Jean Bodel

Jean Bodel (c. 1165 – c. 1210), also spelled Jehan Bodel,

Writings Bodel wrote

Like another French miracle play from the same time period, Le Miracle de Théophile, Le Jeu de saint Nicolas contains an invocation to the Devil in an unknown language:

Palas aron ozinomas Baske bano tudan donas Geheamel cla orlay Berec hé pantaras tay

Bodel was the first person of record to classify the legendary themes and literary cycles known to medieval literature into the "Three Matters".

His epic La Chanson de Saisnes ("Song of the Saxons") contains the line: Ne sont que III matières à nul home antandant, De France et de Bretaigne et de Rome la grant.

"There are but three matters for the understanding man: Of France, and of Britain, and of great Rome."

the "Matter of Rome", or retellings of stories from classical antiquity the "Matter of Britain", concerning King Arthur and related topics the "Matter of France", concerning Charlemagne and his paladins

Bodel contracted leprosy in 1202 or 1205, and entered a leprosarium. He then wrote a long farewell, "Les Congés", his most personal and touching work.