Marguerite Clement

This was my favorite of the stories reprinted in Mom's The Big Vacation Book for Girls, just as it is my favorite of the stories in Once in France.

The place is Burgundy and it's either the 12th or the 13th century. Pernette is 23 years old and not yet married -- oh, the horror! She is being courted by Pistol, who is 20 years older, shorter, and paunchy. On the other hand, Pistol is a rich merchant. He comes from a distant town, so no one local knows about him. Pernette accepts his proposal. show more He gives her a huge wedding chest and fills it with enough clothes, shoes, furs, etc. to dress her for years.

They move to Pistol's home. There the neighbors tell her what a truly awful man Pistol is. Pernette decides to let Pistol have his own way for a full year. This drives Pistol nuts because she remains calm or laughs no matter how he behaves. Pernette is so strong and healthy that Pistol is afraid to beat her, but he uses his imagination to abuse her in other ways.

I love it when the year is over and Pistol finds out that Pernette intends to have her own way. What happens leads to the title of the story. show less

This story takes place during the tragic French Wars of Religion (1562-1598), when the Catholics and the Huguenots (Protestants) were busy killing each other in the name of the Prince of Peace.

The town in this tale is Montauban, where the author lived for two years. It's about a Catholic boy named Pierre and a Protestant girl named Rachel, whom Pierre calls 'Blue-Eyes'. They discuss each other's brand of Christianity over the years. Eventually, they fall in love. Their parents are show more absolutely against the match.

Things get bad enough that the Catholics are forced to leave Montauban in 1628. All Rachel can do is drop a rose from her window as Pierre and his family pass by.

Pierre joins the army of de Luynes. In 1629, while he is in Albi, Pierre is horrified to learn that they will be attacking Montauban. His friend advises him to go see an old hermit whom people say can see the future.

The old hermit's vision is of Pierre and Rachel being married in a vast church, by a priest in a white woolen garment. Pierre is puzzled, because no Catholic priest wears white. He tells his friend what the hermit said. Did the hermit's vision come true? show less

'The Beloved Duchess Anne' is a story of Anne of Brittany, who lived from 1477 - 1514. We get some of her history, including why she was the Duchess of Brittany and how she came to marry two different kings of France. The main part of the plot is about a time she became ill and sought the intercession of Saint John the Baptist for a cure. I'm Catholic, but I am quite skeptical that the relic in that village church was really the saint's finger bone. Still, how Anne came to understand that show more her cure was no more important than those of poor people is a valuable lesson well told. show less

Robert of Flanders seemed to have gained everything: knighthood, land, and a beautiful wife. Pretty good for a poor squire, yes? Robert of Flanders was a very honorable man, and he had vowed to make a pilgrimage to Saint James if ever he became a knight. That means a trip to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain back when one either rode or went on foot.

Raoul of Hainaut, another knight, bets Robert that Blanche will be unfaithful to him. The stakes are each other's lands. Robert show more is confident in his bride, so he takes the bet. Too bad for Robert that Raoul didn't intend to play fair. When Raoul can't seduce Blanche, he fakes the evidence. Robert leaves. So does Blanche.

A young nobleman, seeking to be a squire to a knight, binds himself to Robert. No wars are going on, so how are they to make a living? Henri can bake cakes. He opens a shop. He saves enough from his profits to buy a house that he turns into an inn. Robert doesn't want Henri to work so hard while he doesn't help, but Henri talks him into it. Robert fights in tournaments and gains fame, as does the inn.

Will Blanche's name ever be cleared? show less