with the day I had
spent at Hautlieu, I frequently repeated my visit, and that the key of the
octangular tower was always at my command. In those hours I became deeply
enamoured of a part of French history, which, although most important to that of
Europe at large, and illustrated by an inimitable old historian, I had never
sufficiently studied. At the same time, to gratify the feelings of my excellent
host, I occupied myself occasionally with some family memorials, which had
fortunately been preserved, and which contained some curious particulars
respecting the connection with Scotland, which first found me favour in the eyes
of the Marquis de Hautlieu.
 
I pondered on these things, more meo, until my return to Britain, to beef and
sea-coal fires, a change of residence which took place since I drew up these
Gallic reminiscences. At length, the result of my meditations took the form of
which my readers, if not startled by this preface, will presently be enabled to
judge. Should the Public receive it with favour, I shall not regret having been
for a short time an Absentee.
 

                                 Chapter First

 Look here upon this picture, and on this,
 The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.
                                                                         Hamlet.
 
The latter part of the fifteenth century prepared a train of future events, that
ended by raising France to that state of formidable power, which has ever since
been, from time to time, the principal object of jealousy to the other European
nations. Before that period, she had to struggle for her very existence with the
English, already possessed of her fairest provinces; while the utmost exertions
of her King, and the gallantry of her people, could scarcely protect the
remainder from a foreign yoke. Nor was this her sole danger. The princes who
possessed the grand fiefs of the crown, and, in particular, the Dukes of
Burgundy and Bretagne, had come to wear their feudal bonds so lightly, that they
had no scruple in lifting the standard against their liege and sovereign lord,
the King of France, on the slightest pretence. When at peace, they reigned as
absolute princes in their own provinces; and the House of Burgundy, possessed of
the district so called, together with the fairest and richest part of Flanders,
was itself so wealthy, and so powerful, as to yield nothing to the crown, either
in splendour or in strength.
    In imitation of the grand feudatories, each inferior vassal of the crown
assumed as much independence as his distance from the sovereign power, the
extent of his fief, or the strength of his chateau, enabled him to maintain;