HoB_Extending the Medieval Tradition

Title Les memoires, contenans le discours de plusieurs...

Brief description

Les Memoires de Mess. Martin Dv Bellay Seigneur de Langey follows in the tradition of earlier chronicle writing; a style that dates back to the fourth century, and is characterized by the practice of recording the history and events of a specific period or royal family. [1]

The memoirs of Martin du Bellay and his brother Guillaume du Bellay similarly recount the history and noteworthy events that occurred under the reign of Francis I, from 1513 until the King's death in 1547. The du Bellay brothers came from a noble French family. They were both engaged in military service under Francis I and were active in some of the military campaigns detailed in the text. Furthermore, Guillaume detailed his experiences during his service under Francis I, who supported his efforts to write a historical text and provided access to the royal archives, thus adding to the authoritative quality of the work.[2]

When Guillaume died in 1543, his writing was left unfinished, and was not completed until after his brother Martin began work on the text in 1555. Martin du Bellay edited his brother's writings, and added his own writings to complete the text. When he passed on in 1559, his brother-in-law René du Bellay took control of the work and was ultimately responsible for its printing in 1569 in Paris.[3] The collaboration of the du Bellay brothers is significant in that they produced a text that may be valued as an example of military history, literary history, and cultural history.

As an example of military history the text represents the political relations of the period, in addition to detailing a number of military campaigns between Francis I and his rivals. However, while the text does record the details pertaining to specific battles, Renaissance military memoirists had a tendency to be less concerned with writing histories for the purpose of teaching, instead providing their remembrances as a way to honor something or someone, essentially writing as a form of commemoration. This stems from the medieval and classical tradition of digna memoria, or writing about ‘honorable deeds.’[4]

Thus, Martin du Bellay's work is also significant in that it represents a certain type of writing in literary history. This type of writing is of interest because it also indicates aspects of the cultural history surrounding the production of certain types of books, and how status and power is communicated. For instance Les Memoires highlights the importance of the monarchy and the power of the aristocracy, through the commemorative style of writing; however, the very existence of the book also indicates a certain level of status, as the act of printing and producing a book, especially one of this size, would be quite expensive in 1569, even after the advent of the printing press.

Further, the book serves as an example of the level of craftsmanship that went into the creation of books from this period. The application of gilt decoration on the book's leather binding, the use of marginalia as a guide to important sections, and the appearance of decorated initials throughout the text collectively illustrate the amount of attention, skill, and cost that would have factored into the book's production. Subsequently, the production of such a book would aid in supporting the King's supremacy and cementing his place in history.

1. Brown, Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts, A Guide to Technical Terms, 39.
2. Knecht, “The Sword and the Pen: Blaise de Monluc and his Commentaires.” 105.
3. Harari. Renaissance Military Memoirs, War, History and Identity, 1450-1600, 198-99.
4. Ibid., 111-3.

Physical description

Binding: The book has a “tight back” style binding, with the covering attached to the spine and no visible joint. The pages have been assembled with the help of cords. When the book is covered, the cords appear on the spine as raised bands. Appears to be stable (possibly rebound).

Paper/substrate: Laid paper.

Printing method: Printing press; moveable type with woodcut illustrations. Monochrome printing in black ink.

Production techniques: Employs monochrome printing in black ink. Contains decorated initials. Contains marginalia in the form of annotations to the text, which indicate the location in the text where specific events are recorded.

Spine binding has two-line panel with gilt decoration (first panel text: “Memoires De Dubellay” second panel text: “1569”).

It is too large and heavy to be portable, unlike some of the personal prayer books we have seen. Also, the larger size would indicate that it would be quite expensive to produce. Due to the size of the book and the nature of the subject matter, it seems probable that the book would remain in a single location, or be placed on display.

Content description

This text is a military memoir, in addition to serving as a royal and political history of Francis I, King of France (1515-1547). The history was written by, and based on, the memories of Martin du Bellay and his brother Guillaume du Bellay, although Guillaume du Bellay wrote much of the history as he was serving as a soldier, diplomat, and administrator to Francis I.[1] The book describes specific events and military campaigns during the reign of Francis I from the perspective and experiences of warrior noblemen. King Francis wrote the colophon signifying his approval, and detailing the production of the book.

The book is divided into ten parts. The beginning of the book lists a summary of the contents of each of the ten parts. For instance the summary of the contents of Book 1 roughly translates to: The first book of memoirs by Sir Martin Du Bellay, Lord of Langey, Chevalier of the order of the King, Captain of a 500 man army of his ordinances(?) and his Lieutenant general in the country and Duché de Normandie, in the absence of the Monseigneur le Dauphin [heir to the throne]. From 1513 many things occurred at court until the passing of the very lovable and memorable Francis I.

The sections written by Guillaume du Bellay were written in France throughout the reign of Francis I, up until Guillaume du Bellay's death in 1543. In 1555 Guillaume's brother, Martin du Bellay, continued where he left off, recording significant events under King Francis I, in addition to editing Guillaume's text. When Martin died in 1559, his brother-in-law René du Bellay took control of the work and was responsible for its printing in 1569 in Paris.[2]

The work is evidence of a particular moment in European history, specifically during the time of the French monarchy and the reign of King Francis I. The text alludes to the political relations of the period, in addition to detailing a number of military campaigns between Francis I and his rivals. The book was written during a period when monarchies were becoming increasingly powerful, and when tensions between royalty and religion were growing and being exacerbated by Henry VIII, a contemporary of Francis I.

The existence of the book itself also indicates the importance of the monarchy and the power of the aristocracy, which are displayed through the commemorative style of writing, as well as the act of printing and producing such a large book, which would have been quite expensive in 1569, even after the advent of the printing press. For noblemen, writing history was a way to honor something or someone. This stems from the medieval and classical tradition of digna memoria, or writing about ‘honorable deeds.’[3] Thus, a history of significant events under the reign of Francis I merited production because it served to commemorate the King, and it followed a long line of similar works whereby noteworthy events and/or people were immortalized through text and/or image. Additionally, the King supported Guillaume du Bellay's goal to write a history text and provided access to the royal archives.[4]

Wealthy noblemen and noblewomen--the aristocracy--were the primary audience for this work. The text functioned as a means of recording and remembering significant events that occurred during the reign of Francis I. Also, its production indicated the importance and the power of the King, thus serving as a form of commemoration and propaganda. Guillaume du Bellay (1491-1543) began the text, but died in 1543 before it was completed. His brother, Martin du Bellay (1495/6-1559) continued the work in 1555. The brothers were members of a noble French family. Guillaume du Bellay, seigneur de Langey, served Francis I as a military commander and administrator. Martin du Bellay was also a soldier under Francis I.[5] This appears to be Martin du Bellay’s major work.

Coming from a noble family and serving under Francis I, one could presume that the du Bellay brothers' memoirs were influential in terms of providing a trusted account of the significant battles and events occurring during the reign of King Francis I. Readers would likely view their text as a trusted source, since the du Bellay brothers (Guillaume, Martin, and a third brother, Jean) came from a noble family and were engaged in military efforts. In addition, Guillaume and Martin were active in some of the military campaigns detailed in the text, and Guillaume wrote his part of the text as he was serving under Francis I, adding to its authoritative quality.

1. R.J. Knecht, “The Sword and the Pen: Blaise de Monluc and his Commentaires.” Renaissance Studies 9:1 (1995), 105.
2. Yuval Noah Harari. Renaissance Military Memoirs, War, History and Identity, 1450-1600. (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2004), 198-99.
3. Ibid., 111-3.
4. Knecht, “The Sword and the Pen: Blaise de Monluc and his Commentaires,” 105.
5. Ibid., 105.

Contributor: Keri Marken

Contribution date: Winter 2014

Full title: Les memoires, contenans le discours de plusieurs choses aduenües au Royaume de France, depuis l'an M.D.XIII, iusques au trespas du Roy François premier, ausquels l'autheur a inseré trios liures & quelques fragmens des Ogdoades de Mess. Gvillavme du Bellay

Date 1569

Location Paris, rue Saint Jaques

Dimensions 31 cm

Technologies of production Letterpress printing

Additional information The following libraries also have a copy of the first edition in their collections: Louisiana State University – LSU Libraries, University of Virginia – University of Virginia Libraries, Boston University – Mugar Memorial Library, University of Oxford.

Google Books has a scanned copy of this edition (1569).

UCLA library also has a version of the work as part of a collection of memoirs related to the history of France after the 13th century up until the 18th century (Nouvelle collection des mémoires relatifs á l'histoire de France depuis le 13. siècle jusqu' à la fin du 18. siècle, v. 5 [no. 3]).

Google Books also has scanned copies of the following publication years: 1569, 1571, 1572, 1573, 1585, 1588, 1594

Worldcat lists the following editions: 1569 Paris : L’Oliuier de P. l’Huillier, rue S. Iacques; 1582 A Paris : Chez Gilles Beys; 1588 A Paris : A l’Oliuier de Pierre l’Huillier, Rue Sainct Iacques

Condition On inside front sheets, following the front cover, there are pencil markings. The center of left page (verso of end paper) has “30” written in the middle of the page. On the facing page, the top right reads: “Ed orig” (original edition) with line underneath, then “9J2”.

Also written on the top right of the inside front page is “10.000 fr” (10,000 francs) and line underneath with “78-12” (possibly indicating 1978, December). On the inside back sheets, just before the end papers there are pencil markings. In the top left corner of the left-hand page there are the following markings: “c + d +”. Below that are the following markings: “q g/w f”.

In the upper center of the opposite page is the text: “writing originale” and in top right corner above that, it looks like there may be a signature: “H” above “je” (H has long horizontal line that intersects with dot above j below).

Front cover: The leather is worn, especially on the edges and corners, revealing the board underneath. The top right and bottom right corners are slightly bent in. There are scuffs and wrinkles overall. The left side near the binding has three areas of wear due to the raised bands in the spine binding. There are two splotches (possible water damage) near the bottom right.

Back cover: The edges and corners are worn, revealing the board underneath (like the front cover-see above). Overall scratching and scuffmarks. Along the right edge, near the spine there are three areas of wear due to the ridges in spine binding.

Paper damage: There is discoloration overall, with a horizontal dent in the center of the pages (possibly paper buckling). There is a splotchy discoloration throughout the book on the pages near the spine, which looks like possible water damage. There are brown circular stained areas scattered throughout, mostly on pages toward the front of book; these do not appear to be due to foxing. There is a hole on the first page of the first section. There is a pinhole in the top center of page 275, which is repeated in the same position on subsequent pages until the end of the book; the damage is consistent with insect (bookworm) damage. Page numbering is off throughout—in one specific instance someone has hand corrected, changing page 276 to page 278.

Spine: The leather has worn off at the head of the spine, revealing the endband.