HISTORICAL NOTES

joined the ranks of the king's enemies. He obtained the king's pardon twice, but was finally put to death in 1477. According to a tradition his young children were placed under the scaffold so that their father's blood should fall on their heads. This very doubtful story is of course accepted, for the sake of dramatic effect, by Delavigne, and the death of Nemours at the end of the play is purely fictitious.

4. Philippe de Commines (more usually, "Comines"), seigneur d'Argenton, an able statesman and the first true historian since Roman times. He has left most important memoirs.

N.B. The spelling " Commine" is adopted throughout the play, so as to permit the elision of the final e before a vowel and so reduce the word to two syllables. (See Note on French Verse. )

5. CoiTlER, Louis XI's physician, had great power over the king, who was in great fear of death and paid his doctor large sums of money to keep him in health.

6. François de Paule (Saint Francis of Paula), an Italian of great sanctity, founded a religious order (" Friars Minims ") noted for its humility and charity. He was called to France by Louis XI, and remained in that country until his death in 1507.

7. Olivier-le-Daim, called by the people " Olivier le Diable', the king's barber, became his confidant and minister.

8. Tristan l'Ermite, provost of Louis XI, who treated him with great familiarity; he became the executor of the king's vengeance, and ordered the death, without trial, of a great many people who were summarily hanged on the trees surrounding the Château du Plessis.

9. Comte de Le de, Comte de Dreux, Duc de Craon, members of historical families.