Critical History of Nicolas Flamel and His Wife Pernelle

OF NICOLAS FLAMEL.

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...of the highest quality. The documents we possess seem to reveal that the wife was supported by her husband, that he encouraged her, and that if she was active and industrious by nature, she owed to him the pious inclinations she displayed. The author suggests that while Pernelle was naturally hardworking, her husband Nicolas was the primary influence behind their famous charitable and religious works.

The husband and wife both enjoyed maintaining a public image, though their tastes in this regard differed. The wife seems to have lived as a proper bourgeoise A 'bourgeoise' was a woman of the comfortable middle class, typically living in a city and holding certain legal status.. We see that she had two servants; did she have them both at the same time? There is reason to believe so from the manner in which they are named in her will. Along with this, she possessed a wardrobe quite well-stocked for a time when the luxuries of our own age were unknown. She had contracted debts referred to in one legal act as the claims and debts of the late Pernelle original: "les clamis & dettes d'icelle feue Pernelle". This was perhaps the result of her excessive spending.

After Pernelle’s death, Flamel lived in a different style: more secluded at home with his servant Marguerite la Quesnel, and perhaps Collette, the daughter of this domestic worker. He undoubtedly occupied himself with preparing to carry out his pious projects These "pious projects" refers to the hospitals, church portals, and charities Flamel founded, which later fueled legends that he had discovered the Philosopher's Stone.. Judging by the assets found at the time of his wife’s death, and by those he left behind or to which he was entitled, he grew wealthier during his widowhood. A greater frugality The original French 'économie' here implies thrifty management of a household. at that time and diligent work were for him a...