92
In Old French in the original Latin text: “Adieu Francoys, mon amy! jamais plus ne nous entreverrons en cest monde; je pri Dieu qu’il vous doint bonne pacience et esperance en Dieu que nous nous entreverrons en la grant joye de paradis! Priez Dieu pour moy et je prieray pour vous.”
93
This concerns Florence, in Tuscany. Lombardy then signified Italy.
94
The original says in Latin, “per verba seu vocabula cooperta,” and glosses the expression in Old French as “par paroles couvertes.”
95
Translator’s note: see p. 158, note 2.
96
The following; text is preceded in the transcript by these words: “Content of the aforesaid memoranda of promulgation mentioned above, which follow and are such.”
97
“Affidavits of witnesses produced on the part of the aforesaid Master Guillaume Chapeillon, the prosecutor, before the aforesaid Reverend Father in God, Milord Jean, Bishop of Nantes, and Friar Jean Blouyn, Inquisitor into Heresy, by order and mandate of the aforesaid lords judges, faithfully and diligently examined, insofar as possible, on the abovecited articles of the aforesaid prosecutor, by us, Jean Delaunay, Jean Petit, Nicolas Géraud and Guillaume Lesné, aforesaid notaries public and commissioners, scribes deputed in the case and the cases of this order, by the aforesaid lords judges.”
98
Breton’s and the one Prelati himself had brought from Italy.
99
Rendered in French {d’aimant} in the original Latin text.
100
In French in the original Latin text.
101
François Prelati.
102
Jean Petit.
103
Georget Le Barbier.
104
François Prelati.
105
Lenano, Marquis de Ceva.
106
This term is not probable. Perhaps it is a question of three months. See also p. 234.
107
In French in the original Latin text. Editor’s note: this is a cutlass, or short-sword.
108
Translator’s note: italicized in the French {douves}.
109
In fact, Ascension Day, August 25, 1439.
110
In fact, around June 26, 1439.
111
In French {sur une cimaise} in the original Latin text. It doubtless concerns the mantelpiece above the fireplace. Editor’s note: a “cyma” is a cornice molding.
112
In Old French in the original Latin text: “N’estoit pas messire Rogier de Briqueville bien traistre, qui nous faisoit regarder, Robin Romulart et moy, à la dame de Jarville et Thomin d’Araguin, par une fante, quant nous oustions lesdits ossemens et savoit bien tout ce fait?”
113
In French {il fera venir maitre Aliboron} in the original Latin text.
114
In French in the original Latin text.
115
Translator’s note: italicized in the French {douves}.
116
Probably three months. See p. 224.
117
In French in the original Latin text.
118
In Old French in the original Latin text: “N’cstoit pas messire Rogier de Briqueville bien traistre, qui nous faisoit regarder, Robin et moy, à la dame de Jarville et Thomin d’Araguin, par une fante quand nous oustions lesdiz ossemens, et savoit bien tout ce fait.”
119
In French {qu’il ferait venir MeAliboron} in the original Latin text.
120
In French {la cimaise} in the original Latin text. See p. 223, note 15.
121
In French {jusarme} in the original Latin text. Editor’s note: this is a double-edged halberd.
122
In French {Dehors! dehors!} in the original Latin text.
123
Editor’s note: two kinds of helmets.
124
In Piedmont.
125
In French {jusarme} in the original Latin text.
126
In Old French in the original Latin text: “Ha. ribault, tu as batu mes hommes, et leur as fait extortion; viens dehors de l’eglise ou je te tueroy tout mort!”
127
In French in the original Latin text.
128
A kind of helmet.
129
Another kind of helmet.
130
In French {jusarme} in the original Latin text.
131
See p. 242, note 30.
132
Old French in the original: “Faictes ce que il vous plera.”
133
From the Old French of the “civil trial” transcript, dating from 1530; provenance of the Archives de la Trémoille, preserved in the National Archives, call number 1 AP 585. This unauthenticated copy is the oldest and the best.
134
In the case of Agathe, the wife of Denis de Lemion, it is a question of her nephew, Colin Avril.
135
Translator’s note: The term in French is foirage, or forage, a “feudal term: the duty on wine and other drinks, imposed by a lord” (Littré II).
136
Hereafter, the manuscript of the Archives de la Tremoille reports on the ecclesiastical court events concerning the decision to torture (see p. 183), followed by what we provide here on the following pages. This kind of interpolation is characteristic of the free rendering of this portion of the manuscript.
137
Titles and other information borne at the head of the inquest proper are rendered in italics.
138
The first name of Jean Colin’s wife is not given; Olive is her mother’s first name.
139
The Old French of the civil trial reads: “sur ce, l‘on lui avait dit, en se merveillant, qu’on y mangeoit les petits enffants.” {“as for that, someone had told him, marveling, that they ate small children there.”}
140
In Eustache Blanchet’s deposition (p. 212), this Le Barbier is given as a pastry-cook.
141
François Prelati.
142
Editor’s note: A tunic or cape-like garment,.
143
François Prelati.
144
The text reads: “… who were living with Lord de Rais.”
145
François Prelati and the Marquis de Ceva.
146
They were not actually living at the castle, but in the area. The wording implies only that they were in his service.
147
Ysabeau Hamelin.
148
François Prelati.
149
The Marquis de Ceva.
150
Translator’s note: A word whose exact meaning I have not been able to ascertain. However, Yves Le Gallo of the Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique in France has access to the Old French civil trial document and offers three possible solutions: the word doesn’t exist; it is a fabrication on the part of the adapter of the text; it is the name of a man from Lower Brittany, with article capitalized, viz. Le Mancadre.
151
With regard to Denis de Lemion, his nephew, not his son, was at issue.
152
The text reads: “en pays d’amont” (“in the region upriver”).
153
Editor’s note: The French text offers both Spadine and Spadin.
154
Editor’s note: The French text offers both Agathe and Agaice.
155
It is apparently the son Avril who is Colin; the father is named Guillaume. See pp. 160 and 269-270.
156
This appears to be Richard, Count d’Étampes, brother of Jean V, Duke of Brittany.
157
Referring to the wife of Eonnet de Villeblanche (p. 281).
158
Clearly Tiphaine, the widow of Robin Branchu, and Perrine Martin, called La Meffraie. This Tiphaine was produced as a witness together with Perrine Martin, but their depositions have not come down to us (see p. 129).
159
Henriet’s confession before the secular court, especially at the beginning of the drafting of the deposition, is the same as before the ecclesiastical court (p. 232). It adds only a few details, such as the notion which struck Henriet, on his way to prison, to cut his own throat.
160
René de Rais, Gilles’ brother, Lord de La Suze.
161
Poitou’s confession differs more from his deposition before the ecclesiastical court than Henriet’s did.
162
More likely “two months.” See pp. 224 (note 10) and 234 (note 20).
163
The Marquis de Ceva.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
Foreword
The Tragedy of Gilles de Rais
THE TRAGEDY OF GILLES DE RAIS
The Sacred Monster
Bluebeard and Gilles de Rais
Glaring Truth ...
The Heir of Great Lords
The Maternal Grandfather: Jean de Craon
The Grandfather and the Grandson
Georges de La Trémoille and Gilles de Rais
The Foolishness of Gilles de Rais
Childishness and Archaism
Sexual Life: War
Sexual Life: The Child Murders
The High Rank of Gilles de Rais
The Tragedy of the Nobility
The Theatrical Ruin of Orléans
A Desperate Attempt: The Appeal to the Devil
Prelati, Final Euphoria, and Catastrophe
The Spectacular Death
Analysis of Historical Facts
ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL FACTS
The Historical Facts in Chronological Order
Various Problems and Historical Facts
The Trial Documents of Gilles de Rais
« PART ONE » - Verdict of the Ecclesiastical Court
I - PRELIMINARY RECORDS
II - RECORDS OF THE HEARINGS
III - DEPOSITIONS OF WITNESSES
« PART TWO » - The Secular Court Trial
I - SEMI-OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE COURT’S DISPATCH
II - INQUEST BY COMMISSIONERS OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY
III - RECORDS OF THE FINAL DAYS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Trial of Gilles De Rais Page 40
