The Key: Jean Regnault’s files
The “Incident of the Key”—La Maupin’s brutalizing of her landlord’s cook—happening in the midst of a truly eventful year, plays an important rôle in La Maupin, Mistress of the Sword, so knowing what really happened, and that it happened at all, makes a big difference. Fortunately, there was a police report, and thanks to the French archives, I was able to consult the original report from the comfort of my home.
This page is based directly on the scans of the original handwritten reports of Jean Regnault which I requested from the Archives nationales de France. They help ground my novel in reality, and I am extremely grateful to the archivists for maintaining the physical records and allowing me to see them in as much detail as they have. Each folio page is roughly 9 by 13 inches, scanned at 300dpi in a lossless file format. Figuring exactly what a given squiggle looks like couldn’t be easier.
The texts
The transcriptions and translations were done with the assistance of both ChatGPT and Gemini, and hand checked by me. Be aware that I don’t really speak French, so I may not have caught everything.
There are minor differences from what Fradin reported in La Maupin (1670-1707), but nothing major. He added a bit of interpretation in keeping with the nature of his novelized biography and the moral sensitivities of his time, which differ from ours. Neither is truly objective.
🇫🇷 French Transcription
L’an mil sep cens le six Septembre neuf h. et demy du soir nous Jean Regnault escuyer [abbr.], requis qu’avons esté soit transporté rue traversière en la maison tenue et occupée par le sr. Langlois bourgeois de paris ou estant entré dans une cuisine adroit en entrant sous la grande porte d’icelle y avons trouvé Marguerite fourré servante dud. sr. Langlois blessée au front de la teste au dessus de l’œil droit, et sa coiffure de toille blanche garnie de dentelles deschirée en morceaux, son habit d’estoffe grise marqué de sang en plusrs. endroits par devant ; laquelle en cest estat nous a rendu plainte à l’encontre de la nommée Maupin chanteuse a l’opera †, et à l’encontre de deux laquais que trois quidams laquais et dit que lad. Maupin estant descendue de sa chambre dans lad. cuisine demandant à souper led. sr. Langlois son maistre luy avoit fait entendre qu’il n’estoit plus obligé de luy donner à manger le marché fait entre eux estant cessé, lad. Maupin violente et emportée de colère auroit pris Une des esclanche que lad. plaignante retiroit de la broche en voulant en frapper led. sr. Langlois, led. sr. Langlois s’estant retiré le coup de lad. esclanche auroit donné contre la porte en reniant Dieu auroit pris la grosse clef de la porte de lad. clef en auroit donné un coup sur la teste a la teste de la plaignte. et icelle blessée a sang et d’une playe ouverte au dessus de l’œil droit ensuite s’est jettée sur elle accompagnée de sa sœur et de ses laquais l’auroit terrassée sur le pavé de lad. cuisine à elle donné plusrs. coups de pied, coups de poing, deschiré ses coiffures et visage estat que nous la voyons sujet pour quoy elle nous rend la presente plainte pour f…elle v…ery la jonction dud. Maupin lequel
du Roy a signé.
Et ce jour donné congé sous le nom dudit ledit donne audit Monsʳ le lieutenant criminel et la requête en lieu pour avoir procédé au fait de ladite information ainsi qu’il appartiendra.
Margin note
† Sa Soeur ↩
🇬🇧 English Translation
In the year one thousand seven hundred, on the sixth of September, at nine-thirty in the evening, we, Jean Regnault, esquire [abbr.], being required, having been—or be it that we have been—conveyed to the rue Traversière, to the house held and occupied by Sieur Langlois, bourgeois of Paris; where, having entered a kitchen, on the right as one enters beneath the great gate of said house, we found Marguerite Fourré, servant of the said Sieur Langlois, wounded on the front of the head above the right eye, and her linen headdress trimmed with lace torn into pieces, her grey cloth garment marked with blood in several places on the front; who, in this state, made complaint to us against the woman named Maupin, singer at the Opera, her sister, and against three unnamed lackeys. And she said that the said Maupin, having come down from her chamber into the said kitchen and asking for supper, the said Sieur Langlois, her master, had made her understand that he was no longer obliged to give her food, the agreement made between them having ceased; that the said Maupin, violent and carried away by anger, had taken one mutton shank which the complainant was drawing from the spit, intending to strike the said Sieur Langlois with it; that the said Sieur Langlois having withdrawn, the blow of the said shank struck against the door; and that, swearing against God, she took the large key of the door, and with the said key struck a blow to the head of the said complainant, wounding her so that she bled and leaving an open wound above the right eye. Then she threw herself upon her, accompanied by her sister and her lackeys, knocked her down upon the paving stones of the said kitchen, gave her several kicks and punches, tore her headdress and her face, and left her in the state in which we see her. For which reason she makes to us the present complaint, in order to [two unclear procedural words] the joinder of the said Maupin, which [matter] has been signed by order of the King.
🇫🇷 French Transcription
Déposition de René Mérot, tailleur
Du sept septembre mil sept cens neuf hes. du matin,
René Merot tailleur travaillant chez le ss. Rabier maitre tailleur demeurant rue traversine paroisse St Roch agé de vingt quatre ans après serment par luy fait de dire verité quil a fait apparoir de l’assignation a luy donnée ce jour d'huy par Joseph le feure Huissier au ch[atelet] quil a declaré n’estre parent alliée ny domestique des parties pour et contre lesquelles il est appellé en témoignage
Depose que le jour d’hier environ les neuf hes. du soir ayant entendu du bruit de la maison dud. Rabier son maitre seroit sorty a la porte de la rue auroit remarqué que le bruit estoit dans la maison attenant tenue par le ss. Langlois et ou est dem[euran]te. la Maupin et sa femme, la soeur de laquelle Maupin estoit a la fenestre du premier etage parlant a une personne qui estoit de l’autre coté de la rue aussy a une fenestre et alaquelle elle disoit ma soeur (parlant de la d. maupin) avoit la grosse clef de la porte, auroit appris dans le meme instant que la d. Maupin avoit cassé la teste a la plainte. d’un coup de la grosse clef de la porte de la maison ou elle est dem[euran]te. qui est tout ce quil a dit sçavoir lecture a luy faite de sa deppon. [deposition] a dit icelle contenir verité et a perseveré taxé au deposant qui a requis l’ord. dix sols et a declaré ne sçavoir ecrire ni signer de ce interpellé suivt. l’orde.
Déposition de Vérand Rafely, valet
Verand Raphaely valet de chambre de La dame Marquise de Vances— Dau? rue traversine parroisse St Roch agé de vingt six ans, après serment par luy fait— de dire verité quil a fait apparoir de l’assignation a luy donnée ce jour d'huy par le ss.— le feure quil a declaré n’estre parent alliée ny domestique des parties pour et contre lesquels— il est appellé en témoignage—
Depose que le jour d’hier environ les neuf hes. du soir ayant entendu du bruit de la maison— de ladame sa maitresse seroit sorty et a la porte de la rue auroit veu que le bruit estoit— dans la maison attenante occupée par le ss. Langlois et estant entrée comme plus[ieurs] autres— dans une cuisine qui est a droite en entrant sous la porte auroit veu la Maupin— chantreuse a l'opera couchée sur l'atre du plancher de la d. Cuisine se tenant aux cheveux—
Raphaely — at end of page. Text conintues…
avec la plainte. ayan été separés l’une et d’autre relevée la d. plainte. blessée et saig. [saignant] au dessus de l'œil droit luy depos. [deposant] ayant ramassé deux morceaux de dentelle de la coiffeure de la d. Maupin les luy auroit rendu quelques personnes ayant fait retirer la d. Maupin au aussi dessous la d. Maupin auroit fait plus. [plusieurs] efforts pour y Rentrer de quoy elle auroit été Empeschée, la plainte. aussy blessée auroit dit que c’estoit d’un coup a elle donné par la d. Maupin avec la grosse clef de la porte cochere de la maison, qui est tout ce qu'il a dit sçavoir lecture a luy faite de sa d. [deposition] a dit icelle contenir verité et a perseveré n’a requis sall. [salaire] et a signé,
Raphaely
Déposition de Marie Soufflart, femme de Michel Bauchet
Marie Soufflot f.e de Michel Baucher maistre sellier dem[eurant] rue traversine paroisse St. Roch agée de quarante ans, après serment par Elle fait de dire Verité qu'Elle a fait apparoir de l'assignation a Elle donnée ce jour d'huy par lecl. le huissier qu'Elle a declaré n'estre parente alliée ny domestique de parties parquoy Comme Lesquelles Elle est appellée en tesmoignage —
que le jour d'huy Environ les neuf heures du soir de sa boutique ayant Entendu du bruit dans la maison ou elle demeure La Maupin accusée elle s'est sitost transporté avec sa fille où estant entrées dans une cuisine maison avoir veüe plus[ieurs] personnes Hors ce fait [le laquais sans livrée quelques-uns vestu de rouge et de gris connu de veue pour estre d’une maison voisine] a travers lesquelles avoir veu la pleign[an]te dechevelée que l'on tenoit par les cheveux sans avoir pu remarquer qui c'estoit et se seroit ainsi retirée, a depuis ouy dire que lad[ite] pleign[an]te estoit blessée a la teste qui est tout ce qu'elle a dit sçavoir lecture a elle faite de sa deposition a dit icelle contenir vérité et y a persisté n'a requis d'all[ouance] et a signé,
Marie Soufflar
Déposition de Marie Anne Bauchet
Marie anne Baucher fille de la precedente dem[eurant] avec led[it] Michel rue traversine paroisse St. Roch agée de dix neuf ans après serment par Elle fait de dire Verité qu’Elle a fait apparoir de l’assignation a Elle donnée ce jour d’huy par lecl. le huissier qu’elle a declaré n’estre parente alliée ny domestique des parties parquoy Comme Lesquelles il est appellé en tesmoignage
Depose que le jour d’huy Environ les neuf heures du soir, Estant dans la boutique de ses pere et mere ayant Entendu du bruit dans la maison du Sr. Langlois ou sont des p[artie]s [et] pleig[nan]t[e] et accusée Elle s’y seroit transporté avec sa mere d’avoir veu dans une cuisine En Entrant a droite une particuliere maniere de servante nommée Fouré ainsi qu’elle a appris decoiffée et que l'on maltraittoit de la main, n'a point remarqué qui la frappoit mais avoir remarqué qu’elle [avoit Eté] terrassée sur le pavé de la cuisine d’où elle auroit Eté retiree, et en Etant la —
M a b — at end of page. Text conintues…
deposante se seroit retirée, un moment après avoir appris que lad[ite] Fouré estoit blessée a la teste a sang et playe ouverte, qui est tout ce qu'elle a dit sçavoir lecture a elle faite de sa deposition a dit icelle contenir Verité et y a persisté n'a requis d'all[ouance] et a signé approuvé les ratures de quatre mots de la presente deposition.
Marienne Bauchet
🇬🇧 English Translation
Testimony of René Mérot, tailor
On the seventh of September, one thousand seven hundred, at nine o’clock in the morning,
René Mérot, a tailor working for Sieur Rabier, master tailor, living on Rue Traversine, parish of St. Roch, aged twenty-four years. After the oath was taken by him to tell the truth, having presented the summons given to him this day by Joseph Le Feure, Bailiff at the Châtelet; he declared he is neither a relative, related by marriage, nor a servant to the parties for or against whom he is called to testify.
Deposes that yesterday, around nine o’clock in the evening, having heard a noise from the house of the said Rabier, his master, he went out to the street door. He noticed that the noise was in the adjoining house held by Sieur Langlois, where reside La Maupin and the woman, the sister of which Maupin was at a first-floor window, speaking to a person who was on the other side of the street, also at a window, to whom she was saying "My sister (referring to the said Maupin) had the large key to the door." He learned in the same instant that the said Maupin had broken the head of the complainant with a blow from the large key to the door of the house where she resides; which is all he said he knew. After his deposition was read to him, he stated it contained the truth and persevered. A fee was set for the deponent, who requested the ordinary ten sols. He declared he did not know how to write or sign, having been asked to do so according to the ordinance.
Testimony of Vérand Rafely, valet
Vérand Raphaely, valet de chambre to the lady, Marquise de Vances, residing on Traversine Street in the parish of Saint-Roch, aged twenty-six years, after having taken the oath by him to speak the truth, stated that he appeared pursuant to the summons served upon him this very day by the said clerk, the bailiff; he declared that he is neither related by blood nor by marriage nor in service to the parties for and against whom he is called to give testimony—
Testifies that yesterday, at about nine o’clock in the evening, having heard noise from the house of the said lady his mistress, he went out and, at the street door, saw that the noise was in the adjoining house occupied by the said Langlois; and having entered, as did several others, into a kitchen which is on the right upon entering under the doorway, he saw La Maupin, singer at the Opéra, lying on the hearth of the floor of the said kitchen, pulling hair with the complainant; they having been separated from one another, the said complainant having been raised up, wounded and bleeding above the right eye, the deponent having picked up two pieces of lace from the headdress of the said Maupin, returned them to her. Some persons caused the said Maupin to be removed, and afterward the said Maupin made several efforts to re-enter, from which she was prevented. The complainant, also wounded, said that it was from a blow given to her by the said Maupin with the large key of the carriage gate of the house, which is all that he has said he knows. The reading having been made to him of his said deposition, he said that it contains the truth and persevered therein, did not request salary, and signed.
Raphaely
Testimony of Marie Soufflart, wife of Michel Bauchet
Marie Soufflot, wife of Michel Baucher, master saddler, residing on Traversine Street in the parish of Saint-Roch, aged forty years, after having taken the oath by her to speak the truth, stated that she appeared pursuant to the summons served upon her this very day by the clerk, the bailiff; she declared that she is neither related by blood nor by marriage nor in service to the parties, and therefore, as such, is called to give testimony—
Testifies that today, at about nine o’clock in the evening, from her shop, having heard noise in the house where La Maupin, the accused, resides, she immediately went there with her daughter; and having entered a kitchen of the house, she saw several persons there, outside of this affair, lackeys without livery, some dressed in red and in grey, known by sight to be from a neighboring household, through whom she saw the complainant, dishevelled, whom they were holding by the hair, without having been able to observe who it was, and she then withdrew. She has since heard it said that the said complainant was wounded on the head, which is all that she has said she knows. The reading having been made to her of her deposition, she said that it contains the truth and persisted therein, did not request allowance, and signed.
Marie Soufflar
Testimony of Marie Anne Bauchet
Marie-Anne Baucher, daughter of the preceding [witness], residing with the said Michel in the Traversine street, parish of Saint-Roch, aged nineteen years, after having taken the oath by her to speak the truth, stated that she caused to be produced the summons served upon her this very day by the clerk, the bailiff; she declared that she is neither related by blood nor by marriage nor in service to the parties, and therefore, as such, is called to give testimony.
Testifies that today, at about nine o’clock in the evening, being in the shop of her father and mother, having heard noise in the house of Sieur Langlois where the parties, plaintiff and accused, are, she went there with her mother, and that upon entering, in a kitchen on the right, she saw a servant of a particular sort named Fouré, as she has learned, with her hair dishevelled and being mistreated by blows of the hand. She did not notice who was striking her, but did observe that she had been thrown down upon the paving stones of the kitchen, from where she was then removed; and while she was there, the deponent withdrew. A moment afterward she learned that the said Fouré was wounded on the head, bleeding, with an open wound, which is all that she has said she knows. The reading having been made to her of her deposition, she said that it contains the truth and persisted therein, did not request allowance, and signed, approving the erasures of four words of the present deposition.
Marienne Bauchet
🇫🇷 French Transcription
Je soussigné chirurgien du Roy et maistre Juré a paris certiffie a tous a quil appartiendra que le six septembre mil sept cens entre neuf et dix heures du soir Jay esté apelé pour voir et vissiter panser et medicamanter Marguerite Fouré servante du s. Langlois Demeurant rue traversine en porte cochere a laquelle J’ayve trouvé une blesure au fron partie de los coronal de grandeur d’un travers de doit penetrant iusque au pericrane plus une contusion et meurtrissure sur l’avant Bras partie sinestre plus nous avoir dit sentir plusieurs douleurs en diferans endroits De son corps la quelle blesure et contusion et meurtrissure ma paru avoir esté faites par Instrument contondant tranchant comme chandelier clef ou autre samblable et pour prevenir les suites dangereuses qui pouvet s’en suivre comme fievre continue et abcez ie luy ay prescrit un regime de vivre exat de garder le lit d’estre saignée et pansée et medicamantée deux fois par iour et moienant quoy la dite blesure poura estre guerie dans quinze iours sy accidant n’arive tout ce que dessus Je certiffie veritable en foy de quoy Jay signé fait a paris le sept du presant mois et an que dessus
Desportes
🇬🇧 English Translation
I, the undersigned, Surgeon to the King and Sworn Master in Paris, certify to all whom it may concern that on the sixth of September, one thousand seven hundred, between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, I was called to see and visit, dress, and medicate Marguerite Fouré, servant to Sieur Langlois, residing on Rue Traversine at the carriage entrance. I found upon her a wound on the forehead, specifically on the coronal bone, of a size of one finger’s width, penetrating as far as the pericranium; additionally, a contusion and bruising on the left forearm; furthermore, she told us she felt several pains in different parts of her body. The said wound, contusion, and bruising appeared to me to have been caused by a blunt, cutting instrument, such as a candlestick, a key, or other similar object. To prevent dangerous complications which could follow, such as continuous fever and abscesses, I prescribed for her a strict regimen of living: to keep to her bed, to be bled, and to be dressed and medicated twice per day. By means of which, the said wound may be healed within fifteen days, should no accident [complication] occur. All of the above I certify as true, in faith of which I have signed. Done at Paris, the seventh of the present month and year as above.
(Signed) Desportes
The images
The gallery below shows the actual handwritten pages from Jean Regnault’s files reduced to ⅓ the size of the actual scans that the Archives nationales de France sent me. Clicking or tapping on the right or left side of an image or swiping right or left will allow you to page through them.
