 The earliest surviving source for this anti-clerical tale is found in "Cento Novelle Antiche", an Italian compilation of short stories from the end of the 13th century.Boccaccio could have possibly also taken the tale from a French "fabliau", ""L'Evesque qui benit sa maitresse"" ("The bishop who blesses his mistress").The Marchioness of Montferrat by a banquet of hens seasoned with wit checks the mad passion of the King of France.