Protestant Wills and Prenuptial Agreements: 1580s
A small number of the signatures in the exhibit have been culled from prenuptial agreements or from last wills and testaments. Protestant prenuptial agreements depart from the language of the standard Catholic agreements by omitting the phrase that the upcoming marriage is to be solemnized "in the sight of holy church." In the Protestant prenuptial agreement of Gregoire Courchel and Noelle Godivelle, 10 October 1583 (#8, #9), the notary or his clerk mistakenly inserts the Catholic formula “in the sight of holy church” (“en face de sainte eglise”) and then is apparently instructed to cross it out.
Protestant wills like those of the widow Fremine le Febvre, 24 April 1585 (#75) do not mention the Virgin Mary or saints, or prescribe anniversary masses for the soul of the testator, usually leaving decisions regarding burial to the executors. Le Febvre simply “gives and commends her soul to God.” I have added a second example of a Protestant will, the joint will of the weaver Phlippe de Bellevault and his wife Phlipperon Loeullier, 27 April 1579 because it shows another instance of where the clerk has mistakenly included the standard Catholic language : “to the glorious Virgin Mary and all the saints male and female of Paradise.” — and then is obliged to cross it out.
Protestant Prenuptial Agreement of Gregoire Courchel and Noelle Godivelle.
The will of Fremine le Febvre notaries
