OF SIX MEDIEVAL WOMEN 



The more the life of this remarkable woman 

 is studied, the more apparent it becomes that 

 what gives it its peculiar charm and worth is 

 the sense she possessed of the value of all human 

 endeavour, whether in great things or in simple. 

 To her the humblest matters of home life, and 

 the affairs connected with the administration of 

 her domains, had each their particular signifi- 

 cance. The ordering of a small grooved tablet 

 on which her little boy could arrange the letters 

 of the alphabet claimed her attention equally 

 with the founding and arranging of a hospital. 

 In her capacity as ruler we see the same wide 

 and reasonable outlook on life, for whilst strict 

 as an administrator, in personal relations she 

 was charitable and sympathetic. Sometimes a 

 rebellious baron was deprived of his fief and 

 banished, or was condemned to expiate his mis- 

 deed by making a pilgrimage to sundry shrines. 

 But Mahaut was practical withal, and recognised 

 human frailty, and as the pilgrimage was for 

 correction, no pardon was granted unless the 

 offender brought from each of the sanctuaries 

 a certificate that his vow had been fulfilled. 

 On the other hand, if any were sick or in 

 trouble, she was solicitous for their relief, and 

 even aided them personally where possible. She 

 thus put into practice the charge of her saintly 

 kinsman, King Louis the Ninth, who always 

 counselled those about him to have compassion 

 on all mental or physical suffering, since the 

 heart may be stricken as well as the body. 



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