Lettres missives et familieres [...], Avec le monologue de la providence divine, au peuple François. Reveües, corrigees & augmentees de plusieurs lettres amoureuses, tirees tant de l'Italien du Bembe, que de plusieurs autres Autheurs

Small 8vo. (16), 404 leaves (with errors in the foliation). A-Z⁸, Aa-Zz⁸, AA-FF⁸. With the printer's device on the title-page and a medaillon woodcut portrait of the author. Contemporary overlapping vellum (page A3r with faint printing and leaf B1 with a small portion torn away affecting the text; both are completed by photocopies).

C. Magnien-Simonin, Etienne du Tronchet, secrétaire, des ‘Lettres missives et familères (1569) aux ‘Finance et thrésor de la plume françoise de E.D.T.' (1572), in: “ ‘Il segretario è come un angelo'. Trattati, raccolte epistolari, vite paradigmatiche, ovvero come essere un buon segretario nel Rinascimento”, R. Gorris Camos, ed., (Fasano, 2008), pp. 199-213; L. Vaillancourt, La lettre famimilière au XVI^e siècle. Rhétorique humaniste de l'épistolaire, (Paris, 2003), pp. 235-279.

OF THIS EDITON only one other copy is apparently recorded (Universitätsbibliothek, Basel). It is a reprint of the edition printed at Lyon by the heirs of François Didier in 1591 (Baudrier, IV, p. 95), which is on the other hand a reprint of the Paris edition issued by Abel l'Angelier in 1579.

The volume contains 238 letters and has printed at the end a long poem (entitled Le monologue de providence divine, au Peuple François) and a Recueil des lettres amoureuses, tirees de l'Italien de Pierre Bembo, que de plusieurs autres (ll. 387v-404v). The added 18 love letters translated from the Italian, some of which are by Pietro Bembo, are mostly by Alvise Pasqualigo (cf. M. Sullivan, Etienne du Tronchet: autheur forézien du XVI^e siècle, Washington, 1931, p. 67).

“The earliest published collections of letters in the French vernacular are largely the work of the humanists. They are inspired by Latin and Italian models and inherit the burden of medieval rhetoric, in which letter-writing is a privileged activity for cultivating the ars dictamini. Etienne Du Tronchet and Etienne Pasquier are the first to ‘defend and illustrate' the French language by cultivating the classical epistolary genre [...] Both claim to be publishing their own real letters, directly composed in French, and exhort others to write letters in their ‘mother tongue' [...] What distinguishes Du Tronchet's work, however, from these letter manuals influenced by courtesy books is the fact that his letter collection developes a persona that can be readily correlated with all of the biographical details that we know through other sources about the historical Etienne Du Tronchet, secretary to several promiment notables, and ultimately to Catherine de' Medici. And the persona that emerges from this rudimentarily autobiographical letter book, is both an aspiring poet and court secretary” (J.G. Altman, The Letter Book as a Literary Institution 1539-1789: Toward a Cultural History of Published Correspondences in France, in: “Yale French Studies”, 71, 1986, pp. 19-24).

Gondy, Albert de (l. 1r)

Apchon, Jacques d' (l.3v)

Espaux, François d' (l. 7v)

[Medici, Catherine de'] (l. 8v)

Apchon, Jacques d' (l. 10v)

Lettre traduicte du divin Aretin (l. 15r)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 22r)

Genetines, Gaspar de (l. 24v)

Montpellier, Monsieur (l. 27v)

Chastillon, Jerôme de (l. 29v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 31v)

Clemens III, lettre de l'Italien (l. 33v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 36r)

id. (l. 37v)

L'exile est merveilleux (l. 38v)

Tramont, Baron de (l. 42r)

Renard, Léonard (l. 43r)

Apchon, Jean (l. 44r)

Vigner, Nicolas (l. 48r)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 48v)

Du Peyrat, Jean (l. 53r)

Charles IX (l. 54v)

[Medici], Catherine [de'] (l. 56v)

Lanrencin, Jaquette de (l. 58v)

De tant plus est heureuse l'ame (l. 60r)

Tournon, Jean de (l. 62v)

n.r. (l. 65v)

from Clement III, tiree de l'Italien (l. 67r)

Chastillon, Jérôme de (l. 69r)

L'abus de ces Seigneuries (l. 72r)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 75r)

id. (l. 6r)

Lettre traduite (l. 77r)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 78v)

Tignac, Jean de (l. 79v)

Le con conseil d'un Capitaine (l. 81v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 83v)

from d'Albon, Jacques to d'Arpinar, Pierre (l. 85r)

Lorraine, François de, duc de Guise (l. 88r)

La Veuë, Baptiste de (l. 89r)

Barraillon, Antoine (l. 90v)

Rosier, Jean (l. 91v)

Séguier, Cathérine (l. 93r)

Jarrier, André de (l. 95v)

La Chambre, Monsieur de (l. 97r)

Il y a des personnes si difficiles (l. 99r)

Faure, Claude (l. 100v)

Albon, Jean d' (l. 101r)

L'homme consideratif (l. 103v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 105v)

id. (l.106r)

Apchon, Jean d' (l. 107v)

Apchon, Gabriel d' (l. 109r)

Gadagne, Guillaume de (l. 110r)

Un gentil-homme arrivant à la fortune (l. 111r)

A un sien Seigneur & amy (l. 115r)

Verney, Gaspard de (l. 116v)

A un sien amy (l. 117v)

n.r. (l. 118v)

Glepier, Louis (l. 119v)

Recommendation pour un gentil-homme (l. 121r)

Blandin, David (l. 121v)

Autenay, Monsieur de (l. 122v)

Baritel, Etienne (l. 123v)

La Saulsaye, Olivier de (l. 125r)

Rivoire, Louis de (l. 126r)

Perrin, Marguerite (l. 127r)

Du Tronchet, Jacqueline (l. 128r)

Du Tronchet, Marie (l. 131r)

La Roche, Louise (l. 133r)

Genetines, Jacqueline (l. 135r)

Perrin, Marguerite (l. 139r)

Le territoire de Narnes (l. 140r)

Genetines, Jacqueline de (l. 140v)

Papon, Jean (l. 141v)

Apchon, Charles d' (l. 143v)

Celui à qui fortune donne (l. 144r)

Du Verdier, Pierre (l. 145v)

Bezant, Baron de (l. 146v)

Apchon, Jacques d' (l. 147r)

Buattier, Benoît (l. 148r)

Ce secretaire a esté quelquefois amoureux (l. 148v)

Du Tronchet, Pierre (l. 150r)

Cheroyer de Malestroit, Jean (l. 151r)

Du Perloux, Louise (l. 151v)

Petit, Antoine (l. 152v)

Du Val, Guillaume (l. 153v)

Le Febure, Olivier (l. 155r)

Lettre de Monsieur Porte à un sien amy (l. 156r)

Montpellier, Monsieur (l. 157r)

Girault, Antoine (l. 158r)

Vialette, Nazare (l. 159v)

Croy, Philippe de (l. 161v)

Regnaud, Pierre (l. 164r)

Malras, Monsieur de (l. 165r)

L'Anglois, Anselme (l. 168v)

Du Puy, Jacques (l. 169v)

Il faur oublier (l. 170r)

En ces deux mots (l. 173v)

Apchon, Jean d' (l. 176v)

Papatin, Pierre (p. 182r)

Perrin, Jean (l. 183r)

Laurencin, Claude (l. 184r)

Bellon, Pierre (l. 185r)

Papon, Jean (l. 186v)

Chencuier, Simon (l. 187v)

Papon, Etienne (l. 188v)

Mondain, Claude (l. 190v)

D'Urfé, Claude (l. 191v)

Apchon, Jacques d' (l. 192v)

Barrier, Jean (l. 193v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 194v)

Le Secretaire (l. 196v)

D'Urfé, Jacques (l. 198r)

Clément III (l. 201v)

Cotton, Guichard (l. 203r)

Apchon, Madame d', Marquise de Fronsac (l. 204v)

A une Dame de France (l. 205v)

Menude, Jean (l. 206v)

Tignac, Jean de (l. 207v)

Du Puy, Pierre (l. 208v)

Mont-Bardon, Monsieur de (l. 209v)

Laurencin, Jacquette (l. 210v)

Du Buisson, Louis (l. 213r)

Recognoisssance envers une Dame (l. 214r)

Cusieu, Gaspard (l. 215r)

Bocheal, Christophe (l. 216r)

Papon, Louis (l. 216v)

Fournier, Pierre (l. 217v)

Cupido (l. 219r)

Cerisy, Monsieur de (l. 221r)

Rostaing, Pierre de (l. 221v)

Trunel, Claude (l. 222v)

Saint-Gelais, Diane de (l. 223v)

Saint-Jean, Marc de (l. 225r)

D'Urfé, Jacques (l. 226r)

Cherué, Jean Perrin de (l. 228r)

Thevenon de Roanne, Jean (l. 230r)

Du Peyrat, Maurice (l. 231v)

Vauzelles, Gregoire de (l. 233r)

Thelis, Claude de (l. 234v)

Du Buisson, Louis (l. 235v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 236v)

Albon, Jean d' (l. 239v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 240r)

Chaulce, Guillaume (l. 241v)

Papon, Jean (l. 242v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 244v)

Lettre traduite (l. 245r)

Lettre traduite (l. 249)

Lettre traduite (l. 251v)

Fournier, Pierre (l. 252r)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 253v)

Ganieu, Philippe (l. 254v)

Une dame estant irritée (l. 257r)

Des Gouttes, Archimbauld (l. 258v)

Chastillon, Jérôme de (l. 259r)

Laurencin, Claude (l. 260r)

Cichot, Rémond (l. 261r)

Cozon, Jean (l. 262v)

Buatier (l. 263v)

Papon, Claude (l. 264v)

Vassoiles, Jean de (l. 266r)

Thelis, Claude de (l. 268v)

D'Urfé, Jacques (l. 269r)

Tremeolles, Pierre de (l. 271r)

Le Roux, Martin (l. 272r)

Trunel, Michel (l. 273r)

Une dame importune (l. 274r)

Du Croset, Jacques (l. 275r)

Archimbaud, Etienne (l. 275v)

Laurencin, Claude (l. 276v)

Chauvet, Jacques de (l. 277v)

Tremeolles, Pierre de (l. 278v)

Saint-Forguel, Monsieur (l. 280r)

Pasquier, Etienne (l. 281r)

Fossat, Jean de (l. 281v)

Chresieu, Philippe (l. 282v)

Fussimaignes, Monsieur de (l. 284r)

Du Puy, Jean (l. 285v)

Tignac, Jean de (l. 286v)

Bouin (l. 287v)

Caze, Millan (l. 288r)

Levis, Claude de (l. 289r)

Apchon, Jean d' (l. 290r)

Arbouse, Monsieur d' (l. 292r)

Thelis, Claude de (l. 293r)

n.r. (l. 293v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 295v)

Lettre traduite (l. 297r)

Rousseaux, Jean de (l. 299r)

Thevenon de Roanne, Jean (l. 301v)

Limosin, Aimé (l. 302v)

Boessot, Hélie (l. 304r)

Pinard, Claude (l. 305v)

Saconay, Monsieur de (l. 307r)

Allemagne, Amable d' (l. 308v)

Albon, Jacques d' (l. 309v)

id. (l. 312r)

Papon, Louis (l. 312v)

Berard (l. 314v)

Saint-Irigny, Monsieur de (l. 316v)

Apchon, Jean de (l. 317v)

D'Urfé, Jacques (l. 319v)

Quilly, Monsieur de (l. 321v)

Saint-Caumont, Christophe de (l. 323r)

Mallet, Amable de (l. 324r)

n.r. (l. 321r, i.e. 325r)

Martineaux, Etiennes des (l. 326v)

Lettre amoureuse (l. 323r, i.e. 327r)

Paparin, Pierre (l. 328v)

Boudel Lieutenant (l. 325v, i.e. 329v)

Breyer, Lucas (l. 330v)

Almes, Jean d' (l. 332r)

Cathérine de Rostain (l. 329r, i.e 333r)

Genetines, Jacqueline de [de Cherué] (l. 334r)

Cherué, Jean Perrin de (l. 336r)

Paparin, Jacques (l. 333r, i.e 337r)

Pibrac du Faur, Guy (l. 338v.)

Saint- Polgue, Monsieur de (l. 340r)

n.r. (l. 341v)

n.r. (l. 343v)

Charreton, Hugues (l. 345v)

Godon, Jean (l. 347r)

Combellandes, Monsieur de (l. 348r)

Maistret, Jacques (l. 349r)

Lupé, Monsieur de (l. 351r)

D'Urfé, Renée (l. 351v)

Pommier, Pierre (l. 353r)

Faverion, Pierre (l. 354r)

La Pie, Monsieur de (l. 355v)

Geraud, Monsieur (l. 356v)

Damoiselle de bonne part (l. 357r)

Charmasel, François de (l. 358r)

Chauvet, Jacques de (l. 359r)

Secondat, François (l. 364r)

Chastillon, Jérôme de (l. 389r)

Gondy, Albert de (l. 376r)

Little is known about Etienne Du Tronchet's early life. He was born in Montbrison and acquired a deep knowledge of classical literarure as well of the Italian language. About 1530 he entered the services of Jean d'Albon as his secretary, probably through the intercession of Henry II (then still Duc d'Orléans). Du Tronchet accompanied d'Albon on the latter's diplomatic mission all over France, to England, and Flanders. He also became tax collector and treasurer of the ‘baillage de Forez'.

After his patron's death in 1559 he obtained the position of secretary to Jean d'Albon's son Jacques, seigneur de Saint-André, as well as to the Queen Mother, Catherine de' Medici. Jacques, who had become a favourite of Henry II, was made marshal of France, governor of Lyonnais, and ambassador in England. He served with great bravery against the emperor Charles V in 1552. In 1557 he was taken prisoner at the battle of Saint Quentin, but was released the following year, and took part in negotiating the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (April 3, 1559).

After that event Du Trochet asked his dimission and settled at Saint-Georges-Haulteville, near his native Montbrison and became a member of a literary groupe of Forez (among them Jean and Louis Papon, and several members of the d'Urfé family). Here he also started a prolific literary activity. In 1569 he published his Letters Missives and three years later a new letter collection under the title, Finances et Thresor de la plume françoise.

Probably for economic reasons he entered the services of François Rougier, baron de Ferals, and followed him as his secratry to Flanders in 1570 and Italy in 1571. Rougier died in 1575, when Du Trochet published his Lettres Amoureuses (mostly translated from the Italian). A year later appeared Discours Academiques Florentins appropriez à la langue Françoise. After that date nothing more is kown about him, and Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliothèque (1585) states that Du Tronchet died in Rome in 1578 (cf. C. Longeon, Les écrivains foréziens du XVI^e siècle, Saint-Étienne, 1970, pp. 93-117).

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