This book has taken nearly a decade to produce and in the course of what has often seemed an interminable struggle I have accumulated a large number of debts. I would particularly like to thank James Collins, William Doyle, Joël Félix, Roger Mettam, Mark Gilbert and Munro Price who have kindly given up their time to read all, or part, of the manuscript and to offer much help and encouragement. The three anonymous readers for Cambridge University Press were also an invaluable source of constructive and helpful criticism. Together they helped me to avoid many pitfalls and errors, although all the remaining defects of this book are my own. Within the wider circle of Burgundian enthusiasts I have enjoyed and benefited from many discussions with Mark Bryant, Chris Corley, Simon Everett, Jim Farr, Mack Holt, Jeff Houghtby and Charles Papon. In Dijon, professor Hugues Richard generously shared his extensive knowledge of the Estates. I am also grateful to my former research supervisor, Tim Blanning, for his support at every stage of my career. I should also like to thank Richard Fisher and Michael Watson of Cambridge University Press for their patience and professional assistance.

Much of the research for this book was conducted in the Archives Départementales and the Bibliothèque Municipale of Dijon and the friendly and efficient staff made it a real pleasure. They offer another splendid example of how the Parisians could learn from the provinces.