The Heptameron (Machen)/Day 5: Prologue

When the morning was come Oisille had made ready for them a spiritual breakfast of such good savour, that it was sufficient both for body and soul, and at the hearing of it the whole company was mighty attentive, and it seemed to them that they had never heard a sermon to such profit before. And when they heard the last bell ring for mass, they went into the church to meditate on the godly discourse they had heard. After mass was heard, and they had sauntered about for a while, they set themselves at table, promising one another that the present day should be as brave as any that went before. And Saffredent said that he would the bridge was another month a-building, for the delight he had in their entertainment; but my lord abbot made the workmen use great diligence, since it was by no means to his pleasure to live among so many honest folk into whose presence he could not bring his accustomed female pilgrims. And when they had rested some while after dinner they returned to the meadow, where, each having taken his seat, they asked Parlamente to whom she would give her vote. "Methinks," said she, "Saffredent would do well to begin the day, for by his face I judge him to have no desire to make us weep." "Then," said he, "you will be ​very cruel if you do not weep for pity of a friar, whose story I am minded to tell you. And you may think from the tales that some of us have told about the friars, that they entreat poor ladies in this fashion, because the easiness of the matter takes away all fear. But to the end that you may know that it is their brainsick concupiscence that carries from them all fear and prudence, I will tell you of a case that fell out in Flanders."