rother Thi-
baut, for our Holy Mother Church, for our native
land of Prance, for Francois, and for me, a misera-
ble sinner, who am and always will be, in our Lord,
*' Your affectionate brother,

'•BiioTiiEi: Clai'DE,
rnwortiiy Keligious of the Order of St. Francis.''
•" "Thcatrn ties CruaulO clca llirt'tiiiucs," i>age ;3~'.

133

77n- Old C lust.

Tliirf li'llir only coiilirnicil to iiuuli fatal now*.
Tlio battle of J)i-eux, gained by tlio Diiko of Guiso
oviT the Prince of Condi', somewhat consoled the
licarts of the Catholics ; bnt soon the nuu-der of
tliat liero, asMS^inaled ])y Jean Poltrot, at the in-
stigation, as it was thought, of CJaspar do Coligny,
marred the general joy. We i)assed long years thus
in civil discord and nproar, war by land and sea,
pillage, cruelly, and heavy state troubles, the
liatred between Catholics ;::id Protestants ever in-
creasing; and that which the ])eoplc of Paris bore
to (ho lluguenols knew no hounds when they saw
them once more supported and uphohl by the court.
A pacific edict was ]>ublislied in the year 1570,
which granted to the Calvinists the free exercise of
their rehgion, and four jjlaces of safety, La Rochclle,
^fontanban, Cognac, and La Cliarite. The young
King gave the liand of his sister ]Margarct of Valois
to Henry, King of Xavarre. Admiral Coligny, fol-
lowed by an inijiosing retinue of Huguenot lords,
appeared in Paris, and was received by King Charles
with honors wliicli Avould hardly have been granted
to the preserver of iho menarchy. This spectacle
displeased the faithful citizens. lUit soon the ru-
luorwent round that the admiral threatened the
King and Queen with anew civil war, beeauso their
majesties made some opposition to his dcnnmds,
unjust and unreasonable as they were ; that, Avliea
tlic King would not to please him declare war
against the King of Spain, he liad the audacity to
tell him in open council that, if his nuijesty Avas not
Avilling to make war ;;i Flanders against Philip IF.,
ho c )uld rest as-^ureil that b i would soon have it in
Franco against his own subjects.

1 fatal iiow.s
•like of Guiso
coiisok'd tho
10 imi.'dor of
i)t, at tlio in-
r do Coligiiy,
n_<f years llms
and uiul Koa,
roubles, tlio
iants over iu-
[)f Paris boro
icn tliey saw
by the court,
year 1570,
?o excrciso of
L;i Rochclle,
The young
irct of ^"alois
Coligny, fol-
;ucnot lords,
ving Charles
been granted
liis spectacle
soon the ru-
reatencd the
jceauso their
is demands,
; that, Avliea
declare Avar
! audacity to
icsty Avas not
t riiilip IF.,
m have it in

T/u- Old Clust.

»^3

And the King said to certain of hi.^ old followers
that, seeing himself thus (iireatcncd, his Jiair stood
on cud. The Parisian 2)ooi)le, amongst whom those
rumors spread, knew "o bounds in their fury against
the sectaries. The i)ersonal ([uarrel between the
Duke of Guise and Admiral do Coligny fed still
more those great dissensions ; every one foresaw that,
from tho haughty pride ot tho Huguenots, tho
hatred wherewith the King, the Queen-mother, and
tho Duke d'Anjou regarded them, and that which
the two houses of Guise and Ciiatillon boro each
other, some evil effects would follow. I was warned
by the dean of tlia corporation of goldsmiths that a
certain number of citizens and others had been sent
for to the L)uvre, Avherc a surprise Avas feared
during tho night, and he advised mo to keep in tho
house.

This Avas on the 2tili of August, 1573. ;My
brother Claude, then gmirdian of the Convent of
Nantes, had obtained permission from his su])eriors
to spend somo days with inc. AVc kept watch, as
anxiously as though tho storm Avero passing over
our heads ; my wife, also uneasy, had put aside her
si)inning-whecl, a;id Avas silently saying her rosary.
Brother Claudo Avas reciting in au undor-tono tlio
matins of his breviary. I was looking over my ac-
count-book, but my mihd Avas elsewhere. . . .
Part of the niglit had already passed. My brother
Avas no longer praying, he Avas thinking, ami sud-
denly he said to me :

"I am going out, going to Bctliisy Street, to
Avarn tho admiral that something is being ])!otted
against him. ... I feel myself urged to give
liim thij Avaruiug, for a sudden and violent death

124

TItc 01,1 Chest.

would fiiul hiin ])orli:ii),s iiiipciiilciif. . . . Tlio
lioiir i)mlicte(l l.y tlio IV-ru (hvlloL U ni-ur, hut
the mercy of God is frrcutcr (liau our (n-iiiios."

I (laivd not reply, f(u- 1 felt his authorilv as
tliat of an older hrolher and u jirie.st; ; and,
l)t',«ides, wliy kIioukI I oppose him when ho me-
ditated H) holy an ac'tion ? I wished to follow
liim, and my good wife understood my desire, for
she said :

''Tliil)aut, I fear n()thin<:j hero in our own houso ;
wo iiro known as honest people and faithful Catho-
lit'H.^ . . . AVhatevcr hapi)cns, I shall not he
iifi'aitl. ... Go with your hrofher, then.
. . . Have no fears for me. . . ."

►SosayinsT, she tied a white handkerchief on my
iirm, accordinrr to the advice which the dean of our
guild had given us in the morning, she gave mo the
liorn-lantern, and wo went out into the dark and
starless night. The streets were deserted, hut i)eo-
plc were still up in many houses, as we saw hy the
light that shone from the windows. . . .There,
was deep silence. . . . Suddenly the groat hell
of Saint Germain FAuxcrrois hcgan to toll loud I v,
and immediately there arose a fearful tumult around
ns. . . . Many houses opened; soldiers, citi-
zens, constables, fdlcd the streets, uttering threats
and cries of death ; shots from guns and ])istols
were heard ; and by the light of torches were seen
passing troops of armed men, crying :

" Death ! j)eath to the Admiral ! A^ve la
Messe ! "

•'Great God!" whispered my brother, "jiardon
those who use the name of thy sacritico of jKiaco
hastening to murder and carnage ! Oh ! what evil

rih- ou cihst.

• . . Tlin
i< ni'iir, hut
I" ('riiii"s.''
iuilliority us
I'rio.sl ; iuid,
lu'i) ]k) me-
ed to follow
ly (kvsiro, for

' own houso ;
til fill CiUho-
iliiill not 1)0
>(lioi', then.

;l)ief on my
(lean of our
gave mo ( lio
10 dark and
cd, Imt peo-
«aw l)y tlio
. . 'I'licro

10 jnri-(.;lt hell

toll loudly,
nult around
ildiors, citi-
•iiig threats
and ])istol8
)3 wcro soon

I2!i

Uiit let \\A lias-

ive lii

r, ''i)ardon
M of imaco
! what evil

counsol there has heeii. . .
ton, hrother Tiiiliaiit. . . ."

We reached the Une Bi'thisy — it as li/^dit x\< day,
and with one ghuu;e wo saw that \S\i had ooiiie too
late. Tlie dwelliii;^ of the admiral had heen entered
hy ihc KoldierH and followers of the Duke of Giiiso.
AVo went into tho court-yard. There wo found him
whom Wk? had como to seek : the corpse of tho ad-
miral lay on tho iiavemeni, piereed witli several
wounds, and tho hori\)r of death was on the ])ale,
contracted face. Tho prophecy of Father Grellot
Ava.s aocomplishod. Not far from him lay tho hody
of Srdi;i;ny, his son-in-1; , and tho remains of some
of Ihoir Horvants.

" Wo have soon enougli," said my brother. " Lot
r.s go ; these .soldiers would not listen to words of
l)eaco. Ljt us go. God may perhaps jircsont to
us some other good work for tho glory of his
luime."

We set out again. Armed bands paraded tho
streets and ivmsaeked tho houses which were known
to belong to llngueiiots. ^ly brother's gown, and
tho white scarf which T wore on my arm, protected
us from their insults, but both of us felt our hearts
Avrung at seeing the terrible vengeance taken by
that infuriate mob, that soldiery without chiefs and
without restraint. As wo ncared the Seine, tho
crowd diminished, the cries, lilaspliemies, musket-
shots all died away in the distance, and we could
scarcely see from afar the rod light of tho torches.
As we turned into a deserted street a faint and
painful moan roasthed our oars ; my lirother ran
forward, I followed him, iind by tho light of tho
lantern wo found on the pavement a man who

izO

riw Old Chest.

would Imvo liiid iill tiiL' iippoaniiicoof (Initli, wcro
it not, (liat Ion;,' kI^'Ikj ciimo from his lips ami ai.-
noiiiicf.l llia( litMvas .still livini,' ami siillVrin','. I
raised liim in my arm,-. I throw a.sido llic'cap
whlt'li coviuvd lii,s fair.

"Oh !" said ho, " how I HufTor !"

"Knowost thou that vuici", brother Tliiliaut?*'
cried Claude.

"Alas!" said I, "it i,s the voice of our poor
Franyois ! ''

Claude brou;,dit tlio lantern olo.<!o to the face of
llio wounded man, and in .spite of tiio blood from
Ids wounds und hi.«) deathly j)aIlor, we reeofrnizcd
our poor brother. He had swooned away. With-
out speak in;,' or lo.^ii-.cr j,iiy time, wo toiik up tho .
licavy and inanimate body; and, God gi\■in.^' u3
fitrongth, wo bore it, without stoi)ping for breath,
to tho threshold of my liou.-ie. ^\^ good wile was
waiting for u.s in deadly terror. Slie opened tlio
door at my signal, and it was instantly decided tliat.
in order to conceal him tho better from servants
and neiglibor.-i, we would place my brother at tho
back of tho nou.so, in a rooni which had l)ecn unin-
liabited since our mother's death. AV'e laid liim on
the bed, and my wife and my brother sought out
Li,s wounds and endeavored to dress them." Alas!
it was pitiful to sec this hand.somo and vigorous
young man reui.-ii thus to his homo, dying and
l)ierccd with wounds!

"Is there any liojie ?" asked I.

My Avife turned towards me wltli a mournful
glance, and brotlier Claude e.vclaimed :

" Let us invoke God that tho soul, at least, may

The Ol,f Chi'st.

loath, wcro
JIM ami ati-
illVriii','. I
lo tlu' cap

Phihaiit?"

' our |i()(»r

111' fai'o of
»loo(l from
rooofriiizcd
ly. Wi( li-
nk up tlio
gi\■iu.^r \u
or breath,
1 wil'c was
pCMC'd tlio
icloil tliat.
1 HtTvauts
UT at tho
)ecn uniu-
i(l hiiii oil
)uglit out
n. Alas !
1 vijrorous
lying ami

mournful
oast, may

be savcil ! Ciml of iinTcy, let imt thr \v()rli of
tiiv iiamls pcii-h lliii- !"

rraui/ois iii;i(K' (^iiim* movcinciit. lie ^'roaiicd
iiMi] niuttcii'd soitic ln'oki'ii words:

"1 HJiall not dii' wiliiout <li'ft'iidin<; myself," said
lie, making an olTorL willi lii-i feclili' hand, lus if to
repulso H Ihreatoning ciioinv. '*Ahl ah I I liavii
wounded you ; but. J have also pot luy sliarc . . ,
inv death-Mow."

Ilofell li;ii'k exhausted ; but he strove lo iiiurmur
the (M'y fainiliiir to the soldiers of Coiuh' :

"Sweet is danger for Christ and for oiir country !
Vivo rKvangiie !•:■ . . . Down with the (lui-
sards ! I detest tlie ?.I.iss and JniageH ! Oh I how
Isulfer,"

His palo face l)eeanio contr.ieLeil ; hi.s citld iiaiid
grojied about tho ([uilt ; it Hcenied as if death had
passed over his livid face, and that nis soul was
witnessing an awful spectacle.

"O (Jod ! (lod of mercy V cried Claude, throw-
ing himself on his knees, "by thy blood, by thy
wounds, by thy cross, delay, delay his death ! Give
my brother one i omoiit of lif<' and id" reason to ab-
jure his errors ! Lord, I oll'er myself entirely to
thee. ... I have dreaded death. I have
feared tho torments which I saw my brethren ;-ulTer ;
but now I accept thoin ; I olTer myself as u \ictiin
for him! Do not spare me, Lord I Here are my
limbs, here is my blood, my life. . . . 'I'hey
are but little for the salvation of this soul; but
thou art so good and merciful that thou wilt not
reject my oll'ering. Mother of mercy, thou, angel

*" Tlio rjospol for ever !"

///. (U.I tin St.

lii

• if |i(';i('i', wliii ui't'iH'Ml witli ii.'j. |ii;i\ ! |ini\ I llicrc
in yi't (imo !"

I iviiiiiiiu'tl .Hill-Ill, inotiidili'HH, U'twoi'ii in • two
lirollii r.-i. So |i(i\\('i-f'iil ii pniycr cinild mil n inaiii
iinlii'iiril. My wii'c wd l•'l•llllc;(li^^■l lip-i and I(mi|iIi'.s
with !i fiinliiil ; he sij,'lii'(l, his cyt'U (ipciied, their
(liiii ^diuici' \V!is cahii.

'• Wiu'iy am I ?" aslu'd he, in a (|uit'l Miicc.

"In your father's hoiist'," said I, ciiilpraciii^' him,
"hclwoc'ii your two hrothcr-i, Claiidi' and 'rhil)aiit."

'• F'^it possihlo,"' said iio, '"it is yon ! Oil ! wiiat h
frijihlfiil (hcain I liavc jii.st had. ... I .saw
myself Hununoiicd, judcri'd, and condcmiu'd . . .
damiu'd ! and I still live."

'• My hrotluT," oricd Claude, with the iiispinition
of II projihi'l, "my Itelowd lirotluT, you still live.
Clod has granted yon this moment. It ia tlio
moment of grace, the time of repentance. God
uwaits to condemn or altsolve you. Ueiiounce your
errors, iiiul cast yourself into the arms of Jesus
Christ, open to receive yim." . . . The dying
man looked at us all ; we were wec]iiiig and praving.

"I may ho pardoned,"' murmured he I'eehly ;
"yet I have sinned much. I h,.ve hlood on my
hands. . . . Oh 1. hut I liavc done evil since I
quitted this house, tiiis happy, innocent house !
Once, I helieved, I jirayed. . . . For long years
I liave not prayed, for I no longer hclicved. . . .
My (iod, take pity on me. . . If there was a
Catholic jiriest here !''..,

" I am n priest," cried Claude. " I can hear and
absolve you.''

lie bent over Fran<;ois, holding him in an em-
brace. We left the room. The voice of our poor

The Old Chi St,

129

|ir;i\ I tliciv

('fi\ III ,' two
iiiil n iiiiiiii

IK'Ut'tl, their

- voice.
niciiiMf liini,
il Tl.il.aiit."
Oil ! wiiiitji
, . I .saw
nod . . .

iiiHpinitiou
II still live.
It is tlio
iiiiee. God
loiinoo your
IS of .TesiH
Tlio dyiiif,'
lid pnivinp.
he feehly;
aod on my
evil since I
ent liuusc !
r long years
•ed. . . .
there was a

\\\ hear uiul

Kraiivoi:' conld he heard, wilh that ol" Claude, who
Hpoke f,'.iilly and witli authority. At leutfth. I MW
my hrother nolemnly raise his hand and make the
si;,'!! of I lie (•l•os^ over llie dyin;: man, |iroiiouiH in^'
in a di.-tinet voice llie lioly wonls ol' ahsoliiliou. I
iipproaelied ; Frunvois waa calm ; he had his hands
cdasped, and seemed sis il' luayiiiK inward'y. Ho
miid to u.-i, speaking with dilliculty :

♦<I invoke the sweet Mother of (iod ; in the
midst ol" my errors I had never altogether foi-gotlen
hei". Our tlier loved her so much. . . ."

He could not continue ; his sti-eiiglh was failing
rapidly ; the agony hegan ; it was shoi't, l>iit sevei'e,
iind when the early dawn came into the room, the
repentant soul of our poor brother had appeared
before (Iod.

AVo i)!isscd the ne\t day, sad and recollected, be-
side tlio remains of our poor Fran<;<>if«, unheeding
tlie agitation of the iimh, who went on to Moiitfaii-
<;on imd along the Seine, to sco tho corpses (.f the

Huguenots.

Towards evening, t he o.'lleers of just ice puttlisiied,

with sound of trumpet, an edict, in the name of
tho King, hy which lie forbade "those of the guard
nnd otlicers'of t'.ie city to take up arms or make
prisoners, under pain of death ; but that all should
be ])laccd in the hands of justice, and that they
should retire to their closed houses, which would
appease the fury of the ]ieople. and give si'veral of
them time to retire from the country."*

This edict served to restore public poacc ; I had

in an ein-
f our poor

* Rco lia Popolinii'^rp. n, rrntostnnt liirtnrinn, author ot
♦' La Vrayo ot eixtitre Uistoirc dei iluruiors Troublu.s."

130

rite Old Chest.

our brother buried Avitli tlic in-ayors of tlie Church,
iuid with the money found on ]iim I made a four-
didion of Masses i'or tlie reitosc of Ids soul.

A fuw days after, my brother Oluude left us.
Endn-aciiig me, lie said :

" My dearest brother, I believe that I am biddin.£r
you a last farewell. Something tells me in the
dei)th of my soul that the sacrifice which I offered
to t;od for our dear Franyois lias been accepted,
therefore I do not expect ever to have the hapjiiness
of seeing you again in this worid ; but here below,
or before God, I shall never forgot you."

He bles.sed us all and went away. I never saw
lum again on earth, God having accepted the obla-
lation of the just in beliall: of the sinner. My
worthy brother was sent as visitor to the convents
of his order in Langiiedoc, wliere the Huguenots
had revived tlieir former fury. Ue fell into the
hands of a i)arty of German troopers, who, after
having subjected him to all manner of insults and
outrages, and obtaining from him only words of
faith, of courage, and of benediction, tliey j.ut him
to deatli with every imaginable cruelty, lie ren-
dered uj) his blessed soul to God, singing the Credo,
with a fervor aiul i)iety which overcame the horror
of torture. Such Avas the account of his glorious
end, from a, companion wlio, terrified at sight of
the troopers, had hid in the brushwood.

The Provincial of the Capuchin Fathers wrote
me this account, exhorting mo to give glory to God,
which I did amid my teare. I had a little monu-
me]it erected to my two brothers, in the Churcli of
Saint Eusface, near the second pillar from the
choir. On it v.as inscribeil :

The Old Chest.

^31

;he Clnireli,
ade ii four-
Ill,
de left us.

am biddiniT
mo ill the
::h I offered

1 accei)tcd,

2 liapjiiiu'ss
licro below,

never saw
(1 the obla-
11 nor. My
convents
Ilugiienots
11 into tlio
Avho, iifter
iisults and
)' words of
■y jtut him
lie ren-
tho (U-cdi,,
the horror
is glorious
t sight of

lers wrote
rj to God,
(Ic monii-
Chiireli of
from the

PUOTIIEll C'LAniE DUCIIAISNE,

PIUEST OK Till-; OUDF.I" OS" CAPTCIIINS,

PUT T(1 DEATH TIlUUl'i;!! ITATUED OF UELIGION, THE •JIlTH OF

Jl-NK, iriT.").

■lAY 0;)U UECFIVE HIM IN HIS flL'iHY.

FRANCOIS DLCHAISXE,

SUD-OFFICEIl IN THE AllMY O:-' THE I'KINCE OK CONHK,

WHO DIED ON TIIK NIOHT OK Al'Ol'ST t!4TII, 15i;J.

MAY OOD HAVE MEl.CY ON IIIM.

Since then no remarkable event has occnrreil in
my family. I took part, as all good rrenelimeu
should, in the Holy League, created to defend the
most Christian kingdom against the temporal and
spiritual tyranny of the Huguenots, and against
the bad government of King Henry the Third,
•who seemed to bo Avorthy of the throne, until ho
was seated upon il. Wo sought to maintain the
ancient laws and religion of the monarchy, and we
opposed the impiety which was caused by the Pro-
testant confederation.

The indolence and the vices of the King, the
near extinction of the race of Yalois, the right of
succession devolving upon the heretical King of
Navarre, the troubles which threatened Franco in
the near future, tilled with alarm the hearts of
good Vrenehmen and faithail Catholic,-. Some
Avould have raised to the throne the Duke of Guise,
a descendant of Charlemagne, and a prince so
noble and so valiant that all the other princes seemed
as commoners beside him ; others hoped that the
blood of Saint Louis would not lose its rights, and
that one day the King of Xavarre would return to
the faith of his fathers. I was amongst these latter.
The death of the Duke of Guite, and the Cardinal

132

The (V,/ C/nsr.

11 !

! i

do Lorraine, liis iirollior, wlio Avoro troaclipn.iisly
iissassinatod ))y order of the Kiii,ir, lirouplit to its
liei^lit the luitred wliieii tlie peojde hore to th-hist,
of tlicVidois. ThoS()rhoiiiiean<l the T'arlianient,
deelared liiiii to liave forfeited liis riglit to tlio
cro'..-n. lie niardiod against Paris to avenge Iiini-
sclf on the head and Jieart of tlio League ;^l)ut lie
was, as is known, assassinated at Saint Cloud by
the Iiand of tiie unfortunato Jaeques Clement';
and, dying, lie declared that he left the throne to
the King of Xavarre, henceforth Henry IV.

The League, faithful to its oath, would not re-
cognize the heretic King. The victory Avhieh he
gained at Ivry over tlic Duko of Mayenco only in-
creased the resolution of the Parisians to let'liim
lay siege to their city, to sutfer hunger and every
danger, to maintain the head of the kingdom in his
fidelity to the service of God. On the 8th of May,
1500, the King of Xavarro laid siege to Paris.
There was only wheat for one month ; all the lords,
prelates, and rich or well-to-do jiersons came, with
extraordinary liberality, to the assistance of the
poor ; but soon we all sulTered alike. The wheat
failing, wo ate oats in l)read and in broth ; on the
butchers' stalls was sold only the flesh of horses
and dogs, and the poor ])ulled uj) the grass which
grow up through the pavement, and boiled it. All
arountl us was a frightful scene of misery, disease,
and want; \\\\i, uoliles and citizens, rich and poor,
wo preferred to die rather than give up the city to
a heretical prince, and the kingdom to the errors
of Cah in. '♦ The martyrdom of hunger," said we
to our wives and children, '-is no less meritorious
than that of the sword ! "

jK^Iionuisly

i^rlit to its

(<) the last

'iirliaiiuMiL

flit to tl'.L'

engc Iiiiii-
; but lio

Cloiul by

Cli'nieiit ;

throne to

IV.

Id not rc-

Avliicli lie
only in-
to lot him
and every
loin in his
h of .May,

to Paris,
the lords,
lime, with
'0 of the
Che wheat
I ; on the
of horses
ass which
d it. All
', disease,
md pool-,
ho city to
he errors
" said we
jritorious

T/u' Old Cltcst.

^11

Tho siejre lasted till tlic Hutli of Aii(-is(, and was
n memoralilo cxami)le. I had risked my goods to
liny at a high jn-ico tho church silver, which the
jiastors had sold to distribnte tho price thereof to
tho i)0()r peoi)lc, and my fortune never recovered
after that great elTort ; Imt I esteem them well
risked and well sacrificed, for the safety of religion
and the relief of the poor of Je.-ius Christ.

Tho constancy of the Parisians, 'imitated l)y the
inhabitants of liouen, boro its fruits, and opened
tho eyes of the King of Xavarre. He abjured his
errors on the 2,")th of July, in the year loO.I. Six
months after he Avas consecrated King of France,
and on the 22d of .March, 1594, he inado his solemn
entry into Paris, which had now Avon its King to
the -faith of his fathers, to the faith of Clovis, of
Ciiarleniagne, and of Saint Louis, so that tho Most
Christian Kingdom might always remain the first
amongst nations, whose throne, like that of Saint
Peler, has never been profaned by heresy.

So ended the religious wars, whoso most bloody
scenes I witnessed. I lost in them two beloved
brothers, and a great portion of my Avealth. Often
tho young people, the wags of my quarter, mock at
mc, and call mc the Old Lcagii-cr. But God knew
my intention and my love for Ins law, and it is to
his justice that I appeal from the vain accusations
of men.

May those Avho come after us also do their duty,
and support the monarchy in the right way of truth
and of faith !

^raBED!

■ <^V^^^^"

U^gBiyi^SBlpi

AlII.

THK TKEASrUY-CLEKK — SEVENTEEKTII CENTURV.

Sixty years have passed f-incc tlic Old Lc(ujuer
recorded tlio troubles of the limes in wliich lie
lived. !N[y fatlior, who as a citizen of Pai-is took
active part in tlio Fronde, •wrote notliinfr, content-
ing liiniself witli acting in favor of tlio Parliament
against Ma/.arin. lie had a lively recollection of
the times in ■which ho lived, and ^pokc of tiiem
■willingly, and niany times have I heard him relate
lunvlio had witnessed the great popular movement
lirovokcd by the arrest of Counsellor Bronssel : tu-
mult and rebellion spreading through the i)opulous
districts of Paris as far as the Palais IJoyal ; Mar-
shal do la Meilleraie, sent to chastise the jieople,
was neui'ly jjut to death by the infuriate crowd ;
the coadjutor of (randy, in surplice and cope, kneel-
ing in the stream, hearing the confestion of a man
whom ^larshal do la Jleilleraie had just shot down,
and by this ready act of luiuiility calming the mul-
titude, and seizing the nnirshal by both hands, to
bring him to the Queen and to the canlinal. lie
had witnessed the barricades, the siege of Paris, and
the flight ai the Saint Antoine gate ; and after
having condemned, like every one else, ho also ap-
plauded the return of the young King to Paris ; and
after having cried, " Down with !Mazarin ! " he cried

1U4

The Old Chest.

135

CENTURy.

Hd Leaguer
11 wliich ho
Piii-is took
ip, content-
Parliament
ollection of
kc of tlieni
[ him relate
• movement
ronsfscl : tu-
ic i)oinilous
Joyal ; Mar-
tlic people,
iatc crowd ;
cope, knecl-
311 of a man
shot down,
ng tlie mul-
h liands, to
"dinal. lie
f Paris, and
; and after
ho also ap-
I Paris ; and
1 ! " he cried

out just as loudly, "Long live the cardinal !" A.s
his ollico of eourt-jc'weller i)ut him in connection
with many important persons, he pot me into the
treasury department, which was then under the
control of ^[essiro Nicholas Foucpiet. There I ad-
vanced rapidly enough, and soon, being initiated
into some of the secrets of that great administra-
tion, I liecanic convinced that the Maniuis d"Ef-
fiat spoke truly when ho compared treasurers and
receivers-general to the "cuttle-fish, which has the
art of stirring up llio water to deceive iho eyes of
the attentive lisherman.'" What pieicingeyes must
he have had to discern anything in tlio dark and
muddy waters in which the receipts and expenses
were tossed about ! After the cruel disasters of the
League, the religious wars, the prodigality of (he
Valois i)rinces to their favorites, a sterling minister.
Sully, was found, who, by encouraging agriculture
and commerce, had repaired in twelve years the
disasters of half a century-. "Tillage and pastur-
age," said tliis able man, "are the two sources from
which France is nourished, the true Peruvian mines
and treasures."'

But, when the fatlicr of the family was no more,
when Henry had ]ierished by the kiiife of llavaillac,
and when Concini had replaced Bully in llio state,
the water was iigain tro'.iiled. However, Provi-
dence, favorable to empires, ]iernutted that the
great Cardinal Pichelieu should restore financial
order, control with a strong hand the Huguenots
and the great lords, and bequeatli to his successor,
Mazarin, u kingdom at onco rich and powerful.
But tlie regency, the Fronde, the ministry of Ma-
zarin, once more diilurbcd the equilibrium ; the

\ i

[ill

111

136

T/u- Old Chest.

j)ul)lio rovoiuics were ninrtgagcd for tliicc years, tlio
people underwent friglitfiil miseries, for tiic cardi-
nal had given fifty millions to his family, and iho
Superintendent Fouquct built a mansion at Vanx
whose splendor eclipsed that of the royal residences.
Like a king, he gave pensions to itarticular persons ;
ho had men at his beck in all the provinces, who
gave him an account of i)ublic affairs, and whom ho
made, by immense bribes, devoted followers.

It was evident to all that the superintendent was
spending sums without any proportion to liis fortune
or to the revenues of his oflice. But wlio would
have dared to disturb this powerful and formidable
man, who was accountable to the King alone ?

In the functions of my oflice, I acquired proof of
a bat^c transaction, which was to profit only Fou-
quet ami some of the followers whom he gorged at
the expense of the King and the country, and I
ventured in the first heat of indignation to speak
(if it openly. The report of this reached the cars
of the superintendent ; ho sent for me to liis office,
and received mc with the affability which, apart
from his wealth, won all hearts to him.

''You have been imprudent," said he, "in
speaking to your associates, or even to your most
intimate friends, of the condition of public affairs,
and I would have reason to complain of you since
my name was mixed up in your discourse. You
cannot deny it ? "

" Nor is such my intention," answered I. " I do
not conceal it, my lord ; the traflic which is going
on around us has shocked me, and I could not be
silent with regard to it. If it is a crime, punish
me for it."

ICC years, the
fur tlic cardi-
nily, and the
siou at Vaux
al rosiclcnccs.
ular persons ;
i-ovinccs, who
and ■vvliom lio
lowers.

ntcndeiit was
to liis fortune
.it wlio -would
lid formidable
g alone ?
lired i)roof of
ifit only Fou-
I lie gorged at
nintry, and I
ition to si)cak
olicd the cars
3 to liis office,

wliicli, apart
n.
said lie, "in

to your most
public affairs,
I uf you since
scourse. You

■red I. "I do
ivliicli is going
I could not bo
crime, punish

Tin- (^LU'Jit'st.

1.37

'•'I could do so, perhaps ; but a faithful servant
of the King docs noL de.<crvo bad treatment. The
treasury, it is true, is in a dejilorable condition.
The state is overrun Avith debt ; bnt yet neither the
interests of war nor the dijdomatic relations arc
endangered for an instant for want of money, for
individuals who will not lend to the state will lend
to me."

I dared not reply ; but I remembered some usu-
rious interest which the state was ])aying on tlicso
loans made to (he superintendent, lie con-
tinued :

" I do not fear enemies," said he. '' In a posi-
tion like mine they are not lo be feared ; ))ut I like
to make friends for myself, and I wisli you to bo
amolig the number. I have noticed you ; your ad-
vancement shall be rapid, your fortune sure, I will
guarantee ; but, in my turn, I desire a jiledgc of
yonr fidelity."

" And wliat is that, my lord ? "

" Some persons to whom I have done a service,
and who were grateful to me, have signed, without
my asking it, engagements . . . something
like this."

So saying, the superintendent opened a casket,
drew out a paper, and read the first lin^s, which I
give here :

" I promise and pledge my faith to my lord the
Procurator-General, Superintendent of the Fin-
ances, ami Minister of State, to never to belong to
any one but him, to whom I give and attach myself
to the last degree, and I promise to senc him gene-
rally against all persons 'vithout exception, and to

il! ;

li H

138

Tlii' Olil Chrst.

It ,

! i

1^ I I

I
! i

! i

obey him nlono, even in po far ns to hnvo no r-.n-
iioction with llio.-c to Avlmm he ohjoclH."*
Ho went no furllior.

'• To si-ni Kuch u document, Bir," exelainied 1,
" is treason to the state 1 I have heard enough."
Foufinct regarded me with 11 minister glance. _
"Wouhlyoubecaimhlo of hctraving me? said
he " Beware ; you are nothing. I can either k)ad
YOU with hon. ^ and favors, or leave you to die un-
known and a-gotten, in the depth of son.o Bast.le.
Those better born than you have jmicd there long
before death came to deliver them."

Hearing bim speak thus, I remembered the Gos-
pel and I thought of the tempter, tl>e enemy of
man, who Avas offering me earthly dignities as the
price of my deg;-adation. I am only an obseuro
citizen, but my heart felt for the sufTermgs, the
tears, the blood of the people, which would luivo to
pay for this fortune that ho offered me, and my
conscience withheld me, by its pleadings, from all
participation in these mysteries of shame and coi-

"^'Tdo not fear you V said I; "less, perhnpP,
than you fear me. An accusation of peculation
might bring even a minister of state to the llace
do Greve . • Remember Sambaln(,ai, re-

member Concini ! When the King know-s to uhat
an extent he has been deceived, his wrath will be
fearful, his justice terrible !"

i^Skctlon ot U.0 Com ,»«Jcut for Iho year IMV ).

The OlilChcst.

'39

llilVO ll'l <'"ti-

oxcliiinied I,
rd onougli."
r glaiico.
ng nic ? " siiiil
;an cither loud
,ou to die, \\\\-
' Konio Bastilo.
icd tlii'ie long

bcrcd the Goe-
, t lie enemy of
;igiiilics as the
ily iin obsciiro
siilTerings, the
would liavo to
il me, and my
Jings, from all
hamc and cor-

'loss, iierhapp,
of peculation

to the Place

ambalnvai, rc-
kiiows to -what

,s wrath will ho

lis, anil signed, ono
other liy President
dent FoiKiuet'a pn-
•o Clement (in tlio
--arl845").

I went out, lie not (!;irin,? to pto]) mo ; mix', witli-
oiit lo.-s ()!' any litiu' 1 ivpaired to Mr, Colhi'it, then
C(minii,-.si()ii(r dl' rinanees. and a\ ho \\\\\\ lnin for
some time niy frii'nd ami protector. I revealed to
him M-hat liad ]).is.<ed ; I gave liiiu the eviiU'iit
proofs uf the defaleation of wjiieli I accused the
supcrintcmlent.

IIo reflected for a long time, and ut length
answered :

"T cm under ol)ligation.-5 to the superintendont,
an ..ink I liavo ]»roved to liim my gratit-.d^; by
u, .iUg him to renounce opei'atioiis fo dangerous to
his own lionor and injurious to the inlere.-ts of the
King aiul the state; he would not listen to me;
waste and j'illago have cudiniud their course; I
have- l)roken otf my connection with him. God is
my witness, I have wo desire to ruin liim or to raise
myself through his downfall ; but I have, above all,
at heart the good of the King, the safety of the
state, the relief of the poor people, and what you
have just told me will make the cup which is
already full overllow. I tell you in conlulcnce, the
King is tired of all that is going on ; he knows the
falsity of the finaneia.' rejMU-ts which Foiujuet jdaces
before his eyes every month, and before long his
justice will burst upon him. As iox you, you have
nothing to fear. Keep quiet and wait."'

I waited accordingly, aiul I was a witness of that
great catastrophe which caused so much excitement
in the court and in tlic city. The Session of the
Breton Stales obliged the King to make a journey
into Xantes; the superintendent followed him.
The rumor of his disgrace ])egan to get abroad ; he
alone, notwithstanding the warnings of his friends,

I ! ,
ii i i ; i

i \

i i I

i i ill

140

77/i (>/,/ Chi St.

reniiiinoil iiKTCiliilmiH. Jlo was workiiif,' wiili tin
King a.H usual, and tlum^rlil liiuuolf foeuio ( 1' l.i-;
fiivor, when iM. J)'Arta;:ii:iii, caiiliiin <'f MUibktt-
ccrp, uuulo liim prisoner in tlin Kin<,''s iianu', rr.il
brought him to llio ('iisth> of Angers, amid tlie
llircalH and impreeations of the crowd. Tlio realfi
v.-crc put on his papers, liis family was banii'ihed
from court, and his trial immediately began. The
first count of the indielmeut was:

Tluit rou(inei was aeeuKcd, 1st, of having written
u plan of wliat his relatives and friends should do
for him in case he was ojtpresscd.

'.'d. Of having fortified his castle of Belle Isle,
and placed cannon therein.

3d. Of having had the government of Concar-

iicau.

4th. OC having received the written contract of
various persons i)ledging themselves to be absolutely
devoted to his interests.

5th. Of having made supposed loans without
necessity, jlO as to be entitled to draw interest.

Cth. Of having made advances to the King of
money, which was against the rules, being himself
director.

Tth. Of having mixed the King's money with his
own, and used it for his domestic purposes.

Sth. Of being interested in farms and leases,
under assumed names, and of having acquired the
goods and property of the King at low i)rices.

9th. Of having taken pensions and bribes from
farmers and speculators, to let them have farms
and leases at lower lU'ices.

10th. It was finally alleged that his administra-
tion had been ruinous, tiiat ho had made treatiis

■Jii

in;,' willi 11m;
fC'C'lll'O ( f l.i^i

1 <'f !mibkL't-
;'s iiiiiui', rr.il
rs, iiniitl the
L Tlio fcal.s
was banished
bepan. The

lavinjc written
ida Bhoukl do

of Belle Isle,

it of Coneav-

■n eontract of
) be absolutely

oans without
interest.
I tho Kinp of
being himself

loncy with his

I'poses.

s and leases,

^ acquired the

w i)rices.

id bribes from

[11 huYO farms

lis administra-
made treaties

/■//.• ( >/,/ ( /usf.

141

to the disadva'nta.u'o of the Kin;.', and Itad appiii'tl
tlie funds to bad jturjioses.*

I was jiiV'sent at tho debates ou Uiis eelcbrated
aH'air; 1 sa\v liie suiieriiitendeni, jrreat and emir-
ageoiis in niisforliiiie, more worthy of esteem amid
his reverses tlian in the hei;!;ht of his brilliant jiros-
perity, a]>peariiipf before tho Parliament, one of
whoso first odiees ho had onee lilled ; I heard him
defend himself with iireeision and firmness, but his
elo(inence failed to convince juilgcs who were en-
lightened by facts v.hieb sp(»ke louder than words ;
I heard his sentence of banishment for life, whieh
was changed by the King to perjietual imi>rison-
ment. It wa;j soon known that D'Artagnau had
taken his prisoner to Pignend ; for a few monlha
the" superintendent was still sp(d<en of ; ho was tho
subject of conversation and of anxi ty amongst his
friends ; then oblivion slowly wovo its veil over that
once celebrated memory ; and when, at tho end of
seventeen years, in l(i80, Fou(|uetdied in tho prison
which ho had never left, the event was scarcely
noticed ; his former friends, servants, and followers
had almost forgotten that tho superintendent had
overlived.

'J'hc post which ho had loft vacant was worthily
fdled by Mr. Colbert, that great minister whose in-
tegrity repaired the financial disasters of Ma/.arin
and Foutiuet. Placed under his orders, I had an
ojijiortunity of seeing how irreproachaldo conduct
is ccmducivo to success. He owed all to his merit,
and nothing to his birth, for ho was tho ron of ;i

* Historical defalcations, nlmso of imldio lainoy, iilaii of a
civil war, tlicso arc tho hcuils of tlio iwcuBatioii:! iiKai)u:t Fou-
quot, which justified his eoiidriiir.atioii.

14^

'I'lh I >/,/ I lust.

iiu irliiml (if llluiiiis; imd lie liiiiiscTf, In keep down
his cliildn ii'.; juidi', olUii ii iiiiiiik'*! lluiii<r lliiir
iirii,'!!!, iiildlii;c lliiit (Jod liiid lii(t>c'd Ium l.dmr, I.iit
llmt his hilidT liiid 1 K 11 c'xci.'.MVc. MorioviT, llio
phuioiiH icij;!! (f I.ciiis XIV., vhil.-t. Iv( ciiiii!,' Uie
nobility in cdiimiaiid of iirmii's and in Uio honors
of the court, pinu cinidoymcnl in the rcvcnuo ilc-
IKirlnu'ntH mid in courtH of justice to men of citizen
liiitii, iirovi(U(l that tlu'vpoM-csscd nicritaiidahility.
yucli was the lot < f Collicrt ; and connected with
the pcojde hy his ori<rip., lu' reniemheied hiHuufVer-
inps. lie reduced tlio taxes wliieli \vei;rhed esjieci-
ully on the ]M)or iu'o]iIe of the rural districts; he
obtained from the Kiiif,' severe edicts apaintit
Ufiureir ; all the jiastorfiof Paris read at the s-ernion
11 wariiiii!; : " Makinjr it' an ohlijration to deiiounco
certain iiersoiis Avho luid and retained hcveral sums
of money l)elongin<,' to tlieKinjr, who had ohtainecl
loads of straw, hay, and oats, and :i {rreat deal of
panie and tisli, wliicli, their houses beiiiji^ jirovided,
they had sold I'ormuch money, all heiiij^ tax-payeir,
to Icisen their taxca ; who had made use of fabe
■weights to weigh g('l'l crowns, and who had drawn
iij) false documents."

These severe measures had their etTect ; great
scandals met with cxenijiLiry ininishment ; one
hundred millions returned to the cotrera of the
state, jiublic angir Avas appealed, and the lowest
jieasant in Franco knew that the King and the lirst
minister would, in any contingency, do justice to
his rights. Soon negotiation and commerce i-aw
new worlds oiicning before them. The King, ad-
vised hy Cidljcrl, ])iotected the growing colony of
San Domingo, rought to found or.c at Madagascar,

i
I,

!"!!!-

'/•//<• (V,l C/iiSt.

1.13

() kcf |)(lown
iiiii < r tlu ir
i.s I.iIhit, I,ut
orroViT, llio
K(('|iili;,' llio
I (lio lidiiora
rcvomio do-
cn of c'itizi'ii
Liiiulahilily.
iiu'ckd villi
(I lii8 miiVer-
^diid I'sjK'ci-
listi'icts ; lie

ictH llgilillBt

', tlio sernion
to (l('iiouiu;o
ovcnil Slims
111(1 obtiiinod
rout (leiil of
1!,' iirovidctl,
,' (iix-paycr^
use of fal.'o
^ luul drinvn

iTeot ; great
iiiicnt ; one
ilTi'rs (if tlic
I llio luWCf-t
and the first
o justice to
inniercc s-aw
10 King, ad-
ig colony of
Afadagascar,

li'itl crcat.d llio celebrated Must India roiiiiKiny, i:i
iiiiitatioii of the rniltd rro\iiiees. u lii( li, (ui.iliin-
ing the lalior ami capilal of .-^dine indJN idiial.--. Iie-
eanio niistiV8.s of tlio spico trade, and pii.-.<e.'iscd
niiiiierous estal)li;iliiiieiits in all the Indiai. Art Iii-
l»elag(). Kxtending eiininieree iihroad, encmiriiging
tlio incrcune of tlio navy, Colhertalso hii.sied liiiih'eU"
witli moans of ooinimtnicalion in tho interior of the
kingdom. IIo coinr.ienced the Langiiedoc; Canal,
which was to connect the twosL'a.s; he citabliahed
mannfactorics at Arras, at Ithoims, at Loiiviciv, at
Sedan, at Qiiesiioy, at Alein;on ; ho fminded a glasd
manufactory at Paris ; he iirotecled \\u' Jdiirnal clcs
S:n'iui/f : lie liroiight from Italy llie celeliraled
areliitect lU'rniiii lo direct the King's Imildiiigrt ;
lie commenced tli(> new Ijoiivre, and linished the
Oliservatory.

llai»py were it I'or the King if he had known tho
happiness and glory of jieace ! lUil a young and pow-
erful monarcli desires other renown. Hi; ohtained
it ; victory lavished her favors iiiion him ; Franchc-
Cofnt(', con((uercd in a fortnight by tho arms (jf tlio
Prince of Condi', olTered to the King the first de-
lusive fruits of those long wars in which lie v.as to
consume Ids life, the gold, and the blood of his peo-
ple. For twenty years this powerful France sus-
tained incessant war, having always men and money
to give to the King. For twenty years the glory
was great ; the stale and tlio King sliono with ex-
traordinary lustre. But, in the eyes of wise men,
terrible reverses must follow this too enviable pros-
perity. For tu'cnly years an olistnire clerk of lluit
great minister whoso memory is so dear to me, I
witnessed his zeal Uw the public good — bis prodigi-

144

'/'//,• ()/,/ ChiSt.

II'

111 !

I f it

0113 labors, his strict iiitoirrity; 1 paw liim give to
all tlic dclails or ail iiiiinciiso adiiiiiii.stratiou ciiu-
tinual and vigilant altcntinn ; I saw him s;>ck to
conununicato to liis .^ons tiio sontiincnts with
which he was animated for the King and conntiy ;
insensible to satire, deaf to threats, concealing nn-
der a phlegmatic exterior ;i natural impetuosity,
and advancing to his end, discharging his duty,
notwithstanding cabals and opposition. Yot, firm
as was his "will, he hnev.' how to consult good faith
and follow a wise counsel. I sh:ill cite n single ex-
ample of Avdiich I was a witness ; I could gi^e a
thousand others under his ministry. The garden of
the Tuileries was renovated after the dcsig'i of Lc
Notre ; and, when it was finished, M. CjJbert said
to ni' one day : " Let ns go to the Tuileries to sec
about the gates ; that garden must be kept for the
King, and v.-c c:/. .lotlet it be destroyed by the pco-
jilc, who, in less than no time, will ha\o it. entirely
spoiled."' This proposal pained me somewhat ; be-
ing a child of Paris, 1 knew the fondness of Pari-
sians for this garden ; I knew that it would be for
them a most vexatious privation, and one which
would excite general discontent.

Having reached the grand alley, I told the minister,
as cautiously as I could, that no one could l)elieve
the respect which every one, even to the lowest citi-
zen, felt for that garden ; that not even the women
and little children would ever pluck .a flower, nor
even touch one, as the gardeners could testify, and
that it would be a public afflictiCii not to be allowed
to go there any more.

<'Undoul)tedly, my lord,"' I added, " the garden

'aU i

The Old Chest.

145

liim give to
•atiou cou-
im p;'ok to
iicnts •with
1 country ;
cciiling mi-
iipctuosity,
; his duty,
Yot, firm
; good fuitli
n single ox-
)uld jjivc a
c garden of
'.sig'i of Lc
'jibert said
lerics to sec
}pt for tlic
l)y tlic pco-
? it entirely
cwhat ; be-
ss of Pari-
ould bo for
one Avhich

ic minister,
5uldl)elieve
lowest ci ti-
the women
flower, nor
testify, and
> be allowed

the garden

of our kings is so largo, only that all (heir cliiUlreu
may walk m it !"'

At these words, the minister'.s intern face relaxed,
and it was decided that iJie Tuileries should remain
open to tlio pul)Iio. Tiiis was really joy to me ;
and, Avhen I grew old, and wo!it to seek tliere a lit-
tle sunlight, the joyous voiees of the i)assers-by and
the little children inado my heart young again, and
brought ba.'k to me the memory of the great mau
with whom I had formerly trod these alleys, and
who, iX my eulrealy, was pleased to preserve it for
the p.eo])!i'.

Brilliiiiit: as was the reign of Louis lo Grand,
witli whatever splendor the throne was surrounded
by the talents of generals, statesmen, poets, and
orators, under this external glory, as at the bottom
of all human things, was sadness and bitterness.
Colbert had found in the Secretary of War, Louvois,
a secret but implacable enemy, wlio, seconding the
warlike anil)il;ion of the Kiiig, dealt to finances,
and consetpiently to the upright minister who con-
trolled them, a fatal blow. For twenty years Franco
had no otlier enemies than those which she made in
sport; but, to carry on these glorious but ruinous
wars, tlic state consumed all that was most pre-
cious— the blood and gold of the nobility and of the
people.

One day I saw M. Colbert gloomy and sad. I
ventured to question him.

" Tlie King," said he, '' has just asked of me six-
ty millions for the extraordinary expenses of war.
Alarmed at such a sum, I answered that I did not
think I could furnish means for such expenditure.
'Tiiink over it,' immediately ans\\ercd the King;

■ffTT

::ii(i

■i! :|9

i'N'l

^: I

ffl

1^6

'/'//,■ (V,/ CV/r-.V/.

♦s(»im' niic'i'l.-c will iiiidoi-takf t.> .snpiily ii. if yuti
arc not williii^f to do so."'"

"Ti.it will 1)0," coiitiinud the iiiiiuslor, *' tlio
last blow dciilt to rrancc ; the clearest interests of
the state will 1)C sacriliiM'd to a whiin of ambition,
and, as for me, my enemies will ruin me ; liy urging
the King to war and taxes, they will destroy my
work, and force mc to leave the coniuil." . . .

lie walked about in deep tlionght, and repeating
in a low voice tlieso verses, whicli the iioet lli'nault
liad addressed to him after the condemnation of
Fouquct :

" H's fall Rom > day may ho thy own, . .

oar L:iy 1) Jit, ratiU, court, ami IVirtuno." . .

I dared not speak, l)ut I tronil^led for my master
and friend. From that day ho becamo still more
serious. Wiiilst formerly ho might bo seen going
alumt his work, rubl)ing his hands gleefully, sinco
that event he worked with a sorrowful and dejected
air. The ascoiulcney of Louvois increased every
day, and, whilst encouraging the King's taste for
war and perilous cntori»rises, he hastened the ruin
of the country, and iiurried his rival into the grave.
After a stormy interview with the King, ^M. Colbert
returned home, and took to bed, ^vlicncc he never
rose. It was from that Ijod of sull'ering that he
estimated truly uio greatness of this world ; ho
wished to think of nothing but his s.dvation, re-
peating freiiuently. "If I had done for (iod what I
have done for the King, I might have twice saved
my soul, and now I know not Avhat will become
of me ! "

* All these details are historical.

The Old Chest.

117

• it. if yuii

ster, *' the
ntoi'csts of
iiinbilioii,
liy uririnji
k'sitroy my

I ropc'iiting
■t, lli'iiaiilt
muition o£

my muster
still more
;ecn going
"ally, sinco
il (lojoftc'd
;isc(t every
^ liistc for
1 the ruin
)thegr;ivo.
>r. Colbert
'0 he never
ig that 1)0
world ; he
vation, rc-
lod what I
wice saved
ill beeome

lie died i:i th* aniH of Fatlier Uonrdalone,
di.-igii.^t.\l wiLli llio thiag.-i of ei'rlli, wliich lie had
soon too (do-iely^ and lu)])ing only to liud redt and
morey wilh the Lord.

I mourned this great man wilh a bitterness the
more lively that I saw luni misimdorslood by thi)sc
wlioai he had best sorved — the i)eoplo and tlio
King. He had ended his noble life, eonvinced of
general ingratitude, and he was followed even be-
yond the grave by the insults of rhymers ;ind libel-
lers. If be could have foreseen the lanicntaljle dis-
tress into wliieli Franec was plunged by wars, whieh
beeamo more ami more di-a.<trous by want, l)y the
ruin of the ]niblic funds, by the exliaustiou of the
vital strengtii oC the country, ho would have felt
still greater anguish in death. A fearful struggle,
a struggle of ten yours against the whole of Europe,
victories, but burdeiiSonio viet(jrio-', since they re-
sulted in the treaty of Ryswick, by which the con-
(piests made by L luis the Groat were restored to
its enemies, this struggle had ill prepared France
for the Sj)unish war of succession, heart-rending
calamities of which we see to-day. Lonely and old
amongst a new generation, I recall the first splen-
dors wiiieh marked tlic dawning of the reign of
Louis ; I recall the prosperity which the wise Col-
bert spread around him ; I recall the glory Avliich
Tnrenne, Condi', Cri'qui, Luxciul)ourg, Duquesne,
Tourville, had brouglit to the French arms. These
great men are no nu)re, and their successors, men
of a new age, s-cemed to have detrcneratodanu to be
of a nature less noble and less great. I remember,
but tho King must also remember ! — he who alone
remains (>- all his familv, with oidv a child in the

'.'I

1 i

1 1

■'ii

148

77/r OU C/irsf.

rradlo. Tlii.s severe iiid penctnitinp /rlniieo Hlionld
tiike ill lliecalamitics wliieli llie I'lUuro reserves for
onr desceiidaiits : tlie misery of the pcojile, the
grnml)liii£j and discontent of tlic eitizcns, the dark
iinjiicty Avliieli is increasinjr every day, the weak-
ness of tlio army, the eoutiision of tlie linances, the
national cliaraetcr weakened and debased, the c<m-
tcmi)t of glorious deeds, the love of good living
and pleasure, the monarchy about to fall into the
hands of a chiul, under the regency of the Duko
do Elaine, unpopular by his birth, or under that of
a Duko of Orleans, to be feared from his known
defects as well as from his hidden vices. . . .

I shall not see these misfortunes : I am almost at
the end of a long career, during which I have tried
to serve my country, in ihc humble sphere to which
I was called by my birth ; I fuIlUled my task wit'i
lionor and integrity ; but, whilst peacefully (juitting
this life, I tremble for those wiio shall come after
lis. We have sown the whirlwind, they sliall- rea[)
the storm ; and the disasters wliich our wars and
disorders have prepared for them can only be avert-
ed by the hand of Providence.

God, Internal Providence, watch over France,
•watch over the dauphin, soon to be King, the dear
and last flower of so fair a stem !

CO .tlinuM
servos for
'ofilo, llio

till.' (lark
lio woak-
iinccs, tlio
, the c<m-
:)(l living

into the
Iho Diiko
vv iliat of
id known

almost at
lavo tried
to which
task vritli
^quitting
lino after
hall- rea|)
■\vars ami
■ Ijo uvort-

[• Franco,
, the dour

XIV.

l'IUJ.0S01'il V — KKillTKENTU CKXTL'IIV.

^Iy vencralilo grandfather, a man of sense ami
jiulgniont, had foreseen the misfortunes -vvliicli
overwhelm us in the present iind threaten us ! ■ the
future. l?ut, Avhatevcr might bo liis judgment,
enlightened by a long life ami by the oxporiencc of
men and things, lie could not foresee the torrent of
evils ■vvliich licentiousness and impiety have brought
upon Franco, and into Iho iiiterioi* of families,
(iod ha.^ witlidrawu lilmself ivom us, or, to better
express it, we liave rejected him. . . , Every
day he is insulted and blasphemed, his divine com-
mandments viola* od ; there are to bo found amongst
i;.; men, and men honored by all, Avho have sworn
war against God, who would crush the iufamous.*
Franco h to-day, through its writers, the enemy of
V.\Q L'jrd, the standard-l)carer of atheism — in other
v.Mrd:!, Franco is lost ; for Avho has resisted the
Lord and found peace ?

Wo Avorc two brothers, brought up alike, under
t'.io care of most tender parents, with the same
<lestiny before us ; but our dispositions were widely
dilTereiii. I nought only a hidden, retired life; I

* "EcriiKcr riiifanio,"' Iho famous ox[)rL'b.sii)u '^f Vultiiiro ia

rcrorcucc to our iJiviue Saviour.

\V.)

<v :ir~-

1^0

T/u- Old Chest.

]i:i(l no ambition fur any other tliau domcstio joys ;
my desired aiul aiLaclimciit.s went no farllier tliau
the lioartli round wliicli tlie family assembled ; ond
I wished for nothing moro hero below than to bj
hajipy, as my father had been, by honest laljor, t )
j'hid a wife like my mother, and to have one day
children who would love mo as I lo^■o my jiarentt'.
1 have little to say of my.^^M, for I have been happy
with tlic happiness whieh I sought ; my position
a3 a notary has amply provided for all my wants,
and given mo cm])loymcnt in accordance with my
tastes. I married a wife after my own heart, and
s!ic mado mc father of two dauglitcrs, wlio gave
jiromise of merit and virtue.

My brother Louis from his childhood showed am-
bition, lovo of display, and of enjoyment ; the dis-
tinctions which laws and customs had establislied
between men irritated liini ; a lord of the court ap-
peared to him of all beings the most enviable ; he
did not disdain tho lot of a simpl-e gentleman, on
Avliom his binh conferred the i)lacG of lionor in
church and many other privileges ; to rule was his
dream; and finding himself, by birth, confounded
wiLh tho immense multitude of good and honest
citizens, he Avished at least to acquire, by means of
fortune, tho supremacy which ho coveted, lie
connected himself Avitli financiers, ho took part in
their speculations, he conducted his own with much
skill ; and, at tho ago of thirty-five, being master
of a large fortune, he obtained the farmer-general-
ship of salt works, and ho i;iarried the daughter of
a leading financier.

This marriage and odiee gave my brother an en-
tirely new position, v.-iiicli ivnioved him from me.

tic joys ;
lior Ukui
led ; i'liil
an to bj
labor, I )
oiiu day
liavontt.
:;u happy
position
y wauls,
willi my
art, aiul
lio gave

iwcd ain-

tho dis-
.aljlislicd
:ourt ap-
iblo ; ho
man, on
'ioiior in

was his
founded
I honest
neans of
-d. no

part in
th niucli

master
■peneral-
glitor of

f an rn-
om 1110,

The Old Chest.

from our connections, and the old friends of our
family, llo lived in tlio Faubourg .Saiiil-ILmnre,
in !i largo mansion, resplendent with crystals, mir-
rors, and gildings, and enriched willi tho choicest
worlss of ijoiicher, Coyi)el, Lancret, and r.oucliar-
don. A numerous retinno of servants lilled llio
ante-chaml)ers ; -Madame Duchaisne's drawing-
room, glittering with pictures, mirrors, and bronzes,
was liner flian tliosj of tho court ladies ; her horses,
her dress, lior diamonds, Aveie the envy of the most
wealtliy ladies ; my brother gathered every day
aronnd liis table numerous guests, titled men,
ladies of fashion, bankers, and, let me add, those
wits, men of letters, whoso writings were stirring
not^only France, but Europe.

Tho pul)lio voice gave .such aec(Mints of tho
riches, tho magnilicent life, and brilliant connec-
tions of my motlier, that it seemed to us, humlilo
citizens, u fany tale, a fable of tho '-Thousand
and One ^sights." My wife was astonished, my
daughlers opened their eyes very wide at hearing
of these marvels cf wealth and luxury ; my good
wife sometimes added : " How happy they aro ;
liow much good they can do !"' But, as for me, I
found in these descriptions, in these accounts, many
reasons for trouble and anxiety. I loved my brother,
though circumstances had separated mc from him,
and I learned with deep sorrov,- his intimate con-
nection with those who were called philosophers,
encyclopanlists. I knew their works, and I knew
in wdiat danger they wero hurrying the family and
tho monarchy. I tlionght I saw in their intimato
connection a binistt'r conspiracy against all tho laws
which are the foundation of society. Keligion at-

I r>->

Ii-'

The Old C lust.

P 4

■))■

il ''a

« i :

V: ,1;

' i.l

M 11

iMI

Hi ii

t;uki.'(l, and LM»u,sc'((ui.nlly nionilii y destroyed, j;ivo
},diiupa'.-i ol" 11 very f^dooniy fiilurc ; and it was those
\ilo LMU'niios t'f (lod. llii.-o daii.Lrcnni.s cMUMniosof
Llic Ktatc, those crwol onc?iiios) of liuniaiiity, that my
hrolhcr gathered rn mid liis talile, \\\\u>(\ .Ma'eenas
lie in:;dc himself, for it was t-aid ho rei)aid their
llattorics wKli gold !

Tlic Kneyloiiu'dia was at onco the means and llio
in-ctexi ()!" which they made use to ,-i)read tlioir opi-
nion.; a:id coneeal tlieir de.-i,ni.! ; it ai)pearod to l-o
only ti laborious and pmvly lili rary work ; hut wise
und religious men beeamo alarmed at teeing the
namcj of the leaders of tho enterprise. Soon there
appeared, simultaneously with the Lneyeloi^rdia, a
vast number of satires a.^ain:'t priests, religious, and
the aulhoritics, and u nniltitude of impious and
licentious pav.iphlets, which, being spread through-
out j:11 classes, speaking a language too easy lo i;n-
der.sland, and within the reaeli of every mind, eor-
rupted even tho women and cliildre:i v. ho had
iLcarcely left tho fcohool-bench. Tho great" lords,
flattered in their passions, the citizens in their ])ro-
judices, became tho support of lho:;c who fcek to
ovcrthrov/ thotlirone, cast opprobrium on the altar,
and who are hurrying us all towards an a])yss to
which advisers of tho monarchy are blindly lead-
ing us. . . . O unhaiipy IVanee !

I see, l)y the examples all around me, the evil
which tho so-called philosophers are doing and will
do ; as for the good, I honcjtly perceive none. I
sec that in attacking religion they destroy morali-
ty ; that they shako the respect due i) supremo
authority, wliik-t Mattering tho foildcs of the mon-
arch ; I sec that the national character ijv/eakeucd,

L was (lii'sc
ciuMiiics of
ty, that my
11 Ma'fciKis
L'i)ai(l their

iiiH and tlio
I tlieir oj)!-
■arcil Id ho
. ; ])\\i wij^c
tcciii'; Uie
Soon there
ch>p.T(lia, ii
ii;ious, ami
;ipious and
d througli-
L'asy to \xn-
muicl, cor-
L who liad
reaf lonls

I tlicir ])ru-
ho reek to
-.1 tlu; altar,

II aliyss to
Liully Icad-

lO, tlio evil
ig and will
a none. I
roy morali-

.) supremo
! the moa-
i v/eakeucd,

T/w Old Gust.

'53

that the l''ren('Ii iiumiI is dehased, that there is no
more hot ief in God ; I see lieentionsnessiind eorrnii-
tion, whieh are currying us on towards anunkuowu
lint terrihle fiitnre. Such is the end of ii connnuni-
ty when (lod witiidraws jiiiii^elf from it. . . .

My brother invited mc to a supi)er wlileh he was
giving to his brilliant friends, and, yielding to Ids
entreaties, I went to it.

The recollcotion of that evening long imrsned
nie. I nu't in thoge magnitieent sahms uroiind tluit
laiile, on whieh apiieared the works of the iiest
Parisian cook, a niunerons assembly and ii com-
plete tieademy. Of the men of thu court, M. Do
Seliomberg, an ardent admirer of Voltaire'.' iMictry ;
M. T)c Trossaii., the author of some a^reealjlo
writings taken from old fables ; the Count do
Jauoourt, Avho was taking part in the Encyelo-
jwdia ; then, Diderot, whose pathos and 'xtrava-
gance astonished me ; llelvetius, eekl;rated for a
rather ordinary work ; the cold Al)be .Mori'liet,
Uaynal, D'Alenibcrt ; some young women, tlieir ail-
nurers, and s(mio linanciers, friends of my bro-
ther, comjileted tlie company. Finding themselves
amongst intimate associates (for I was of no ac-
count there), they spoke freely ; my brother even
boasted of having assembled at that dinner the Uito
of the pliilosophers, that is to say, atheists, and to
ha'-e admitted only one deist, the Abbe Morollet.

"Atheists and deists tend to the same thing,"
observed Raynal — " the regeneration of the'hunian
kind."

'• The destruction of the temple of error,'' added
D'Alembert.

'• happy day ! j,^olden age !" exclaimed Diderot,

ii ;ii

i' ill

154

riu- i )ui c/ust.

'• ul.'i'ii JiiiiiiKiinl .«li;ill lie frei'd finiii iis cli.'iins.
ami rid of iiriufi's, piii'sts, (if \v()rslii|>, niid of re-
lifrioii.s j)r(diulicc,s ! ll is in [\w work.slioj) of f-orrow
liiiit iiiifordiiiidc man liii.s faffliionid llic pliantom
Avhicli lie liiis inndc liis (lod. . . , 'i'lio same
caiiso lias fiirnii'd ids tvranis and iiis fdavcrv. I'ld-
iiKsopliy, llio tnic friend of man, conirs to ins aid,
and onconrarjc'S luni to iirt'aix tiio yf)l\c' v.i Ijotli onu
and Ihc o(!i( r. May I sco llnd day I

' AikI with llic l,ilNo(' 1!ii' |;ist iniout
Wcotlio lust- king Ktriiiij^leil.' "

'• Ilravo ! bravo !" criv'd my wicUdu'd limliici'.
'•'I'iicsc arc new ideas and darin<^ scnlinicnl-. Unl.
K'( ns s[)i'nl\ of tlic Ilmycdopa'dia ; you ktou, i^cn-
tlcmcn, llial I am inlcroslt'd in il."

*■ Vou snri'ly liavo f,'ood ri^lil, my dear l)ii-
cliaisnc," answered Ilelvelius ; ''and, if tlie name
of Mn'ecnas lias eome down to posterity, yonrs sliall
lie also Messed liy yonr doseendunts. Yon siipporl.
tins pfroat work, the immortal enler|)rise of this
age of reason and enlightenment, and wliieh shall
have, above all others, the merit of having forever
anndiilatcd sn])erstition.''

"Therefore,"' eontinned Diderot, "ninst we not
yield to the bawling of priests ami bigots. /,/■/ us
(ic, hi IIS lie, i}iii friends !'•' It is the patriarch who
rceommends it to us, and we shall jint down prc-
jndiees."'

"Wo are stifled with prejudiees,'' answered llel-
vetii's ; "' tliey ehokc us from onr very infaney by

IH
es
cs
sii
fr
1»
ci

''.'

cii

III

at
(•(I
ti(

.st;
ell
tn
th
111
Al
til
h.
da
cv
an

:iil

'••A'l ('xiU'L'iisi'):! !>!' \''ill;iii'o's, nl'tci rcjioatfl In lii.i corre-
(•pumlciiLO.

liij

Tin 0!,{ Clust.

'55

its ciptins.
1111(1 of re-
j> (if sorrow
pliaiiiiiin

'I'llO MIIIK'

vtrv. riii-

li> iii.s nid,

:f hotli one

'd lirnlhrr.

ICllI-'. lilll.
IvIuU, i,'('ll-

(Icar Dii-
tlie iiiiiiie
voiirs sliiill
oil .siipjKirl.
isc of this
hieli shall
iig forever

list w: iioL

)ts. l.il lis

riiircli who
down prc-

iered llel-
n fancy by

'I hi , cdrn'-

llic niiiiicsof Hon. lirollier, hiisliiind, f.ilhcr, . . .
All lliese li(.-i of father and ehild arc iiijininiis In
those of eiti/cn, and |irodiiee \ice under llic a|i-
pearance of virtue ; little coniniunilieH whose inter-
ests are alninsl always opposed to the ])iililie inter-
ests would (venlually cviiii^iii-h in souls every
spark (if loNCdf country. TIh! people caiinnl, he
freed from these ealainiiies hut hy breaking all
bonds of rclilioiishiji, and deelariiig their children
citizens of tlie stale. This is the only means of
putting down vice. . . . ^iDrcover, every spe-
cies of dependence being nnjiisl, the fim depends
no more on the fatlu-r than llie latter on his oil-
siiring.""

At these •••ords I lookeil al my limMicr. lie was
upplauding.

The convcrsal inii ciiiilinued in ihissliaiii ; I was
ut last iorced Id sjieak iiiil. and I had al Ica.-I the
consolation of sustaining tiie cause of eternal jus-
tice and of outraged morality. 1 was ii.iswered by
stale jokes ; my brother seemed ill at case ; ho
changed the conversation. They s[)oke of litera-
ture, ])raise and ajiplause bandied aliout amongst
themselves, wiiiist criticising severely the most cs-
tunalile authors, such as .M. |)e I'omiiignan, the
AI)b(3 (iuence, J. l\. Roiissean.f who had devoted
their talents to anuther cause. I listened for a full
hour to cruel slanders, to infamous calumnies, scan-
dalous anecdotes, which convulsed witii laughter
even the young women. unhap])y ]>npils of irreligioii
and licentiousness, and I felt as if delivered from

■; IMvctius-, "PolT.s).i-i1/'
+ .T. 1>. U()',i:-iS":i'l must no! 'i
writLT, Jeua Jacijucs.

ii;iriniiiii,'il Willi tlu' iiilMcl

f vr

m I

; iil

■f ■ -m

isr.

T/h- O/.U'/ns/.

rriu'l tni'liiro wlu'ii I cinild Iciivftlii' .vf/Kyiissciiiltly,
in wliifli I I'uiiinl inysi'lf so ciiiii[iltto ii Ktninge'r.

Xi'xl (lay 1 Iiinl iin cxitluiialit'ii uitli my brKtlior,
wliicli left us ImiUi ill niif (twii iiliiis.

" And ynii will lirin;^; up ynur cliildrcii in llic
prinoipk'rt vi your pliilu.siiplitr.'i 'i'"' ii-kuil I at
lei;^'tli. ' ■ ^_

"Sncli is my inlentiuii," answoicd lie. " 'I'licy
Khali learn to read in (lie wriliniis of JcaU Jaciiui's."

" And lo honor you accordiuj,' to Ihu uni\ini,-i of
Ilchclius!''

1 did nol, however, hreak with my jioor lir'>tlier ;
returned to my old ways and my liaiipiness, I again
Kouirht to enlighten him ; l)nt all my eflorts Mere
vain. 'I'ho ilattory of his parasites had turned his
head ; and the rich linaneierlhought himself iiman
of genius, .^ince he had received a Idler dated Fer-
ncy, and written liy the patriarch's own haml.

'I'he years, in passing, did not bring us Ingellur ;
hnt 1 thought I conld perceive, on the rare occa-
sions when we met, that my brother seenu'd sad,
and had other cares than those whicli ytars in their
ilight are wont to bring. IHs fortniu>, however, was
still lirilliant, his liouse fre<iuented ; he had just
married his daugliter I'elicie to the Baron de Tout ;
his son Kilmond, lio t<dd me, was distinguishing
himself by his literary taleids. and had recently pnl)-
lished three pamphlets, •' The Il's,"'-' The Whens,"
" The Wherefores,'" which were nnikingasensat ion in
the philosopli-cal worhl. His third son, Henri, was
ii nnin of fashion, whose adventures were much
talked of. .My l)oor brother (old me of his sons'
feats with a gratitied smile of jiaternal vanity; he
uongratulated himself on having one son an iulidel,

tlia

yoti

liol

AVii
Ho

sue

tha

the

blC!

ten
the
me
wh^
we I
glo
!-
l.vii
am
Iku
my
oui
If.
roo
fun

hai

shi
Yo

rVllSSCIIlltly,

■ tiaiiijcr.
iiiv brill luT,

ll'l'tl ill IllC

ii.-Ucil 1 lit
.1'. " 'I'hcy

111 JiUMlUOS."
lllil\illld l)i

<i)V lir"llior ;
K'S.-, I iigiiiu
t'lloi'ls wore
, turned Ms
msfll" 11 111.111

I IkiihI.
IIS ingi'llicr ;
) rare occii-
aTiiu'd Had,
ears in their
lowevcr, was
lie liad just
on do Pont ;
<tiiipiiisliiiig
■((•eiilly imli-
riieWheiis/'
.senstiiioniii
, llonri, \va.s
were imicli
(if liis pons'
vanity ; lio
111 an iutide),

/'//, (>/,/ l'//iS.'.

'?;

a;iMlIii'r ;;^ liliiTliiif. and lie st'eimd a-i if e\|i( din;;
tlial [ w.iiild mid my |irai,«i' Id thai which he ia\-
ijiicd n:i llu'iii.

"Are yon : allsli "1 wiih tluir ciiiidiu't |.,ward,-i
yoU?"fjaiil I to him. ",\niiilsL so many tniiiita-
tion;.', arc lliey good son;', ?''

" Wo se.^ them lint- lilile ; liny are yoiiiiL:-. . . .
AVliat woiihl yon hiivo? Voiitli must luiss."' . . .
He si.Lihed.

'• And your ihui^^hier, for whom ymi have made
such ;i lirilKaiiL niarriagi' ?''

Ho did not answer ; and I llionglit I could seo
that (li(> inirratitude <if this beloved daughter wad
the UMMW which pierced his luari. Oh! how I
blessed my liiLoii n'tnniiiig home, amongst my at-
t^'iitivo and iv^iieett'ul children, who had found i i
the lav/ of Clod the ooiilirniation of the first senti-
ment awakened ill the depth of their hearts, and
who lovi'il me the more that in loving me they
wei-(^ honiiring (lod, whom I had taught, (hem to
glorify and t>) love above all things !

Shortly after this interview with my limilier, I
jjaruod tlut liis sou I[eiiri was dangerously ill, in
oonseqneneo of a snp[ier, or rather oaronsal, wliieli
had taken place at the Palais lloyal. I tl>on;rht it
iiiv <lnty to bring Id my bnilher the eoiisulati.m:! of
our <ild alTeetion. I •.irrived at his maiihion, whicii
I fiiund silent and gloomy ; I was conducted inloii
room wliieli adjoined tlio sick-room ; and lliore I
found my brother sitting, his head lairied in liis
Iv.inds, absorl)ed in ])ainriil thouglil.

♦• Is it you, my broliier ?" sai<l he. '• V' u dn not
shun a house of mourning ! You liavc iieard . . .
Yon know . . . ^fy pour son !"

lii

!i iil

'ilil

I I

i=;s

77r ( V</ ( 7/r.s7.

'• .My drur Louis, voiilli lu;:.; iiiunv chiiuct^^ W/av
Kon, J li()])(', will ))i' rt'siond ti) \ou.''

•• I caiiiidt Ib'.'icr !:>y.-rll' \\illi siuli ;i li(ii;o. . . .
lie i,.i i!()Oiii(.'(l. ... 1 shall ]i).''(.' liiiu, 1 AwM
see him no more I O iiiy (leai' lienri 1"

Tie gave I'lill vi'iit t > hi< pati.Tiial sorruw, i:i whieh
1 , ineerelvKliared. I wt'jilAvith him, and 1 de[)l()red
the I'ate of this unliajjpy young man, who h.ad lived
a slave to ]ii:i pa:-;iinis, ;iud who was ahout to die
an enemy to (Jod. We 'weii hotli .'^ilent and in tear,:,
"wlien tile door ojiened, and I saw a worthy iivie;:!,
the pastor of the jiarish in vliieli my brother Jived,
and known through all Paris for his zeal and a.po^'-
tolie eharity. He saluted us, and, addressing Louis,
said :

" Sir, I present myself again before you to offer
you the services of my ministry for your M)n. I
am your pastor, and God commands that 1 mn-t
not let one of the dear sheep of my Hock perisli nn-
jdded. Will you deigu to admit mo to the jire-
scnco of yoiir son i-" "

^[y In'other reddened, and, iu ;'. dejected lone, he
answered :

"■ He refuses your visit, sir ; T projiosed it to him.
lie Vt'islies to die- — "

'■' As hj ha.j lived ! unhajipy boy I "'

'• lie has some prejudices . . .'"

'• Mis mind, poi.oned by ])ernicion3 doctiincs,
hates the ministers cf leiigion. . . . Lut (lure
is yet time to conviuco him of his errors, . . .
find to prove to him that there arc no more f.ie.cere
friends than the servants of Jesus Christ."

" I do not wish to disturb him ! I wish, liis last
hours to Ijc peaceful.'' . . .

bi
d.
di

of
sa
lu
m

!>'

ob
th

cil

}'"
pa

ca:
v/a
pr
sw
U)(
as
rai

iiinci

;:. \r.Ul

nope. . . .

llil'l, I .••iKill

x>w, ill wliicli
ul I doploreil
iio I'.ail Vwvd
iiljinit to dk'
; tuul ill tear,:,
•ortliy iivicil,
)rcitlK'r Jived,
oal and i\\'.oi---
essiug Louip,

you to offer
your i-oii. I
that 1 I'.ni.-t
•k nerisli uii-

lo the jire-

cted Vouc, lie
od it to liiiu.

us doctiine^:,
. VaM (liei'c

vvov>, . . .
riore f.ir.cere

wii-di Ids hi:[,

The UIJ (7/,s/.

15;

T iiiterl'erod 'it tlieso wor.U 1 urged. luy hmtiier ;
l>iit it, wan ill vaiu. lie snill I'rared, he-^ido llu-
death-bed of lii.s son, tlie raillery of ilie Avil.-, wli)
did notv.-ish that ouoo': f lieir iiuinl)U'.;hould " hack
out"; and, full of doubt in sight oL' ihedark al)y,s^
of Klerniiy, lie t^uught to jiliud liiinself, end to
saerilice to the sarcasms of the world lluit son v.lioin
lio nevcrtlieless loved so tenderly. A blind obsti-
nacy had possession of his niiiul, and neither niv
suggestions nor the charitable entreaties of the old
priest could dispel it. 'I'iie pastin- withdrevr,
saying :

'• If the patient desires to see nio, eome, oli I eonio
ut once. At whatever hour it may Ije, call nie.
. . . I iim going to pray for him and for his
niothtg."' . . .

I remained with my brother; but i could not
obtain access to the patient. 1 spent the night at
the house, in tlic midst of the constant alarni ex-
cited by the imminent danger of the uni'ortunafe
young man. 'ro\vard;< inorniag, being alone i;i the
parlor, I heard ;i piercing cry which came ffom my
nephew's room. I ran in ; my brother, torriiied,
came tovrards me, and murmured :

" He is dying !" And, so saying, fell senseless.

My sister-in-law was stretched on the Ijed with 11
violent attack of hys'Lcrics. Whilst the servant-!
cared for them, I ran to Henri's bed. ... lie
v/as dying! His ^'aco liad already the fearful ex-
l)ression vrhich the death-agony gives. A cold
sweat covered his forehead, and his glassy eyes
looked with terroi- at the dark c<)rner3 of the room,
as though be saw there fright fe.l visions, lie
raised his feeble ba'd to hii eyes, as if to shut

i6t)

Thf Old (lust.

oiil (lu> ()l).jec'L.s which bc-cl l\in). 1 took liiin in
av arms.
'••My liov/" said I, " lliink of Cod; rcpoiit of

Yoiir faults 1 '

'• Who spcaki to me of (Jod ? Tlicro is no Cind !
Ko, 110, no !"

" Thoio is one, and lie awaits yon ! my c'.ear
1)oy ! bnt a moment remains to you. Say, 'My
(;<)d, I repent of having ofCended you ! ]My Clod, I
love you !"

" i cannot ! I do not understand you ! . . .

Later! Later!"

I again urged him. I showed him a crucifix
which I carried aliout -with me. He turned away
his eyes, and said, with an expression of lior-

ror :

'• Do you £ee those figures that fill the room ?
Tut tlicm out ; defend me ! . . . After that, I
will do what you wish. ..."

I made the sign of the cross over him, hut hi'.
iigitati(m continued. lie hid his face. I uncover-
ed it, and I implored him to pray with me. . . .
"Later ! " answered ho in a scarcely articulate voice.
, . I fell on my knees, ami prayed fervently.
The door oi)cncd. The priest whom I had sent
for came in and hurried to the bedside. . . .
i>ry nejihew tried to rise, Avith hag. rd eyes and
tcrrilied face, and he fell hack, murmuring :
'• lie is too late ! too late ! Oh ! save me."
" Lord ! hut thy judgments are terrible,"
cried the priest. " I have seen the impious, like
unto the cedar of Lelxuion. I passed, and it is no
more. This is the ]iunisliment of n badly spent

youth ! rnh:i])i>y child !"

The (>I,f C/irsf.

\(n

Look luin i!i

i ; rcpoiit of

is no (inil I

iny t^.car

. Kav, 'My

My God, I

on ! . . .

in a cnu'ifiN:
tnrni'<! away
sion of lior-

II the room ?
After lliut, I

liini, 1)11 1 lii ••
I nnciivt r-

nu\ .

u'ulate voico.
ycd fervently,
n I liad ,?onfc
side. . . .

rd eyes and
luing :
no nic."
are terrible,''
! impious, like
d, and it is no
Vi badly spent

'* Unhappy father! unhaiipy nmthcrl" cricil I.
" What a punishment !''

I left the priest, in ]iraYer Iteside tho?e dcploralilo
remains, and I went to my brollier's room. He was
unconscious of his misfortune. He had been
stricken witii apoplexy, and was in his bed inscn-
silde. My .'■istcr-iu-law, wlio had come to herself,
.■lavo vent to the bitterness of her maternal sorrow,
with which deep remorse was mingled.

"lie feared nothine," said fho to me, "and ho
loved only pleasure. . . . He died a victim to
our weakness, our blindness. . . . A\ o have
killed iiim ! Oh! would to Heaven that we had
been less indulgent to him ! Fatal indulgence! it
has led him into the al)yss, and drags us there with
him. O my dear Henri ! where ai'c you ? "What
has become of you ? ''

I spent lliat cruel day and the nox' witli my sis-
ter-in-law. ]My wife also came. My In-other re-
nniined unconscious, in a state of utter helplessness.
I tlien received bitter contidenccs. I could not ex-
plain the abseucc of Edmond and of Fclicie, at this
fearful time, Avhich lefti their mother alone over-
whelmed by so many misfortunes.

'•Alas ! brotlicr," said ^[adame Duchaisne, '-'wo
do not see my daugliter any more. . . . She is
in the midst of the great world of pleasures, whicli
are perhaps dangerous. She has given us up, she
denies us. It is said that her husband plays a great
game ... ho is the intimate companion of
the Duke d'Orleaus ... he is leagued, it is
said, against the court, against our good Queen.
. . . All this is very alllicting. ... I see
nothing in the future but ruin and disaster."

lG2

'i hi Ohl Cliist

"Ami my iK'pliow. Kdmoiid \"

" lie is in England ; he is C(nitcmi)latinp a ])iii-
losophical Avurk on the ]']ng]isli constilution."

" Very good. But arc you salisUed with his con-
duct and proceedings ?''

" "What siiall f eay, brother ? I sometimes think
that Edniond finds us very inueli l)eliind the age

and very tiresome.

Still, you know, my

husband has always sujtported the writers of the
day and the nciv ideas; he has spent two hundred
thousand francs for the publication of the * Ency-
clopedia'; ho has given pensions to the wits: he
had a philosopher us preceptor to our tons.''

These words renewed her sorrow. 1 laiew
enough, and I saw that ncglecl, ingratitude, and
impieiy had left desolate the liouse of my Knliappy
brother. All that 1 learned by Ihc conversation of
my sister-in-law and by the public vtico filled mo
•with consternation. The Baron de Pont Avas, in
fact, one of the most intimate members of those in-
famous coteries of the Palais Royal, whence came
forth every day calumnies and libels which every
day attacked our chaste Queen end our young and
virtuous King. Edmond lent his pen to this wick-
edness, which was worthy of hell, which perhaps
before long would cause to break out amongst the
deceived people a bloody rebellion against the royal
av.thority. The signs which are precursors of the
storm are muttering around v.s ; prepared Ij the
financial disasters, iuwilll.c con?i;mma!cd by jihi-
losophlcal writingc. A.S for me, I shail net ecc
them ; my life is ncnr its close. jMy infirmities
■warn mo to prepare to leave the earth, ar.d render
an account to God of fo many graces, and to many

ni."

li his con-

ncs tliink
I llio iipo
;now, my
rs of llic

lunulrcd
c * Eiicy-

wits : lie

I knew

lido, i'.ml
x'.iiliappy
rsation of
lillcd mc
t wiis, ill
llio!-e in-
ncc came
ich every

3Ullg JUld

LliisAvick-
1 pcrluips
ongst tlie
tlic royal
:iV3 of I lie
cd ly the
d by plii-
1 net rce
iifirmitics
r.d render
1 Eo many

T/n- 0/J C/ust.

i6s

long years of exislciico, which lie has granted v,n\
But if I had not faith in the aid of Providenco, I
Avoiild die liringing with me to tlie grave the inont
lively anxiety as to the fate of my dear ones, whom
I am going to leave in the midst of the storm.

XV.

THE rOXTOOX-MAX OF KIJLK.

Thk earliest recollections ■wliicli my memory re-
tains arc the following : my mother holding me l»y
the hand, and leading me throngh the streets of
Paris, Avhich Averc full of people, men in red coats
and caps, Avomen in diort gowns, Avearing on their
heads largo tricolorcd cockades, ^ly mother Avas
\cry pale, and, Avithout knowing why, I Avas very
much afraid. We arrived before a va.<t building,
and we stopped at an arched iron gate. Otlier per-
sons Avere waiting like ou '■selves, and we could hear
in the streets the voices of newsboys crying : " Buy !
buy ! here is the list of the condemned."

The great door suddenly opened Avitli a loud
noise ; a heavy vehicle rolled under the arch, and
passed before us. ... It Avas a large cart, on
Avhich stood some men bareheaded, their hair
shaved, and their hands bound behind their back,
and Avonien also bound, and pressed close against
each other. Gendarmes and soldiers guarded tJie
carriaf'e. My mother took me in her arms, held
me \\\), and said in a loud voice :

"My child, say farewell to your father, avIio is

going to die."

1 looked, and saAV on the cart a man who Avas
leaning towards us, and whose face T recognized.

SI
S]

r(
V
11
n

ai
d
fii
ir
f:i
m

•'1

IK
hi

cti

Pc
m

cmory I'c-
,ng luc liy
f-ircc'ts of
rod coats

on llioir
utlicr was

was very
Iniil cling,
Dtlior pcr-
:oul(l hear
5 : " Buy !

li a loud
arcli, and
cart, on
licii- hail'
licir back,
se against
ardcd the
lYim, held

cv, who is

\ who Avas
agnized.

77.: : J Clust. 165

" Farewell ! "' cried lie. " Farewell, wife 1 farewell,
my child !"'

ilo could say no more, the cavt went on. . . .
My mother's arms unclasped, she had fainted.
. . . No one took any heed of us ; she sat on a
stone, pale and exhausted ; and, when the crowd
had dispersed, she made a llnal ed'ort, and regained
our lodging, dragging herself along by the houses,
supporting herself against the walls. She did not
speak ; but I remember (hat she became very
red, and lier eyes shone with a strange light.
We thus reached our ])oor room on the lifth
floor, liiie Culture-Sainle-Calherine. 'i'here my
mother fell into a chair, like a person over-
come, Avith fatigue ; and flic day passed,
and the hours of tlic inght slipped by, and still she
did not awake from the stii[)or into which she had
fallen. I dared w^i s])eak nor stir. I thouglit my
mother Mas asleej), and I was half dead witli fear,
fatigue, and hunger. Towards the middle of the
next day a neighboi-, who sometimes rendered some
services to my mother, knocked at our door ; I
opened it softly, making her a sign to make no
noise. She ajiproached, looked at my mother, took
her hand, and said :

"My poor child, your mamma is very sick !''

The day passed thus ; the good neighbor did not
leave us ; she made some tisane, but she dared not
call in a physician.

"One docs not know whom to trust," said she to
me. " Your mamma has been ricli, perhaps noble ;
that would bo seen at once, and the doctor would
perhaps send her to i)ri»on. . . . There arc so
many bad pooplo aroaal ii~. . . .''

l6G

The Old Clu-sl.

l\ry mother soomeil I') ho (Ivin;: ; slic n'cn;:,'iiizcil
mo, Imt slu" (.'oultl not ;-|u'ak. Towiirtl-; iiiuniiiii,'
kIic mado an elTovt, jind suid lo our iiciglilior :

"Cto and bring Vix. Blutoau to mo, lie lives at
the entresol ;* . . . tell him that the Widow
Duehaisno would like lo speak to him."

Tho neighbor obeyed ; kIio soon returned, follow-
cd by an old man with white hair, very poorly clad.
My motlicr clasped her hands on peeing him, and
mado him approach the bed ; tlio neighbor with-
drew. I saw that my mother spoke in a low voico
to Mr. Bluteau, that ho listened attentively with a
gentle and recollected air. She llnislied ; ho said
u few words, raised his right, hand, and made tho
sign of the cross. . . . My mother's face sccm-
oi peaceful and radiant; she called me, put my
hand in that of the old m:in, and .said :

" Father, I recommend this orphan to you."

I s;>w her fall back on her pillow, and l)ecomo
paler. ... I do not very well know what
happened ; the old m::n took me with him into a
very poor little room, Avhero ho lived ah)ne. lie
treated mo with much kindness, and I soon loved
him tenderly, and cared for no one else. ^Ir.
Bluteau received no one ; but he often AVdit out,
and I remarked that before going ho knelt down
and said a short prayer ; on returning, he would
cLisp me in his arms, saying :

" Let us thank God, niy dear child ; he has saved
mo once more. . . ."

I understood nothing of all this ; but I prayed
to God, as my benefactor bade me do. Three years

* Lobby or Rm.'ill room l)etween two stories.

•fon^fiiizcii
! iiiuniiiii^
l)(ir :

10 livi'S 111

ho Willow

I'll, follow-
)i)rly chul.

liiiii, iiml
ibor witli-
, low voico
cly Avitli ;i
1 ; lio said

niiido tho
fiico sccm-
t>, put iny

yon."
id l)cconio
now wliiit
liini into u
done. lie
50011 loved
ihc. Mr.

Avor.t out,
nolt down

lie would

c liiis saved

t I prayed
riirec years

:ies.

'/■//<■ ( v./ C 'Ws/.

J 67

J):13sihI t!iu-! ; 1 wa^ t'lca iiJ!)-.' or t.'U years old, :■('
I b-\2[an t> iinder.U i!i 1 my i))siii:i:i a:rl t!iaL of t!
pojd old mm who t.iok sacli fatherly caro ol" m.'.
Mr. IMuteaii was a priest ; lu) liad baon pastor of
one of th;> liuost parislios in Paris, and, not wishing
t-) abandon his iljek in tlio midst of tho storm, lio
ha 1 liidd.'n liinisjif, under a disguise, and at t!io
peril of liii life, wliich was risked many timoa in a
clay ; he usad to go and cijl'brato ^Nlass in tlie cel-
lars, peuetratj into tlio hosi)itil.s, and even into tho
prisons; lio confessed Uio dying and those con-
demned; and, in s;: . „' his advanced age, ho
diily mMlti[»liod the ;; -or e', (d' liis charity and
g))l works. My i> i)o,> , kaowu iiiiii in I) 'Iter
days ; s!io ha 1 sv • lu ■- ii,Miu, wlion, strii)ped of
her goods, feariu'r ; >i nv father'.s life, she had
reached the doptii of .nisi'ortuiio ; she had called
him iu at her I 'ne»nent, and to tfiis veneralilo
priest slio owed .,e only consolation wliicli she
could receive hero bolow : tho final absolution and
the hojio that I should not bo forsaken.

Mr. Bluteau instructed while he conversed v;it!i
mo ; and, when I had reached my eleventh year,
ho sometimes allowed mo to aeconiiiany him in his
apostolic visits, now loss dangerous than when tho
guillotine arose in P.iris, but which must still bo
aoiMuipaniod with prudoaco and with secree^ . I
roaumbor one evening a woni in cjvcred witli rags
came t.} sock him, and said to hiai in a low voice a
Avord wliieh made him sliudder. lie immediately
prepared to go oat, and I beggod him to let me go
Avith him.

" Cumo !" said he, " my child, and pray to God
for the young patient Avliom we are going to sec."

ir.s

77/< (>/,/ C7tiS/.

W'c fiot out, suidiMl l>y tlio woman, wlio lol ih
tliroiigh one of tlio darkost nivwU luljoinin;,' Ujc
Piihun (h Jiislirr ; nhc liron^'Ut ns across ii nnuMy
alley and up a Btalrcaso, wliich socuu'd ciuUcss to
mo; arrivi'd at tlic top slory, she opened a door,
and introdueed us into a kind of ganvt, whore, on
a nuscnil)le bed, lay a man who seemed very near
death. The face of this man had a fearful e\-
])rossion ; the hlo )d which ho had lost in a violent
haMnorrha^'i! had saturated his clothes, his arms,
and his chest, and Ik^ itushed from him, with a
feeble but furious hand, tlie blood-stained clothes,
repeating,' :

'' Take away that blood, take It; away ! There is
enough of it ; there is enough of it ! . . ."

At sight of us an old woman, who sat beside the
bed, arose, approached the tiick man, and said to
him aloud ;

" llerc is the citizen-priest. ..."

At the-;e words, the sick man's face showed inex-
pressible terror and grief.

" What use is it ?" cried ho ; " there is no merey

for me 1 "

"My friend, the nu.'cy of God makes no cxcei)-
tion," answered Mr. Bluteau.

" But I— I ! who killed more than sixty priests at
the Carmes."

" Well, my son," answered my benefactor, " thank
God, who has saved one to absolve you !"*

I do not know wh:it elTect these words produccil
on the unhappy man ; he softened, and tears gush-
ed from his eyes ; he allowed .Mr. Bluteau to take

* Historioal.

n
r<

til
tl'

br
li(

(III

th;
J a
abi

bUl

till

])ai

ask

I w

the

SIC

vlli) IctI IH

joining' 1!m'
13 11 iiudiiy

oiuUc-ss to
10(1 u door,
, wlioro, on
I very near
fc';irful o\-
iii ii violont

his arms,
iin, wilh ii
K'll clodics,

! Tluvois

t hosiilo Uio
unl said to

liowod incx-

is no mercy

)3 no exct'p-

:ty priests at

tor, " thank

Is product'(l
I iPfirsgiisli-
tciiu to take

V7if OU C/icst.

169

him hy tlie liaml ; and we went iino an adjoiiuiig
room, lu iIki cv-'iiinL,' h<' said to nio :

'• Tliat Midi qipy niai dii'd I 1 \KKiw \ Id us Idi-sa
the l.(»rd ! " !((• tlioiiglil for a moment, and re-
iiinncd :

"Tlic samt' hand wliicli Iium just uhsolvod that
niiirdercv al).Mht.'d tlic Qiicvn Mane Aiitoiiicii.' ;
the same hand lias hrokiM f,)r tlic as-a.ssiii of ,So|i-
tt'inln'raiid fort'i-.i d,iii;,'Ii(i'rof liu' Ct'sars I Ik^ sacred
hrtadof tlic i':aciiarisl ; . . . U ctonial Mcivy .»
Jiow iiu'lTalde are tliy deerees."

f \va^ still Hcluld, I)iit the name of Mario Antoi-
iK'ltc, wliic'li 1 liad so often Iipanl repeated, awoke
uiy curiosity.

*• You have seen the Queen, father •'" sal 1 I.
'• ViV, my cliild," answered jn' ; -and, altliou;,di
yoa are only ;i child, I will relate it t) you, so that
one (lay, wlio'.i I sliall hj dwid, yuu can give testi-
mony t(j the Cliristian sentiments wiiich animated
that much calumniated (^icen. Kcmemln'r what
J a:ii going to tell you, my dear child. The Queen was
about to bo tried, and the issue of her trial was very
douhtfnl ; noou'j was admitted to see her ; she was
t-uirering alone in the depth of her prison, when
three h(dy ladies, Sister Jeanne, Sister Julia,
Daughters of Charity, und Miss Foucher, the coni-
])anion of their good works, obtained from the wife
of t!ie lurnkey aceess to her cell. The (^iicen only
asked them for one thing — a jiriest.

" Mi -s Foucher came to seek me. and asked mo if
I would risk my life to briii;; to ^Marie Antoinette
the aids of religion, I aeeepted wiili pleasure that
siered duly, and I was inlraduccd into the presence
of the royal cajitlve. Sii? made her CDufossion ; f

■If

J«'

170

Tlu- Old Chat,

fiu\c' licironiiuuiiioii with llicSiuml IIohI wlii.li I
liad hw\v^\\\ it> niv watdi ; I hiiw, iny aoiii' cliil.l,
tours (.r JMV nal .l..wn tlio iKiks ciuacuitotl cheeks of
the i»o()r QiUM'ii. the i.oor wiili>w, the |H).)r mother.
The ew ot' tlie ilav <>n which alie wii.-* letl
io ihcKMlToM. thanks to the j;.....! Mi.-*/, F.melier, 1
wa.^ enahle.l t.. celehratc H..lv Mas^ ii. the Queen «
luurlmeiit; h1»o again reeeive.l coniMmiuoi. an.l
was r..tiil,'il, l.v the rceoption of tlie Must lloly
Vieliiii, againnt the terrors of il.Mth. . . , 'I'Ium,
n,y Ko:,, is a rceollcction whi.'i is my glory an.l coii-
Bohiti.m; rememhcr what I have sil.l, t^o lliat, if
one (hy MariJ Antoiiielto i^ hl.imeil lu your pre-
Bcn.'e. you e n. .lefen.l her, ami attest that bIic died
witli a^' nuuM cimra-e an faith, with as niuel> piety
as ini'ekiu's-:. ... ,11

Mv l.ouef.irtor eould s ly no more; toara choked
Ins s-.L'e::ii, and the iv(U)llecti<.n of the (Jueen always
made them How abundanUy. 1 have written t.n.
short actr.unt, as hcuug one of th. thin'M that most
struck ino in the c..ur.ic of my hfo. . . • 1 have
but littlo t:, relato of myself; 1 have lived obscure
and alono : I have lived more in the life of others
tlnn in my ..wn, and the thoughts, the words Nyhieh
inn.iTsse rmo ii my childhood como back again in
mv ..Id ng., and ke:«i> n»o c:.m;.any in my sohUuIe.

I h id Vea.;hed mv thirteoi.Ui year, when I had
the misfortune of losing my benefactor, my second
father lie died almost suddenly, after a day of
excessive fatigue. A sever, attack of pneumonia

*It i< well kao-.vn fn': t'.i> Qx-o.> roccvvd Communi.m
Hovorultimc, in her pris.n, from tl.o iKvn.ls of Mr. MaRmre, pas-
tor of Saint-(icrnrun-l'Ausorrois. Ex.-i.t the nam. of Mr.
DUtcau, cvcrytbiug ia oiu- litory ia historic.

(•

III
\s

HO
W

hil

1 1

Sl.(

wi
thi

CO I

als
eei
alo
i.f

WCi

thi
ori,

11 IV

tiui
kiK
Bh
of

am:
jew

I'i'l
I)u<

/■//.• 0/,l C/iist.

>7i

*\ wllicll I
Ifiir cliild,
1 cheeks «)f
)r inotlii'i".
lie wiiH It'll
Fdiu'licr, I

II' QlH'Cll's

iniiiii, anil
Most Holy
. . This,
[•V iiud con-
m that, if
your i)rc-
at b'Uo ilioil
nuch piety

ill;) choked
icon always
tvrittcn tlii.-i
^ that most
. I have
n.v\ ohsc'tiru
of otlu'i-rf
Ycu'ds vyhich
ick again in
»y solitiulo.
vheu I had
, my Bccond
;ci' a day of
piiounjouia

,1 Cornmunion
•. MuRuire, pas-
; ii;imo of Mr.

cirric 1 liim olT in u few lioiirs. WvUnv lie dicl. ho
iiiad(3 my ajti>roacli,aii(lsliou{'i! me ;i little linx that
Was under t!io hed, and said to me :

"My dear child, lliat Itox y, ,i\\ wlmt it contains
is youri ; my (h' J/ord preserve yon, my dear
"""J • • • lf-'mi'in!»er iiim, and he will remem-
ber you. . . . Farewell, I'ierre." . . .

My dear father died a ipiarter of an iionr after ho
had .spoken to mv ; he died ci'inand j .yoiH, as if
hehadaj,dimpscof heiiven. I remained alone. . . .
I Inive sometimes «'onyoun;r trees rooted up hv the
Klorm, and cast without aipport o:i the frroiind,
and I liavo thoii.,Hit that their fate resemhied
mine. . . .

Jly henefac'tor was huried witliout pomj) and
witiiout prayer. The remains of this just man, of
this holy and virtuous priest, were tlirown into u
corner of the coinetcry of .Sainte-Jrargnerile, where
also rests the i)o,]y of tlic little Dauphin, wiio re-
cently died in tlie Tem]>le. I followeil tlie hearse
alone, and I returned alone to the deserted roo •.,
■of wiiicii the proprietor allowed me possession for a
week. 'J'here I tried to recollect myself, and to
think of what I should do ; I scarcely knew wliat my
origin was ; my heacfactor had only told mo that
my i)arents had died during the Ilovolution, and
t!iat I had neither friends nor foitunc. ... I
know nothing more. I took the l)o\ which Mr.
Uluteau had shown mo; I found in it a large roll
of parchments and ])apers which seemed very old,
and the writing of whicli I could not read, a little
jewel-case containing a wedding-ring, and a folded
|>apcr, on Avhich were tiiese words, '• For Pierre
Duchaisne," written in my henefacfoi's hand :

: i'

ii[

172

Tlic Old Chest.

"Those, my dear cliild, :u-c nil tho piirliculars
which I can give you regarding your family, x
have known it fur a long time ; it was to y-ur
{rrand-unclo, Antoine Ducliai^uo, the notary, that 1
owed the bcnellts of eduoation. lie had seen mc
when only a child, and finding in me some inclma-
tion for study, ho defrayed tho expenses of my in-
struction, and to him I owe the happiness of being
admitted to tho piicsthood. 1 knew his brother,
the farmer-general, vour grandfather, wlio, in con-
se.iuoncc of family misfortunes, died overcome ly
infirmities of mind and body. You are bis grand-
son, the son of Edmund Duchaisne and L.ouide
ViUedieu. Your poor father was imbued witu the
philosophical ideas; but God permitted thata
Christian wife should open his eyes, and that mis-
fortune should finish the purification of Ins soul.
The Revolution stripped him of his wealtn ; Ins
former connecti.)n with tho unfortunate Du.o
d'Orloans caused him to be suspected ; lie was
arrested, brought before tho Revolutionary . nl,un:il
and condemned to death. One of my wor.hy
brethren, Avho was in the same prison as your
father, but who survived him, assured me that he
prepared himself for death by tne must Christian

sentiment. , i ■ i ..

*« Your excellent mother, whom I attended m hei
last moments, died tho death of the just. Your
aunt, Madame the Baroness do Pons, died m prison,
and, doubtless, the mercy of God visited her m her

last hours. i a,

<'The two daughters of your grand-unce, An-
toine, were married in the provinces. One of thorn
died wiiliout leaving any children, the other euu-

c
f
I
t
I

P
a

n
ri

ill
y(

fl!

e:
ai

The Old Clust.

173

mi'ticulais
family. I
,3 tv) yui"
Liry, that 1
1(1 seen nic
lie inclina-

of my in-
ss of being
is brotlier,
lio, in coii-
•crcomc by

bis gnind-
1(1 L'jouido
3d with the
tod that 11
1 that luis-
)f bis soul,
rtcaltn ; bis
uatc D ;!■!■; c
d ; bo was
iyTi'il)unal
my AvorLhy
on as your
mc that bo
it Christian

mdod in her
just. Your
cd in prison,
d ber in her

L-unclo, An-
Uuc of thoni
I other emi-

grated to Sjialn, and I have found it impossible to
get any tidings of her. You are, therefo:e, my
dear child, alone on the earth ; but God is your
father and protector, and I venture to hope that the
Divine Goodness will permit me to see you grow np
to man's estate. . , . If not, niyehild, trust in
Providence, and do not be ashamed to work. . . .
]\ran is born to labor, as the bird to lly. . . .
Serve God in whatever positi(ni you may be ; serve
your conntiy, love your brethren, and do as much
good as yon can.

" I place in tiiis box with this paper a roll of
])archment, saved by your mother when they were
about to put the seals on her effects, the certificate
of your birth, and your mother's wedding-ring,
Vhich was the only piece of jewelry she possessed
when dying. Wliatever becomes of us, my dear
son, remember your adopted father, and pray to
(lod for him,

"Xayieu Bluteau.
"Paris, the 24t]i of February of the year 1799."

I read this paper weeping ; then I began to pray
to God and to reflect. I saw very well that I iiad
no help to expect from any one ; no one was inte-
rested in me; the institutions of charity, so nu-
merous now, either existed no longer or Inid not
yet arism from their ruins. 1 might i)erliaps have
soliciteil th.o charity of some of those to whom ^Mr.
Bluteau had rendered services, and whose names I
knew, but I did not venture to seek them, and
finding myself tall and strong, I thought I could
earn a living for myself. I had no great choice ;
and following the natural bent of the times in which

t74

The Old Clicst.

I lived, I went to the iiciircst biirrack ami enlisted
as a lifer. I concealed my papers iu my clothes,^ I
huug my mother's ring and ]Mr. Bluteau's little sil-
ver cross around my neck, and, after having hid
farewell to the last resting-i)lace of my dear hene-
factor, I set out for the regiment to which I was
assigned.

It was thus I became a soldier. I did my duty,
hut, although I was neither more cowardly nor more
stupid than another, I did not rise from the obscure
ranks of the army, and thus I made all the cam-
paigns of the consulate and of tlie empire, under-
going many fatigues, braving many dangers, for a
work which we thought then would be immortal.
I had many happy ycai-s, and, although I was con-
founded with the crowd, I felt the ardor of battle
as well as the commander-in-chief or the marshal
whose voice rang through our squadrons. I was
young ; the wandering and exciting life of camps
pleased me, and I faced death without fear when it
came in the shadow of the Hag. I will not relate
anything of our wars ... to what purpose
would it be ? They are written in the memory of
every one. I will not say that I was brave— whore
is the use? All were brave. I will not complain
of having been forgotten— why should 1 ? Others
more worthy than I have remained forgotten in the
crowd. One service alone deserved some reward,
but in the midst of public disasters it was natural
that this service should remain without glory or

honor.

It was during the fatal retreat of 1813. Tiie army
was marching to the Ik'ri'zina, and neither the em-
peror nor his generals knew where to cross the river.

1
c

d
c
t
f
r
1
li

6
11
C

b
o

i
c

e
n

r
c
t

li
I

1«t

The Old Chest.

175

1 enlisted
clothes, I
i littlf sil-
iiviiip bill
ilear ])eno-
lich I was

. niy tlutv,
^ nov nioi'O
he obscure

the cam-
ire, niulcr-
igers, for ii
immortal.
I was con-
)r of battle
le marsha.l
ms. I was
: of camps
Mir when it

not relate
at purpose
memory of
live — whore
t Cum plain
I ? Others
)ttcn in the
mc reward,
,vas natural
it glory or

. The army
her the cm-
ss the rivei'.

It was decided to throw out a bridge whicli would
permit the passage to bu iiuuk*. 1 was serving iu u
company of pontoon men. General Ebli', our com-
mander, amidst tlie greatest misrortunes, in the
disorder in whicli the army iiud l)cen since tlie
evacuation of Moscow, had succeeded in si.ving his
traveUing-f urges, tools, coal, and had even made us
forge crami)-irons from tlie wlicels of deserted car-
riages. This Aviso precaution was the salvation of
the army. We descended the licights which over-
look the Bi'ivzina ; we saw l)cfore us tlic river,
Avhoso troubled waves were covered with driftinfr
Biiow-lhikes; this was the held of battle where we
must eithoi- conquer or die, for the safety of our
comrades-in-arms and our em])ero]-.

During the night of the 'XTiX'.x and -.'Gth of Novem-
ber I went down with my comjianions into the bed
of the river. I planted the first stake in the mud
wliere our feet could not rest securely. The force
of the waves had washed away the ford ; plunging
into the Avater up to the mouth, l)ouuinbed witii
cold, blinded by tlie snow-flakes whicli a llcrce wind
was blowing in our faces, it required a superhuman
effort for us to continue our work. There was
neither moon nor stars in the sky ; we had light
only from the enemy's camp-fires ; one of my com-
rades died from cold beside me, two others were
carried aAvay by the l)]ocks of ice ; liut we had no
time to mourn tlie dead. . . .

When day liroko the trestles of the bridge were
half ]daced, and, by a miracle of rrovidence, the
Russian army fell back. Xajjoleon's star Avas still
sliiuing on that day.

For tAVO days avo continued our Avoi'k, Avithout

'Wi

xy(>

I'lh ( */</ C '//('^"''■

t,ilviii'4 aiiv msl ; the Kmi'crov jcnl us wonirs of cn-
c;)un.geniciit. Gouenil Ehlr was in i!io water liko
oursokcd : bo consoled u;>, ho proniisud us each u
pension of ii thousand francs and the Cross cf the
Le-ion of Honor. . . . I know not it my com-
pmions thonirht as I did, but it scorned to mo
t'.iat neither money, nor even the star Aviiich
sliinosou the breast (if otir kings, could roeompcnso
our efforts nor repay our sufferings. ... It
required Gomcthing more : there is u God above us.
Often, during those terrible hours, I pressed
to mv brer.st my !)ouei'aotor's cross. . . . 'i'lio
Cro:,s'on which"' the Son of God died for men en-
couraged me still more than the Cross of the
LG:;ion of Honor.

At last, on the ^Sth of November, the two bridges
Avci finished, and the army, crowding on the river
ba.ik-, began to crosa with indescribable tumult and
disci'der. Three times the bridge made of carriages
i-.roke, three times we mended it ; buj^ finding our-
si'lves again together at work, and counting each
o<her, ^°c were struck with pity and ^vith teiTor.
•;>a. of forty-two pontoon-men who had gone into
tae water to lay the bridge, twenty-eight had given
v/av to the cold, or had been carried away by the
floating :-e. There were fourteen of us like ghosts ;
but our Ik arts remained whole. The army passed ;
uftor it camT a tumultuous crowd of stragglers, who,
having been dispersed in the neighboring woods and
Furrotuiding villages, at sound of the departing
;u-mv rushed thither all at once. Their immense
and" confused mass fdled to overflowing the narrow
entrance to the bridges. Crushed, trodden under
foot, thrown into the water, these unfortunate

i\s of cu-
I'litcr lilvO
.13 cadi u
ss cf the

my coni-
(1 to mo
:ir Avhic'li
compcuso

. . It
iibove us.
, I pressed
. . The
• men cii-
!S of the

vo briilgcs
I the river
imult iinJ.
f carriages
idin<7 our-
iting eiicli
Ui terror,
gone into
liud given
,vay by the
kc gliosis ;
iiy passed ;
glers, who,
woods and
dcp:uting
r inimengo
Iho narrow
Iden under
nfortunatc

r//i- Old Clicst.

' / /

pco])k' uttered cries of agony ; and the disorder lie-
camo sliU greater when the Emperor came in his
turn to cross the bridge. Force had to bo used to
clear a v/ayfor liini ; .surrounded by the Grc;nidiers
of the Gaard, ho jjassed before r.ie over tliat bridge
which my companions had sealed with their blood,
and bearing with him, as we thought, the hope and
the Eidvation of Franco.

jMiiuites became more precious than hours. The
Kussian cannons were heard from the heights.
Marshal Victor, v.ith six thousand men, Avas de-
fending alone, o\\ the banks of that cursed river,
the great retreating army, wliieh in its despair
and anguish was like to that multitude wliicli v>ill
one day fill the Valley of Judgment. Fifty thou-
sand stragglers, tick or wounded, an imnicn.':e
mass of luggage, still more embarrassed the march.
For more than two dayy the cold and misei-y Mere
such that the vanguard had lost a third of its num-
ber, most cf them young. TIio bullets, lalUug in
the midst of this confusion, drove these ..Mfo"tu-
nates to tlie last depths of despair. TI.o strongest
and most solid men passed on ; some, Aviih sword
in hand, opened for themselves a passage ; others
attempted to scale the sides of the bridge, and -fell
into the Avatcr, which carried them oT. . .

The artillery bridge, being overcrowded. a.cVC way
and broTvo ; the live column which was on i ^ liarrow
Ijassage attempted to go back. Tliey oould not,
and, pushed by the cr^ d from behind, it foil into
the gulf, where tlio.- < lo followed tliem were p""-
cipitatcd in their t;:

A single bridge remained ; it v.-as besieged. . . .
Oh! what hours. ". furious storm arose and o\er-

ifti:

178

The Old Chest.

t.ok that nias3 of men, who ^vcrc doscciuling the
Iiei-rlits to rush toward tho only path of tafcty. i He
noise of tho cannon mingled wilk the howhnrr of
the tempest, and at times arose a sound formed of
many voices, a chorus of himcntation and bhis-
phemv, which was heard above tho tumult of the
Btorm'. The more fortunate gained the bridge, but
by passing over heaps of wounded, of luilf-stiflcd
Av-omen and children. The stronger overthrew tho
weaker, who fell into the water, without any one
turnin- their heads to look after them, or even con-
ceiving the thought of pitying them. Every one
thought only of himself ; every one wished onlyto
live, and see Franco onco more. Towards nine
o'clock in tlie evening the distress increased ; ^ mo-
tor's battalions began their march, and opened tv
bloody breach through tlie midst of the unfortu-
nates, whom they had hitherto defended. Ihey
crossed the bridge, overthrowing all that opposed
their passage. A numerous i:ear-guard still re-
mained on the bank, with their baggage and car-
riages, and not having chosen to profit by tnat las.
ni-ht of safetv. Day brought them all at once be-
fore the bridge. . . . My companions and I nad
just crossed it ; tho Bussians were about to avail
themselves of it to pursue us. Then General Eblo
made us light torches of straw Avhich he had pre-
pared, and by his orders we set flro to tho bridge.
It was rapidly consumed, and tho smoking remains
of it fell into tho river just when the Russians were
descending the heights and making ready to cross
it. Several thousand stragglers remained aban-
doned on the hostile shore. We saw them wander-
in<r on tho banks of tho Bcresina, holding out their

The O.'if C/irst.

1/9

ding tbo
jtv." Tho
nvlinrr of
unncd of
md bias-
It of the
•idgo, but
alf-stiflcd
threw the
t any one
even con-
Evcry one
id only to
ards nine
?cd; Vl3-

opened i\
:• unfortu-
3d. They
t opposed
I still re-
> aiul cur-
y timt hist
it once bc-

iind I had
Lit to iiviiil
neral Eble
had prc-
the bridge,
ig remains
ssians were
dy to cross
ined aban-
!m wander-
igout their

hands to ns. Some (brow tlu'insclvcs i:il.) the
water, otlici\i trusted themsclvos on iccberfvs ;
otliers again, crazed with dcsitair, rushed headlong
into tho flames. Tho ri'st remained in tho liaml.s
of the Russians.

I have seen many battle.-, but never anything .so
frightful a.s that last night. Full of distress at the
roeollccaon of my comradei^, my brothers, who died
at my side, I could scarcely thank Providence, Avho
had saved nie. I dragged myself along, sick and
with feet half frozen, v/ith what had once been my
battalion, till VvC camo to Wilna, where General
Eblc made me cuter a hospital, renewing all the
promises which ho had made to us in the Empe-
ror's name.. I had become insensible to everything ;
coldj hunger, misery, alone made themselves felt,
and I thought myself at the end of all my woes
when I found myself on a bed of straw, having for
nourishment a little bread soaked in water. The
departure, or rather the flight, of the army did not
concern me ; I, however, remained a prisoner in the
hands of the llussians, but I had become indifl'er-
cnt to the future, and anxious only about tho
present moment and present Avants. . . . For
three years I remained at Wilna, sick, and a pri-
soner ; at the end of that time I was sent heme, and
I begged my Avay to the frontiers of France. Tliis
was a great joy to me, and I thought I would die
when I knelt to kiss tho ground of my dear
country.

All was changed : tho Emperor sailing away over
tho Atlantic Ocean ; the marshals, generals, the
men of the Empire, were nothing now. I knew not
to whom to address mvself to obtain, if not the

'■:\

'I,

i8o

llic Old C licit.

11'

'ilfil!!

pi-omi.sea pension, ut least some uiil wliicli miglit
assist me to get cured, and to wail for better days.
Cfoncral Eble was dead ; and, altliuu-h m the
office of the ilinister of War I met, every day, men
whose lives the poor pontoon-men had saved, I was
ulwava repulsed, and I received neither baek-i)ay
nor travelling expenses, nor pension, nor crosses of
honor. There vet remained to me a little money,
Avhich' I had once entrusted to an honest man
among my friends, lie returned it to me. I came

into a sul)urb of the town of ; 1 rented a little

house and a small piece of l.md ; I bought some
old furniture and some tools, and I became a
gardener. The first years were hard and miserable,
bu tl consoled myself by remembering my suffer-
ings i-.i llussia. I became iiccuslomcd to my trade,
and I succeeded in gardening quite easily. . . •
I remained alone. ... If I am to believe
some accounts in the old papers whicli my moth.i
saved, I am descended from xm ancient f.imily,
Avhich has in its time been rich and held honorable
offices. In mo it has come back to the people ; and
it will end wiih me.

Poor, infirm, obscure, I Avill associate no one with
my lot. I do not complain, but I remember that
at the Berezina I gave to those who have repulsed
me the gift of my life. . . • God preserved it ;
and, although it be but a poor offering, it shall
henceforth belong to him alone. Retired in my
little house, poor but peaceful, I say to myself with
•joy that 1 have no more concern with men, and
"that I depend on God alone.

ell miplit
Hov (liiy.-..
h iu tlic

(lay, men
ved, I \vii3
biick-));iy,
cro-sst's uf
:,lo money,
)iicst man
e. I camo
tcil a liLtlo
i<fht some
became a
miserable,
tay siiffer-
» my traile,
>'....
to believe
ny motliLi
ut family,

hononiblc
eople ; unci

10 one with
:mbcr that
c repulsed
eserved it ;
ng, it shall
ircd in my
nyself witli
I men, and

LIST OF BOOKS

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J3?" .' ij //.'I'l,',' (i:i t'lln !i't ul'l li'i Id:! ti;/ hid!', jitinU
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A Sur' War to fliitl out t!io Tnio Rtli^ioii.

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History of War in La VondCi'. j 1 ~J ; ol. j;l., IM

Holland Tyd \ By Griffin, . . . . 1 :,()

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Sf.'.t hj r.ic.ll, po-jtc.'jc pci:l, o:; rccci\t tif Ike

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1 V(l.

Imisililc H 11(1 : a I'lim
Irfliiiid Jlili'li'l '"'•'' iMi'le"ul"'^'"ii. .

4lo, l.:iir iiior.MTc. J^l.'i : iiii'i'.. c'Xlin, il. .

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liish in Ann rica. By JlRSuIrc, .
IriiUi en I li.' I'lairiea, iiud ulliiT Poems,

(lotii t'iit, . . „ • •,.,•„;

Ivan, the Lci or':; Snu, .;0 eta. ; tlulU ci't, .

f 1 (HI
25

Janp Kinrlair. Hy Curlpton. . .
Jim KaKiiii. W)<H-iits; ol'itliri'l. •
Julia ; or, TI.o UoW Thlmblo : a Drama,

Kctplilov IT: 11 r.r.iU'.-.P Maltose Cross, .

olottwill, . •,•,•.;, V- •
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Life of Sn'iir Marl.', | '^5

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Life of l''iit'nT3 of tho Deserts, . . . i o.j

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Livi'Horirish Saints niid Martvrs. ,"5 platna.
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M»nniug, Archbishop, Vatican Council, . . 125
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Manual Devotion Sacred Heart,

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MedilnlUinncin bl. Josi-l'ii. • • • '

MedilaVi'ma'V'iMhe rMpl.iviist au[\ ba.TO.i
Il,.url. liy r-i-oMur niiii;>, • • •

.. '• S.M'OlVl " . . •

tt Kcw I'in-t Itcailor, .

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«i •• Kifth " • •

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>• 1,1. iiH'il ri-iiini-tlnrr, .

ili.-MinncfKcalh. B/ \* alv/orih, .

eloth ci'.t, • ,•„

Missions ill .l;ipa;i;n.lriira-"c:i ■

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MvateriiiuH HiTinlt. Cio,; . .V) I'l.i. : <1"- (-'■'•
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Havin'a History of Hi.' Pi-ulns,ilnr Wnr.

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New Imlian Skcttbctf. LyUoomct,

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mor^> 1 r ; mor. l.cv.. Hi ; .nor y-\"^}}f'
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Offitocflho r-lcsscd Nirg.n, lu Latiu ana

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Oil Hon -0 l.v f- !"?■"''• ' - .-, '''^.' ,^ r'lt
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One Ilundrpd Talcs. Uy lie! m.dt, .

cloth (.'i!t, I) 20

Oram's Tal.lo Book . '. ,,,;,uriit ' ' I 00
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rir|).,' l):y. l,y IliiMJn,

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t lot li Kill

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Pcri-y'H l:i .tnictii)iis,

J"i-liirt;u;f Chri^i'j.iiiIlproiMn, clotli, Jl ;cl. gt
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Poims. i;y(it!mn, . . . .

I!y Mcil(t>,

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I'yI.dv.r

" l:y Hrv. T. A. Dut:or,

" l;y (J(,l(!smilli

Points of (.'., lit nivrrsy. Dy RnmriUB, .

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Popi'^H Mpi'c, f,i)'jts. ; diilli jiilt,

Poor r.riiii'sCivti'clis.'M. r;:pcr,C")('ta. : I'lndi,

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Popr Piin fio Ninth uiid 'iVi.:ii.n\.l Kiglitu i.f

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Do. aimo. CJ fts. to .

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PrMBtou'a !-(>riiinr.s,

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!•''(•(■:;;( of Ihs

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Robert May. «) c.Mit.H ; oloth (,'llt, . • ■
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Romouii<llt.<nr<T. IJy Ma,;ulro, .
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ItOBO Im lil:iiic. llv l.'nly Fu.kiloii. liiino,

tlotli, ♦! ; clolliKiit,

Bftdllcr, Mrs. ,1., Od;^iaiil Worka of :

Ailr'i llliir.bvii

Ul.iAi'.i ivM I 1 I.I:11ik:'.:1!1,

Ui'.l IIiiiil of L'1.4Lor,

Willy ""•-•'. • • . • , ■ • • •
Now l-U!it;i ; o:-, I, iff l.i (lalwiiy, .
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Elinor I'n'.il on,

liorisy C'oiiwMV,

Conli'ssioii:* of iiu Ai>08tato, . . . .

CouC>'Hi%;iin, . . • „• • ■ •

Father Sh.iliy, ivnil OtbcrTiiloa,

Thy Olil Hoiisii Ipy tho Doyuo,

Ann' Houor'H KrppHiik:', ....

l3aiii;bt("r oJ Tyruount'll, . ■ • .

MftcCiirthy Mof'

Tbi> lli'in-.sa ot Kilorgan, ....

Olil ttnil New,

Tho lli^riuit of t ho Kock, ....
Catouliioni i:t S.vurcil History,

Mftureiui l)hu,

Tho So.;ret : u Drama

'"ho Talisman : a Drama, . . . .
'i'hr llaDbler : a Drama, . . . .
Julia ; or, Tho Oolil Thimblo : a Drama, .
The Elilur lirotlicr,

Tho luvisiblo ilauJ, . . . . •
Bullior'a, Mrs. J., Translations from tho
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Orphan of Moscow

Catitlo ot Ilousillon, . . .

Consolatiou for tho Sick and AlHictea,

lleniamin, . . . •.•„,• • •

Tho Pojio'si Nieco, and Other Taloa, .

Idleness ; or, The Doiinle Loajou,

Tb» Knoiit : a Talo of Poland,

Tno Blinhtod Flower,

TentJloriea, . . ...

Valeria ; or, Tho First Christiaas,

The I .xil8 of Tadmor,

Tales uud Stories,

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