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Margaret, Queen of Navarre, 1492-1549

"The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. I. (of V.)"

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[Illustration: 095a.jpg The Boatwoman of Coulon outwitting the Friars]
[The Boatwoman of Coulon outwitting the Friars]
[Illustration: 095.jpg Page Image]


_TALE V._
_Two Grey Friars, when crossing the river at the haven of
Coulon, sought to ravish the boatwoman who was taking them
over. She, however, being virtuous and Clever, so beguiled
them with words that, whilst promising to grant their
request, she deceived them and handed them over to justice.
They were then delivered up to their warden to receive such
punishment as they deserved_.
At the haven of Coulon,(1) near Nyort, there lived a boatwoman who, day
or night, did nothing but convey passengers across the ferry.
1 The village of Coulon, in Poitou (department of the Deux-
Sevres), lies within seven miles of Niort, on the Niortaise
Sevre, which at this point is extremely wide.--L.
Now it chanced that two Grey Friars from Nyort were crossing the river
alone with her, and as the passage is one of the longest in France, they
began to make love to her, that she might not feel dull by the way.


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