OneofthegreatestencouragersofalchymyinthefifteenthcenturywasGillesdeLaval，LordofRaysandaMarshalofFrance。Hisnameanddeedsarelittleknown；butintheannalsofcrimeandfolly，theymightclaimthehighestandworstpro-eminence。Fictionhasneverinventedanythingwilderormorehorriblethanhiscareer；andwerenotthedetailsbuttoowellauthenticatedbylegalandotherdocumentswhichadmitnodoubt，theloverofromancemighteasilyimaginetheyweredrawntopleasehimfromthestoresoftheprolificbrain，andnotfromthepageofhistory。
Hewasbornabouttheyear1420，ofoneofthenoblestfamiliesofBrittany。HisfatherdyingwhenGilleshadattainedhistwentiethyear，hecameintouncontrolledpossession，atthatearlyage，ofafortunewhichthemonarchsofFrancemighthaveenviedhim。HewasanearkinsmanoftheMontmorencys，theRoncys，andtheCraons；
possessedfifteenprincelydomains，andhadanannualrevenueofaboutthreehundredthousandlivres。Besidesthis，hewashandsome，learned，andbrave。HedistinguishedhimselfgreatlyinthewarsofCharlesVII，andwasrewardedbythatmonarchwiththedignityofamarshalofFrance。Buthewasextravagantandmagnificentinhisstyleofliving，andaccustomedfromhisearliestyearstothegratificationofeverywishandpassion；andthis，atlast，ledhimfromvicetovice，andfromcrimetocrime，tillablackernamethanhisisnottobefoundinanyrecordofhumaniniquity。
InhiscastleofChamptoce，helivedwithallthesplendourofanEasternCaliph。Hekeptupatroopoftwohundredhorsementoaccompanyhimwhereverhewent；andhisexcursionsforthepurposesofhawkingandhuntingwerethewonderofallthecountryaround，somagnificentwerethecaparisonsofhissteedsandthedressesofhisretainers。Dayandnight，hiscastlewasopenalltheyearroundtocomersofeverydegree。Hemadeitaruletoregaleeventhepoorestbeggarwithwineandhippocrass。Everydayanoxwasroastedwholeinhisspaciouskitchens，besidessheep，pigs，andpoultrysufficienttofeedfivehundredpersons。Hewasequallymagnificentinhisdevotions。HisprivatechapelatChamptocewasthemostbeautifulinFrance，andfarsurpassedanyofthoseintherichly-endowedcathedralsofNotreDameinParis，ofAmiens，ofBeauvais，orofRouen。Itwashungwithclothofgoldandrichvelvet。Allthechandelierswereofpuregold，curiouslyinlaidwithsilver。Thegreatcrucifixoverthealtarwasofsolidsilver，andthechalicesandincense-burnerswereofpuregold。Hehad，besides，afineorgan，whichhecausedtobecarriedfromonecastletoanother，ontheshouldersofsixmen，wheneverhechangedhisresidence。Hekeptupachoiroftwenty-fiveyoungchildrenofbothsexes，whowereinstructedinsingingbythefirstmusiciansoftheday。Themasterofhischapelhecalledabishop，whohadunderhimhisdeans，archdeacons，andvicars，eachreceivinggreatsalaries；thebishopfourhundredcrownsayear，andtherestinproportion。
Healsomaintainedawholetroopofplayers，includingtendancing-girlsandasmanyballad-singers，besidesmorris-dancers，jugglers，andmountebanksofeverydescription。Thetheatreonwhichtheyperformedwasfittedupwithoutanyregardtoexpense；andtheyplayedmysteries，ordancedthemorris-dance，everyevening，fortheamusementofhimselfandhousehold，andsuchstrangersasweresharinghisprodigalhospitality。