PLEASE
CLICK YOUR "BACK" BUTTON
TO RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED
Warrant of Marguerite d'Orleans
(dowager Duchess of Brittany)
30 July 1452
MARGUERITE
of Orleans, Countess of Estampes and of Vertus, lady of Chéry and of Nogent
l'Artaud, to all those who shall see these present letters, greeting.
Whereas, by reason of our seignory and castellanship of Nogent aforesaid, we are
guardian and foundress of a convent of Cordelier nuns, which once was founded by
a Queen of France, our predecessor, in our aforesaid town of Nogent, to the
reverence of our lady Saint Claire and to the honour of Saint Louis of France,
which place was very long ago fired and burnt, and almost totally destroyed, by
the English, the ancient enemies of this Kingdom, and since then, for a long
time, their rents and revenues have gone in total diminution, or altogether
annihilated, to such an extent that the nuns of that convent cannot serve God
there reverently or suitably, or keep the Commandments and observances of their
Rule, or even their enclosure.
When these things came to our notice and awareness, we told them and also
remonstrated about them, to Brother Nicolle Guioteau of the Order of Saint
Francis, Master in Theology, Minister and Provincial for France, and with this
also, that in order duly to reform the said convent to a good Rule and
observance of religion it was convenient to restore and repair the said place
and put it back into its original order, and in order to do this the said nuns,
being in the said convent, could not lawfully stay there, but it would be and
was needful to send them to other similar places of the said Order, so as to
avoid all infections which the workmen and labourers who will do the repairs of
the said place would, or might, cause them in going and coming, and also the
inconveniences which may happen or might ensue.
Considering also, and having regard to the state and government of that in which
we are, and being dissatisfied, and wishing to be able in all fairness, with all
our heart and desire, with all our power, to restore it and get it reformed, we
requested the said Minister thus to send the said nuns to other places of the
Order, where he should think best, and that he should commission, on request,
two or three Friars Minor, people of good standing, to do and continue Divine
Service there according to the foundation of the said place during the time of
the said repairs until there should be nuns in the said convent.
And let it be thus, that the said Minister, on receiving our request, should
send and put the said nuns in other convents of the said Order as he has wished,
and in their place he has made three armed friars come, who perform Divine
Service every day, as we have been and are well and fully informed by certain of
our people and officers.
And for this, we let it be known that for contemplation of the holy Divine
Service, which we desire to be celebrated and made to continue there in the
church of the said convent, until it is repaired and restored, and the said nuns
and convent are individually reformed in all true observance according to the
correct purity of their Rule, and also so that the said Friars may not possess
the rents in any manner, we as guardian and foundress of the above mentioned
things have taken, seized and taken into our hand all and each of the rents,
revenues, seisins and possessions belonging to the said nuns and convent, with
all the relics, jewels, sanctuaries, churches, letters, charters, books and
ornaments, and all their property, movable and immovable, and have had them put
by inventory by our proctor in the presence of the venerable monks and discreet
persons Brother Geoffrey Baye, Custodian of Paris, Monsieur Jean Rouen, and
others; and to rule and govern the said things under and by our hand as guardian
of the aforesaid things, we have today committed and ordered, and do by these
presents commit and order the said Brothers Geoffrey and Rouen, Jean Guaror as
our principal substitute in Nogent aforesaid, and Cobert Toquet, at present our
provost in the said place, and in particular the said custodian, whom we wish to
be principal, for the performance of this present commission, to which
custodian, for the said inventory, the said things have been lent so as to keep,
rule and govern them and make them be included among the said rents and
revenues, to purchase, require and demand the same for and in the name of the
said nuns and for their profit; and we have ordered this custodian to distribute
these things both to provide for the living of the said Brothers performing the
said Service, and also we have given and do give power to the said custodian to
convert and employ the surplus of those rents and revenues in the repairs and
labour of the said convent, and to deal with, give credit and pay for those
repairs with these presents as suitable, as he shall see it ought to be done in
conscience, by his expenses as orders, and at the most practical rate that can
be done.
And also, as we know that the rents of the said convent will not be able to
furnish enough to pay for or make the said repairs, we have ordered the said
custodian that, at the charges and expense of the said convent, he should cause
diligently to be sought and purchased from our Holy Father the Pope and other
prelates great pardons and indulgences, such as he can get. and from His Majesty
the King, princes, lords and ladies; and other good folk everywhere where he
can, gifts, alms and benefits so that the said repairs can be done and completed
for the especial good of the said convent. and we grant always that everything
that the said custodian will have had by the said inventory shall remain at the
end of his said commission to the said convent, and to do this we have given
him, and do give him, full power, authority and especial commandment, and we
command all our Justices, officers, vassals and subjects, and all others to whom
it shall pertain, that they obey and diligently listen to the said custodian and
the other persons above named, their colleagues and deputies, and lend and give
them advice, support and help if they have need of it and it is requested by
them, save and reserving our right of guardianship and other seignorial right,
and the rights of others, in everything.
In witness of this, we have signed these presents with our hand, and the same
have been sealed with our seal, the last day but one of July in the year of
grace 1452
By Madame la Contesse
by her Commandment,
by us Master Robert
Blondel, licentiate in law,
and others
G. MUNET