Eustache Mercade

Eustache Mercadé

French dramatic poet of the fifteenth century. The dates of his birth and death are not known. In 1414 he was official of the Abbey of Corble near Amiens. According to a document that has been discovered quite recently, he was removed from his office in 1427 but was reinstated in 1437, in accordance with a decision of the court of the Châtelet which was ratified by the Parliament of Paris on 2 May, 1439. Martin Franc, or "le Franc", who wrote in the middle of the fifteenth century, mentions Mercadé as one of the most famous "rhetoricians" of the time. In the "Mystery" that he composed, the author mentioned on the back of the last but one sheet: Ustasse Mercadé, Docteur en decret, Bachelier en theologie, Official de Corbie. The complete title of the Mystery to which he has attached his name is: "La Vie, la Passion et la Vengeance de Jésus Christ." It is kept in the library of Arras under No. 625; the last part only, or the Vengeance, should be considered as the work of Mercadé. It contains 312 characters, of whom 112 have a speaking part.

PETIT DE JULLEVILLE, Les Mysteres (Paris, 1880), CREIZENACH, Geschichte des neuern Dramas (Halle,1893), Memoires des Antiquaires de Picardie, VIII.

P.J. MARIQUE