Prologue Summary

As a group of people are planning to leave the spas of Cauteret, the rains begin. Creeks and rivers are swollen and bridges have washed away, making travel complicated. One of the travelers, the widow Oisille, arrives at the abbey of Our Lady at Sarrance first. Meanwhile, two French noblemen who were staying at the spa have followed at a distance two ladies whom they find attractive. These ladies stay the night with their husbands at the home of a bandit. This bandit's home is attacked overnight. In the midst of the attack, the husband of one of the ladies, Longarine, is killed. Since the two men, Dagoucin and Saffredent, came to their aid, they are invited to travel with the remainder of the group. This group, which also includes Hircan and his wife Parlamente, finally reaches the Abbey of Saint-Savin after rough...