New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Lim. 1900 To WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY EDITOR OF TUDOR TRANSLATIONS THIS VERSION IS INSCRIBED CORRIGENDA Transcriber’s Note: These corrections have been applied. Page 8, line 21, _for_ Women’s _read_ Woman’s. Page 39, foot-note, _for_ precèdent l’amour _read_ procèdent de l’amour. Page 148, line 20, _for_ Saint-Marthe _read_ Sainte-Marthe. Page 191, line 13, _for_ Joconda _read_ Gioconda. Page 191, line 22, _for_ exuberance _read_ encumbrance. TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE No mere translator can hope to preserve the style of his original, and herein M. de Maulde is bound to suffer more than most writers. There is no one to whom Buffon’s phrase, _Le style est l’homme même_, may be more justly applied. His work is absolutely himself; it derives from his original personality and his wide and sure learning an historical value and a literary charm almost unique. He is a wit with the curiosity and patience of the scholar, and a scholar with the temperament of the artist. The sparkle and humour of his conversation are crystallised in his letters, the charming expression of a large and generous nature. Trained at the École des Chartes, M. de Maulde held for a few years an appointment in the prefectoral administration. But his tastes drew him rather to history than to politics. In 1886 he founded the Société d’Histoire diplomatique, of which he has been the life and soul, and which owes its success mainly to his activity and enthusiasm. He is the founder also of the Congrès internationaux d’histoire, of which the first was held at the Hague in the summer of 1898, when official delegates from all the great countries of the world met amicably to discuss international relations in the cold light of scientific history. For many years he has been a member of our Royal Society.