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Vie et miracles de saint Louis by Guillaume de Saint-Pathus/Book 1 · La Vie de monseigneur saint Loys
Chapter 9VieStLoys.1.9

D'amour a ses proismes fervant

The Royal Duty of Charity

Saint Louis understood that true charity requires actively teaching others to be good, beginning with his own children.

Because man is the image of Our Lord, and in that image God is loved—just as a king is honored in his image—and because whoever loves a human being does something like loving God, whoever loves people should love them either because they are good, or so that they may become so.1 Keeping this in mind, the blessed Saint Louis, as one wholly inflamed with the ardor of charity, extended his love2 to everyone, desiring that they be good and teaching many to become so—especially his children, his close companions, and others—through good examples and holy admonitions, as will become quite clear.3 First, it is clear that he shaped his children for a good life, as the order of charity requires.

Instruction to His Daughter

The king provides a written rule of life for his daughter Isabel, emphasizing prayer, humility, and detachment.

Regarding this, the blessed Saint Louis sent to my lady Isabel, his daughter, the queen of Navarre, a letter of instruction written in his own hand, which reads as follows: "To his dear and beloved daughter Isabel, queen of Navarre, greeting and a father's love."4 "Dear daughter, because I believe that you'll take my words to heart more willingly, out of the love you have for me, than you would from anyone else, I intend to give you some instructions written in my own hand.5 Dear daughter, be more attentive to prayer.6 Dear daughter, gladly listen to talk of God in sermons and in private conversation, but always avoid private conversations except with people truly outstanding in goodness and holiness.7 Gladly seek out indulgences and pardons. Dear daughter, if you have any affliction of illness or anything else in which you cannot set a proper remedy, then bear it willingly, and for that give thanks to Our Lord and be grateful to Him for it; for you should believe that He does this for our good, and you should believe that you have deserved it—and more if He so willed—because you have loved Him little and served Him little and done many things contrary to His will.89 If you enjoy prosperity in your health or otherwise, thank Our Lord humbly and be grateful to Him for it. Take care that you don't grow worse because of it through pride or any other vice, for it is a very great sin to make war on Our Lord by means of His own gifts.10 If you have any trouble of heart, and it is something you can and should tell your confessor, tell him—or someone else who is trustworthy and who will keep your confidence—so that you may bear your trouble and endure it more in peace.11 Dear daughter, keep a kindly heart toward people you know are in distress of heart or body, and gladly help them with comfort or alms, as far as you can in a proper way.12 Dear daughter, love all good people, whether they are in religious life or in the world—anyone you hear of through whom God is honored and served.13 Love the poor and help them, especially those who have embraced poverty for the love of Our Lord.14 Dear daughter, do your best to ensure that the women and others in your household who live with you most intimately are of good and holy life, and avoid anyone with a bad reputation as much as you can.15 Dear daughter, obey your husband and your father and your mother humbly in the things that are according to God. You should gladly do what is due to each of them out of the love you ought to have; treat them even better for the love of Our Lord, who has ordained it so—but you must not obey anyone against God.16 Dear daughter, put such great care into this that you become so complete in every good that those who see you and hear talk of you may take a good example from it. It seems to me it would be good if you don't keep too great a surplus of clothes and jewels for the station you're in; rather, I think it's better that you make alms of them—at least of whatever would be too much.17 I also think you shouldn't spend too much time or effort on dressing and adorning yourself. Be careful not to go to excess; it’s better to lean toward less rather than more. Dear daughter, keep a desire in yourself that never leaves you—that is, how you can more18 please Our Lord. Set your heart on this: if you were certain you would never receive any reward for the good you did, and would never be punished for any wrong you did, you would still want to avoid anything that displeases God and would commit yourself to what pleases Him as much as you can, purely for love of Him.19 Dear daughter, gladly seek the prayers of good people and include me in those prayers. If it pleases God that I leave this world before you, I ask you to arrange Masses, prayers, and other good works for my soul. I command you that no one see this writing without my permission, except for your brother.20 May Our Lord make you as good in all things as I desire—and far more than I even know how to desire.21 Amen.

Penitence and Works of Mercy

Saint Louis models and encourages physical penance and the humble service of the poor for his children.

The blessed king sent his daughter, the Queen of Navarre, two or three ivory boxes. At the bottom of these boxes were iron nails attached to iron chains about a cubit long. These chains were kept inside the boxes, and the queen would use them to discipline and scourge herself at times, as she later told her confessor when she was nearing death.22 The blessed king also sent his daughter haircloth chains as wide as a man's palm, which she would wear around her waist at times, as she told her confessor during that same period.23 Along with all this, the blessed king sent the queen a letter written in his own hand.24 In it, he explained that he was sending the scourges mentioned above through Brother Jean de Mons of the Order of Friars Minor—who was the queen’s confessor at the time, and occasionally the blessed king’s—and he asked her to use them often to discipline herself for her own sins and for the sins of her poor father.25 Every Maundy Thursday, the blessed king washed the feet of thirteen poor people, gave each of them forty deniers, and then served them at the table himself.26 And he had this same thing done by my lord Philip and by my lord Pierre, his sons, when they were with him on that day, in such a way that in that same place where the king washed the feet of his thirteen poor people, my lord Philip also and his other sons each washed the feet of thirteen poor people and gave each of those whose feet they washed forty deniers; and afterward those poor people whose feet the sons had washed also ate, like those whose feet the king had washed, and each of the sons served those thirteen poor people at table, just as is said above of the holy king who served his own thirteen.27 And it often happened, when the blessed king was at Vernon, that he went down to the Maison-Dieu at mealtime and with his own hands served the poor the foods he had had prepared by his cooks for the poor in that house, and he served them in the presence of those of his sons he wanted present there; and people believe he wanted them there so that he might form and teach them in works of mercy.28 The holy king attended to the poor, serving them soup according to their needs, along with other meat or fish dishes suitable for their illnesses. When he offered four bezants at the altar of Saint-Denis, he had his eldest son, my lord Philip, present—as mentioned in the second treatise—and made the offering before him.29

The King's Rule for His Son

A comprehensive spiritual and political testament addressed to his successor, Philip, covering justice, piety, and governance.

And further, the blessed king wrote with his own hand to his son my lord Philip, who reigned after him, and left in writing a holy teaching, of which the tenor is as follows: "To his dear eldest son Philip, greeting. Dear son, because I desire with all my heart that you be well taught in all things, I intend to provide you some instruction through this writing, for I have heard you say more than once that you would retain more from me than from anyone else. For this reason, dear son, I teach you first that you love God with all your heart and with all your strength, for without this, no one can be of any worth. You must do everything in your power to avoid anything you believe would displease Him. Especially, you must resolve never to commit mortal sin for any reason in the world—you should rather suffer every limb to be cut from you and lose your life through cruel martyrdom than knowingly fall into mortal sin.30 If Our Lord sends you any persecution, illness, or other trial, you must bear it willingly, thank Him for it, and be grateful; you must believe that He does it for your good, and recognize that you have well deserved this—and more, if He willed it—because you have loved Him little, served Him little, and have done many things against His will.31 And if Our Lord sends you any prosperity, you must humbly thank Him for it and take care that you don't grow worse because of it—neither through pride nor any other vice—for it is a very great sin to make war on Our Lord with His own gifts.32 Dear son, I teach you to make a habit of confessing often, and always to choose confessors of holy life and sound learning, through whom you may be taught the things you must avoid and the things you must do; and keep yourself so that your confessors and your other friends dare to instruct and correct you boldly.33 Dear son, I teach you to attend the services of Holy Church gladly.34 And when you are in church, take care that you don't let your mind wander and that you don't speak idle words.35 Pray in peace, whether aloud or in your mind, and be especially peaceful and attentive when praying to God for as long as the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ is present at Mass, and for a while afterward.36 Dear son, keep a kind heart toward the poor and toward everyone you believe is suffering in heart or body.37 Don't dig in before your council, and don't show that you38 love your own side of the dispute so much before you know the truth—for the men of your council could grow afraid to speak against you, and that is not something you should want.39 And if you learn that you hold anything wrongfully—whether from your own time or from the time of your ancestors—have it restored at once, however great the thing may be, whether in land or in money or in anything else.40 And if the matter is unclear, so that you cannot know the truth, make such a settlement by the counsel of worthy men that your soul and the souls41 of your ancestors may be completely freed from the burden of it.42 Even if you have heard that your ancestors already restored such things, always keep a strong will to find out if anything remains to be restored. If you find that any of it still needs to be set right, have it restored immediately for the salvation of your soul and the souls of your ancestors.43 Be very diligent in watching over every kind of people throughout your kingdom, and especially the persons of holy Church, and protect them so that no injury or violence is done to their persons or to their goods.44 And I want to recall for you here a saying that King Philip, my grandfather, once spoke, as one of his councilors reported it to me, saying he had heard it.45 The king was one day with his private council, and the man who reported this saying to me was present there, and those of his council were telling him that the clergy were doing him many wrongs, and many people wondered how he could put up with such a thing. And then the said King Philip answered in this way: "I well believe," he said, "that they do me quite a few wrongs." But when I think of the honors Our Lord has shown me, I would rather suffer a loss myself than do anything to cause discord between me and the Church.46 And I remind you of this so that you won't be quick to believe people against the persons of holy Church; rather, show them honor and protect them, so that they can do the service of Our Lord in peace. I also teach you to love religious people especially, to help them gladly in their needs, and to love those who you know will best honor God and serve Him more than the others.47 Dear son, I teach you to love and honor your mother, to gladly keep and follow her good teaching, and to be ready to trust her good counsel. Love your brothers, always wish them well, support their progress, and act as a father to teach them everything good; but be careful that no matter how much you love someone, you don't turn away from doing justice or do anything to others that you shouldn't.48 Dear son, I teach you that you should bestow the benefices of Holy Church that you have to give upon good people, following the careful counsel of worthy men; it seems better to me that you give them to those who have no other income than to those who already do.49 If you look carefully, you'll find plenty of people who have nothing, in whom the goods of Holy Church will be well used.50 Dear son, I teach you to take care, as far as you can, not to make war on any Christian. If someone wrongs you, try various ways to see if you can find a good path to recover your rights before you resort to war, and keep this intention: that it is to avoid the sins committed in war.51 If you ever have to go to war—whether because one of your men refused to accept justice in your court, harmed a church or any other person, and wouldn't make amends when you demanded it, or for any other reasonable cause—take great care to protect the poor who have done no wrong. Ensure they aren't harmed, whether by the burning of their property or in any other way.52 It is far better for you to force the wrongdoer to comply by seizing his goods, towns, or castles than to destroy the property of the poor.53 Before you start a war, make sure you've sought good counsel to confirm the cause is truly reasonable, that you've firmly warned the wrongdoer, and that you've waited as long as you should.54 Dear son, I also urge you to work diligently to settle any wars or disputes that arise in your land or among your men, as this greatly pleases Our Lord.55 My lord Saint Martin gave us a great example: when he learned from Our Lord that he was about to die, he went to make peace among the clergy in his archbishopric, feeling that by doing so, he was bringing his life to a good end.56 Dear son, take great care to appoint good provosts and bailiffs in your land, and check often to ensure they are administering justice fairly and not harming anyone or doing anything they shouldn't.57 And also see to it with those of your own household that they do nothing they should not—for although you ought to hate all evil in others, still you must hate more the evil that would come from those who hold power under you than the evil of other people, and you must take still more care and stand guard so that it doesn't happen that your people do wrong. Dear son, I teach you always to be devout toward the Church of Rome and toward the sovereign bishop, our father—that is, the pope—and to show him reverence and honor, as you ought to do toward your spiritual father.58 Dear son, gladly empower people of good will who know how to use it well, and take great care to remove sins from your land—specifically foul oaths and anything said or done in contempt of God, Our Lady, or the saints. As far as you are able, put a stop to dice games, sins of the flesh, and taverns. Wisely and properly, as far as you can, have heretics and other wicked people driven from the land so that it may be well purged, as you understand should be done through the counsel of good people; and advance good things everywhere with all your strength.59 And put great effort into knowing how to recognize the good things Our Lord will have done for you, and into knowing how to give Him thanks for them. Dear son, I teach you to take great care that the money you spend is used for good purposes and that it is justly received.60 And this is a kind of wisdom I would very much like you to have: that is, that you keep yourself from foolish outlays and from bad receipts, and that your money be well spent and well received; and may Our Lord be willing to teach you this wisdom together with the other kinds of wisdom that are fitting and profitable for you. Dear son, I ask you that if it please Our Lord that I leave this world before you, you have me helped by61 masses and other prayers. Send word throughout the religious communities of the kingdom of France to ask for their prayers for my soul, and take care that in all the good works you do, Our Lord grants me a share in them.62 Dear son, I give you every blessing a father can and ought to give his son, and I pray our Lord Jesus Christ, God, that by his great mercy and by the prayers and merits of his blessed mother, the Virgin Mary, and of the angels and archangels and of all the saints, men and women, he would keep and defend you so that you do nothing against his will, and that he would give you the grace to do his will, so that he may be honored and served through you; and may our Lord do this for me and for you by his great generosity in such a way that, after this mortal life, we may see him and praise him and love him without end.63 Amen. And glory, honor, and praise be to him who is one God with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, without beginning and without end. Amen.

Living Examples of Humility

The king demonstrates humility by performing manual labor alongside monks and requiring his brothers to do the same.

Furthermore, while a wall was being built at the abbey of Royaumont, the blessed king, who was then staying at his manor of Asnières—which is fairly near that abbey—often came to the abbey to hear Mass and the other services and to visit the place.64 When the monks went out after the hour of Terce, according to the custom of their Cistercian order, to work and carry stones and mortar to the place where the wall was being built, the blessed king would take the handbarrow loaded with stones and walk in front, with a monk carrying behind; the blessed king did this many times during that period.65 At that time, the blessed king had the litter carried by his brothers: my lord Alphonse, my lord Robert, and my lord Charles.66 He had with each of them one of the monks mentioned above to carry the litter on one end.67 The holy king also had other knights in his company do the same. And because68 his brothers sometimes wanted to talk, shout, and play, the blessed king would tell them, "The monks are keeping silence right now, and we should keep it too."69 When the blessed king's brothers loaded their litters heavily and wanted to rest in the middle of the path before reaching the wall, he would say to them, "The monks aren't resting, and you shouldn't rest either."70 And in this way the holy king formed his household to do good.

Counsel to the Court

Saint Louis instructs his household and knights on the dangers of mortal sin and the necessity of integrity.

Furthermore, when he was once gravely ill at Pontoise—before his first crossing of the sea—he had his household come before him and urged them to serve Our Lord, delivering a great sermon on the subject.71 Later, while he was overseas during his first crossing, he called his entire household into his presence and earnestly urged them to live chastely and honorably.72 He taught the noble knight my lord Jean de73 Joinville many good examples—who stayed with him at court in close confidence, and of his household, for twenty-four years and more—and he often taught him good examples, as has already been said.74 One time, the holy king asked that knight which he would prefer: to have committed a mortal sin or to be a leper; and the knight replied that he would rather have committed thirty mortal sins than be a leper.75 The holy king sharply rebuked him and explained that it would be better to be a leper, because mortal sin is leprosy of the soul, and a person doesn’t know how they can be healed from it, since they don’t know when they will die; and if they die without true contrition and without a genuine confession—which they can’t know if they’ll be able to have, since that depends on and comes from the grace of God—the soul will remain forever leprous if they die in mortal sin, and like the devil; but with the leprosy of the body, everyone can be sure they will be healed of it by bodily death.7677 That’s why the holy king used to say that it’s far better for a person to be a leper than to be in mortal sin. Sometimes, along with this, the blessed king said these words to that knight: "Would you like to have such teaching by which you would gain honor in this world, please men, have the grace of God, and also receive glory in the age to come?"78 " And the knight answered that he would gladly have such teaching. And then the blessed king said to him: "Do and say only those things that, if the whole world knew of them, you would still not leave undone."79 And along with all this, the blessed king was leading the knight to frequent the church, especially on the solemn feast days of the saints, and to honor the saints, and he told him that it is with the saints in paradise by likeness as it is with the counselors of kings on earth.80 For when someone has business before an earthly king, they ask who is in that king's favor, who can confidently petition him, and whom the king is bound to hear; and then, once they know who that person is, they go to him and ask him to plead for them before the king.81 So it is with the saints of paradise, who are the intimates of Our Lord and members of his household, and who can confidently petition him, for he hears them.82 "And for that reason, you ought to come to church on the days of their feasts, honor them, and ask them to pray for you before Our Lord."83 »

The King as Peacemaker

The king overcomes the fear of human judgment to pursue piety and actively works to reconcile warring nobles.

Again the holy king said to the knight that there are some noblemen who are ashamed to do good—that is, to go to church and hear God's service and do other works of piety—and they fear not vainglory, but vain shame, and that people will say they are hypocrites; and that is a far better thing than vainglory, just as it is a worse thing for a house to fall from a little wind, or with no wind at all, than for one that is battered by a strong wind.8485 And further the holy king did not form only his sons and his brothers, in charity, to do good, as is shown above; rather he formed others as well for every good.86 To that end, he had the word of Our Lord preached to religious figures, prelates, barons, and the common people for their edification. When he heard that there was war among certain noblemen outside his kingdom, he sent them solemn messengers to pacify them—but not without great expense.87 He did this when the Count of Bar and my lord Henry, Count of Luxembourg, were at war with each other.88 He did the same for the Duke of Lorraine, the aforementioned Count of Bar, and many others.89 And from these things it is plain that he meant not only to form his neighbors in doing good, but also to re-form them in good.90

Read the original Latin

Pour ce que homme est ymage de Nostre Seigneur en cjuoi Dieu est amé, ausi comme roy est ennoré en s'ymage , et qui îiime homme, semblable chose est ausi comme qui almme Dieu , et qui aimme les hommes, il les doit amer oit por ce que il sout bons ou por ce (jue il le soient. Et ce attendanz " li heneoiz sainz Loijs, comme cil (jui est oit emhj-asé cV ardeur de charité, s' amour estendi a. touz en desirranl quil fussent bons et en enseiina/it pluseurs a ce qu'il le fussent, especiaument ses enlanz, ses privez et autres par bons"' essamples et par sainz amonestenienz, si com il apeit après assez clerement. Et premièrement il apert que il ait enformé ses enlanz a bonne vie, si com ordre de charité le requiert. De quoi li bcnolez sainz Lovs envoia a ma dame Ysabel, sa fille, roine de Navarre, une letre d'enseignement escrite de sa propre main, de la quele acion "" la teneur est tele : « A sa chiere et amee fille Ysabel, royne de Navarre, salut et amour de père. « Chiere fille, pour ce que je croi que vos retendrez plus « volentiers de moi pour l'amour que vous avez a moi que « vos ne /eriez de aucuns autres, je pense que je vous ferai « aucuns enseignemenz escrlz de ma propre main. Chiere « pes et plus entendible a " oroison.

Chiere tille, oiez volen« tiers parler de Dieu es seimons et en parlemeoz privez, « mes eschivez touzjours privez parlemenz fors de gens « moût esleuz en bonté et en saintee. Procurez volentiers « indulgences et pardons. Chiere fille, se vos avez aucune « persccucion de maladie ou autre chose en la quele vous « ne puissiez mètre conseil en bonne manière, soufrez la « doncpies de bonne volenté et reniiez pour ce grâces a « Nostre Seioneur et l'en sachiez bon oré; car vos devez « croire que il fet ce pour nostre bien, et devez croire que « vos avez ce deservi, et plus se il voloit, pour ce que aos « l'avez pou amé et pou servi et let mout de choses contreres « a sa volenté. Et se vos avez aucune prospérité de santé a de cors ou autre, leoraciez Nostre Seioneur humblement o o « et li sachiez de ce bon gré, et gardez que vous n'empiriez « pas ' de ce par orgueil ne par autre vice; car c'est mout (( grant pechie que fere guerre a Nostre Seigneur par u l'achoison de ses dons. Se vous avez aucune tribulacion « de cuer, se ele est tele que vos la puissiez et doiez dire a « vostre conlésseur, dites li ou a autre personne que ele « soit loiale et que ele ' vos doie bien celer pour ce que « vous portez vostre tribulacion et soutiegniez plus eu pes. « Chiere fille, aiez le cuer debonnere vers les genz que vos « entendez qui sont en/ Sjnenese de cuer et de cors et les « secourez volentiers ou de confort ou d'aumône, selon ce « que vos porrez en bonne manière.

Chiere fille, amez toutes « bonnes genz et de religion et de S siècle, cens que vous « entendrez par qui Diex soit ennorcz et serviz. Amez les « povres et les secourez et especiaument cels ' qui pour « l'amour de Nostre Seigneur se sont uiis a povreté '. « Chiere fille, pourveez vous a vostre pooir que les « femmes et les autres inesniees qui aveequcs vous con« verseut plus priveenient et secreemcnt soient de Ijoiiue « vie et de sainte, et eschivez a vostre pooir toutes geu/ de « maie renommée. Chiere fille, obéissiez humblement a « vostre mari et a vostre père et a vostre mère es choses « qui sont selon Dieu. Vos devez volentiers faire a ehas(uin (( ce qu'a lui apartient pour l'amour que vous devez avoir ", « et encore leur devez vos miex fere pour l'amour de Nostie « Seigneur qui a ce einsi ordené, mes contre Dieu vos ne « devez a nul obéir. Chiere fille, metez si grant entente que (( vous soiez si parfete en tout bien que cil qui vous verront « et orront parler de vous i puissent prendre bon essample.

« Il me semble que ce soit bon que vos n'aiez pas trop grant « seurcrois de robes ensemble et de joiaus selon Testât ou « vos estes, ainçois m'('6" avis que meilleur chose est que « vous en faciez voz aumosnes au moins de ce qui seroit « trop. Et m'est avis que ce soit bon que vous ne metez pas « trop grant tens ne trop grant estude '- a vous parer et « atorner; et gardez bien que vos ne faciez excès en vostre « aournement, ainçois soiez plus encline au moins que au « plus. Chiere fille, aiez en vous un désir qui ja de vos ne « se parte, c'est a dire comment vos puissiez plus. plere a « Nostre Seigneur et metez vostre cuer a ce que, se vous « estiez certaine que vos n'auriez jamès guerredon de nul « bien que vos feissiez ne ne fussiez punie de nul mal (jue « vous feissiez, nonpourquant si vos voudriez vous garder « de fere chose qui a Dieu despleust et entendriez a (ère les « choses qui li pleroient a vostre pooir, purement pour « l'amour de lui. Chiere fille, procurez volentiers les proieres « des bonnes gens et m'acompaigniez a vous en ces « proieres, et se il avient que il plese a Dieu que je me « parte de cest monde ainçois que vous, je vos pri que vos « procurez messes et ouroisons et autres biens fez pour « l'ame de moi. Je vous commant que nul ne voie cest « escrit saiiz mon coiioié, excepté vostre frère. Xostre Sire « vos face si bonne en toutes choses comme je desirre et « plus assez que je ne sache desirrer.

Amen. » Li benoiez rois encores envoia a sa dite fille de Navarre deux boistes ou trois d'ivieie, et el fons de ces boistes avoit un cloet de fer au<{iiel il avoit liées cheennetes de fer de la longueur d'un coûte ou enviion; les cheennetes estoient encloses en chascune de ces boistes, des queles la dite royne se disciplinoit et batoit aucune foiz, si com ele recorda a son confesseur quant ele aprocha de la mort. Et encores envoia li diz benoiez rois a celé meesmes fille unes chaiennetes de haire lees ausi comme hi paume de la main d'un homme, des queles ele se ceignoit aucune foiz, si com ele recorda a son confesseur el tens devant dit. Et avecques tout ce, li benoiez rois envoia a la dite roine une letre escrite de . sa main, en la quele il estoit contenu que il enveoit par frère Jehan de Monz', de l'ordre des Frères meneurs , adonques confessor de celle roine et aucune foiz du benoiet roy, unes deceplines encloses, si com il est dit desus, et la prioit en celé letre que ele se deciplinast souvent a celés deceplines pour ses propres péchiez et por les péchiez de son chetif père. Et tozjours, au jour du juesdi assolu, li benoiez rois lavoit les piez a xiij povres et donnoit a chascun d'eus xl deniers, et après il proprement les servoit a table. Et ce meesme fesoit il fere par mon seigneur Phelipe et par mon seigneur Pierres, ses fiuz, quant il estoient avecques lui a cel jour, en tele manière que en cel meesmes lieu ou li rois lavoit les piez de ses xiij povres, mon seigneur Phelipe ausi et ses autres fniz lavoient les piez chascun de xiij povres et cloniioienl a chascun de cens a (|iii il lavoieiit les picz, xl deniers; et en après ces povies a (jiii les fin/ avoiont lavé les piez nienjoient ausi, comme cil a qui li " roiz avoit lavé les leur piez, et chascun des fiuz scrvoil a la tahle a ces xiij povres, ausi com il est par desus dit du saint roi (pii les siens xiij servoit.

Et sovent avcMioit, quant li l)enoiez rois estoit a Vernou, que il descendoit en la Meson-3ieu a heure de mengier et servoit les povres a ses propres mains des viandes que il avoit iet apareiller par ses queuz por les povres en la dite nieson, et les servoit en la présence de ces fiuz que il voloit qui/ fussent ilecques; et croit l'en que il vouloit que il fussent ilecques pour ce que il les enformast et enseignast en oevres de pitié. Et administroit li sainz rois as povres et servoit de potage devant eus, einsi com il leur couvenoit, et des autres mes de chars ou de poissons couvenables a leur maladies. Et quant il olfroit a l'autel Saint Denis iiij besanz, il fesoit ilecques estre présent mon seigneur Phelipe, son fiuz ainsné, si com il est dit par desus el secont trettié ' et offroit devant lui. Et encores li benoiez rois a son fiuz mon seigneur Phelipe, qui régna après lui, escrist de sa propre main et lessa escrit un saint enseignement, du quel la teneur est tele ' : « A son chier fiuz ainsné Phelipe, salut. Chier fiuz, pour « ce que je desirre de tout mon cuer que tu sois bien ensei« gnié en toutes choses, je pense que je te face aucun ensei« gnement par cest escrit, car je t'ai aucune foiz oy dire « que tu retendroies plus» de moi que d'autre persone. Por (( ce, chier fiuz, je t'enseigne premièrement que tu aimes « Dieu de tout ton cuer et de tout ton pooir, car sanz ce, « ne puet nul valoir nule chose.

Tu te dois garder a tout « ton poolr de toutes choses que tu croiras qui li doient « desplere, et especiauinent tu dois avoir volenté que tu ne (( (croies pour nule chose du monde pechié mortel et que « tu souferroies avant que touz tes membres te fussent (( trenchicz et que l'en le tolist la vie ptr cruel martire, que « tu i'eisses a escient pechié mortel '. Se Nostre Seigneur « t'envoie aucune persecucion ou maladie ou autre chose, « tu le dois souffrir de bonne volent(' et li dois rendre oraces « et savoir l'en bon gré; car tu dois penser que il le fait « pour ton bien et ausi dois tu penser que tu l'as bien (( deservi et ce, et plus se il vouloit, pour ce que tu l'as pou « amé et pou servi et as (et moût de choses contreres a sa « volenté. Et se Xostre Seigneur t'envoie aucune prospérité, « tu l'en dois rendre grâces humblement et dois prendre « garde que tu n'empires pas de ce ne par orgueil ne par « autre vice; car c'est mont grant pechié que (aire guerre a (c Nostre Seigneur pour ses dons meesmes. Chier fiuz, je K t'enseigne que tu acoustumes a confesser toi souvent et u c|ue tu eslises touzjors tex confesseurs qui soient de sainte « vie et de soufisant science, par les quex tu soies ensei« gnié es choses que tu dois eschiver et que tu dois fere , et « aies en toi tele manière que tes confesseurs et tes autres « amis tosent enseignier et reprendre hardiement. Chier h fuiz, je t'enseigne que tu oies volentiers le service de « saiute Eglise. Et quant tu seras en l'église, garde ({ue tu « ne muses et que tu ne dies vaines paroles.

Di en pes tes (( oroisons ou de bouche ou de pensée et especiaument soies « plus en pes " et plus entendant a Dieu prier, tant comme (( le cors Nostre Seigneur Jhesu Crist sei-a présent a la « messe et encore devant par une espace de teus. Chier (( filz , aies le cuer debonnere vers les povres et vers louz « cens que tu croiras fui aient mesaise de cuer et de cois, B. « trangc devant ton conseil, ne ne montre pas que tn (. < aimmes moût ta (juerele jusques a tant que tu connoisses « la vérité, car cil de ton conseil pourroient estre creme<( teus " de parler contre toi, et ce ne dois tu pas vouloir. « Et se tu entens que tu tiennes nule chose a tort ou de ton a tens ou du tens a tes ancesseurs, fai le tantost rendre, « combien que la chose soit grant, ou en tere ou en deniers u ou en autre chose. Et se la chose est oscure pour quoi tu « ne pnisses pas savoir la vérité, fai tele pes par conseil de <( preudeshomes que l'ame de toi et les am. es de tes ances« seurs en soient du tout despeechiees. Et combien que tu « aies oy dire quêtes ancesseurs aient teles choses rendues, « nonpourquant aies tozjours grant volenté de savoir se il « demeure riens de ces choses a rendre K Et se tu trneves « que aucune chose en soit a rendre, fai tantost que ce « soit rendu et restabli por le salut de l'ame de toi et des « âmes de tes ancesseurs.

Soies bien diligent de faire garce der toutes manières de gens par ton roiaume et especiau« ment les persones de sainte Eglise, et les defent que « injure ne violence ne soit fête en leur persones ne en leur « choses. Et te voil ici recorder une parole que h rois Phe(( lipes, mon aieul, dist une foiz, si comme un qui estoit de « son conseil me recorda qui disoit qui l'avoit oïe. Li rois « estoit un jour avec son privé conseil et estoit ilecques cil « qui m'a recordé ' ceste parole tout présent, et li disoient (( cil de son conseil que clers li fesoient moût d'injures, et « se mervellloient moult de genz comment il povoit tele « chose soufrir. Et adonques li diz rois Phelipes respondi en « ceste manière : « Je croi bien, dist il , que il me font « assez d'injures. Mes quant je pense as enneurs (ue Nostre « Seigneur m'a fêtes , je voil miex soufrir mon damage « que fere ce por quoi discorde venist entre moi et sainte ( Eglise. » Et ceste chose je te recorde pour ce que tu ne ( soies pas legier a croire aucuns contre les persones de sainte Eglise, aincois leur porte enneur et les garde, si que il puissent fere le service Nostre Seigneur en pes.

Et ausi je t'enseigne que tu aimmes especiaunient les genz de religion et les sequeur volentiers en leur nécessitez, et aime cens plus que les autres que tu sauras qui plus ennourront Dieu et serviront. Chier fiuz, je t'enseigne que tu aimes ta mère et enneures et que tu retiegnes volentiers et faces ses bons enseignemens et soies enclin a croire a son bon conseil. Aime tes frères et leurs voilles touzjors bien et aimmes leurs bons avancemenz et leur soies en lieu de père a enseignier les en tout bien; mes oarde, pour amour que tu aies vers aucun, que tu ne te desvoies de fere droit, ne ne fai as autres chose que tu ne doies. Chier fiuz, je t'enseigne que les bénéfices de sainte Eglise que tu as a donner, que tu les éloignes a bonnes persones et par grant conseil de preudeshommes, et m'est avis que miex vaut que tu les do\ngnes a cens qui n'auront nules provendes que ce que tu les do\g/ies aus autres. Car se tu cnquiers bien, tu trouveras assez de ceus qui riens n'ont, en qui les biens de sainte Eglise seront bien emploiez. Chier fiuz je t'enseigne que tu te gardes a ton pooir que tu n'aies guerre a nul crestien, et s'il te fesoit aucunes injures, essaie pluseurs voies a savoir se tu pourroies trouver aucunes bonnes voies par les queles tu peusses recouvrer ton droit aincois que tu feisses guerre, et aies entente tele que ce soit pour eschiver les péchiez cpii sont fez en guerre.

Et se il aveiioit que 11 " couvenist fere guerre, ou pour ce que aucun de tes hommes defaillistde prendre droit en ta court, ou il feist injure a aucune église ou a aucune autre persone quele que ele fust et ne le vosist amender por toi ou pour aucun é- aut/'e cause resonnable, quele que la cause soit pour la quele il te coviegne fere guerre, commande diligaument que les povres genz qui n'ont corpes eu forfet c( soient gardez que damage ne leur viegne ne" par ardoir « leurs biens ne par autre manière. Car il apartient miex a M toi que tu contreignes le maufeteur en prenant ses (( choses ou ses viles ou ses chastiaus par force de siège, (( que ce que tu degastasses les biens des povres genz. Et (( pourvoi que ainçois fpie tu mueves guerre, que tu aies eu « bon conseil que la cause soit mont resonnable et que tu « aies bien amonesté le maufeteur et que tu aies atendu « tant comme tu devras. Chier fiuz, eucor t'enseigne ge que « tu entendes diligaument a apesier a ton pooir les guerres ;< et les contens qui seront en ta terre ou entre tes « hommes, que c'est une chose qui moût plest a Nostre « Seioneur. Et mon seio-neur saint Martin nous donna très « grant essample; car eu tens que il sot de par Nostre Sei« gneur que il se devoit mt»rir, il ala pour mètre la pes entre « les clers qui estoient en son arceveschié, et li fu avis que, « en ce lésant, il metoit bonne Hn a sa vie. Chier fiuz (( pourvoi bien diligaument que tu aies bon prevoz et bons « baillis en ta terre et fai sovent pourveoir que il facent bien (c justice' et que \\ ne facent injure a nului ne nule chose (( que il ne doient.

Et fai' ausi pourveoir de cels meesmes « de ton hostel que il ne facent chose que il ne doient que, « ja soit ce que tu doies haïr tout mal en autre, nonpour« quant tu dois plus haïr le mal qui vendroit de ceus qui (( ont pooir de toi que le mal des autres persones , et plus (c dois garder et défendre que ce n'aviegne que ta gent facent « mal. Chier fiuz, je t'enseigne que lu soies tozjors dévot a « l'église de Roriie et au soverain evesque, nostre père, c'est « le pape, et li porte révérence et enneur, si comme tu dois « fere a ton père esperituel. Chier fiuz, donne volontiers « pooir as genz de bonne volenté et qui bien en sachent « user, et pense par grant diligence que péchiez soient « ostez de ta tere, c'est a dire vilains seremcnz et toute « chose qui est fête et dite en despit de Dieu ou de Nostre « Dame ou des sainz, et fai cesser le aieu des dez et (f pechié (Je cors et les tavernes et les antres péchiez a ton « pooir en ta terre ; et fai chacier les bouerres saiicment et « en bonne nianieie a ton pooir de la terre et antres mal« veses genz, si que ta terre soit de ce bien purgiee, si « comme tu entendras que ce doie estre fet par le conseil « de bonnes genz, et avance les biens par toz liex a tout « pooir. Et met granl entente que tu saches reconnoistre « les bontez que Nostre Sires t'aura fêtes et que tu l'en « saches rendre grâces. Chier finz, je t'enseigne que tu metes « grant entente a ce que les deniers que " tu despendras « soient despenduz en bons usages et que il soient justece ment receu-. Et c'est un sens que je vodroie moût que « tu eusses, c'est a dire que tu te gardasses de foies mises « et de malveses recetes, et que tes deniers fussent bien mis « et bien receuz, et cest sens te voille Nostre Sires ensei« gnier ensemble avec les autres sens qui te sont couve« nables et pronfitables, « Chier fiuz, je te pri que, se il plest a Nostre Seigneur « que je parte de cest monde ainçois que tu '\ que tu me « faces aidier par . messes et par autres oroisons - et que tu « envoies par les congregacions des religions du roiaume « de France pour requerre leurs prières pour l'ame de moi « et que tu entendes que en touz les biens que tu feras, que « Nostre Sires m'i doint partie.

Chier fiuz, je te doinz toute « celé beneiçon que père puet et doit donner a fiuz et pri « Nostre Seigneur Jhesu Crist, Dieu, que il, par sa grant « miséricorde et par les prières et par les mérites de sa « benoiete mère virge Marie et •" d'anges et d'archanges « et de touz sainz et de toutes saintes, te gart et défende « que tu ne faces nule chose qui soit contre la volenté de « celui/ et que il te doint grâce de fere sa volenté, si que « il soit ennoré et servi par toi; et ce face Nostre Sires a « moi et a toi par sa grant largece en tele manière que après « ceste mortel vie, nous le puissons veoir et loer et amer « sanz fin. Amen. Et gloire et enneur et loenge soit a celui « qui est un Dieu avecques le Père et le Fiuz et le Saint « Esperit sanz commencement et sans fin. Amen. » Encores, comme l'en feist un mur en l'abeie de Roiaumont, li benoiez rois qui demoroit en cel tens en son manoir d'Anieres qui est assez près de la dite abeie', venoit souvent a celé abeie oir la messe et l'autre service et pour visiter le lieu. Et comme les moines ississent, selon la costume de leur ordre de Cistiaus, après heuie de tierce, au labour et a porter les pierres et le mortier au lieu ou l'en fesoit le dit mur, li benoiez rois prenoit la civière et la portoit charcbiee de pierres et aloit devant, et un moine portoit derrière; et einsi fist li benoiez rois par pluseurs foiz eu tens devant dit.

Et emsi en cel tens li benoiez rois fesoit porter la civière par ses frères mon seigneur Alfons, mon seieneur Rolert et mon seig-neur Challes ". VA avoit avec chascun d'els un des moines desus diz a porter la civière d'une part. Et ce meesmes fesoit fere li sainz rois par autres chevaliers de sa compaignie. Et pour ce que . ses frères voloient aucune foiz parler et crier et jouer, li benoiez rois leur disoit : « Les moines tienent orendroit (( silence et ausi la devon nos tenir. » Et comme les frères du benoiet roy charchassent mont leurs civières et se vosissent reposer en mi la voie, amçois que il venissent au mur, il leur disoit : « Les moines ne se reposent pas, ne « vous ne vos devez pas reposer. )> Et ainsi li sainz rois enformoit sa mesniee a bien fere. Encore com fust que ■" il fust une foiz griement malade a Pontaise -, ainçois que il passast la première foiz outre mer, il fist venir sa mesiiiee deviuil lui et les anionestoit a servir Nostre Seigneur et leur en fist grant seinion.

Après quant il fu outre nier, eu tens de son premier passage, il fist apeler toute sa mesniee en sa presenee et les anionesla diligaunient que il vesquissent chastement et honestement ". Il enseigna a noble chevalier mon seigneur Jehan de . loinville moût de bons essamples, qui fu avecques lui en sa court assez priveement et de son hostel par xxiiij anz et plus, et li enseignoit mont souvent les bons essamples, si corn il est desus dit. Et une foiz avint einsi que li sainz r(jis demanda au dit chevalier lequel il voudroit miex, ou avoir fet un pechié mortel ou estre mesel ; et li chevaliers respondi que il vodroit miex avoir fet xxx péchiez mortex que ce que il fust mesel. Et donques li sainz rois le blâma moût et li dist et mostra que miex vaudroit estre mesel , car pechié mortel est meselerie de l'ame, de la quele home ne set comment il en puist estre guéri, car il ne set quant il doit mourir, et se il muert sanz droite contricion et sanz vraie conlession, que il ne set se il porra avoir, comme celé chose dépende et viegne de la grâce/ Dieu, l'ame remaindra touzjors mesele se il muert en mortel pechié et semblable au deable ; mes de la meselerie du cors doit estre chascun certain que il en doit estre guéri» par la mort corporele. Pour quoi li sainz rois disoit que de trop loing il valt miex a homme estre mesel que ce que il soit en pechié mortel '. Et aucune foiz avecques ce li benoiez rois dist au dit chevalier ces paroles : « Voudriez vous avoir enseigne« ment tel par quoi vous eussiez enneur en cest monde et « pleussiez as hommes et eussiez la grâce de Dieu et si « eussiez gloire eu tens avenir? »

Et li chevaliers respondi que il vodroit bien avoir tel enseignement. Et lors li dist li benoiez rois : « Ne fêtes choses ne ne dites que se tout li « mondes" savoit ce ', nonpourquant vos ne le leriez mie a « fere. » Et avecques tout ce ii benoiez rois entroduisoit le chevalier a ce que il hantast l'église mcesmement es Testes des sain/, sollennex et a ennorer les sainz, et li disoit que il est einsi par similitude des sainz en paradis com il est des conseilliers des rois en terre. Car qui a a fere devant un roi terrien, il demande qui est bien de lui et qui le puet prier seurement et le quel lirois doit oïr, et lors, quant il set Ii quex ce est, il va a lui et le prie (ue il prit pour lui envers le roi. Ausi est il des sainz de paradis cui sont privez de Nostre Seigneur et ses familiers et le pueent seurement prier, car il les oïl\ . « Et pur ce devez vos « venir a l'église as/ jours de leur Testes et ennorer les et u prier que il prient pour vous envers Nostre Seigneur. »

De rechief li sainz rois disoit au chevalier que aucuns nobles hommes sont qui ont vergoigne de bien fere, c'est a savoir aler a l'église et oïr le servise Dieu et fere autres oevres de pitié et doutent, non pas vaine gloire, mes vaine vergoigne et que l'en ne die (ue il soient papelarz, et c'est trop meilleur chose que vaine gloire, ausi comme c'est pire chose que une meson chiee pour un petit vent ou sanz nul vent que celé qui est dehurtee de fort vent. Et encores li sainz rois /'enformoit pas tant seulement ses fiuz et ses frères charitablement a bien» fere, si com il est demonstré par desus, aincois enformoit les autres a tout bien. De quoi il fesoit preechier as religieuses persones et as prelaz et as barons et au pueple la parole Nostre Seigneur a leur edificacion. Quant il ooit dire que il avoit guerre entre aucuns nt)bles hommes hors de son roiaume, il envoioit a eus mcssaaes sollennex pour apesier les, mes non pas sanz granz despens. Et eiiisi fist il quant le conte de Bar et mon seigneur Henri, comte de Luccborc, guerreoient l'un ' l'autre '. Et ausi fist il (lu (lue de Lorreigne et du eontc de Bar desus dit ' et de niout d'autres.

Et par ces clioses apert que il entondoit nou pas tant seulement a enfornier en bien ses prochains, mes encore a eus renfourmer en bien.

Scripture echoes

  1. Gen.1.26-Gen.1.27Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Gen.1.27 — So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
  2. 1John.4.20-1John.4.21If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1John.4.21 — And this commandment we have from him: the one who loves God must also love his brother.
  3. Deut.6.5;Matt.22.37;Mark.12.30;Luke.10.27And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Matt.22.37 — And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mark.12.30 — And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Luke.10.27 — And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
  4. Matt.5.29-Matt.5.30;Mark.9.43-Mark.9.47If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that one of your members perish than that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna. Matt.5.30 — And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish than that your whole body go into hell. Mark.9.43 — And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. Mark.9.45 — And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Mark.9.47 — And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into Gehenna.
  5. Heb.12.6;Rom.8.28For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he scourges every son whom he receives. Rom.8.28 — And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good — for those who are called according to his purpose.

Notes

  1. 1Normalized OCR noise: cjuoi→quoi; îiime/almme/aimme→aime; oit→soit (either); sout→sont; (jue→que. Sense: either because they are good, or that they may become good.
  2. 2Normalized OCR: heneoiz→beneoiz; Loijs→Loys; jui→qui; oit emhj-asé cV→tout embrasé d'; sentence ends mid-phrase before object 'touz' in s3.
  3. 3Normalized OCR: desirranl→desirant; enseiina/it→enseignant; enlanz→enfanz; amonestenienz→amonestemenz; apeit→apert. 'touz' completes s2's 'estendi a'.
  4. 4Normalized OCR: bcnolez→beneoiz; Lovs→Loys; acion likely noise around 'de la quele la teneur'. 'teneur' rendered as content/wording of the letter.
  5. 5Normalized OCR: /eriez→feriez; escrlz→escriz. 'retendrez' rendered as take to heart / retain instruction.
  6. 6Source is severely damaged: 'Chiere « pes et plus entendible a " oroison.' Plausible reconstruction: Chiere [fille], [soiez] plus entendible a oroison (be more attentive/receptive to prayer). 'pes' may be residual OCR for fille/soiez/pensez; sense is provisional.
  7. 7Source has OCR garble: 'tille' read as 'fille'; 'volen tiers' as 'volentiers'; 'seimons' as 'sermons'; 'parlemeoz/parlemenz' as 'parlemenz' (conversations); 'saintee' as 'sainteté'.
  8. 8Reconstructed readings: 'persccucion' → persecution/affliction; 'mètre conseil' → mettre conseil (apply a remedy); 'doncpies' → donc(ques); 'reniiez...grâces' → rendez grâces; 'bon oré' → bon gré; 'aos' → vos; 'let' → fait; 'pou' → peu; 'Seioneur' → Seigneur.
  9. 9'et plus se il voloit' taken as 'and [you would deserve] more if He so willed,' not as God willing more affliction without the desert clause.
  10. 10Reconstructed: 'santé a de cors' → santé de cors; 'leoraciez' → regraciez/louez (thank/praise; rendered 'thank' to parallel the gratitude idiom); stray 'o o' treated as noise; 'par u l'achoison' → par l'achoison (by means of / on the occasion of).
  11. 11Reconstructed: 'conlésseur' → confesseur; 'eu pes' → en pes (in peace).
  12. 12'en/ Sjnenese' read as 'en mesese' (in distress/hardship), the expected Old French term with this collocation ('de cuer et de cors').
  13. 13Normalized from a damaged reading: «S siècle» as «siècle» (the world/secular state), «cens» as «ceus» (those), and «ennorcz» as «ennorés» (honored).
  14. 14«se sont uiis a povreté» read as «se sont mis a povreté» (have set themselves / given themselves over to poverty).
  15. 15Heavy damage restored as: «mesnies» (household), «avecques vous conversent plus priveement et secretement», «de bonne vie et de sainte», and «toutes genz de male renommée».
  16. 16«ehas(uin» restored as «chascun» (each one); «Nostie Seigneur» as «Nostre Seigneur».
  17. 17Normalized corrupted surfaces: 'Testât' as 'l'estat' (estate/station); 'm'('6" avis' as 'm'est avis' (it is my judgment).
  18. 18Sentence is split mid-clause; the infinitive continuation 'plere a Nostre Seigneur' begins the next sentence ref.
  19. 19Normalized: 'mal (jue' as 'mal que'; 'entendriez a (ère' as 'entendriez a fere' (set yourself to do).
  20. 20Normalized 'saiiz mon coiioié' as 'sanz mon congié' (without my leave/permission).
  21. 21Normalized initial 'Xostre' as 'Nostre' (Our).
  22. 22Normalized corrupt/OCR forms: d'ivieie → d'ivoire (ivory); au<{iiel → au quel (to which); coûte → coudée (cubit/elbow-length); enviion → environ (or so).
  23. 23chaiennetes de haire: haircloth chains/cords used as a penitential girdle (cilice-like), not ordinary jewelry chains.
  24. 24Sentence is cut mid-phrase: escrite de . continues in s5 with sa main ('written in his own hand').
  25. 25deceplines: penitential scourges ('disciplines'); chetif père is Louis's humble self-reference ('wretched/poor father'), not a third party.
  26. 26juesdi assolu = Jeudi absolu, Maundy Thursday; deniers left as medieval coinage rather than modernized currency.
  27. 27Heavy OCR corruption restored for sense: fniz→fiuz; cloniioienl→donnoient; cens a (|iii il lavoieiit les picz→ceux a qui il lavoient les piez; povies→povres; fin/→fiuz; nienjoient→mengoient; scrvoil→servoit; tahle→table; (pii→qui.
  28. 28Source shows OCR corruption (avcMioit, l)enoiez, Meson-3ieu, iet, nieson, qui/). Read as avenoit, benoiez, Maison-Dieu, fait, meson, qui. Vernou = Vernon; Maison-Dieu = hospital/hospice for the poor.
  29. 29olfroit read as offroit (offered). iiij besanz = four bezants (gold coins). secont trettié = second treatise (internal cross-reference).
  30. 30Source OCR is badly corrupted (poolr/pooir; especiauinent/especiaument; ne croies likely ne feroies/feisses; i'eisses/feisses; le tolist/te tolist; ptr/par). Translation follows the most plausible intended sense after the previous counsel to love God.
  31. 31Normalized corruptions: volenté; graces (oraces); deservi ce; as fet (as (et) mout de choses.
  32. 32Xostre→Nostre; (aire→faire; mont→mout/very; meesmes kept as 'His own gifts'.
  33. 33OCR noise stripped (je K; u c|ue→que; tosent→osent 'dare'). 'soufisant science' rendered as 'sound learning'.
  34. 34Chier h fuiz→Chier fiuz; saiute→sainte. 'oies ... le service' = attend/hear the Church's liturgy.
  35. 35muser = to idle/gape/daydream; rendered as 'let your mind wander'. vaines paroles = empty/idle talk.
  36. 36Source shows OCR noise (sei-a; teus; quote marks). Read sei-a as soit, teus as temps (espace de temps). 'encore devant' taken as remaining longer in that presence / a further stretch of time.
  37. 37Read louz cens as touz ceus; fui aient as qui aient; cois as cors. Trailing 'B' treated as print/OCR debris.
  38. 38Fragment is severely corrupt (trangc; tn). Most plausible opening is a prohibition against obstinacy or over-commitment before council (cf. following sentence on aimer sa querele). Rendered as incomplete clause matching the broken source boundary.
  39. 39Continues s3 (que tu aimes…). juerele read as querele; creme teus as cremeteus (fearful).
  40. 40ton a tens read as ton tens; u before ou treated as OCR debris.
  41. 41pnisses read as puisses; sentence is truncated mid-phrase (les am…) and completes in s7.
  42. 42Completes s6: les ames de tes ancesseurs… despeechiees = discharged / unburdened.
  43. 43quêtes read as que tes; trneves as trueves; stray K treated as print/OCR debris.
  44. 44Source shows OCR garbling: 'faire garce der' read as 'faire garde de' (keep watch over / protect); 'fête' as 'faite' (done).
  45. 45Read 'h rois Phe(( lipes' as 'li rois Phelipes' (King Philip). Louis IX's maternal grandfather was Philip II Augustus; the anecdote is traditional counsel on forbearance toward the clergy.
  46. 46Read 'enneurs (ue' as 'enneurs que' (honors that); 'fêtes' as 'faites' (done/granted).
  47. 47genz de religion: religious (monastic/regular) people, not abstract 'religion' as a system.
  48. 48oarde read as garde (take care / beware); desvoies = stray/turn aside from justice for partial affection.
  49. 49do\ngnes / do\g/ies treated as dongnes/donnies (give); éloignes rendered as bestow/grant in the feudal-ecclesiastical sense of disposing of a benefice.
  50. 50cnquiers read as enquieres (inquire / look carefully).
  51. 51cpii read as qui (that/which).
  52. 52Source shows OCR noise (e.g. 'aveiioit'/'11 " couvenist', 'defaillistde', 'aut/'e', 'corpes eu forfet'). Read as avenoit que il couvenist; defaillist de; autre; coulpe ne forfet (no guilt or offense).
  53. 53Stray marks 'M', '((', etc. ignored as print noise. 'viles' read as villes (towns); 'degastasses' as devastate/waste.
  54. 54'fpie' read as que; 'mont' as mout (very/truly). 'pourvoi que ainçois que tu mueves guerre' = take care that before you move war.
  55. 55'eucor' read as encor; 'Seioneur' as Seigneur. 'apesier' = appease/settle; 'contens' = disputes/quarrels.
  56. 56Read 'mt»rir' as morir; 'mètre la pes' as metre la pes; 'lésant' as fésant/faisant; 'Hn' as fin. 'eu tens' = at the time.
  57. 57Read '\\ ne facent' as il ne facent; ignore quote/OCR debris '((', '(c', etc. 'prevoz' = provost; 'baillis' = bailiffs.
  58. 58Normalized Roriie → Rome and lu → tu from context and standard orthography.
  59. 59Restored corrupt OCR: seremcnz→seremenz (oaths); fête→faite; aieu des dez→jeu des dez; pechié (Je cors→péché de cors; bouerres→bougres (heretics); saiicment→sagement; nianieie→manière; mal« veses→malveses.
  60. 60justece ment receu- normalized to justement receuz.
  61. 61Sentence is truncated mid-phrase (faces aidier par); the complement continues in s7 (messes et par autres oroisons…).
  62. 62Continues s6: que tu me faces aidier par messes et par autres oroisons…
  63. 63Source shows OCR/line-break noise («, •", celui/); translated the plain sense of a father's full blessing and petition that Christ keep the son in God's will and grant grace to do it.
  64. 64Roiaumont = Royaumont; Anieres = Asnières (near Royaumont). «Encores» continues the narrative after the closing of the father's instruction.
  65. 65charcbiee read as chargée (loaded); heuie de tierce = the hour of Terce; civière = the stone-carriers' handbarrow/litter.
  66. 66Source spellings Rolert and seieneur/seig-neur corrected as Robert and seigneur; Alfons and Challes rendered as Alphonse and Charles (Louis IX's brothers).
  67. 67Opening "VA" is treated as a corrupt subject (likely Il or residual page-mark noise); rendered as "He" from context of the blessed king.
  68. 68Source sentence is truncated after "Et pour ce que"; the causal clause continues in the next sentence about the brothers wanting to talk, shout, and play.
  69. 69Punctuation noise "((" before silence ignored; continues the truncated causal opening of s4.
  70. 70charchassent mont: taken as chargassent moult, "loaded heavily"; amçois que = before.
  71. 71Pontaise read as Pontoise; mesiiiee as mesniee (household); deviuil as devant; anionestoit as admonestoit; seinion as sermon. "Outre mer" taken as the overseas crusade passage.
  72. 72Reading corrupt forms as outre mer (not nier), amonesta diligamment, présence, and mesniee 'household'.
  73. 73Sentence is truncated mid-name; continues in the next unit as Joinville (Jehan de Joinville).
  74. 74loinville read as Joinville; moût/mont as mout; si corn as si com; xxiiij as 24.
  75. 75r(jis read as rois; mesel = leper; xxx = thirty.
  76. 76The nested clause 'que il ne set se il porra avoir' is taken of contrition and confession as gifts depending on God's grace, not of death itself.
  77. 77conlession → confession; grâce/ Dieu → grâce de Dieu; guéri» punctuation noise ignored.
  78. 78enneur → honor; enseigne« ment line-break; eu tens avenir → en tens avenir.
  79. 79Normalized OCR/noise in the OF (quote marks, mondes", ce ') as: Ne fêtes choses ne ne dites que se tout li mondes savoit ce, nonpourquant vos ne le leriez mie a fere. Reading ne…que as restrictive (‘only those things that…’); leriez as laisseriez (‘leave undone’).
  80. 80Corrected corrupted OF: ii→li; mcesmement→meesmement (especially); Testes des sain/ sollennex→festes des sainz solennez (solemn feasts of the saints); entroduisoit→introduisoit.
  81. 81Corrected lirois→li rois; set Ii quex→set li quex; prie (ue→prie que; prit→priet (subjunctive ‘pray’).
  82. 82Corrected cui→qui; oïl\→oït (‘hears them’). privez…familiers rendered as intimates / household familiars of Our Lord.
  83. 83Corrected as/ jours de leur Testes→as jours de leur festes; u prier→les prier (ask them). pur ce = for that reason.
  84. 84OF 'papelarz' (papelard) = hypocrite / sanctimonious pretender; rendered 'hypocrites'.
  85. 85Source has '(ue' for 'que' in 'que l'en ne die que il soient papelarz'.
  86. 86Normalized OCR noise: "/'enformoit" read as "n'enformoit"; "bien» fere" as "bien fere".
  87. 87OCR: 'nt)bles' → nobles; 'mcssaaes sollennex' → messages solennels.
  88. 88OCR: 'eiiisi' → einsi; 'Luccborc' read as Luxembourg (OF Lucemborc).
  89. 89OCR: '(lu (lue' → du duc; 'eontc' → conte; 'niout' → mout/moult.
  90. 90Normalized reading restores common OCR corruptions in the fro witness: clioses→choses; entondoit→entendoit; nou pas→non pas; enfornier→enformer; renfourmer→renformer. Sense follows chapter context (love of neighbors; enformer a bien).

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