[ACV BIL 53, Moudon, Cour de Justice, 26 aug 1679.]
1679
Du 26 Aoust
La Noble et honnorable Justice de Mouldon estant extraordinairement assembl�e soubs la presidence d�honnorable et prudent Moyse DuPerron, Sr. Mestral dudit lieu.
Monsieur le Secretaire Trolliet a refer� qu�estant arriv� hier au Chasteau de Lucens, Nostre Magnifique et tres-honnor� Seigneur Ballif luy dit qu�il avoit appres qu�il estoit arriv� Vendredi dernier un grand scandale en ceste Ville entre un Estranger, Monsieur le gouverneur Roberti, et d�autres, de sorte que ledit Estranger ayant est� si mal traitt� en sa personne que l�on l�auroit mis tout en sang et que mesmes luy seroit venu a nottice qu�ils estoyent cinq sur luy, par ou il se trouve bamp de partie, a raison de quoy a Monsieur le Vidomne que tous ceux qui se sont rencontr�s dans ladite Batterie tant Interress�s qu�autres feussent evoquez pour declarer la verit� du fait puis qu�il n�est pas de la sorte qu�un Estranger doit estre traitt�, que s�il avoit fait quelque faute, il devoit estre pris par Voye de Justice, et non par violence.
Ledit Estranger ayant est� appell� et entendu a declar� que bastant ses bestes pour les ranger a son obeissance, vinst Monsieur le Gouverneur qui est Chirurgien, lequel luy dit qu�il n�estoit pas de la sorte qu�il les falloit traitter, et la dessus ayant lev� son baston sans cependant le frapper, il l�empoygna par le bras, et un tier survinst qu�il luy bailla le coup qu�il a sur la teste, ne scachant qui scait [c'est], disant appres qu�il demeuroit vers l�Eglise.
Cogneu Monsieur le Vidomne devoir faire mettre en execution le commandement de sa Seigneurie.
D�autre part ledit Vandelide se plaignant que sa trompette luy a est� ost�e des mains par Abraham Fauchierres de Bussy, requerant qu�elle luy soit rendue avec proteste pour tous depends et pour son retard, pourquoy il conclud jusques a la somme de cent escus et tient pour estre partie afin que la dessus il se puisse determiner et resoudre a une confession ou negative ou pouvoir bailler ses Interrogats soit Contre Interrogats aux tesmoings neutres et non partiaux que pour ce fait pourront estre produit, Implorant sur ce droitt et Justice.
Par Contre ledit Sr. Vidomne au nom qu�il agist souttient qu�en vertu dudit mandat Ballyval et de la Seconde Loix fol. 459 ledit Sr. Frossard devoir faire sa declaration sermentale puis qu�il est constant qu�il s�est rencontr� audit debat et qu�on ne s�est [sait] pas qui en est le promotteur, et que le souverain en ce rencontre n�a point de parent, et que ce n�est que pour descouvrit la faute a forme des Loix pour n�estre scachant qui a fait telle batterie.
Par Cognoissance les declarations dudit Sr. Frossard et de ses parents qui se sont trouvez audit debat sont sursoy�s jusques a ce que les neutres ayant est�s entendus, apres quoy le tout sera communiqu� a sadite Seigneurie Baillivalle pour plus outre attendre ses ordres et bon vouloir, et quant aux autres apres la solemnisation du serment accoustum� ont fait les declarations suivantes.
Monsieur Justicier Nicati a declar� qu�estant dans la Sale de Ville, il intervinst que cest estranger se mist a extraordinairement maltraittre ses Ours, jusques a ce qu�il rompit son baston sur eux dont l�un des bout sauta contre les fenestres sur quoy le Sr. Philippe luy dit qu�il n�estoit pas de la sorte qu�il falloit traitter sesdits bestes et qu�il n�estoyent pas la assembl� pour ne voir autre que le mal traittement qu�il faisoit a sesdits ours, et en mesme temps ledit Sr. Roberti se leva et une partie du monde qu�il y avoit et allerent tout en foule contre ledit Estranger mais pour scavoir qui a fait le coup, il n�en scait rien, car il prist ledit Sr. Roberti par la main et le mene dehors de la salle, et estant en la Rue avec ledit Sr. Roberti ledit Estranger sorti aussi tout en sanglante et se jetta sur ledit Sr. Roberti, ou c�est qu�il eurent peine de les separer, l�ayant derechef pris et emmen� dans sa maison.
Egrege et prudent Philippe Tacheron aussi du nombre des Srs. Jurez de ce corps, a declar� qu�il s�est rencontr� sur la Sale de Ville lors que ledit dispute survinst, l�Estranger estant rempli de vin commenca premierement a se fascher et vouloir battre sa femme au coing de la porte de l�Antichambre ou il la poussa appres quoy il vinst a battre ses ours et rompit deux ou trois bastons dessus, icelluy ne scachant bien tenir sans croiser ses pas, intervinst Monsieur Roberti son proche allie qui amiablement luy dit que ce n�estoit par de la sorte qu�il devoit diverti la compagnie en traittant mal sa femme et ses ours. Icelluy Estranger vinst a le qualifier du mot de bougre et dit que sa femme et ses bestes estoyent a luy et leva son baston pour en frapper ledit Sr. Roberti et mesmement s�en prist a luy, et s�il ne fust intervenu de l�aide il l�auroit maltraitt�. Mais Monsieur Abraham Frossard y estant intervenu le premier lequel il vist battre avec cest estranger sans qu�il scache que ce soit luy qui luy aye amen� le sang, y estant aussi intervenu le Sr. Abraham Nicod lequel parmi la foule frappa a coup de poingt l�Estranger.
Monsieur Abraham Demierre a declar� ne s�estre rencontr� dans la Sale de Ville lors dedite Batterie bien d�avoir veu l�Estranger sortir en la Rue tout ensanglant� et se jetter sur Monsieur Roberti sur quoy intervinst Monsieur le Justicier Fabry que leur posent les seurt�s et furent separez, et l�Estranger se lavant a la fonteine, survinst Abraham Demont qui le pousse rudement et si ledit deposant n�eust retenu l�Estranger, icelluy seroit tomb� dedans. Item, que l�Estranger tenoit son Cousteau a la main se mettant en la posture de lese planter dans le corps, mais il le luy osta et le donna a l�hostesse de la maison de Ville.
Jean Fran�ois Matthey, serviteur du Sr. Philippe Dutoict, a declar� que l�Estranger maltraittant ses Ours ledit Sr. Roberti se leva luy disant pourquoy il battoit ainsi ses bestes, sur quoy il luy respondit que n�en avoit que faire qu�elle estoyent siennes, et s�estant attach� l�un a l�autre, l�Estranger criant bougre, Monsieur Abraham Frossard se leva pour les separer, levant son baston, n�ayant cependant veu qu�il aye frapp�, et estant separ� par le Secretaire Burnand et par le serviteur valet de la maison de Ville, l�Estranger se trouva tout en sang criant tousjours ce mot de Bougre, autre n�en scait.
David Matthey serviteur du susnomm� Sr. Dutoict, a declar� qu�estant sur la Sale de Ville, l�Estranger bastant ses Ours et se disputant avec sa femme, il vinst qu�il s�entre battoit avec Monsieur Roberti, ne scachant qui avoit commenc� la dispute, bien a il ouy l�Estranger qui crioit bougre en se prenant le sang avec la main sur sa teste sans avoir veu qui luy avoit fait le coup, bien a il veu Monsieur Abraham Frossard avec son baston, le Sr. Abraham Nicod et les deux freres Burnand qui estoyent aupres des combattans, sans neantmoins les avoir veu frapper. Item, que l�Estranger estant sorti en Rue se lavant a la fontaine le Sr. Abraham Demont luy porta un coup de poinct le pensant renverser dans icelle.
Le Sr. Abraham Nicod a declar� qu�estant sur la Sale de Ville l�Estranger mal traittans ses ours et se disputant avec sa femme, laquelle pleuroit, Monsieur Roberti se leva et luy dit s�il estoit de la sorte qu�il falloit traitter ses bestes et pourquoy il cassoit les fenestres et les amusoit ainsi, ayant lev� son batton sans cependant l� frapper, l�Estranger le luy arracha des mains, se prit a luy, le poussant contre la muraille, l�appelant bougre larron meschant homme et qu�il n�avoit rien a luy commander. Monsieur Abraham Frossard s�estant approcher pour les separer, il laschat un coup de baston sur l�Estranger mais il ne scait pas sur quel endroit de son corps il le frappa. De plus que l�Estranger estant sorti en Rue tout en sang il se jetta encor sur ledit Sr. Roberti et estant separez il prit son cousteau et se mit en posture de se crever mais Monsieur Demierre le luy osta.
Le Sr. Isaac Dutoict Chirurgien a declar� que l�Estranger apres avoir fait ses Jeux avex ses bastons, il cercha quereller sa femme, dont elle se mit a pleurer. Appres cela il s�en vinst vers ces ours et les bastit d�un telle fa�on qu�il rompit un bastons en plusieurs pieces desquelles pieces il y en eust qui casserent des fenestres. Apres cela il prit derechef d�autres tricoter pour les derechef les mal traitt�, jusques a ce que ces Messieurs en prirent pitie. Depuis la ils penserent poser le hol�, l�Estranger se rebella et commence a parler du nom de bougre, ne scachant a qui il l�addressoit, voicy donc Monsieur Roberti qui pensa luy aller arrester le bras, l�autre a se defendre, dont il y eu la une confusion de monde qui s�approchat mais ne scait pas qui a fait le coup, bien ait il Monsieur Roberti qui leva son baston, lequel l�Estranger peu apres tenoit en sa main, criant bougre Diable, l�ayant veu dans la Sale et en Rue tout en sang tenant un cousteau, faisant semblant de se crever.
Jean Pierre Jossevel le Jeune a declar� qu�estant sur la Sale de Ville, l�Estranger maltraittant ses ours, Monsieur Roberti s�approcha de luy, luy disant qu�il n�estoit pas de la maniere qu�il en falloit agir, ledit Sr. Roberti levant son baston sans toutesfois l�avoir veu frapper, invervinst Monsieur Abraham Frossard lequel porta un coup de baston sur la teste de l�Estranger qui se mit a crier et vist qu�il sortoit du sang de sa teste, et ledit deposant s�estant retir� pour poser un enfant qu�il avoit en ses bras, il rentra et vist l�Estranger qui se jetta sur ledit Roberti et luy osta son baston lequel il ne peu ravoir non plus que le Sr. Abraham Demont qui pensa le luy arracher des mains et estant sortis en Rue il vist encor l�Estranger aux cheveux dudit Sr. Roberti ne scachant qui les separa hors qui ne fust Monsieur le Justicier Nicati.
Jean LeNoir serviteur au Logis de la Maison de Ville a declar� n�avoir veu la commencement, bien l�Estranger qui frappoit ses Ours avec son baston dont il en sauta une piece contre les fenestres, et Monsieur Roberti s�estant lev� alla a l�Estranger sans cependant avoir veu qu�il aye frapp�s et estant venus aux prises avec ledit Sr. Roberti survinst Monsieur Abraham Frossard, quelc�un ne scachant qui, et les deux freres Burnand s�approcherent pour les separer, ledit Estranger seignant desjaz, et pensant oster un baston que l�Estranger avoit en main, ils ne le peurent, et leur ayant dit de le laisser faire, il le luy osta promptement, et estant sorti en Rue il s�approcha de la fonteine pour se laver, survinst le Sr. Abraham Demont qui le poussa, le pensant faire tomber dans icelle, mais il ne peust.
Fait et pass� Judicialement sous le seau a ce requis et Signature du Curial soubsign� le predit Jour 29 Aoust 1679.
Translation:
1679
August 26
The Noble and honnorable Justice of Moudon being assembled in extraordinary session, honorable and prudent Moyse DuPerron, Mestral of the said place, presiding.1
Monsieur the Secretary Trolliet2 has related that, having arrived yesterday at the Ch�teau of Lucens, our Magnificent and most honored Lord Baillif3 told him that there had occurred after he had arrived last Friday a great scandal in this City between a Foreigner, Monsieur the governor Roberti4, and others, such that the said Foreigner had been so mistreated in his person that he was all bloody and it even came to light that there were five against him, because of which he was injured, and for this reason it is requested that all those who were present at the said Battery, whether participants or others, be summoned before Monsieur the Vidomne5 to declare the truth of the facts, since this is not the way that a Foreigner should be treated, that if he has done some misdeed, he should be handled through the Justice system, and not by violence.
The said Foreigner having been called and heard has declared that while beating his animals to make them obey him, came Monsieur the Governor, who is a Surgeon, who told him that that was not the way to treat them, and having raised his cane over him, without however striking him, he [Roberti] grabbed him [the Foreigner] by the arm, and a third man joined in, giving him [the Foreigner] a blow on the head, not knowing who it was [who had struck him], adding afterward that he [the Foreigner?] was staying near the Church.
Monsieur the Vidomne ruled that the commandment of his Lordship [the Baillif] should be placed in execution.
Further, the said Vandelide [this is apparently the name of the �Foreigner�] complained that his trumpet had been taken out of his hands by Abraham Fauchierres6 of Bussy, requesting that it be returned to him with protest for his expenses and for delaying him, which he reckons amounts to the sum of one hundred �cus, and moves to be a party to these proceedings in order to know how it may be determined and resolved by a confession or not, or to be able to submit Interrogatories or rather Counter-Interrogatories to the neutral and impartial witnesses who for this purpose may be introduced, Imploring thus right and Justice.
Responding to the contrary, the said Sr. Vidomne, acting in the stated capacity, rules that by virtue of the said request from the Baillif and by the Second Law, page 459, the said Sr. Frossard should make his sworn deposition, since it has been established that he was present at the said dispute and that it is not yet know whether he was the instigator, and that the sovereign has no direct interest in this proceeding [in other words, the city of Moudon has full jurisdiction at this point], and that it is only being held to discover the fault under the Law to know who is responsible for such Battery [i.e., this is a preliminary hearing to determine whether a crime has been committed and if so, who should be charged].
It was stipulated that the depositions of the said Sr. Frossard and his relatives who were present at the said dispute would be delayed until after the neutral witnesses had been heard, after which the complete record would be communicated to the said Lordship to await his further orders and wishes, and as to the others, after the accustomed oath was administered, they made the following depositions.
Monsieur the Justice Nicati7 declared that, being in the town meeting hall, it happened that this foreigner began to mistreat his Bears in an extraordinary manner, to the point that he broke his cane upon them, a piece of which hit the windows, upon which Sr. Philippe [Roberti] told him that this was not the way to treat his said animals and that he [Roberti] had not come to this gathering to see only the bad treatment that he gave his said bears, and at the same time the said Sr. Roberti stood up, along with a part of the crowd that was there, and they set upon the Foreigner, but as to who hit him, he does not know, for he took the said Sr. Roberti by the hand and led him out of the room, and being in the Street8 with the said Sr. Roberti, the said Foreigner came outside also, all bloody, and jumped on the said Sr. Roberti, so he could barely separate them, taking him [Sr.Roberti?] once more and leading him into his house.
Esteemed and prudent Philippe Tacheron,9 also one of the Justices of this court, declared that he was present in the town meeting hall when the said dispute arose, the Foreigner being full of wine began first to get mad at his wife and threatened to beat her in the corner by the door to the Antechamber where he pushed her, after that he began to beat his bears and broke two or three canes over them, they [the bears?] not knowing where to go to stay out of his path, at which point Monsieur Roberti, his [Philippe Tacheron, the deponent�s] close relative by marriage intervened, saying in a friendly way that this was not the way he should entertain the audience, in mistreating his wife and his bears. The said Foreigner called him a Bugger and said that his wife and his animals were his own, and raised his cane to strike the said Sr. Roberti and even to beat him up, and if someone had not come to his [Roberti�s] aid, he would have been injured. But Monsieur Abraham Frossard10 being the first to intervene, he saw them fight but does not know if it was he [Frossard] who drew blood, since, among the crowd, Abraham Nicod11 also punched the Foreigner with his fist.
Monsieur Abraham Demierre12 declared that he was not present in the town meeting hall when the said Battery took place, but he saw the Foreigner exit onto the Street all bloody and throw himself on Monsieur Roberti, at which point Monsieur the Justice Fabry13 intervened to disarm them and keep them separated, and the Foreigner washing himself at the fountain, up comes Abraham Demont14 who pushes him rudely, and if the said deponent had not restrained the Foreigner, he would have fallen in. Item, that the Foreigner was holding his Knife in his hand, putting himself in the posture of stabbing himself, but he [Demierre] took it away and gave it to the hostess of the town hall.
Jean Fran�ois Matthey,15 servant for Sr. Philippe Dutoit,16 declared that the Foreigner was mistreating his bears when the said Sr. Roberti got up, saying why was he beating his animals, to which he [the Foreigner] answered that he [Roberti] had no business asking and they [the bears] were his own, whereupon they attacked each other, the Foreigner crying bugger, Monsieur Abraham Frossard got up to separate them, raising his cane, but he [Dutoit] did not see if he [the Foreigner] was struck, and when they had been separated by the Secretary Burnand17 and by the servant valet of the town hall, the Foreigner was found to be all bloody, shouting the whole time this word Bugger, and he knows nothing further.
David Matthey,18 servant of the said Sr. Dutoit, declared that being in the town meeting hall, the Foreigner was beating his bears and arguing with his wife, and began to fight with Monsieur Roberti, not knowing who began the argument, although he heard the Foreigner shouting bugger and saw him bleeding, holding his hand to his head, without having seen who struck the blow, but he had seen Monsieur Abraham Frossard with his cane, and Sr. Abraham Nicod and the two Burnand brothers who were close to the combatants, without nevertheless seeing them strike. Item, that the Foreigner having exited into the Street, washing himself at the fountain, Sr. Abraham Demont punched him [the Foreigner] with his fist, trying to knock him over into it.
Sr. Abraham Nicod declared that he was in the town meeting hall, the Foreigner was mistreating his bears and arguing with his wife, who was crying, when Monsieur Roberti got up and told him that this was not the way to treat his animals and why was he breaking windows and calling it entertainment, [Roberti] having raised his cane without, however, striking him, whereupon the Foreigner grabbed it out of his hands and set upon him, pushing him against the wall and calling him him bugger, thief, wicked man, and that he had no right to order him around. Monsieur Abraham Frossard having come up to separate them, he [Frossard] struck the Foreigner with his cane, but he does not know upon what part of his body. Further, when the Foreigner had exited into the Street all bloody, he threw himself again upon Sr. Roberti, and when they had been separated, he [the Foreigner] took out his knife and threatened to stab himself, but Monsieur Demierre took it away from him.
Sr. Isaac Dutoit, Surgeon,19 declared that the after the Foreigner had performed his routine with his batons, he went off to quarrel with his wife, who began to cry. After that, he came toward his bears and beat them in such a fashion that he broke a cane into several pieces, of which some broke the windows. After that he picked up other sticks to harrass his animals again, until these Messieurs took pity on them [the bears]. Then they tried to put a stop to this, but the Foreigner rebelled and began calling them bugger, not knowing who he was talking to, and it was at that point that Monsieur Roberti tried to stop him by taking him by the arm, and the other to defend himself, after which there was blur of people who gathered around him [the Foreigner], but he [Isaac Dutoit] did not know who struck the blow, although Monsieur Roberti had raised his cane, which the Foreigner shortly thereafter held in his hand, shouting bugger Devil, and saw him [the Foreigner] in the meeting hall and in the Street all bloody, holding a knife, and making like he was going to stab himself.
Jean Pierre Jossevel the Younger20 declared that being in the town meeting hall, the Foreigner was mistreating his bears, and Monsieur Roberti came up to him, saying that this was not the way to behave, the said Sr. Roberti raising his cane, without however having seen him strike, at which point Monsieur Abraham Frossard intervened, hitting the Foreigner on the head with his cane, the Foreigner then shouting, and he [Jossevel] saw that he [the Foreigner] was bleeding from his head, and the said deponent having stepped back to put down a baby21 that he was carrying in his arms, he [Jossevel] re-entered the fray and saw the Foreigner throw himself on the said Roberti and take away his cane, which he [Roberti] was not able to retrieve, nor could Sr. Abraham Demont, who tried to grab it out of his hands, and exiting into the Street he [Jossevel] again saw the Foreigner holding onto Sr. Roberti by his hair, not knowing who separated them, unless it was Monsieur the Justice Nicati.
Jean LeNoir,21 servant at the Inn of the town hall declared that he had not seen the beginning, but he saw the Foreigner striking his Bears with his cane, of which one piece flew up and hit the windows, and Monsieur Roberti got up and went to the Foreigner, but he [LeNoir] did not see whether he [Roberti] had struck him [the Foreigner], and when he [the Foreigner] had come to blows with the said Sr. Roberti, Monsieur Abraham Frossard intervened, along with someone else, he does not know who, and the two Burnand brothers, [all of whom] came up to separate them, the said Foreigner already bleeding, and tried to take away the cane that the Foreigner had in his hands, but they could not, and [LeNoir] telling them to let him [LeNoir] do it, he took it away from him [the Foreigner] promptly, and [the Foreigner] having exited into the Street, he approached the fountain to wash himself, when up came Sr. Abraham Demont who tried to push him into the fountain, but he could not.
Done and judicially approved under the required seal and Signature of the undersigned Clerk23 the said Day, August 29, 1679.24
Most of the citizens of Moudon mentioned here are in our Dutoit database. We were very surprised to learn that the Maison de Ville was used at that time for community events, such as this traveling minstrel show, and even more surprised that such a performance would take place at all, under the watchful eyes of Their Excellencies of Bern, who so closely scrutinized the morals of their subjects, to the point of hauling them before the local consistory for such offenses as playing cards or dancing. They even limited the number of dances permitted at weddings! (In their third edict concerning the Reformation in the Pays de Vaud, 24 dec 1536, Their Excellencies had the following to say about dancing: "Dances sont scandaleuses. A ceste cause les deffendons soub le bamp de troy florins, toutesfoys troys honnestes dances pour le jour de nopces oultroyons." See Regula Matzinger-Pfister, Les sources du droit du Canton de Vaud. C. Epoque benoise. I. Les mandats g�n�raux bernois pour le Pays de Vaud, 1536-1798, p. 18, Basel: Schwabe & Co., 2003.)
Almost without exception, the history of music in Protestant Switzerland from the 16th Century and forward nearly to the 19th Century is usually relegated to a few lines indicating that there was none, except for limited psalm singing. It may be that the official edicts against music and dance have been mistaken for reality. The official position of the government may not have reflected the way people lived. Certainly, the numerous complaints against music and dance that came before the consistories can be taken as evidence that such prohibitions had little effect. The testimony before the Cour de Justice of Moudon was not concerned with the presence of secular music (played, evidently, on a trumpet) in the Maison de Ville, which was also the seat of communal government. The citizens of Moudon were not in hot water for attending a musical entertainment; some of the most important citizens in town were in the audience, with their children. The citizens did, however, object to the fact that the entertainer was drunk, that he behaved badly toward his wife, and especially, that he cruelly abused his trained bears.
Further, there is no indication that the presentation of such an entertainment was considered exceptional. The audience came expecting to be entertained, and their expectations were not met. It is tempting to infer from this the existence of an impressario in Moudon who arranged entertainment on a regular basis. If that is true, the entertainers would expect to be paid, and so it might be instructive to examine the accounts of the city for this period.
Troupes of musicians with bears and monkeys are attested in Europe at least as early as the 13th Century. They had a reputation of being disorderly. The outcome of the performance at Moudon is reminiscent of a famous dispute in Paris a few years later.
The guild of the minstrels, the Confr�rie de St. Julien-des-M�n�triers, generally known as the M�n�strandise, had existed in Paris since 1321. It dominated public musical life in Paris right up to the Revolution of 1789. It claimed control of essentially all public instrumental music, specifically "dancing masters and players of instruments both high and low and the oboes" of Paris. In 1660, the dancing masters declared their independence from the Confr�rie, and in 1661 established their own Acad�mie Royale de Danse. About 1693, the Confr�rie tried to bring "composers, organists, and masters of the harpsichord" into their syndicate.
But the composers, organists, and harpsichord masters in question (many of them falling into all three categories simultaneously) already had successful musical careers in the churches and the royal court. They had no desire to be associated with common minstrels. The matter was finally resolved when the composers, organists, and harpsichord masters Leb�gue, Nivers, Buterne, and Fran�ois Couperin obtained Letters Patent, with royal approval, on June 25, 1707, voiding the claim of jurisdiction of the Confr�rie.
It was this episode that is behind Couperin's famous harpsichord suite, "Les fastes de la grande et ancienne M�n�strandise," a little drama in five acts. First, "les notables et les jur�s" take their places to witness the performance—and at Moudon, the audience consisted quite literally of the notables of the city, including the "jur�s"—that is, at least some of the members of the Cour de Justice. Next, the hurdy-gurdy players and the beggars make their entrance (an obvious dig at the quality and character of the minstrels), followed in the third act by tumblers, jugglers, and tight-rope dancers, with bears and monkeys. Next comes a number performed by invalids and cripples (again, speaking to the qualifications of the minstrels as serious musicians), their crutches indicated in the notes of the left hand. The final act is the "confusion and rout of the whole troupe, caused by the drunkards, the monkeys, and bears." From the testimony given at Moudon, we now know that Couperin was not exaggerating!
1Moyse DuPerron�s son Pierre, and his son-in-law Daniel Dutoit, operated a book shop that published almanacs. As M�tral, Moyse DuPerron was responsible for enforcing the accuracy of weights and measures, among other duties. His wife was Anne Demont. This and other identifications of the people mentioned are based on the list of the members of the court at the beginning of the volume, and the church records of Moudon.
2Philippe Trolliet, born in 1613 and died before 1692, son of Humbert Trolliet. He married Salom� Menod in 1638. They had at least nine children.
3The Baillif for the district of Moudon at that date was Samuel Jenner. The Baillif was appointed by Their Excellencies in Bern and resided at the Ch�teau de Lucens.
4Philippe Roberti has not been identified.
5The Vidomne at that date was Noble David de Treytorrens, whose wife Susanne Decristaz was the daughter of the previous Vidomne Jean Decristaz.
6Abraham Fauchierres has not been identified with certainty. The name Abraham appears many times in this large family.
7Daniel Nicati or Nicaty (both spellings were used at that period) was born in 1650, son of Gaspard Nicaty and Catherine Dutoit. He married Jeanne Catherine Dutoit, widow of Abraham Dutoit, in 1669. His brother Isaac Nicaty was schoolmaster at Moudon 1677-1678, and was serving as deacon at the church of Moudon when the incident of the dancing bears occurred.
8Who was attending to the bears when the crowd spilled out into the street? Vandelide must have had at least a couple helpers, otherwise there would have been testimony about further damage inflicted by the bears during the confusion. The existence of other members of the little troupe is implied, also, by the references to the varied nature of the entertainment: Vandelide had just completed his �jeux de bastons� (see below, testimony of Isaac Dutoit), probably accompanied by music of some kind, and whatever he played on his trumpet would probably have been accompanied by a drum or other instruments.
9Philippe Tacheron has not been identified with certainty. The genealogy of the Tacheron family is somewhat difficult to follow!
10Abraham Frossard, son of Guillaume Frossard, had married Esther Burnand in 1659, and was thus brother-in-law of the two Burnand brothers mentioned in the deposition of David Matthey.
11Abraham Nicod, apparently the son of Daniel Nicod and Sara Dutoit born in 1652.
12Abraham Demierre, believed to be the one born 1657 to Daniel Demierre and Susanne Dutoit, justicier and conseiller de Moudon, mayor of Villard-Mendraz, and credited with organizing the archives of Moudon. He was killed at the second battle of Vilmergen in 1712, leading a company of troops from Moudon. He was �oncle � la mode de Br�tagne� (first cousin once removed) to Abraham Ruchat, the famous historian of the Reformation in Switzerland. Whether the correct parentage has been established for Abraham Demierre is still not confirmed, but we follow Maxime Reymond and others pending discovery of primary sources.
13Charles Fabri, apothecary and conseiller de Moudon, was probably the son of Isaac Fabri, minister at Le Chenit, born in 1647. Charles married a distant cousin, Claudine Fabri. He is cited as gouverneur de Moudon for 1681.
14Abraham Demont was the son of another schoolmaster of Moudon, Guillaume Demont, and his wife Sara Poitevin. Abraham married first, in 1669, Marie Dutoit, daughter of Gabriel Dutoit and Marie Fudri. He married second, before 1695, to Marguerite Duc.
15Jean Fran�ois Matthey was probably the brother of David Matthey who also gave testimony. They were probably from a Huguenot family, not originally from Moudon.
16The Philippe Dutoit indended here was most likely the son of Gaspard Dutoit and Sara Nicod, born in 1615. He had married first Catherine (Sara?) Lescheyres. The date of his second marriage, to Andrianne Bouchet, is still in question. He was an important merchant.
17Denis Burnand, born in 1631, son of Daniel Burnand and Claudine Richard (not Claudine Pivard, has is reported in at least one published genealogy), left a long series of notarial registers and served as Curial of the court at Moudon for many years.
18David Matthey was probably the brother of Jean Fran�ois Matthey listed above (see note 15).
19This is Isaac Dutoit (1659-1731), later Ch�telain de Vuillens, notary, and holder of many other offices, son of Pierre Dutoit and Marie Doroth�e Buttet. The many documents in his hand that have survived reveal him to be very articulate, and sometimes even chatty, as is evident also in this deposition. He reveals more about himself in his official registers than any other notary we have studied, a very fortuitous trait, for without his comments about himself and his family, we would probably never have worked out his parentage.
20Jean Pierre Jossevel was probably the one born in 1628, believed to be the same man who married Esther Roberty in 1657. This couple baptised at least three children. The fact that the court record calls him "the Younger" raises our suspicions that the man who married Esther Roberty is in fact a different Jean Pierre Jossevel, born probably between 1630 and 1635, but we have found no other record implying the existence of two contemporaries bearing this name.
21The baby was probably Judith Jossevel, baptised 28 jan 1677, daughter of Jean Pierre Jossevel and Esther Roberty. She would thus be about two and a half years old, and her presence tells us that the performance was expected to be suitable for children. Further, we infer that the men brought their wives as well.
22Jean LeNoir is probably another Huguenot refugee. He may be related to the LeNoir family that appears about this time in Payerne.
23The Curial or clerk of the court was Denis Burnand, see above, note 17.
24The date at the end of the account is three days later than the date at the beginning, without any indication of a recess. Perhaps the Curial took several days to transcribe his notes into the official register of the court.