716 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters . 
nally, hearing the bell ring the angelus, he stops for prayers 
and closes his testament. 
Le Grand Testament , written seven years later, tells more of 
the author’s life, the bequests are more elaborated, and the poem 
is used as a framework in which a number of balades are in¬ 
serted. It was written when the author was in a wretched 
state of poverty and disease with the hand of death already 
heavy upon him. 
The testament begins with a complaint against Bishop Thi- 
bault who had made him suffer much in prison. The author 
then praises the king who had been his friend, bewails his mis¬ 
spent life, wonders where have gone the companions of his fol¬ 
lies, confirms his last testament, and proceeds to make another 
one. 
He gives his soul to the Trinity, and his body to the earth, 
to his foster father he leaves his library and to his mother a 
balade which he inserts. Then follow numerous satirical be¬ 
quests to various people. The Testament closes with satirical 
directions for his funeral. To the Testament is annexed what 
the author calls a codicile. This is made up mostly of balades* 
Imitations of Villon followed thick and fast. The Jardin 
de Plaisance, ends with a Testament du Chevalier oultre a qui 
sa Dame est trespasse (1460). 3 It is a series of instructions 
to the relative testator’s funeral. Goujet says of this and the 
confession that accompanies it,. “La Confession et le Testament 
sent deux pieces tres-libres qu’on ne peut excuser d’obscenite et 
d’impiete. 
An imitation of Villon’s Testament is Le Grand Testament 
de Taste-Yin , Boy des Pions (1488). 1 2 The reveller is repre¬ 
sented as making many humorous and satirical bequests. For 
example his staff is left to those who have troublesome wives, 
with the wish that it be well used, his shirt, which has served him 
only nine years is left to the beggars, and his bottles are left to 
his children with the instruction that they follow drinking all 
their lives. He bids adieux to his friends, and closes the Testa¬ 
ment with farewells to his favorite wines. 
1 BiTjliotJiecque Frangoise , Paris, 1745, X, 396-408. 
2 Montaiglon, III, 77. 
