This silly nonsense, compiled like oracles, was printed as late as 1493.  Eighty years later a gentleman of Brittany, named Noel du Fail, Lord of Herissaye, councillor in the Parliament of Rennes, published, under the title of “Rustic and Amusing Discourses,” a work intended to counteract the influence of the famous “Evangile des Quenouilles.”  This new work was a simple and true sketch of country habits, and proved the elegance and artless simplicity of the author, as well as his accuracy of observation.  He begins thus:  “Occasionally, having to retire into the country more conveniently and uninterruptedly to finish some business, on a particular holiday, as I was walking I came to a neighbouring village, where the greater part of the old and young men were assembled, in groups of separate ages, for, according to the proverb, ‘Each seeks his like.’  The young were practising the bow, jumping, wrestling, running races, and playing other games.  The old were looking on, some sitting under an oak, with their legs crossed, and their hats lowered over their eyes, others leaning on their elbows criticizing every performance, and refreshing the memory of their own youth, and taking a lively interest in seeing the gambols of the young people.”

The author states that on questioning one of the peasants to ascertain who was the cleverest person present, the following dialogue took place:  “The one you see leaning on his elbow, hitting his boots, which have white strings, with a hazel stick, is called Anselme; he is one of the rich ones of the village, he is a good workman, and not a bad writer for the flat country; and the one you see by his side, with his thumb in his belt, hanging from which is a large game bag, containing spectacles and an old prayer book, is called Pasquier, one of the greatest wits within a day’s journey—­nay, were I to say two I should not be lying.  Anyhow, he is certainly the readiest of the whole company to open his purse to give drink to his companions.”  “And that one,” I asked, “with the large Milanese cap on his head, who holds an old book?” “That one,” he answered, “who is scratching the end of his nose with one hand and his beard with the other?” “That one,” I replied, “and who has turned towards us?” “Why,” said he, “that is Roger Bontemps, a merry careless fellow, who up to the age of fifty kept the parish school; but changing his first trade he has become a wine-grower.  However, he cannot resist the feast days, when he brings us his old books, and reads to us as long as we choose, such works as the ‘Calondrier des Bergers,’ ‘Fables d’Esope,’ ‘Le Roman de la Rose,’ ‘Matheolus,’ ‘Alain Chartier,’ ‘Les Vigiles du feu Roy Charles,’ ’Les deux Grebans,’ and others.  Neither, with his old habit of warbling, can he help singing on Sundays in the choir; and he is called Huguet.  The other sitting near him, looking over his shoulder into his book, and wearing a sealskin belt with a yellow buckle, is another rich peasant of the village, not a bad villain, named Lubin, who also lives at home, and is called the little old man of the neighbourhood.”