INTRODUCTION

I. CHRONOLOGY OF MONTAIGNE'S LIFE

1533. Birth of Michel de Montaigne (Feb. 28) at the manor of Montaigne in Périgord. His family belongs by origin to the well-to-do mercantile class which has risen to the estate of landed gentry. Montaigne's earliest education is under his father's personal guidance.

Francis I is king of France; the Renaissance and the early Reformation are in progress. Rabelais is engaged on the first books of his great work.

1539-1546. Montaigne is a pupil at the famous Collège de Guyenne at Bordeaux. He has very distinguished teachers and tutors (cf. his essay on the Institution des Enfants), but he regrets later that the care spent on his education has not profited him more.

Francis I is in the midst of his struggles with the emperor Charles V. Battle of Cérisoles; treaty of Crépy (1544). Treaty of Ardres with England (1546).

1547-1554. Little is known of Montaigne's life during this period. Though no documentary evidence exists, he probably studied law for a part of the time at Toulouse.

Death of Francis I (1547). Du Bellay's Defense et Illustration (1549). Ronsard is acquiring fame as a writer. Publication of Henri Estienne's Pseudo-Anacreontic poems (1554). Henry II continues the struggle against Charles V.

V

1554. Montaigne's father becomes mayor of Bordeaux and resigns his position as member of the Cour des Aides at Périgueux in favor of his youthful son.

The French continue the struggle with the Spanish under Philip II, (disaster of Saint-Quentin, 1557), until the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559) puts an end to the international

wars.

1557. The Court at Périgueux is incorporated with the corresponding Court of the Parlement of Bordeaux, and Montaigne is thus transferred. Montaigne becomes intimate with Etienne de La Boétie, a friendship which lasts until the death of La Boétie in 1563, and which is never forgotten by Montaigne (cf. essay De l'amitié). Montaigne is not much interested in his magisterial duties; he is often absent at Paris and visits Rouen (1562) in the train of Charles IX at the time of the siege and capture of the city from the Huguenots. There he sees the Brazilian natives whom he mentions in the essay Des cannibales.

Accidental death of Henry II in a tournament (1559). Brief reign of Francis II. Reign of Charles IX (1560–1574). Progress of the religious wars and conflicts between the Catholics and the Huguenots. Colloquy of Poissy (1561). Edict of Pacification (Jan. 1562).

Massacre of Vassy (1562).

1565. Marriage of Montaigne with Françoise de la Chassaigne, eleven years his junior. She does not occupy an important part in his intellectual life.

1568. Death of Montaigne's father.

1569. Publication of Montaigne's translation of the Theologia naturalis of Raymond Sebond, undertaken at his father's desire.

1570. Montaigne resigns his post as councillor of the Parlement.

Delusive peace of Saint-Germain (1570) between the Catho

lics and the Huguenots.

1571-1580. Period of study and reflection in the library. Gestation of the first two books of essays. Montaigne becomes chevalier of the order of Saint-Michel. He is also made gentleman of the chamber of Henry III and later of Henry of Navarre.

Massacre of St. Bartholomew (1572). Accession of Henry III (1574). The Ligue (1576).

1580. Publication of the first edition of the Essays.

1580-1581. Montaigne's journey through Lorraine, Alsace, Switzerland, Bavaria, the Tyrol, Italy to Rome. While still absent from home in 1581, at the baths of Lucca, he is chosen mayor of Bordeaux.

1581-1585. Montaigne mayor of Bordeaux for two terms. In 1584 he entertains Henry of Navarre at his château. (In 1587 another visit.) Ligue of 1585.

1588. Important new edition of the Essays. Trip to Paris. Incarceration for a few hours for political reasons in the Bastille. Meeting with Mlle de Gournay, his "fille d'al

liance".

1592. Death of Montaigne (Sept. 13) at his birthplace.

II. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. CHIEF EDITIONS OF MONTAIGNE

1580. Bordeaux (Simon Millanges), 2 vols. (2 books). Reprinted with slight variations, 1582 (Millanges), and 1587, Paris (Richer).

1588. Paris (L'Angelier), called the fifth edition, although no fourth edition is known, 3 books, with "six cents additions aux deux premiers".

1595. Paris (L'Angelier; also Michel Sonnius). Posthumous; edition of Mlle de Gournay. Printed in accordance with Montaigne's marginal corrections and additions to his own text; made from Montaigne's manuscript notes as they appear in a copy of Montaigne's works preserved in the municipal library at Bordeaux (hence called "l'exemplaire de Bordeaux"), but varying in places even from them. "L'Exemplaire de Bordeaux a seul fourni la copie établie après la mort de Montaigne, sous la direction de sa veuve, et de son ami Pierre de Brach (sans doute aussi de son successeur au parlement de Bordeaux, Florimond de Raemond), pour être envoyée à Mlle de Gournay et publiée par Sonnius. Et si, dans cette copie, nous relevons des fautes de lecture, ces fautes prouvent d'ordinaire que le copiste a poussé le scrupule jusqu'à tenir compte, pour s'y tromper d'ailleurs, des signes et des taches du papier; s'il y a des corrections systématiques de langue et de style, elles ne dépassent pas, elles n'atteignent pas celles que nous nous croyons aujourd'hui permises sur les manuscrits d'un écrivain mort la veille; et s'il y a, enfin, bien rarement, des corrections qui vont au fond des choses, c'est pour atténuer quelque vérité désormais diffficile à dire et devenue blessante pour des vivants. Et bref, l'édition de 1595 avec toutes ses insuffisances est la première base d'un déchiffrement du manuscrit de Montaigne". F. Strowski.

.1611. Edition of Mlle de Gournay. The first to indicate the authors of quotations.

1635. Edition of Mlle de Gournay, with modifications by her, of which she afterwards repented.

1724. Edition of P. Coste, London.