[42] One of the earliest French theatres. It was founded by the Confrères de la Passion in 1548.
[43] Cf. _La Vie de Corneille,_ by Fontenelle.
[44] _Histoire de la Vie et des Ouvrages de La Fontaine,_ by Mathieu Marais, 1811, p. 125.
[45] _Ouvrages de prose et de poésie des sieurs de Mancroix et La Fontaine,_ Vol. I, p. 99.
[46] There are two blank spaces in the 1685 edition. I have filled them with the two names in brackets. For the first I have put the name of Foucquet, which is given in the _Œuvres diverses_ (Vol. I, p. 19). To fill the second space I have followed the suggestion of Mathieu Marais. Walkenaer puts Pellisson, which is not admissible.
[47] Edit Marty-Laveaux, VOL V, pp. 15-17.
[48] No one can answer for the correctness of the text of these two poems. Chardon de La Rochette published them from memory in 1811 (_Histoire de la Vie et des Ouvrages de La Fontaine,_ by Mathieu Marais, p. 125). He had possessed the receipts for both in Pellisson's own hand-writing, but had not kept it, because, he said, he did not think "that it was worth it." This sagacious Hellenist set little store by a Pellisson autograph, in comparison with the Palatine MS. of the Anthologia. And he was right. But it is odd that he should have known the verses by heart, and that, having neglected to preserve them in his desk, he should have retained them in his memory.
[49] Promettre est un, et tenir promesse est un autre.
[50] _Mémoires de Choisy,_ coll. Petitot, p. 211.
[53] "Jamais surintendant ne trouva de cruelle."
[57] Loret, Muse historique, letter of the 28th of December, 1652.
[58] In 1661 (?) _Papiers de Foucquet_ (F. Baluze), Vol. I, pp. 31-32.
[59] Maurepas Collection. Vol. II, p. 271.
[61] Gourville, in _Monmerqué,_ Vol. II, p. 342.
[62] _Mémoires de l'abbé de Choisy,_ p. 579.
[63] _Mémoires de Brienne,_ Vol. II, p. 52.
[64] _Mémoires de Choisy,_ p. 581. Chéruel, _Mémoires sur Nicolas Foucquet,_ Vol. II, p. 97.
[67] _Choisy,_ p. 586. "I learnt these details," said Choisy, "from Perrault, to whom Colbert related them more than once."
[68] _Ibid.,_ p. 586. Cf. also Guy Patin, letter to Falconnet, 2nd September, 1661.
[69] _Histoire d'Henriette d'Angleterre,_ by Mme de Lafayette. Paris, Charavay frères, 1882, p. 53.