Trial of Gilles De Rais (53 page)

Authors: George Bataille

Tags: #Non-Fiction, #Cultural Anthropology, #Psychology, #True Crime, #European History, #France, #Social History, #v.5, #Literary Studies, #Medieval History, #Amazon.com, #Criminology, #Retail, #History

BOOK: Trial of Gilles De Rais

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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.