[Footnote 1: This story is taken from an old _fabliau_ entitled _Les
Deux Changeurs_, and has been copied by Malespini, Straparolla, and
other Italian writers. Brantôme, in _Les Dames Galantes_, records that,
“Louis, Duc d’Orléans was a great seducer of Court ladies, and always
the greatest. A beautiful and noble lady was sleeping with him when
her husband came into the chamber to wish the Duke good-day. The Duke
covered the lady’s head with the sheet, and uncovered the rest of her
body, and allowed the husband to look and touch as much as he liked, but
forbade him, as he valued his life, to uncover her head--And the best of
it was, that the next night, the husband being in bed with his wife told
her that the Duke had shown him the most beautiful naked woman that ever
he saw, but as to her face he could not report, being forbidden to
see it. I leave you to imagine what his wife thought!” The lady
was,--scandal averred--Mariette d’Enghien, the mother of the brave and
handsome Comte de Dunois, known in French history as “the bastard of
Orléans.” In the M. S. discovered by Mr. Thomas Wright in the Hunterian
Library at Glasgow, this story is ascribed to “Monseigneur le Duc,” as
is also the following one.]
[Footnote 3: Taken from the _Facetiae_ of Poggio. It has been imitated
by Straparolo, Malespini--whom it will be unnecessary to mention each
time as he has copied the whole of the _Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_ with
hardly one exception--Estienne (_Apologie pour Hérodote_) La Fontaine
(_Contes_, lib II, conte II) and others.
Monseigneur de la Roche, the author of the story, was Chamberlain to the
Duke of Burgundy, at a salary of 36 _sols_ per month. He was one of the
wisest councillors of Philippe le Bel and Charles le Téméraire, and
after the death of the latter was created Grand Seneschal of Burgundy.
He died about 1498. He was one of the most prolific of all the
contributors to the _Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_, and related Nos 3, 8,
10, 12, 15, 18, 36, 37, 41, 44, 45, 47, 48, and 52.]
[Footnote 4: This and the three following stories are all original.]
[Footnote 5: An interesting anecdote of the “warlike and martial
Talbot.” Philippe de Laon was “squire of the stables” to the Duke of
Burgundy in 1461. He contributed also Nos. 20, 21, 66, 67, 74, and 76.]
[Footnote 6: Jean de Lanoy (Launoy, in Vérard’s 1st ed.) created a
knight of the Golden Fleece in 1451; an officer of the household of
the D. of Burgundy. Louis XI, on his accession, created him Governor
of Lille, and Bailli of Amiens, and sent him on a secret mission to the
King of England. Charles le Téméraire, indignant with Lanoy for having
gone over to his enemy, confiscated all his possessions in Brabant.
After the death of Charles, Lanoy went back to Burgundy, and took an
important share in the political events of the time. In some editions
stories Nos 82, and 92 are ascribed to him; in others, the one is by
Jehan Marten, and the other by “the Editor.”]
[Footnote 8: Taken from Poggio (_Repensa merces_). Has been imitated by
La Fontaine (_Contes_ lib III, conte V.)]
[Footnote 9: An old story which forms the subject of a “fable”
by Enguerrand d’Oisi (_Le Meunier d’Aleu_) also used by Boccaccio
(Decameron 8th Day, 4th Story) and Poggio. Has since been imitated by
Margaret of Navarre (story VIII) Boucher, Chapuys, and La Fortaine (_les
Quiproquos_).]
[Footnote 10: So far as I am aware, this story first appeared in _Les
Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_. It was subsequently imitated by the Author of
_Les Joyeuses Adventures_, and La Fontaine (_Contes_ lib I. _conte_ XII.)]
[Footnote 11: Taken from Poggio; afterwards used by Rabelais as “Hans
Carvel’s Ring”, _Pantagruel_, lib 3, chap 28.]
[Footnote 12: The story is found in Poggio and the _Cente Nouvelle
Antiche_. There have been many modern imitations, culminating in La
Fontaine (_Contes_, lib 2. conte XII).]
[Footnote 13: By Jean d’Enghien, Sieur de Kessergat, an official at
the Court of Burgundy, and also “Amant” or keeper of the Archives at
Brussels. See also No. 53.]
[Footnote 14: Can be traced back to Josephus (_History of the Jews_ lib
XVIII. chap XIII.) Also found in Boccaccio, La Fontaine, and Marmontel
(_La Mari sylphe_).
Jean de Crequy was a knight of the Golden Fleece, and one of the twelve
nobles who carried the Duke’s body at the funeral of Philippe le Bel.
This is the only story he contributed.]
[Footnote 16: A very old story, probably of Eastern origin. It has been
used by many story-tellers and is found in Boccaccio (_Dec_. day VII,
story VI) the _Gesta Romanorum_, and in several of the collections of
fabliaux. As for the versions of later date than the _Cent Nouvelles
Nouvelles_, they are still more numerous. At least four of the followers
of Boccaccio, also Marguerite of Navarre (_Heptameron_), Estienne
(_Apologie pour Hérodote_) and several others have used it, to my
knowledge.]
[Footnote 18: Found in Boccaccio, Poggio, and several of the _fabliaux_.
Copied several times during the 17th and 18th centuries, French writers
apparently thinking that “the gentleman of Burgundy” acted up to his
title, and was not a mean and contemptible scoundrel as most Englishmen
would deem him.]
[Footnote 19: An amusing story, borrowed from the troubadours, and since
copied by Sansovino, Chapuys, Grécourt, and the author of _Joueuses
Adventures_.
Philippe Vignier was _valet de chambre_ to the Duke of Burgundy in 1451.
No. 86 is also ascribed to him in Mr. Wright’s edition.]
[Footnote 21: From Poggio (_Priapus vis_) and also forms the subject of
one of La Fontaine’s _Contes_.]
[Footnote 22: Caron was “clerk of the chapel” to the Duke of Burgundy.]
[Footnote 23: From an old _fabliau_; since copied by several writers,
French and Italian.
The author’s name is given as Commesuram by Verard and as de Qucevrain
in Mr. Wright’s edition. He is possibly identical with Louis de
Luxembourg, Count of St. Pol, whose name appears at the head of story
39. He also contributed Nos. 62 and 72.]
[Footnote 24: Taken from an old English ballad included in Percy’s
Reliques. It is curious that the author--de Fiennes--bears the same name
as an English nobleman--Lord Saye and Sele.
Thebaut de Luxembourg (Monseigneur de Fiennes) after the death of his
wife, Phillipine de Melun, turned monk, and lived to be Abbot of Igny
and Orcamp, and finally Bishop of Mans. He died in 1477. He also wrote
No. 43.]
[Footnote 25: Monseigneur de Saint Yon Was cup-bearer to Philippe le
Bel, with a salary of 100 francs a year.]
[Footnote 26: Nothing is known of M. de Foquessoles the writer of this
story.]
[Footnote 27: The name of de Beauvoir attached to this story proves
that the tales were not edited till after 1461. For Jean de Montespedan
followed Louis when he returned to take the throne, and was created by
him seigneur of Beauvoir. He was a faithful follower of Louis, and in
1460 carried a letter from the Dauphin to Charles VII--no pleasant, or
even safe, task. He also wrote No. 30.]
[Footnote 28: Michault de Changy was a Privy Councillor, Chamberlain,
Chief Carver, and afterwards Steward, to Dukes Philip and Charles. He
was the trusty confidant and adviser of the latter, who loaded him with
favours. After the death of Charles le Téméraire, Louis XI confirmed de
Changy in all the offices which he held in Burgundy. See also Nos. 40,
64, 79, and 80.]
[Footnote 31: An almost identical story is told of Henri de Guise in the
_Historiettes_ of Tallemant des Réaux.]
Jean d’Estuer, Seigneur de la Barde was a trusty servant of Louis XI and
successively Seneschal of Limousin, Ambassador (or rather secret agent)
to England, Seneschal of Lyon, and Governor of Perpignan.]
[Footnote 32: Taken from Poggio, and used afterwards by La Fontaine.
De Villiers became one of the most trusted servants of Louis XI, and
conducted many difficult and delicate negotiations for him.]
[Footnote 34: The original of this story is an old _fabliau_. It has
been often imitated in more recent times.]
[Footnote 38: From Boccaccio (_Dec_., day VII, nov VIII) but is of
Eastern origin, and is found in Bidpai. It was probably brought to
France by the Crusaders, for it is met with in the _fabliaux_.
Antoine de Chateauneuf, Baron de Lau, was a favourite of Louis XI, who
bestowed on him some important offices, and large sums of money. He
afterwards fell into disgrace, and was imprisoned in the castle of
Usson, in Auvergne, but managed to escape in 1468, retired to Burgundy,
and seems to have made his peace with Louis and been restored to favour,
for he was Governor of Perpignan in 1472. He died before 1485.]
[Footnote 39: The Comte de Saint Pol has been thought to be identical
with M. de Commesuram, the author of several of the _Cent Nouvelles
Nouvelles_. Saint Pol occupied an important part in history, and was
Constable of France, but he tried to play a double game, and betrayed
in turn both Louis and Charles the Bold. At last he was arrested,
condemned, and executed, December, 1475.]
[Footnote 42: Hervé Meriadech, a Breton squire and gallant soldier, who
performed several gallant feats of arms. Louis XI named him Governor of
Tournay in 1461.]
[Footnote 46: Much resembles No. XII. The author is believed to be
Chrestien de Dygoigne, whose name appears at the head of story No. 68.]
[Footnote 47: This is believed to be a true story. The person who got
rid of his wife in this cunning way was Caffrey Carles, President of the
Parliament of Grenoble. He was skilled in Latin and “the humanities”--in
the plural only it would appear--and was chosen by Anne of Brittany, the
wife of Louis XII, to teach her daughter, Renée, afterwards Duchess of
Perrara.