Some unknown aspects of the biography of the French humanist Louis Le Roy according the notarial act of 1559

Abstract

The article examines a little-known document - a notarial act containing a contract dated April 4, 1559 between the humanist Loys Le Roy (c. 1510-1577) and the Parisian printer Fédéric Morel (1523-1583) on the printing of several works (transcribed and published by A. Parent). In the document, which has come down to us in the form of a “minute”, a humanist is defined as “secretary of the king” (an ennobling position) and “master of petitions to the Queen” (Catherine de' Medicis). However, the assumption that Le Roy could have held such prestigious positions contradicts what we know about his life both from his own works and from the writings of contemporaries. Firstly, there is no mention of these positions in other sources. In his autobiographical rememberings, Le Roy presented himself as a personal (domestic) secretary, a servant to the nobles of the court, entirely dependent on their favors. Secondly, it is difficult to imagine that Le Roy could have been a member of the Queen's council, which consisted of professional lawyers who served, as a rule, at the soveraign courts. Thirdly, these positions assumed salaries and other income, but Le Roy repeatedly complained about the lack of money and even desperate financial situation. He had a reputation as a penniless humanist. Fourthly, it is not clear where Le Roy could have taken a large amount of money that had to be paid for obtaining these positions. Thus, it can be assumed that Le Roy misled the notaries and Morel about his official position and social status. In addition, this notarial act allows us to better understand the sources of income of a humanist. It is obvious that literary activity did not provide Le Roy with a stable income: the royalties only compensated for the expenses incurred by the author for registration of royal privileges and ordering copies of works for the printer