Martin le Franc (c. 1410 – 1461) was a French poet of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.
He entered clerical orders, becoming an apostolic prothonotary, and later becoming secretary to both Antipope Felix V and Pope Nicholas V. He was named provost at Lausanne in 1443, and became canon of the Church of Geneva in 1447.
It recounts the nobility and deeds of many women throughout history, including Joan of Arc, and also fiercely attacks corruption in government as well as the hedonistic luxury of the aristocratic class.
Martin le Franc is famous in music history for penning the phrase "la contenance angloise", the English countenance, a much-debated phrase referring to a characteristically English sound found in the music of composers such as John Dunstaple.
The "countenance" — probably consonant, sweet intervals (3rds and 6ths) which were predominant in the music of contemporary English composers — was massively influential on the music of the Burgundian School[citation needed] during the period that Burgundy was allied with England.