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Two Accounts for the Chapel of René of Anjou (1449–54)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Extract

René of Anjou (1409–80) was a major figure in the French royal family in the fifteenth century. He inherited some of his titles and lands from his brother Louis III, held previously by his father Louis II and grandfather Louis I (the second son of John II, King of France). But marriage and politics had also increased the wealth and power of the Angevins, adding to the Dukedom of Anjou the Dukedoms of Lorraine and of Bar, the County of Provence, the Kingdoms of Sicily and of Naples, and the title of King of Jerusalem. In the later phases of the Anglo-French conflicts of the fifteenth century René initially supported the Anglo-Burgundian alliance, but later (by 16 July 1429) he transferred his allegiance to the French crown. Captured by the Burgundians at the Battle of Bulgneville on 2 July 1431, he was held prisoner at Dijon until 1437. He was granted provisional liberty between 1432 and 1434, and again in 1435, and was finally released in 1437 after payment of a large ransom.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Musical Association, 1993

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References

Notes

1 This work has been taken from my dissertation, ‘The Foundation and Early History of the Chapel of René, Duke of Anjou (c1440-c1460)', submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music (Historical Musicology), Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, September 1990. I would like to thank Dr Andrew Wathey for his support and suggestions both during the work towards my MMus and during the preparation of this work. Dr David Fallows of Manchester University and Dr Mike Routledge of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College both read the text and made valuable suggestions for which I am grateful. I would also like to thank Frazer-Nash NDT Limited of Radcliffe, Manchester for financial support during the period of study towards this work.Google Scholar

2 Louis III died on 12 November 1434.Google Scholar

3 René married Isabelle of Lorraine. Her father Charles II of Lorraine disinherited his nephew Antoine de Vaudemont on 13 January 1425, recognising instead Isabelle, his eldest daughter, as heiress. Isabelle inherited in 1430 on the death of her father. See Gain, A., Histoire de Lorraine, Société Lorraine des études locales dans l'enseignement publique (Nancy, 1939), 139. René's uncle, Cardinal Louis, Duke of Bar, adopted René as his heir (ibid., 138).Google Scholar

4 A form of tax of the provinces.Google Scholar

5 A. Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits des comptes et mémoriaux du roi René pour servir à l'histoire des arts au XVe siècle. Documents historiques publiés par la société de l'ecole des chartes, 1 (Paris, 1873).Google Scholar

6 For a full transcription of these two documents, see below.Google Scholar

7 The tabliers of Moustiers, Tharascon, Tholon, Dyeres, Digne, Bregnolles, Saint Maximi, Bariolz, Draguignan, Grace, Saint Paoul, Guilleres, Castellanne, Sene, Colomars, Sisteron, Fourcalquier, Dapt and Daix are listed in FFr 8588. The tabliers are not listed in detail in KK 245.Google Scholar

8 A Guillem Guillemart, Hacquinet de Roddes, Pieret Barbier, et Jehan de Montigny, chantres, le xxve jour audit moys, treize livres quinze solz à eulx ordonnez par ledit seigneur, pour considération de la despence que ils forent, allant de Launay à Rillé, en Anjou, où icelluy seigneur les manda aller devers luy, puis de là à Langeais et de Langeais à Tours, tant en louaige de cinq chevaulx pour eux et ung leur serviteur, pour leur despense de bouche et desdits chévaulx, par neuf jours entiers, que ils firent oudit voiage, que aussi pour vestemens nécessaires à jouer certaines farses que ledit seigneur leur fist jouer devant la reineGoogle Scholar

xiii lxvsGoogle Scholar

(Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, iii, 59, taken from Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhone, B2479, 59v).Google Scholar

9 See Appendix entry on Feragut for biographical details.Google Scholar

10 See entry 35 in the transcription.Google Scholar

11 See entry 36 in the transcription.Google Scholar

12 For more details on the careers of these chapel members, see their entries in the Appendix.Google Scholar

13 See Robin, F., La cour d'Anjou-Provence: la vie artistique sous le règne de René (Paris, 1985), for a consideration of the Italian links of the court.Google Scholar

14 See ibid., 60.Google Scholar

15 See Appendix entry.Google Scholar

16 For a discussion of various currencies and exchange rates, See Spufford, P., Handbook of Medieval Exchange (London, 1986). M. Miquel, Quand le bon roi était en Provence (1447–1480) (Paris, 1979) gives a breakdown of exchange rates during the period 1472–4, but most of the rates have changed by this time.Google Scholar

17 Spufford, Handbook, 193.Google Scholar

18 Spufford, Handbook, 185.Google Scholar

19 Spufford, Handbook, 179.Google Scholar

20 Spufford, Handbook, 180.Google Scholar

21 Spufford, Handbook, 187.Google Scholar

22 Sections of this first document may be found transcribed in Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 302–7.Google Scholar

23 Taken from Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 303.Google Scholar

24 Something interlined, but illegible.Google Scholar

25 I.e. cueillir.Google Scholar

26 laiete: a small box used especially to keep papers in archives (F. Godefroy, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXe au XVe siècle (1880–1902), iv, 700). Archives Nationales: Etat Géneral des fonds (Paris, 1978–88), i, 185 describes the layette as part of a system of organisation of the Trésor des Chartes of the French crown.Google Scholar

27 Obstacle (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, vi, 558).Google Scholar

28 Interlined.Google Scholar

29 et qui onn interlined.Google Scholar

30 ou nous et comme commis dessusdit written over an erasion.Google Scholar

31 octobre written over an erasion.Google Scholar

32 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

33 de la mise … inclus written in a different hand.Google Scholar

34 xxcxxvii livres xv sols tournois crossed out.Google Scholar

35 xxxvij florins written over an erasion.Google Scholar

36 Someone who looks after the accounts (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, vi, 619).Google Scholar

37 Archivist (ibid., i, 382).Google Scholar

38 This amount does not agree with the initial amount in the entry of 1237 florins. As this initial amount is written over an erasion it is probable that this second amount was the original figure entered and that only the initial amount was corrected.Google Scholar

39 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

40 m iiiic ix livres xv sols tournois pour …vj d added.Google Scholar

41 A type of craftsman (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, v, 417).Google Scholar

42 Saint Maximin (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).Google Scholar

43 Draguignan (Var).Google Scholar

44 Several of the names in this entry are difficult to read and it has proved impossible to trace them in the published accounts. I have therefore transcribed the letters that can be read and have made no attempt to extend the names.Google Scholar

45 As appears in the manuscript.Google Scholar

46 Which must be accepted (Godefroy, Dictionnaire, i, 42).Google Scholar

47 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar

48 cy rendu interlined.Google Scholar

49 Interlined.Google Scholar

50 Although the figure is illegible, the exchange rate from escus means this must be the amount.Google Scholar

51 Two lines erased from the manuscript.Google Scholar

52 Interlined.Google Scholar

53 Lecoy de la Marche, Extraits, 305, nl, identifies this with Seigneulle (Meuse) in the Duchy of Bar.Google Scholar

54 vi deniers interlined.Google Scholar

55 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

56 Interlined.Google Scholar

57 xviij escus interlined.Google Scholar

58 xij escus interlined.Google Scholar

59 cinq escus interlined.Google Scholar

60 Interlined.Google Scholar

61 lesquelles parties … vj deniers written in a different hand.Google Scholar

62 dix crossed out. Only eight singers are mentioned in the entry and the amount for the entry, 110 livres, corresponds to 80 escus not 100 escus.Google Scholar

63 tournois crossed out.Google Scholar

64 Subtotal for the page, not referring to this entry.Google Scholar

65 iiiixx crossed out.Google Scholar

66 Interlined.Google Scholar

67 par… paie inserted from the right hand margin.Google Scholar

68 et xv sols interlined.Google Scholar

69 mil iiiic crossed out.Google Scholar

70 Interlined.Google Scholar

71 neuf escus crossed out.Google Scholar

72 ledit mandement crossed out.Google Scholar

73 The amount should read 471 livres.Google Scholar

74 Illegible, but the reading must be this.Google Scholar

75 Although the figure is difficult to read, the exchange rates and subtotal for the page both show this must be correct.Google Scholar

76 audit Pierre … escus interlined.Google Scholar

77 avecques … evesque added.Google Scholar

78 Interlined.Google Scholar

79 Interlined above dicelui which has been crossed out.Google Scholar

80 Insertion from the left hand margin.Google Scholar

81 d'Alencon crossed out and replaced with d'Orleans interlined.Google Scholar

82 Illegible insertion.Google Scholar

83 donne … deux inserted from the right hand margin.Google Scholar

84 The amount should read 63 livres 5 sols.Google Scholar

85 Prouvence crossed out.Google Scholar

86 Cardot teneurs underlined but possibly meant to be crossed out.Google Scholar

87 soixante douze interlined above quatre vingts quatre crossed out.Google Scholar

88 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

89 de crossed out.Google Scholar

90 x is almost deleted.Google Scholar

91 juing is written over juillet.Google Scholar

92 Subtotal for the page, not for this entry.Google Scholar

93 ciiijxx iiij escus valient a livres tournois crossed out.Google Scholar

94 Donne crossed out.Google Scholar

93 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

96 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

97 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

98 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

99 xiime … neuf added.Google Scholar

100 du crossed out.Google Scholar

101 pour ce en despense crossed out.Google Scholar

102 rendu … compte added.Google Scholar

103 pour ce a livres crossed out.Google Scholar

104 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

105 Interlined.Google Scholar

106 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

107 Cest… lii interlined.Google Scholar

108 The amount 110 livres should be entered here.Google Scholar

109 Contents of this folio crossed out.Google Scholar

110 livres crossed out.Google Scholar

111 ou … de inserted from right hand margin.Google Scholar

112 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

113 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

114 et demi erased but still legible.Google Scholar

115 au crossed out.Google Scholar

116 qui est demie annee par avant ce present compte crossed out.Google Scholar

117 mais pour ce qu’ il s’ est descharge en la despense ou chappitre de deniers comptez et non receuz crossed out.Google Scholar

118 cccc crossed out.Google Scholar

119 la reprent et fait cy entree de recepte ledit commis pour ce du revenu desdits tabliers pour ladite demie annee crossed out.Google Scholar

120 In Le Roi René, Actes du Colloque, p. 43, jug maige is described as the sovereign justice office in Provence.Google Scholar

121 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

122 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

123 Andre Raux et crossed out.Google Scholar

124 [c]m xxv florins crossed out. Subtotal in right hand margin as total for page.Google Scholar

125 de touz crossed out.Google Scholar

126 desdits altered from lesdits.Google Scholar

127 le dit crossed out.Google Scholar

128 Interlined.Google Scholar

129 d'avril crossed out.Google Scholar

130 prochain venant crossed out.Google Scholar

131 cinq crossed out.Google Scholar

132 quittance et crossed out.Google Scholar

133 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar

134 contenant… ce added in a later hand.Google Scholar

135 et quittance expediee crossed out.Google Scholar

136 pour ce crossed out.Google Scholar

137 contenant… ce added in a later hand (the same hand and ink as 113 above).Google Scholar

138 Interlined.Google Scholar

139 pour ce cent… tournois written over an erasion.Google Scholar

140 leurs… juillet interlined above semble cause crossed out.Google Scholar

141 The amount should read 185 livres not 187.Google Scholar

142 Written over an erasion. Original name smaller.Google Scholar

143 Interlined above chantres crossed out.Google Scholar

144 Two lines of text and a subtotal erased.Google Scholar

143 Written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment of text and subtotals.Google Scholar

146 The amount entered has not been altered in line with the alterations in the text; the extra 10 escus added have not been accounted for.Google Scholar

147 contenant la written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment.Google Scholar

148 First x written over an erasion.Google Scholar

149 C'est … escus written over an erasion.Google Scholar

150 Only actually paid 10 escus.Google Scholar

151 Written over an erasion. From this point the text has been added, with a dotted line from the end of the entry to the relevant subtotal correcting the consequent misalignment.Google Scholar

152 de Sicile… seigneur written over an erasion.Google Scholar

153 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

154 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

155 Left blank.Google Scholar

156 cy crossed out.Google Scholar

157 Written over an erasion.Google Scholar

158 comme dessusdit written over an erasion.Google Scholar

159 Taken from right hand margin.Google Scholar

160 m cccc … appert written over an erasion.Google Scholar

161 Gap in the manuscript.Google Scholar

162 l'an m cccc… somme written over an erasion.Google Scholar

163 et neuf… livres written over an erasion.Google Scholar

164 contenant… chappelle added text in the same hand as the marginalia.Google Scholar

165 The folio total should be 181 livres 10 sols: the 33 livres and one of the 16 livres 10 sols are missing from the calculation.Google Scholar

166 Folio total should read 206 livres 5 sols.Google Scholar

167 Line left blank to fill in dates.Google Scholar

168 The whole of this entry has been crossed out.Google Scholar

169 a raison de written over an erasion and then a gap left.Google Scholar

170 The whole of this entry has been crossed out.Google Scholar

171 a paye … receveur written over an erasion.Google Scholar

172 quatre underlined and deux inserted above it.Google Scholar

173 The two amounts entered apply to the two entries for the number of escus paid.Google Scholar

174 See Perkins, L. L., ‘Musical Patronage at the Royal Court of France under Charles VII and Louis XI (1422–83)', Journal of the American Musicological Society, 37 (1984), 534, 548 and 554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

175 The motet is transcribed in C. van den Borren, Polyphonia Sacra, The Plainsong and Medieval Society (Burnham, 1932), 249–51.Google Scholar

176 For evidence of Feragut in Vicenza in 1409 See Mixter, K.E., ‘Feragut, Beltrame [Bertrand di Avignone]', The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (London, 1980), vi, 468.Google Scholar

177 F. A. d'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni in Florence during the Fifteenth Century', Journal of the American Musicological Society, 14 (1961), 307–58.Google Scholar

178 For transcription of this motet see van den Borren, Polyphonia, 257–61.Google Scholar

179 See Lockwood, L., Music in Renaissance Ferrara: 1400–1505 (Oxford, 1984), 34.Google Scholar

180 Lockwood, Music in Renaissance Ferrara, 35, citing Ferrara, Biblioteca Comunale Ariostea, MS Cl. I, 456, f. 35v: pro collacione cantori domine Bertrandi et aliorum cantorum domini Marchois qui cantaverunt in coro die dominico.Google Scholar

181 See d'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni', 310 and 351, citing Florence, Archivio dell’ Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, Allogazioni, I, 1, 4, f. 3V: Fratem Beltranum ordinis Sancti Agustini, cum salario librarum quatuor parvorum pro quolibet mense.Google Scholar

182 D'Accone, “The Singers of San Giovanni', 313.Google Scholar

183 Lockwood, Music in Renaissance Ferrara, 35.Google Scholar

184 See Perkins, ‘Musical Patronage', 544. For the year 1456–7 only numbers of chapel members are given, without names, but Perkins suggests that Fontenoy was present from this year.Google Scholar

185 Perkins, ‘Musical Patronage', 552.Google Scholar

186 See Marix, J., Histoire de la musique et des musiciens de la cour de Bourgogne sous le règne de Philippe le Bon (1420–1467) (Strasbourg, 1973), 251. In the accounts for the court he is referred to as both Jehan Hire and Jehan Hue dit l'Ecluse.Google Scholar