But it is above all as a student of the Renaissance that M. de Maulde takes high rank among contemporary scholars. He has made a close study of that great movement, in regard both to the internal politics of France and the origins of modern diplomacy, and to the general march of ideas and the evolution of manners. The results of his studies are embodied in a remarkable series of works, the earliest being a book entitled _Les Origines de la Révolution française au commencement du xviᵉ siècle_—a brilliant picture of French Society at that critical epoch. This was succeeded by the first part, in three volumes, of an _Histoire de Louis XII._, and this by the three volumes entitled _La diplomatie au temps de Machiavel_. Other works in the same series are two volumes on _Jeanne de France, duchesse d’Orléans_ and _Louise de Savoie et François Iᵉʳ_. In all these M. de Maulde shows the profound erudition and the just critical sense to be expected in an historian of the school of Fustel des Coulanges, together with a literary grace and a lightness of touch with which the scientific historian is too rarely endowed. His brief experience of official politics seems to have left him with an urbane scepticism, a benevolent irony, which serve only to set off his radical enthusiasm for great ideas and for the great conceptions of art. At bottom an idealist, he has interpreted with insight and humour the aesthetic and spiritualist revolution of the Renaissance, nowhere more characteristically than in the present volume. With M. de Maulde’s consent the greater part of his footnotes are omitted—mainly references to authorities unknown or inaccessible to the English reader, and useless without the complete bibliography omitted by desire of the French publishers, MM. Perrin et Cie. A few notes are added within brackets: for these and for the Index the translator is responsible. The translator is under great obligations to the Baronne Louise Dupont-Delporte, who, at M. de Maulde’s request, has compared the proofs of this book with the original text, and to whose watchfulness and friendly care heartiest acknowledgments are due. The same task of collation was undertaken by Mr. David Frew, whose frank, tonic, kindly criticism has been of the highest value. Thanks are also tendered to all who in various ways and with constant kindness have given their assistance in the course of this work, among whom M. de Maulde himself has laid the translator under a large debt of gratitude. _August, 1900._ CONTENTS PREAMBLE Masculinism of Anglo-Saxon countries—Feminism of Latin countries. Pages 1-5 INTRODUCTION