Carcassonne Bishopric
Ecclesiastical Trial of Bérenger Saunière


Bérenger Saunière’s "Lists of Donors"

Bérenger Saunière prepared several "Lists of Donors" – here is the version that was presented at his Trial – taken from Jacques Rivière, Le Fabuleux Trésor de Rennes-Le-Château, Le Secret de L’Abbé Saunière (Éditions Bélisane, 1983):

 

Letter from Bérenger Saunière to Judge Cantegril

+ Rennes-le-Château, 25 March 1911

Sir,

Here is the information that I believe should answer your various quaesita.

1. It was some twenty years ago that I took in a family consisting of a father, mother and two children. The father and son were earning 300 francs per month. We pooled our resources, hence the amount saved of 52,000 francs. The family worked in the millinery business.

2. The collecting box was intended for the use of visitors, who, having listened to my explanations about the history of Rennes-le-Château together with a few polite remarks from me, rewarded my kindness by making a donation that, in a word, amounted to a tip. The generosity of the donations is explained by the large number of people taking the waters at Rennes-les-Bains and elsewhere.

3. The lottery was held in about 1887.

4. As my brother was a preacher he was very well connected. He acted as intermediary for these various acts of generosity.

5. The postcards show various views of Rennes-le-Château. There are thirty-three of them priced at ten centimes each. All the visitors to the spa have bought the entire collection. These cards have been so successful that I can hardly keep up with demand. These cards are new and are my own property.

6. My collection of old postage stamps amounts to almost 100,000 specimens. It is complete and for sale. I go along with the generally accepted prices. Genuine enthusiasts are only too grateful for the opportunity to build up their collections, and never haggle.

7. The old furniture, crockery and fabrics result from my searches in the countryside. Selling them enables me to recoup the cost of my researches and also my travelling expenses.

8. The packets and copies: I arrange for these to be made up by young people on behalf of newspapers and leaflet distributors. They are satisfied with the price that I offer them, and I still manage to make a profit on them.

9. Why shouldn’t I list, under assets, free transport and my personal work? Surely these were genuine personal savings?

Here, sir, are the explanations that I am, with the greatest possible loyalty, making it a matter of duty to offer in response to the quaesita that have been put to me,

Yours respectfully,

Abbé Bérenger Saunière

 

List of Donors prepared for the Trial
(In Huguet’s handwriting in Jacques Rivière’s book)

  1. Savings from 30 years in Ministry –15,000
  2. Family lodging with me for 20 years, earning me 300 francs a month – 52,000
  3. Madame de X. through her brother – 5,000
  4. Two Families from the Parish of Coursan – 1,500
  5. Madame Lieusere – 400
  6. Carthusian Fathers – 400
  7. Mgr Billard – 200
  8. The Countess of Chambord – 3,000
  9. Madame Labatut – 500
  10. Parish Collection – 300
  11. Rennes Church Council – 500
  12. Inheritance – 1,800
  13. Gifts from my Father – 800
  14. M. de C. – 20,000
  15. Collection Trunk, averaging 1,200 francs per annum for 15 years – 18,000
  16. Parish Lottery – 1,000
  17. By the intermediary of my Brother – 30,000
  18. Postcards, 60 francs per month, lasting five years – 3,600
  19. Old Stamps – 3,000
  20. Bands and copies of letters – 1,000
  21. Sale of Wine 1908 and 1909 – 1,600
  22. Old pieces of furniture, earthenware and fabrics – 4,000
  23. Case of the retirements – 800
………………………………
Carry Forward – 184,400
………………………………
  1. Two anonymous – 1,000
  2. Personal work of M. le Curé, for 5 years, at 3 francs per day – 3,750
  3. Voluntary and free transport – 4,000

TOTAL – 193,150

 

Here are two other drafts prepared by Bérenger Saunière:

Saunière’s handwritten ‘Memorandum’ (Taken from Corbu & Captier, L'Héritage de L'Abbé Saunière; 1985):

My savings from 30 years of ministry – 15,000
From Madame de Beauxchorte – 10,000
Two hatmakers in 20 years – 40,000
From [deleted: inheritance] the paternal house – 1,800
Parish of Coursan – 1,400
Madame Labatut – 500
Rennes Church Council – 500
Parish Collection – 300
From various families via my Brother – 600
From Madame Lieuzère de Bézanet – 400
From the Carthusians (twice) – 400
From Monsignor Billard (twice) – 300
From my father – 200
From my aunt – 200

TOTAL – 71,600

 

Saunière’s handwritten draft (Taken from Pierre Jarnac, Rennes-le-Château: Les Archives de l’abbé Saunière: 101 documents reproduits d’après les originaux, 1994; Document Number 91);

My savings from 30 years of ministry – 15,000
From Madame de Beauxchorte – 10,000
Hospitalized family, gaining 300 Francs per month, lasting 20 years – 40,000
From the paternal house – 1,800
Parish of Coursan – 1,400
Madame Labatut – 500
Rennes Church Council – 500
Parish Collection – 300
By the intermediary of my Brother – 800
From Madame Lieuzère de Lézanet – 400
From the Carthusians (twice) – 400
From Monsignor Billard (twice) – 300
From my father – 300
From my aunt – 200

TOTAL – 71,900


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