THE ROSE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 179 



girl on liis estate who enjoyed the greatest reputation for 

 amiahility and excellence of character. Tradition states 

 that the prelate liimself gave this desired prize to one of 

 his sisters, whom the public voice had named to be Rosiere. 

 Before the revolution of 1789, there could be seen, beneath 

 the altar of the chapel of St. Medard, at Salency, a tablet, 

 where that bishop was represented in pontifical dress, and 

 placing a crown of roses on the head of his sister, who 

 was on her knees, with her hair dressed. 



The bisliop had set aside, on a part of his domain, since 

 called the " Manor of the Rose," an annual rent of twen- 

 ty-five livres, at that time a considerable sum, for paying 

 all the expenses of this ceremony. It is stated that Louis 

 XIIL, being at the chateau of Yarennes, near Salency, 

 about the time of this ceremony, was deirous of adding 

 to its eclat by his personal presence ; but finding himself 

 indisposed, he sent to La Rosiere, by a marquis of rank 

 and first captain of his guards, a ring and his blue ribbon. 

 " Go," said he to the marquis, " and present this riband 

 to her who shall be crowned. It has been long the prize 

 of honor ; it shall now become the reward of virtue." 

 Since that time La Rosiere has received a ring, and she 

 and her companions have worn the blue ribbon. 



The Lord of Salency at one time enjoyed the right of 

 choosing La Rosiere from three of the village girls, who 

 were presented by the inhabitants. But in 1773 a new 

 lord, who purchased the estate of Salency, wished to take 

 away the right enjoyed by the inhabitants, of naming and 

 presenting to him the three candidates for the Rose. He 

 assumed the nomination of La Rosiere, without any as- 

 sembling, election, or presentation, and suppressed entirely 

 the pomp and ceremonies which until that time had al- 

 ways been observed. On the complaint of the inhabit- 

 ants of Salency, the Court of Chancery at once set aside 

 the pretensions of their lord; but he, not wishing to yield 

 them, instituted a civil process before the Parliament of 



