When a trouvère stopped in a château, the lord, his family, and his people assembled in the great hall; the trouvère recited some long poem, accompanying himself on a musical instrument, assisted by jugglers who entertained the audience while the poet rested.
FOOTNOTES:
[75] This famous battle cry of French royalty probably meant "Follow the banner of St. Denis!" Its exact origin, however is obscure.
In feudal battles, armies often used merely the names of their leaders, "Burgundy!" "Coucy!" "Bourbon!" etc. But many regions had a special war cry. Thus the Normans cried "Dex ais!" the Bretons, "Malo! Malo!" the Angevins "Valée!" Imperialists were likely to cry "Rome!" and Crusaders "Holy Sepulcher!" To "cry one's ensign" was a great object in all mediæval battles.
Chapter XVI: The Life of the Peasants.
Thus have been seen Messire Conon and his familiars in their pleasures, feasts, and wars. The gentle folk seem to monopolize all the life of the barony. Yet at best they number scarce one in a hundred of all the Christians who dwell therein. Assuredly the poor and humble seem much less interesting and command less attention. They have no splendors, no picturesque fêtes or feuds. A life of monotonous poverty seldom detains the chronicler; nevertheless, it is time to visit the village of huts so often seen spreading beyond the bridge to the west of the castle.
The St. Aliquis peasants are told that they have naught whereof to complain. They have a kindly seigneur who "renders justice." Since the Foretvert feud, no war has ravaged them. The saints of late have sent neither short crops nor pestilence. To repine against their lot is ingratitude toward God.