PAGE
Introduction[ix]
CHAPTER I
Gilles de Retz. 1404–1420
His Name, Family, Marriage, and Education[1]
CHAPTER II
Gilles as a Soldier. 1420–1429
First for John V., Duke of Brittany, against the House of Blois. He Joins the Army of France and is Assigned to Duty with Joan of Arc. Crowning of the King, and Gilles made Marshal of France[9]
CHAPTER III
Gilles’s Life at Home in Brittany 1430–1439
The Personal Appearance of Gilles de Retz. An Epitome of his Life. His Extravagance and Ruinous Expenditures. His Inheritance. His Sales and Transfers of Property. His Love for the Theatre. Mysteries. That of the Siege of Orleans. Mysteries at Nantes. The Cathedral. Expensive Visit to Orleans. Maison de la Suze. The Decree of the King Interdicting his Sale or Incumbrance of Property. An Increasing Demand for Money Drives him to Magic in Search for the Philosopher’s Stone and the Transmutation of Base Metals into Gold. Magic[24]
CHAPTER IV
Gilles’s Crimes
Gilles’s Abduction of Children. His Familiars. Château de Tiffauges. First Process against Gilles. Warrant. Arrest and Imprisonment. Château de Nantes[64]
CHAPTER V
Gilles’s Trial before the Ecclesiastical Tribunal
The Ecclesiastical Tribunal. Record in the Archives of Loire-Inférieure. The Trial. His Confession. Judgment and Sentence[93]
CHAPTER VI
The Trial before the Civil Court
Trial before the Civil Court. Depositions. Conviction and Sentence[167]
CHAPTER VII
The Execution[177]
APPENDIX A
Mother Goose Publications[183]
APPENDIX B
Bluebeard Stories[186]
APPENDIX C
Mystery of the Siege of Orleans[189]
APPENDIX D
Depositions in Civil Court against Gilles[195]

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
Château (Castle) of Nantes, where Gilles was Tried.—From the River Loire[Frontispiece]
Gille’s Signature and Rubric[22]
A Street in Nantes—Ancient Houses[47]
Facsimile of Folio Page from Archives of Trial at Nantes. Confession of Gille de Retz[138]
Grotto of Bonne Vierge de Créé-Lait. Expiatory Altar of Gilles Erected by His Daughter[179]

INTRODUCTION

The story of Bluebeard has become a classic in infantile mythical (folk-lore) literature wherever the English and French languages are spoken. Rev. Dr. Shahan suggests its possible existence in earlier languages and more distant countries (see p. [xiv].). The story is more or less mythical. While it does not follow history with any pretence of fidelity, it has come to be recognised by the historians and literati of France as representing the life of Gilles de Retz (or Rais), a soldier of Brittany in the first half of the fifteenth century. He was of noble birth, was possessed of much riches, was the lord of many manors, had a certain genius and ability, made some reputation as a soldier at an extremely early age, fought with Joan of Arc, and was Marshal of France. At the close of these wars he retired to his estates in Brittany, and, in connection with an Italian magician, he entered upon a search for the Elixir of Youth and the Philosopher’s Stone. Together they became possessed by the idea that the foundation of this elixir should be the blood of infants or maidens, and, using the almost unbridled power incident to a great man (at that early date) in that wild country, they abducted many maidens and children, who were carried to some one of his castles and slain. Suspicion was finally directed toward him; he was arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced to death, and executed at the city of Nantes, October 27, 1440, at the early age of thirty-six years.

The author of this volume was sent, in 1882, to the good city of Nantes as United States Consul. While resident there he entered upon the investigation which resulted in this volume. He obtained access to the original records of the trial in the archives of the department, and made a photographic copy of one of its manuscript Latin pages which is shown in its proper place. The trial of Gilles de Retz took place in the château of Nantes, sentence was pronounced at the Place Bouffay, and he was executed on the Prairie de la Madeleine, the exact locality being now occupied by the Hospital of St. Anne. The author procured photographs and drawings of some of these localities, which will appear in this volume.