1 This tale, though it figures in all the MSS., does not
     appear in Gruget’s edition of the Heptameron, but is there
     replaced by the one that follows, XLIV. (B).—­Ed.

2 This Lady of Sedan is Catherine de Croi, daughter of Philip VI. de Croi, Count of Chimay.  In 1491 she married Robert II. do la Marck, Duke of Bouillon, Lord of Sedan, Fleuranges, &c., who was long the companion in arms of Bayard and La Tremoille.  Robert II. lost the duchy of Bouillon through the conquests of Charles V., and one of the clauses of the treaty of Cambrai (the “Ladies’ Peace”) was that Francis I. would in no wise assist him to regain it.  His eldest son by Catherine de Croi was the celebrated Marshal de Fleuranges, “the young adventurer,” who left such curious memoirs behind him.  Robert II. died in 1535, his son surviving him a couple of years.—­Anselme’s Histoire Genealogique, vol. vii. p. 167.—­L. and B. J.

My Lord of Sedan, who was a prudent man and a merry talker, had the good father to eat at his table, and in order to put him on his mettle said to him, among other things—­

“Good father, you do well to make your collection while you are yet unknown.  I greatly fear that, if once your hypocrisy be found out, you will no longer receive the bread of poor children, earned by the sweat of their fathers.”

The Grey Friar was not abashed by these words, but replied—­

“Our Order, my lord, is so securely founded that it will endure as long as the world exists.  Our foundation, indeed, cannot fail so long as there are men and women on the earth.”

My Lord of Sedan, being desirous of knowing on what foundation the existence of the Grey Friars was thus based, urgently begged the father to tell him.

After making many excuses, the Friar at last replied—­

“Since you are pleased to command me to tell you, you shall hear.  Know, then, my lord, that our foundation is the folly of women, and that so long as there be a wanton or foolish woman in the world we shall not die of hunger.”

My Lady of Sedan, who was very passionate, was in such wrath on hearing these words, that, had her husband not been present, she would have dealt harshly with the Grey Friar; and indeed she swore roundly that he should not have the pig that she had promised him; but the Lord of Sedan, finding that he had not concealed the truth, swore that he should have two, and caused them to be sent to his monastery.

“You see, ladies, how the Grey Friar, being sure that the favour of the ladies could not fail him, contrived, by concealing nothing of the truth, to win the favour and alms of men.  Had he been a flatterer and dissembler, he would have been more pleasing to the ladies, but not so profitable to himself and his brethren.”

The tale was not concluded without making the whole company laugh, and especially such among them as knew the Lord and Lady of Sedan.  And Hircan said—­“The Grey Friars, then, should never preach with intent to make women wise, since their folly is of so much service to the Order.”