it. the. through a large round arch in the eastern cloister the monks entered the chapter house the assembly room above the stout romanesque pillars is the dormitory where all the monks slept. in the chapter house the monks were released from their vows silence this is where issues and developments affecting the ministry were discussed first a monk would read the legend of a saint or a section of the book of rules then the abbot would comment on the reading and if you practical instructions for work assignments next came the monks confession in a loud voice they acknowledged their sins and faults and the abbot decided what form of penance or punishment was required on sundays and religious holidays les brethren were also admitted to the assembly but they had to leave before the monks confession. in its simplicity of line the abbey church at fontenay appeared to mises the ideas of scent ban on unlike most sister ocean churches it was built with only one story and large arcades. the church is sixty six meters long and seventeen meters high and nestles discreetly among the of a ministry buildings but inside its uniqueness becomes apparent. was. the. i. the chancellor square like the cloisters and brightly lit by six windows was. the old to inbound last time was probably a simple table was. was the sculpted figures on the wall behind were added after his death was. a narrow staircase leads to the monk's dormitory. they slept in their clothes their hoods pulled over their heads the beds were hard consisting of a thin layer of straw on the floor a sheet a woman blanket and a pillow with the only concession to comfort the sleeping places were separated by low walls. fontenay did not enjoy a long and happy existence as an abbey during the hundred years war between england and france in the fourteenth century it was sacked and plundered many times later in the baroque period the monks increasingly came to resemble those they had once despised they accumulated wealth acquired feudal rights to villages and large areas of land and ruthlessly exploited the peasants the boundaries of the monastery extended further and further outwards. rebellious peasants raided the monks granary but when the abbot sought protection from the french king they moved out of the fire into the frying pan now their property was plundered by the crown. a few tears were shed when the abbey was expropriated during the french revolution that was in seventy ninety later a paper mill was set up on the site the abbey looked like falling into total decay but then fortune smiled once again the property was bought by a banking family from leone who set about rebuilding and restoring fontenay to its original state. it was no longer the time for a major religious movement but the new owners did succeed in creating the perfect replica of. the buildings also stand as a reminder of one of the great figures of medieval europe. a charismatic leader. according to his own. name those ideas are presumed immortalized in stone. the conflicts. the powerful. it's a year. in the. gun on losing in state elections around the my guest here in washington is here a time that a long time advisor to hillary clinton why all the democrats finding it so hard to find a new direction. all . firing.