1 (return)
[ 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.]

3 (return)
[ 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.]

4 (return)
[ This and the three following stories are all original.]

5 (return)
[ 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.]

6 (return)
[ 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.”]

8 (return)
[ Taken from Poggio (Repensa merces). Has been imitated by La Fontaine (Contes lib III, conte V.)]

9 (return)
[ 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).]

10 (return)
[ 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.)]

11 (return)
[ Taken from Poggio; afterwards used by Rabelais as “Hans Carvel’s Ring”, Pantagruel, lib 3, chap 28.]

12 (return)
[ 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).]

13 (return)
[ 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.]

14 (return)
[ 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.]

16 (return)
[ 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.]

18 (return)
[ 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.]

19 (return)
[ 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.]

21 (return)
[ From Poggio (Priapus vis) and also forms the subject of one of La Fontaine’s Contes.]

22 (return)
[ Caron was “clerk of the chapel” to the Duke of Burgundy.]

23 (return)
[ 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.]

24 (return)
[ 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.]

25 (return)
[ Monseigneur de Saint Yon Was cup-bearer to Philippe le Bel, with a salary of 100 francs a year.]

26 (return)
[ Nothing is known of M. de Foquessoles the writer of this story.]

27 (return)
[ 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.]

28 (return)
[ 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.]

31 (return)
[ 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.]

32 (return)
[ 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.]

34 (return)
[ The original of this story is an old fabliau. It has been often imitated in more recent times.]

38 (return)
[ 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.]

39 (return)
[ 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.]

42 (return)
[ HervÉ Meriadech, a Breton squire and gallant soldier, who performed several gallant feats of arms. Louis XI named him Governor of Tournay in 1461.]

46 (return)
[ Much resembles No. XII. The author is believed to be Chrestien de Dygoigne, whose name appears at the head of story No. 68.]

47 (return)
[ 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.

The story is so dramatic that it has been often imitated.]

50 (return)
[ By Antoine de la Sale, a short appreciation of whose literary merits appears in the Introduction. He has appended his own name to this story; in other cases he appears as “L’Acteur” that is to say the “Editor.” (See No. 51). The story is taken from Sacchetti or Poggio. The idea has suggested itself to many writers, including Lawrence Sterne, in Tristram Shandy.]

52 (return)
[ Taken from Sacchetti.]

59 (return)
[ by Poncelet, or Pourcelet, one of the Council of the Duke of Burgundy.]

60 (return)
[ by Poncelet, or Pourcelet, one of the Council of the Duke of Burgundy. No. 60 is from an old fabliau, (FrÈre Denise, cordelier) and is to be found in the Heptameron, the Apologie pour HÉrodote etc.]

61 (return)
[ by Poncelet, or Pourcelet, one of the Council of the Duke of Burgundy. No. 61 is also from an old fabliau, (Les Cheveux coupe’s). Mr. Wright also credits him with No. 89.]

63 (return)
[ is related by Montbleru himself, according to Mr. Wright’s edition, but in VÉrard there is no author’s name.]

64 (return)
[ From an old fabliau, and often imitated.]

69 (return)
[ M. Leroux de Lincy believes that Le Sage took the story of Dona Mencia,—intercalated in Gil Blas—from this tale.]

75 (return)
[ Gui, Seigneur de Thalemas died, without issue, in 1463.]

76 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

78 (return)
[ This story is originally found in Boccaccio (Dec. day VII, nov V) and in an old fabliau. (Le Chevalier qui fist sa femme confesser). La Fontaine has imitated it. See note on No. 82.]

79 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

80 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

81 (return)
[ By M. de Waulvrin (Vaurin), Chamberlain to the Duke of Burgundy. He wrote a history of England and France from the earliest times to 1471. Also contributed No. 83.]

82 (return)
[ In the Table of Contents of VÉrard’s edition, this story is ascribed to Monseigneur de Lannoy, but at the head of the story itself the name of the author is given as Jean Martin, who also wrote No. 78. Jean Martin was chief sommelier du corps to Philippe le Bel. After the death of that Duke he did not remain in the service of Charles le TÉmÉraire, but retired to Dijon, where he died, 28th Nov. 1475.]

84 (return)
[ In the Table of Contents this story is ascribed to the Marquis de Rothelin. He was Marquis de Hocheberg, Comte de NeufchÂtel (Switzerland) Seigneur de Rothelin etc. Marshal of Burgundy, and Grand Seneschal of Provence. In 1491, he was appointed Grand Chamberlain of France. He died in 1503.]

85 (return)
[ The story is taken from an old fabliau (Le Forgeron de Creil) and has been used also by Sachetti, Des Periers and others. No author’s name is given in VÊrard, but in the M.S. from which Mr. Wright worked, the name of M. de Santilly is found at the head of this tale.]

88 (return)
[ Found also in Boccaccio (Dec. day VIII, nov. VII). Poggio (Fraus mulieris) and in several of the collections of fabliaux (La Bourgeoise d’OrlÉans).

Mr. Wright gives Alardin (who also contributed No. 77) as the author. An Alardin Bournel returned to France with Louis XI in 1461.]

90 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

91 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

93 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio. According to Mr. Wright, by TimolÉon Vignier, possibly a brother of Philippe Vignier.]

95 (return)
[ Taken from the Facetiae of Poggio.]

96 (return)
[ An exceedingly old story, found in a fabliau by Rutebeuf, Poggio’s Facetiae (Canis testamentum) etc. It also occurs in a collection of Russian folk-lore tales.]

99 (return)
[ Also from Poggio’s Facetiae (Sacerdotis virtus). Several of the saints have performed the same miracle in order to avoid the terrible sin of eating meat on a Friday. It was amongst the meritorious acts of one—St. Johannes Crucis—who was canonized as recently as 1840.]