Heptameron

The first story is told by Simontaut to illustrate the foul deeds of women upon men. A procurator named Saint-Aignan married a woman “who was more beautiful than she was virtuous” and who is also involved with Bishop of Sées (71). The woman becomes enamored of a young man named du Mesnil, and they become lovers. When du Mesnil discovers she was also involved with the Bishop, he ends their relationship. Enraged by the rejection, she plans her revenge, eventually setting a trap for him through which he is murdered by her husband and another. They attempt to cover up the murder, but servants testify against them, and having fled to England, they are sentenced to death in absentia. After some time, Saint-Aignan negotiates their return to France with the help of the King of England. Upon return, Saint-Aignan begins to associate with a sorcerer named Gallery, who, with enchanted dolls, casts a spell for the goodwill of the King and another, while cursing du Mesnil’s father, the King’s sister, and his own wife with death. The wife herself overhears and passes this information through the grapevine until it reaches the King himself, who sentences the two to death.