Protector and they filled the place of Academicien which he formerly held as I shall tell you in the Article of the Academiciens in particular To make an end of this I conceive I am obliged to relate what divers persons have dedicated addressed or written at several times to the Academy Monsieur de Espeisses Counsellor of Estate was the first that I know which writ any thing in honour of it Reg. June 19. 1634. For June 19. 1634. He presented to it by Messieurs de Cerisy Desmarests some French verses in its praise These two Gentlemen had charge to thank him and to answer his verses with others 'T was about the same time that the eldest of the Messieurs de St. Marthe presented to the Academy by Monsieur Colletet some excellent Latin verses upon the same subject which begin thus Salve perpetuis florens Academia Fastis and were received with all the esteem and civiâ—ity as they deserved though I do not finde any thing of them in the Registers Le Sieur de la Peyre in the year 1635. Reg. Dec. 3. 1635. dedicated to this Company his Book De l'Esclaircissement des Temps with this Title To the Eminent which makes many believe that it was called the Eminent Academy 'T was order'd that Messieurs de Gomberville and de Malleville should go and thank him for it at his house 'T was in this book that this good man who had many very pleasant fancies caused to be set before his book the Portraicture of the Cardinall in Taille douce with a Crown of rayes about him in each of which was written the name of an Academicien And which is best amongst these Academiciens he put M. de Bautru Cherelles who was none of them And he that made The state of France in the year 1652. being desirous to insert there the Catalogue of the Academiciens taking it perhaps from hence fell into the same errour Le Sieur Belot Advocat dedicated also to the Academy at the same time if I be not deceived a Book which I could never meet with and whereof there is no mention in the Registers intituled An Apology for the Latin Tongue and 't was this which gave occasion to that handsome passage in the Request of the Dictionaries Le pauvre Langue Latiale Alloit estre trousse en male Si le bel Advocat Belot c. Reg. Feb. 1. 1638. Monsieur Frenicle having caused his Paraphrase on 4 Psalms to be printed by Camusat commanded him by a Letter to present a Copy of his Book to each of the Academiciens which was done the first of Febr. 1638. And the Company ordered that thanks should be returned him in their names by the same Camusat Reg. June 28. 1638. Le Sieur de les Fargues a Tolosain now Advocate to the Councel caused first to be presented to the Company A Paraphrase upon the second Psalm by Camusat who printed it and afterwards he was brought into the Company assembled together to present to them his Translation of Seneca's Controversies Jan. ult 1639. which he dedicated to them He caused a Copy thereof to be distributed to each of them The Prefatory Epistle was read in his presence and he was thanked for it by the mouth of the Director 'T was for this reason that in the same Request of the Dictionaries 't is said Et le Seneque faâ—soit nargue A vostre Cand dat les Fargue Reg. Nov. 26. 1641. In the year 1641. Father du Bosc a Franciscan Chapelain to the King known to be the Author of The Honest Woman and of many other works having printed a Panegyrique on Cardinal de Richelieu presented himself at the beginning of one of the Conferences of the Academy and gave a Copy of his book to each of them that were then present for which he received commendations and thanks Le Sieur de Taneur Anno 1650. having publisht in the year 1650. a Treatise of Incommensurable quantities with a Translation of the tenth Book of Euclide added thereto a very excellent discourse to the Gentlemen of the French Academy concerning a way to explain the Sciences in French Those of the Body have often presented to the Academy their works before or after the printing of them For example Reg. Feb. 01. 1639. I find that Febr. 21. 1639. Monsieur Giry presented to them by Camusat his Translation of the Orations of Symmachus and S. Ambrose concerning the Altar of Victory for which Camusat was charged to thank him Monsieur de Racan when he had composed his Holy Odes which were publisht last year 1651. sent them to the Academy to desire their opinion of them and writ to them that Letter which he has put before his Book The Academy sent him that answer which he has there likewise printed without asking their leave to do it nor the Secretaries that writ it which yet was not ill taken by either of them But of all that has been written or addressed to the Academy there is nothing whose memory deserves better to be preserved than the Letters of Monsieur de Boissat an Academicien wherein he gives them an exact account both of what happen'd to him at the house of the Duke de Lesdiguieres who was then only Count de Sault of the Agreement that was made between them by the mediation of the Nobility of Dauphine assembled in a Body I am not ignorant how delicate and ticklish things of this nature are amongst the French and that there may be found those that will blame me for mentioning this in a work where I have no design to diminish the glory of the Academy or the reputation of any particular member thereof But I do not se why I should suppress any remarkable occurrences which I meet with in my subject that may serve for instruction and for a precedent in the like occasions which may one day perhaps be published quite otherwise then indeed they are and where all things consideted there is not now any thing that may be offensive either to this Illustrious Company which had no part in this difference or to Monsieur de Boissat a Gentleman as every one knows very honourable and deserving I will speak of it then and which is more knowing well that on the one side a matter so curious cannot be unacceptable to you â—nd on the other that in these points of honour they weigh even the least Syllables I will here insert at large not only a Copy of the Agreement which was sent to the Academy by M. de Boissat but also the Letter which came with it and the answer wâ—ich they made And if I suppresse the first Letter which he writ to this Company wherein was a particular relation of his misfortune and of the things which preceded It is because that I have been told that he himself endeavours to suppress it out of a motion of true generosity not to lâ—aâ—e any
a quite peculiar manner with an ingenious livelynesse Although he never printed any thing yet was he in great repute not only in France but also in forrein Countrys for the excellency of his wit the Academy of the Humorâ—sts at Rome sent him Letters whereby they made him one of their Academy His works were published after his death in one Volume which was received by the pubâ—icke with so much approbation that they were forced to make two Editions of it in six Months His Prose is more correct and exact it has a certain Air of gallantry which is not found any where else and something so naturall and so exact both together that the reading thereof is infinitely taking His Verses perhaps are no lesse curious although more neglected He many times slighted Rules but like a Master as a man that thought himself far above them and that scorned to bind himself to observe them That which is most to be commended in all his writings is that they are not Copies but Originals and that by reading the ancients and the moderns Cicero Terence Ariosto Marot and many others he made a certain new Character wherein he imitated no man and scarce any man can imitate him He had written the beginning of a Romance in prose which he called Alcidalis the subject whereof was given him by Madame the Marques of Montausieur who was then Mademoiselle de Rambouïllet Julie d'Angenes But since his death this beginning having fallen into the hands of this Lady was never seen and perhaps never shall To conclude 't was he that brought again into the fashion in our age the Rondeaux or sonnets that end as they begin which have bin quite out of use ever since Marot's time I have amongst my papers one thing which justifies what I now said T is a Letter of his which was never printed written to Monsieur de la Jonquiere Father to Monsieur de Paillerols my Cousin 'T is dated January 8. 1638. and has this Postscript I doubt whether you know what Rondeaux are I have of late made three or four of them which have put the Witts in the humor of making them 'T is a kind of writing which is proper for jeasting and raillerie I know not whether you are grown more grave now then you were when you were a Boy I for my part am alwayes in the same humor I was in when we stole the drake If then you love my follies read them but by no meanes let the Ladyes see them whose hands I kisse Rondeau Cinq ou six fois Cette nuit en dormant c. Ou vous savez tromper bien finement c. MONSIEUR SIRMOND IOHN SIRMOND was a native of Rion in Auvergne of a good familie of the Robe he was nephew to Father Sirmond the Jesuite Confessor to K. Lewis 13. and one of the most knowing men of our age He came to Court and by the favour of Cardinal de Richelieu who esteemed him one of the best writters in those daies was made Historiographer to the King with a pension of 1200. crowns He wrote divers pieces for the Cardinall on the affairs of the times but almost all of them under assumed names The Abbot of S. Germain who was the writer one the adverse part treats him extreme ill in the Tract which he called The Chimerique Embassadour He made an answer to it which is in the Collection of Monsieur du Chastelet The Abbot of S. Germain replyed and handled him yet more injuriously whereby he was obliged to write again in his own defence But Card. de Richelieu and King Lewis 13. dyed in the interim and he could never obtain under the Regency a priviledge to print this Book Hereat he was very much troubled and seeing besides that his Enemie was upon his return to Court and that favour would be no longer on his side he retired into Auvergne where he dyed being about threescore yeats Old He left a Son who as they say will print some of his works particularly his Latine verses His Prose shews that he had an excellent Genius for Eloquence his Style is strong and Mascu ine and wants no adornment The pieces which I have seen of his are these whereof the greatest pa t are in the Collectâ—on of Monsieur du Chastelet The Pourtraicture of the King made of the times of the Constable of Luynes The trâ—ck of State of K. Lewis 13. writ in favour of Cardinall de Richelieu The Letter decifred An Advertisement to the Provinces by the Sieur de Cleonville which I have heard accounted his Master-piece L' Homme du Pape and du Roy in answer to the Count de la Rocque Spanish Embassador at Venice who had written a Book against France under the name of Zambeccari The Chimera defeated by Sulpice de Mandrini Sieur de Gazonval The Relation of the Peace of Querasque taken out of a Treatise written by Monsieur Servien He hath made also some Latin verses as I said and that Epigram against Mamurra wherein this Parasite is called Pamphagus is his I will add here by way of acknowlegment that one of his Books was one of the first things that made me relish our Language I was but newly come from Colledge when I met with I know not how many Romances and other new pieces which though I was very young and a mere child I could not endure but run back to my Tully and Terence which I found more rationall At last there came to my hands almost at the same time four Books which were The eight Orations of Tully The trick of State of Monsieur Sirmond The fourth Volume of the Letters of M. de Balzac which were wholly printed and The Memoires of Queen Margaret which I read over twice from the beginning to the end in one and the same night After that I began not onely no longer to contemn the French Language but even passionatly to love it to study it with some care and to believe as I do still even to this day that with a Genius some Time and Pains a man may render it capable of all things MONSIEUR DE COLOMBY FRANCIS DE CAVVIGNY Sieur DE COLOMBY was of Caen in Normandy a kinsman to Malherbe whose Disciple and follower he was He was also of kinne to Monsieur Morant Treasurer de l'Espargne who procured him a pension and saw it paid him He had an office at Court which never any had before or since him for he was Styled Orator to the King in affairs of State and 't was upon this account that he received 1200. crowns a year he received also other favours from the Court and was indeed proud that they were thought to be much greater then they were Towards his latter end he took upon him a religious habit but he was no Priest He dyed at the age of threescore years He was of a great stature very strong of an ambitious humor and resolute in all his actions He
where he had not his Scouts to give him notice of all their designes These two Gentlemen then feared lest that this commerce which they should have with him by meanes of an Academie which he was to be Founder and Protector of should give men occasion to talke and render them suspected to their Lords They omitted not therefore any thing which might perswade the company to be of their minds However at last the contrary opinion passed which was Monsieur Chapelain's for as he had neither passion nor interest against the Cardinal who had taken notice of him and as a testimony of the esteem he had of him had given him a Pension He represents unto them that it must be confest they could have been contented that their conferences had not been thus divulged but that considering the condition things were in it was not free for them to take which of the two parts they liked best That they had to do with a Man who is extreme eager in what he desires and that is not accustomed to meet with opposition or if he does to suffer it unpunisht That he might take it for an affront if they should refuse his protection and might revenge himselfe for it upon each of them in particular That at least since that by the Lawes of the Realme all kind of Assemblyes were forbidden that are made without authority from the Prince he might if he pleased with a words speaking put an end to this in spite of them and by this meanes break up a Society which there wa none of them but wish't might be eternall Upon these reasons it was resolved that Monsieur de Boisrobert should be desired to returne most humble thanks to the Cardinal for the honour he did them and to assure him that although they never had any such ambitious thoughts and were extreamly surprized with his Eminence designe yet they were wholly resolved to obey his Commands The Cardinal received their answer with great satisfaction and giving divers testimonies that he was very serious in this establishment he commanded Monsier de Boisrobert to tell them that they should meet together as they were wont and that they should augment their company as they should think fit and that they should advise among themselves what forme and what Lawes it would be best to give it for the future Things passed thus in the beginning of the yeare 1634. At the same time Monsieur Conrart at whose house they had their meetings hitherto was about to marry having then invited all these Gentlemen as his particular friends to be at his wedding they conceived that for the future his housewould not be so proper for their conferences as before Therefore they began to meet at Monsieur Desmarests to think seriously according to the intention of the Cardinal concerning the establishment of the Academie IF you remember that you have read in some one of the Poets the description of a young Commonwealth where some are busied in making laws and creating Magistrates others in setting out the ground and drawing a platforme of the houses these in getting together materialls and those in laying the foundations for the Temples and Walls Imagine that it was just so in this first Institution of the Academie and that there passed divers things almost at the same time which cannot be related but one after another One of the first was that these Gentlemen increas'd their company with divers persons considerable for their merit amongst whom there were some that were otherwise so for their quality For as the Court does alwaies zealously imitate the inclinations of the grand Ministers and Favorites especially when they are grounded upon reason and honesty Those which were neere the Cardinal and that were in any reputation of wit thought it a peice of honour to be of that body of which he was the Protector and Father Not only Monsieur Desmarests and Monsieur Boisrobert who were the first that knew of these private assemblies but also Monsieur de Montmer Master of requests Monsieur de Chastelet Counsellor of State who was in great favour Monsieur Serrien then Secretary of Estate and Monsieur Seguier Keeper of the Seales now Chancellor of France desired to be of this Company But because I must in another place speak of all the Academiciens in particular I shall deferre till then to let you know when and upon what occasion each of them was admitted And that they might give some order and forme to their Assembly they resolved to create forthwith their Officers A Director and a Chanceller that should be changed from time to time and a Secretary that should be perpetuall the two first by lot and the last by the suffrages of the Assembly The Director was Monsieur de Serizay the Chancellor Monsieur Desmarests the Secretary Monsieur Conrart to whom this Office was given in his absence by a common consent all agreeing herein that no man could better fill this place Then began he to set down in writing what pass'd in the Assemblie and to keepe those Registers from whence I have drawn the best and greatest part of this Relation They begin March 13. 1634. Besides these three Officers they created a Stationer to the Academie Register 13. March 1634. who was also to serve as dorekeeper to it This charge was given to Camusat who of all others was esteemed the most able Register Apill 10. 1634. for besides that he was very well seene in his profession he was a man of a good judgment and would not print any scurvy books so that when you and I came abroad into the world and began first to reade French Pieces 't was almost an infallible marke of good ones that he printed them They consulted likewise in these beginings Reg. March 20 1634. what name the Company should take and among others that were propounded that of the FRENCH ACADEMIE which had already been approved of by the Cardinal was liked best Some have since called it the Academie of the beaux esprits others the Academie of Eloquence as Monsieur de Boissat who wrote to it from Dauphine with this Title erroneously though he himself was one of it Many others have believed that it was called the eminent Academie in allusion to the qualitie of the Cardinal who was its Protector And I confesse that I my selfe was heretofore deceived in the Epistle Dedicatorie of the first Book of my Paraphrase of the Jnstitutes See Monsier Naudaeus in his Dialogue de Mascurat where he names also the Offuscati of Cesene the Disuniti of Febriano the Caliginosi of Ancona the Adagiati of Rimini the Assorditi of Cita de Castello the Insensati of Perouse the Raffrontati of Ferme the Catenati of Macerata the Ostinati of viterbe the Immobili of Alessandrie the Occulti of Bresse the Perseveranti of Trevise the Filarmonici of Verona the Humorosi of Cortona and the Oscari of Lucca but in a word it never calls
would take the paines leave to add his perhaps with as ridiculous a successe as those that thought they had found spots in the Sun That also the Academie desired to please none but the wisest men and not those fooles that begin to be dazeld with the glory which it receives from so great a protector That if these resolutions may not serve as rules for the future they may at least serve as advice since t is not probable that so many men assembled together should not be able to decide things in which it cannot be denyed but they have manifested sufficient experience That this Company hath taken the name of the FRENCH ACADEMIE because t was the most modest and most proper to its Function That for the Seale it would use and the Priviledges it would enjoy it referred it self therein to its Founder and to his Autority who alone having given forme to this Institution was able to build it up upon foundation strongs enough to continue as long as the Monarchie This Project accompany'd with the Letter which I told you of was presented to the Cardinall by the 3. deputies of the Company He caused the Letter to be read to him twice once by Cardinall de la Valette who then was with him and the 2d time by Monsieur de Boisrobert He answered the Deputies in these very termes as I find them in the Register Reg. March 27. 1634. That he had a good esteem of the whole Company in generall and each member thereof in particular That he was very well pleased with their desiring his Protection that he granted it to them with all his heart He caused the Project also to be read to him and Marked in it some passages which he thought were to be corrected and promised to approve it when 't was mended which being told the Company they gave in charge first to Monsieur Chapelain Godeau Habert and Desmarests to Examine the discourse Reg. May 1. 1634. At last since each of the Academiciens found fault with some thing or other in it t was resolved that every one of them should examine it by themselves and to this purpose that there should be thirty copies of it printed Reg. May 8. 1634. to be distributed amongst them but that they should swear not to speake of it or shew it to any body I learnt afterwards one thing which I account very remarkable t was that to have these thirty Copies they took the way of printing not onely because they judged it the most facile and ready way but also because according to the Common opinion the lesser pains the Eyes take in reading a book the more liberty the minde hath to judge of it That one sees more clearly observes better the graces the faults of a work when t is written in a good Character then when in an ill and better yet when t is printed then when t is written That for Instance Cardinall Perron who spared neither paines nor care nor costs for his books made them alwayes be printed twice first to distribute onely some Copies of them to his private friends on which they might make their observations and Secondly to publish them to the world in that forme which he resolved to set them forth in And to the end that none of this first sort should be divulged against his will he caused them to be wrought off at his own house at Bagnolet where he had a Presse on purpose Well Reg May 18 1634. the thirty printed copies were brought back by the Academiciens with their Notes and which is considerable in so great a number there was not one of them that had divulged the secret The discourse was examined afterwards with great care in severall Assemblies whereof many were extraordinary for this very businesse At last Reg. June 19. July 17. Octob. 30. 1634. Monsieur Faret made it ready to be presented a second time to the Cardinal which he and Monsieur de Biosrobert had charge to do The Cardinall received the Copy which they presented him and having approved it for the matter sent it back soon after to the Company with his own marginall castigations written by the hand of Charpentier his Secretary which related onely to the forme and expressions of it T was ordered that he should be most humbly thanked for his favour Reg. November 15. 1634. and that they would correct according to his desire those passages which he had taken notice of Onely assuming to themselves a laudable liberty in a time when all the Court Idolized the Cardinall and when t would have been a crime to contradict him Reg. November 27. 1634. they ordered that upon two of those passages He should be desired to tell them whether it were his absolute pleasure that they should alter them because his Note was conceived in dubious termes and because the Expressions seemed to the whole Company to be sufficiently noble and French good enough I do not find that they changed these passages afterwarâ—s which makes me think the Cardinal did not urge them any more Now the design oâ— the Academy was to print this Project with their Statutes when they were finiâ—ht that they were agreed about them But this was never done whether it were that this first ardour for the glory of the Company began in time to coole or that as I am very prone to believe it happened then to this judicious Society as it doth every day to many brave men not to satisfie themselves though they satisfie all men else Perhaps the Academy approved all the parts of this discourse but still found some fault or other in the whole as to the order and cariage of it I durst almost suspect it was thus not onely because after they had read it twice and that with very much pleasure they seeme to me to incline moâ—e towards this defect then any other but besides because in one of the Conferences wherein t was examined as I find in the Registers there was a generall Rule made for the future which too in my opinion may serve as a generall lesson for all writers Reg. July 17. 1634. That none should hereafter read any discourse in the Company unlesse at the same time he bring the Analysis of it by it self that so the Academy may judge of the whole as well as of the parts They forgat not in the mean time to deliberate about the principal imployment of the Academy concerning its Statutes and the Letters it was to have for its Establishment Reg. March 20. 1634. In the 2d Assembly upon the question that was propounded concerning its Function Monsieur Chapelain declared that in his opinion it ought to be To endeavour the purify ng of our Language and the rendering it capable of the highest Eloquence as you saw 't was said in the Project That to this purpose they are in the first place to regulate the Termes and Phrases
vacuum in the Registers So that I have not seen any thing of this reception Messieurs de Mezeray Montereul Tristan Scudery Doujat no more then of the five following namely of Messieurs de Mezeray de Monterul de Tristan de Scudery and Doujat All that I could learn of them is that they succeeded Messieurs de Voiture de Sirmond de Colomby de Vaugelus and Baro. Afterwards M. Charpentier was received in the place of M. Baudoâ—n M. Charpentier Reg. Jan. 7. 1651. after that they had read a Letter of the Chancellor's then absent by which he signified to M. de Balesdens that he approved this Election upon the knowledge that was given him of the merit of him that was propounded and upon reading the book which was sent him 'T was The life of Socrates and the memorable passages of that Philosopher translated out of Xenophon's Greek M. the Abbot Taleman Monsieur the Abbot Taleman Almoner to the King succeeded also afterwards M. de Montereul Reg. May 10. 1651. M. the Marquess of Coastin Reg. 18. 21. May June 1. 1652. Lastly as I was writing this Relation Monsieur de l'Estoile being lately dead the Chancellor sent to desire the vacant place for the Marquiss of Coaslin his grandchild thinking he could not better cultivate the inclination the great hopes which this yong Lord gave for all excellencies befitting him Yet he sent word to the Company with a great deale of civility that he desired it as a favour and that he did not intend this reception should be a precedent nor that it should be done in any other manner then the former And indeed the Company having gladly received this Proposition the election was made eight dayes after by balls which were all for him and 't was ordered that the Academy should go in a Body to thank the Chancellor for the honour he had done them which was performed presently and received by him with extream civility I have now told you all that have been received into the Academy since its Institution You observe doubtless that the number of forty whereof 't was to be composed was not full till the reception of Monsieur de Priezac in the year 1639. 5. or 6 years after its first establishment M. Patru who was the first received afterwards at his entrance into the Company made there a very excellent Oration of thanks which gave so good satisfaction that it obliged all that were received afterwards to do the like There are amongst the Papers of the Academy thirteen of these gratulatory Orations namely those of Messieurs Patru de Bezons de Salomon Corneille Balesdens de Mezeray de Montereul Tristan Scudery Doujat Charpentier the Abbot Taleman and the Marquess of Coastin But of this great number of Academiciens not to speak of the Chancellour who of an Academicien is become Protector of the Company whose Elogies shall be seen in Histories more important and more famous then this seventeen are dead concerning each of whom I think it not amisse to speak somewhat in particular And if I should follow mine own inclination this part of my work would be excessive long for I confess I have an extream and insatiable curiosity for every thing that can let me know the manners Genius and fortune of extraordinary persons and that I am even guilty of so much weakness as to study many times in Books the spirit of the Author far more then the matter which he treats of But I will not forget that I write more for others then for my self and that this is the History of the Academy and not of the Academiciens of whom to say the truth I ought not to speak any more then is necessary for you to judge of the whole Body by some of its members Monsieur Colletet who is one of them himself will one day supply this defect and without question will not forget his friends and brethren in the Lives of the French Poets in which he has already far advanced The seventeen that art dead are Bardin Du Chastelet Haâ—ert Commissary of the wars De Meziriac Porcheres d'Arbaud Bourbon Faret Maynard De Malleville De Voiture de Sirmond De Colomby De Vaugelas Baro. Baudoin Monteâ—eul De l'Estoile MONSIEUR BARDIN VVHen Monsieur Bardin left the first place royal in the Academy the Company ordered that there should be performed for him a Service in the Church des Billettes and that there should be also composed for him an Elogie succinct and without affectation of prayses which should be as 't were an abridgment of his life Some dayes after 't was added that there should be aâ—â—o made for him two Epitaphs one in Prose the other in Verse and that the same should be observed at the death of every Academicien Monsieur de Grasse was appointed to make the Elogie M. Chapelain the Epitaph in prose and M. the Abbot de Cerisy that in verse Methinks I cannot do better than relate to you here these three pieces which are neither so long nor of such a style as to displease you And if rthat general rule which was then made had been afterwards as exactly executed as 't was judiciously established it would have been no hard matter for me to speak of the Academiciens that are dead Those Elogies would have either made my labour needless or have furnisht me with excellent good memoires But 't is the Genius of the French to make very good Rules and keep them very ill They have scarce put in practice anything of it but what respects the Service the rest which might have instructed Posterity and have contributed to the glory as well of the particular members as of the whole Body has been left undone through a negligence worthy of blame and altogether mis-beseeming this illustrious Society THE ELOGIE OF M. BARDIN THE French Academy thought of nothing but composing Songs of triumph for his Majesties victories when it was forced to go into mourning and bewaile the losse of PETER BARDIN one of its most illustrious Ornaments He was born in the year 1590. in the chief City of Normandy of Parents that left him a more advantageous portion of the goods of the mind than of those of fortune He received from them a life which he has lost and he returned them a glory which shall never he extinguished He took the first tincture of piety and good letters amongst the Fathers the Jesuits Even then his Masters judged he would prove a man more than ordinary But as the fruits of the Autumn do many times surpasse the promises of the Spring so his actions and his writings taught them since that they did not conceive hopes high enough of him He would not study to become learned but to be more good and he took lesse care to enrich his memory than to polish his reason and regulate his manners He was fit for all kind of Learning but he addicted himself particularly to
ruines he was or'ewhelm'd He was not then above two and thirty peares old his stature was indifferent his hair flaxen his eyes blue his visage pale and pitted with the small pox His aspect and conversation were cold and serious but he had a high fancy great courage and ardent passions in so much that I have bin assured he was like to have dyed in good earnest for love of one of his Mistresses He was courteous discreet and judicious a person of honour and honesty and all that knew him speak of him as of a man not onely very amiable but also worthy of a most particular esteem The onely work that he has in print is The Temple of death which is one of the most handsomest pieces of our French Poetry He made it for Monsieur de la Mesteraie on the death of his first wife which was Daughter to Marshal d'Effiat He has left other verses in a Manuscript but I have heard that they are not altogether of the same strength whether it be that a man cannot write alwayes with the like happinesse or that he had not leisure to correct and polish them as he did the others which he chang'd and rechang'd for the space of three yeares to bring them to that perfection in which we see them He made also a Relation in prose of the passages in Italie under the Marquis d'Uxelles Generall of the army which King Lewis the 13. sent to the succor of the Duke of Mantua The Academie caused an Elogie to be made on him by Monsieur de Gombauld and an Epitaph in verse by Monsieur Chapelain which will hereafter be seen with the rest of their works Monsieur DE MEZIRIAC CLAUDIUS CASPAR BACHET Sieur de Meziriac was of Bresse of a noble and ancient Family He was well made and of a handsome stature had black eyes and hair a pleasant countenance and conversation very sweet He was learned in the Languages and particularly in the Greek he had a deep insight in Mythologie in Algebra in the Mathematicks and other curious sciences In his youth he spent very much time at Paris and at Rome in the latter of which he made many Italian verses in emulation of Monsieur de Vaugelas who was there also Afterwards he retir'd to his house at Bourg in Bresse and if we may believe a common friend of ours that was very intimately acquainted with him he there led a life the most Charming that one can imagin He was already known and accounted in France one of the prime men of his time whether for wit or learning which was sufficient to satisfie a reasonable ambition as his was As for his estate it was at the first worth five or six thousand livres rent and at last eight or ten by the death of William Bachet his elder Brother He never troubled himself to get more nay on the contrary he avoyded all publick offices and employments which others sought after with so much care Whilst he was yet at Paris they talkt of making him Tutor to the late King Lewis 13. this was the reason that he made such haâ—e to quit the Court and he has said since that he was never in so much pain for he thought he had already the heavy burden of a whole kingdom upon his shoulders After he was thus retired he married and though he might pretend to a very rich fortune he choâ—e rather to take a wife without any Portion but one of a good familie handsome and of very sweet conditions and perfectâ—y agreeing with his own He never repented himself of this choice and often took delight to talk of it with his friends as of the best choice that he ever made Health that precious blessing which renders all others infinitely more acceptable was not wanting to him and the onely inconvenience was that he had now and then some light touches of the gout But the principall part of his happinesse consisted in his disposition for 't was naturally facile discreet and moderate alwayes merry and displeasâ—d with nothing There was not any Science which he had not applyed himself to for some time as I told you before No handsome art but he understood and could labour in it with his own hands No person of what quality soever and even of his own domestiques that he would not freely discourse with One might see him do all kind of exercises according to the season of the year or the Company he was with playing at cards dice and all other games in which he was skillfull even to the best niceties dancing amongst a Company of Ladies and that with so much Liberty that he would often have his table-Table-book carryed after him to write when he had a minde to it without leaving the Room where the Company was With his free and familiar humor added to his merit birth and estate he was not only beloved but also respected and revered of every one and possessed a kind of Empire in his Country Neverthelesse he abused it not nor made use of it but for the good and delight of those that gave it him He diligently studied their inclinations and their geniuses and according as he judged them fit for any science or art he would put them upon it with all his power and took delight to instruct them in it and conferr with them about it And sometimes he would allot them parts in playes And to this purpose I remember I have often heard a friend of ours relate at large how he caused The shepearddesses a Pastorall of Monsieur de Racan's who was his intimate friend to be acted by persons of qualitie that he himself pickt out First he altered it in some places that the scene might be the Country about Bourg in Bresse then for the acting of it he took a dining-room where the windows being open on both sides the spectators might see the very places that were presented in little upon the Stage The Engines which were of necessity to be in this play to represent the Charms of a Magician were contriv'd ordered with an extreme deal of care And when a certain fiery dragon began to appear one of the actors fell into a swoun and most part of the Company trembled for fear lest the fire as it often happens in the like encounters should exceed its Commission But the thing most to be admir'd at was that he had chosen all the Actors fit for the parts he gave them and that almost all of them having the same passions which they were to represent or at least being not far from them they were as t were possest after an extraordinary manner There was among the rest a young man that personated an afflicted Lover and was himself an afflicted Lover who upon this occasion far surpassed all the Rosciusses Aesops and Montdories and weeping himself first made the whole assembly weep This then was the life of this Academicien which was not long for he was scarce five
and forty years old when he dyed He left Children and many works of all sorts There is of his a little book of Italian Poems where there are imitations of the best Comparisons that are in the eight first books of the Aenieds Another Book of Latâ—n Poems Many Poems in French They are in the Collection of 1621. which is called The delights of the French Poesie and in that of the year 1627. One Volume which containes part of Ovids Epistles translated into French Verse with very learned Commentaries There is one of them which he sayes was translated twenty yeares before by his Elder Brother William Bachet The true life of Aesop in French I say the true life because that by Planudes is by the learned accounted fabulous Diophantes translated out of the Greek into Latin with Commentaries which our friend Monsieur de Fermat and all that understand the Algebra highly esteem He said himself that he wondred how he was able to do it and that he should never have finisht it had it not bin for that Melancholie and obstinate humor which was brought upon him by a quartan ague he then had A Book of Arithmeticall Recreations dedicated to Monsieur de Tournon wherein he teaches all the tricks that may be done in play by number and out of this they have taken part of the Mathematicall Recreations A treatise of Affection translated out of Cacciaguerra's Italian His great work was the translation of Plutarch which he undertook in emulation of Amiot's in which he pretended as I told you before that he had found an infinite number of faults This work was almost finisht when he dyed and 't is hoped we shall one day see it publisht He cites often in his work A Commentarie on Apollodorus which appears not and very likely 't is also amongst his papers Of all the things he was skilled in there was nothing he knew more throughly and absolutely then the Fabulous Historie in which he was accounted amongst the learned the prime man of his age M. de PORCHERES D'ARBAUD If I have been too long in the life M. de Meziriac I shall be very brief in this whereof I know but very little FRANCIS DE PORCHERES D'ARBAUD was of Provence and was said to be descended of that ancient house of PORCHERES which Monsieur de Porcheres Laugier was also said to be of although they never acknowledged one another for kinsmen He had been the disciple and follower of Malherbe and imitated him very much in his manner of Versifying He was Governour of a Son of Monsieur de Chenoise's and since that of a Son of the Count of S. Heran's Monsieur de Boisrobert of whom every one gives this Testimony that never any man that was in favour delighted more in doing good procured him a pension of six hundred Livers from the Cardinall de Richelieu He retired himself into Bourgogne where he maried and dyed He made many verses which have never been printed some are as The Psalms of degrees and some others which never came to my hands Monsieur BOURBON NICOLAS BOURBON famous in this age for Latin Poetry was a Native of Bar upon Aube the Son of a Physitian and grand nephew of another Nicolas Bourbon a Latin Poet in the dayes of our Fathers whose Elogie is to be seen in Paulus Jovius and Sanmarthanus and who being a smiths Son among his other works made a description of a Smiths forge in a Book which he calls Nugae and by the way t is this Book on which du Bellay made this merry Epigram Paule tuum inscribis Nugarum nomine librum In toto Libro nil melius Titulo This of whom I have to speak was in his youth instructed in human Learning by Passeratius His first publike employment was to teach Rhetorique in the College des Grassins and afterwards in that de Calvy and then in that de Harcour But as he withdrew himseâ—f from this last to live privately Card. du Perron who was grand Almoner of France having seen some verses of his making upon the death of Henry the great nominated him to the place of Professor of Greek eloquence in the Kings College in Critton's room He was also Canon of Langres and in his old age finding himself no longer able to take pains by reason of his sicklinesse and particularly of an almost perpetuall want of sleep which he was troubled with he retired himself to the Company of the Fathers of the Oratorie but he would not be obliged to any of the duties nor so much as permit them to call him Father Yet he wore the same habit as the rest did onely he went alone with a secular servant Whilst he belong'd to one of the Colleges he was imprisoned for having made a Latin Satyre intituled Indignatio Valeriana against an Arrest of Parlement which had supprest a certain piece of money called Droit de landy which Professors took of their Scholars You may see this more at large in the Origines of Monsieur Menage upon the word Landy He earnestly desired to be of the Academie and was constantly there although he made as 't were another Academie at his own house through the concourse of severall persons of all sorts which his Learning and worth drew thither The Cardinall de Richelieu gave him a pension and towards the end of his dayes the last Bishop of Beauvais of the House of Potier who had bin his Scholar and was an Attendant of the Queen Regent's Anne of Austria setled another pension on him But he enjoy'd it not long for he dyed very shortly after I have heard him accus'd by many of being a little too much addicted to money and that although he had forty or fifty thousand Livers of ready money which they found in a Chest of his after his death yet he seem'd to be afraid of nothing so much as poverty which was caused perhaps either from his old age or from some considerable losses he had sustain'd He was in his youth a great friend of Regnier He is commended for an excellent memory and 't is said among other things that he could say almost by heart all Thuanus his Historie and all the Elogies of Paulus Jovius He was very courteous a great approver of other mens works in the presence of the Authors but sometimes too as I am told a little pettish and omething too sensible of injuries which he imagin'd had bin done him He was at odds with Monsieur de Balzac and wrote against him a Latin Letter Andradae that is to Monsieur Guyet Prior of S. Andrade neer Bourdeaux M. de Balzac answered him in another Letter in French addressed to the same M. Guyet and printed in one of his Volums There 't is that he makes this prety allusion upon the qualitie of his adversatie who was accounted one of the Fathers of the Oratorie and the great Poet. Heu vatem insanae mentis quid vota furentem Quid delubra juvant
did not at all value M. Coeffeteau found fault with almost every thing he saw of his He has verses in many of the printed Collections Letters in the Collection of the year 1637. His principal work is the Translation of justice printed 1627. which he has dedicated after a new and strange manner To the King to the Queen his mother in two dedicatory Epistles There is also of his doing a piece of the first book of Tacitus in French with observations which he printed in the year 1613. I have seen besides a discoursin writing to the Duke of Orleans to perswade him to return into France when he had withdrawn himself in discontent and here it is that he subscribes himself Your most humble servant Oratour I have heard also of a piece which he writ against Judicial Astrologie a Treatise of Soveragnity no doubt he had many others upon the affairs of the times as Letters Apologies c. But in general I here give you notice that I pretend not to forget nothing of what the persons I treat of have written In such a Country as France where they have almost alwaies neglected this kind of Memorialls 't is sufficient that you may take for truth what I say without rejecting as false what I do not say And if I be not deceived we should use the same discretion in reading all sort of writers even the most exact for when all 's done 't is impossible but that many thingâ— must escape them MONSIEUR DE VAUGELAS CLAVDIUS FAVRE Sieur DE VAUGELAS Baron of Peroges was of Chanberry and sonne of the Illustrious President Favre Author of the Volume which we call Code Fabrien which is of great use in those our Province which are governed by the Civill Law He was the sixt Son and had no more portion then the Baronie of Peroges which was in Bresse and worth but little together with an ill paid pension of two thousand Livres which Henry 4. granted to his Father for him and his heirs for the services he had done the State in the Marriage of Madame of Savoye 'T was this pension which the Cardinal got re-establish upon him when he undertook the Dictionary He came to Court very young and there spent the remainder of his life He was Gentleman in Ordinary and afterward Chamberlain to the Duke of Orleans whom he followed constantly in all his retreats out of the kingdom He was also towards the end of his dayes Governor of the Children of Prince Thomas But although he neglected nothing which might advance his fortune though he were in esteem and reputation at Court and was no way given to debauchery the mâ—ny voyages he took in following his Master and other troubles made him dye poor so that his estate was not sufficient to satisfie his Creditors He dyed aged about 65. yeares of an Imposthume in the Stomack which was many years growing upon him and often times brought upon him a paine in his side which they attributed to the spleen At last in the year 1649. having bin extraordinarily afflicted with this grief for the space of five or six weeks he found some ease and believing he was almost cured he would needs walk abroad to take the Ayre in the Garden of the Hostel de Soiffons where he had lodgings But the next Morning his paine took him again with more violence Of two servants which he had he sent him that was at hand to call for help but before he returned the other coming in found that he had vomited up the Imposthume and all in amazement asking him how he did You see my friend replyde he coldly and without motion what a poor thing man is After these words he spake no more and lived but some few minutes He was a comely man well made in body and minde of a good stature his eyes and hair were black his visage full and well-coloured He was very devout civil and respectfull even to excesse particularly towards Ladyes for whom he had an extreme veneration He alwayes fear'd to offend any one and upon this account he scarce ever durst take part in any controversies or disputes He was very frequent at Rambouillet Hostel His most intimate friends were M. Faret who had bin as 't were his Scholar M. de Chaudebonne M. Voiture and towards his latter end M. Chapelain and M. Conrart But above all he had contracted a most strict acquaintance with the Baron de Foras who is still alive and did also as well as he belong to the Duke of Orleans They called Brothers and were companions in their devotions in which as in their friendship they persevered constantly From his childhood he had very much studied the French Tongue He chiefly imitated Monsieur Coeffetedu and had so great an esteeme of his writings and above all of his Historie of Rome that he could scarce allow of any phrase or expression which was not used there To this purpose Monsieur de Balzac said That in the judgment of Monsieur de Vaugelas there was no salvation out of the Historie of Rome no more then out of the Church of Rome His chief excellency was for Prose As for Poetry he had made some Italian verses which were very well esteemed But he never made any in French unlesse 't were extempore upon a frolick As for example it happen'd that one day passing through Nevers where Princesse Mary now Queen of Poland then was some of her Gentlewomen who were then making a purse for some poor man came into the Inne where he was he could not see them because he had taken Physick but he sent two pistoles with his Epigram Empesché d'un empeschement Dont le nom n'est pas fort honneste Ie n'ay pû d'un seul compliment Honorer au moins vostre queste Pour en obtenir le pardon Vous direz que je fais un don Aussi honteux que mon remede Mais rien ne paroist precieux Aupres de l'Ange qui possede Toutes les richesses des Cieux 'T was the Princesse he meant I have also another Epigram of his made in promptu upon the mistake of a word which a Porter of Rambouillet-Hostel had committed when he delivered a message to him from the Lady Marquisse Tout à ce moment Maistre Isaac Un pen moins disert que Balzac Entre dans ma Chambre m'annonce Que Madame me derenonce Me derenonce Maistre Isaac Oüy Madame vous derenonce Elle m'avoit done renoncé Luy dis-je d'un sourcil froncé Porter luy pour toute réponce Maistre Isaac que qui derenonce Se repent d'avoir renoncé Mais avez-voue lien prononcé These Epigrams might have bin spared but that the least things of great men are precious He had a present wit and made many times very excellent replyes such as that I spake of before which he made to Cardinall Richelieu He left behind him but two works considerable one whereof is
printed the other not yet when I wrote this The first is his Book of Remarques on the French Tongue against which Monsieur de la Mothe le Vayer has made some observations and it has since bin written against by le Sieur Dupleix but in the publick opinion it merits a most particular esteem For not onely the matter of it is very good for the most part and the style excellent and admirable but besides there is in the whole Body of the work something of an honest man so much ingenuitie and so much freedom that one can scarce choose but love the Author of it And I would to God that the Memoires which he had long since ready to make a second Volume could be found and that we had not cause to bewail the losse of them which happened after his death in the hands of those that seiz'd upon his papers The other Considerable work and as yet unprinted is The Translation of Quintus Curtius upon which he had bin thirty years changing and correcting it continually Nay they say that after he had seen some Translations of M. d'Ablancourt he was so taken with the Style of them which is a little lesse diffuse then his own that he began afresh all his labour and made quite a new translatior I have seen the sheets which remain of this last sort where for the most part every period is translated in the margin five or six severall wayes almost all of them very good Monsieur Chapelain and Monsieur Conrart who take the paines to review this work with all exactnesse to print it are many times hard put to it to judge which is best And which I count most remarkable commonly that which be set down first is that which they like best This is the piece of which Monsieur Balzac said The Alexander of Quintus Curtius is invincible and that of Vaugelas is inimitable Monsieur de Voiture who was much his friend used to jeare him for that excesse of pains and time which he bestowed on it He told him he would never have done that whilst he was polishing one part of it our language would alter and oblige him to new-make all the others Whereto he merrily applyed what is said in Martiall of the Barber that was so long in shaving a mans beard that before he made an end it began to grow again Eutrapelus tonsor dum circuit or a Luperci Expungitq genas altera barba subit so said he altera lingua subit MONSIEUR BARO BALTHAZAR BARO was of Valence in Dauphine In his youth he was Secretary to Monsieur d'Urfé one of the most rare and admirable wits that France ever bore who dying just as he had finisht the fourth part of Astrea Baro caus'd it to be printed and composed the fift part out of his papers He came to Paris and there married a widdow his Land-laday's Sister He had great accesse to the Duchesse of Chevreuse for which reason the Cardinall de Richelieu was hardly brought to consent he should be of the Academie He was also gentleman-usher to Mademoiselle Towards the end of his life he obtained two Offices of a new Creation one of Kings-Atturney in the Prestdiall Court established not long since at Valence The other of Treasurer of France at Montpellier He dyed aged about 50. years and left Children He made many Plaies divers others Poems but his greatest and principall work is The Conclusion of Astrea where he seems to have bin inspired with the Genius of his Master MONSIEUR BAUDOIN IOAN BAUDOIN was of Pradelle in Vivarets but after he had made divers voyages in his youth he passed the rest of his life at Paris with the fortune of most learned men that is without getting any great good He was Reader to Queen Margaret and afterwards also to the Marshall de Marillac Notwithstanding the gout and other Maladies with which he was afflicted in his old age he never gave over writing even to his end and we are beholding to him for translating into our Tongue a very great number of good Books His Master-piece is The Translation of Davila but he has done likewise many others which are not to be contemned as Sueton Tacitus Lucian Salust Dion Cassius the Historie of the Ynca's by an Ynca Tasso's Jerusalem The dâ—scourses of the same Author Those of Ammirato on Tacitus many pieces of the Lord Chancellor Bacon Monsieur de Priezac's Vindiciae Gallicae Suger's Epistles Aesops Fables and the Iconologie of Ripa He took a voyage on purpose into England by order of the Queen Mary de Medicis to translate the Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia and was assisted in the work as they say by a French Gentlewoman who had bin a long time there and whom he afterward married In all these works his Style is facil natural and French And if perhaps in many places he has not done things so well as they might have bin it must be attributed to his fortune which would not permit him to employ upon his writings so much time and care as they required He dyed at the age of above sixty years He was of small Stature had Chesnut-colour'd hair and a lively Complexion He left a Daughter one Son which is since dead in the wars MONSIEUR DE MONTEREUL IOHN DE MONTEREUL a Parifien and Son of an Advocate in Parlement after he had bin a very hard Student he began to plead at the Barre but at the age of 18. or 19. years he was in Italie with Monsieur de Believre who presented him to Cardinall Antonio nephew to Pope Urban the 8. This Cardinall made him Chanon of Thoul which obliged him to return into France from that time he was retein'd to be Secretary to the Prince of Conty This Prince was then at Colledge and had not any reed of his service Therefore he omitted not in the mean time to take some other imployment He was at Rome with the Marquis de Fontenay Mareüil Embassador of France in the quality of his second Secretary but at last Monsieur Bovard who was the first having bin withdrawn by reason of the disgrace of Monsieur du Thou whose kinsman he was Montereul became the first and even before that he had the chief hand in businesses At his return from Rome he was in the same qualitie of Secretary to the Embasse in England with Monsieur de Believere and at last was left as Resident in Scotland where he did very good service for he was most proper for negotiation of a souple Spirit quick and resolute and one that scarce ever did any thing without design 'T was he that gave the advice that the Elector Palatine should passe incognito in France to go and command the troops of the Duke of Weimar and possess himself of Brisac which was the cause that they provided for him and that the Elector was stopped in his passage 'T was he also that thinking thereby to do some good Office to the King
into Stars He has made many other verses not printed DES MARESTS John Desmarests a Parasien Counsellor to the King Controller General in extraordinary in the wars and Secretary General of the Levant Company His works printed for matter of Prose are Ariana a Romance in two parts Rosane another Romance not yet finished whereof there is but one Volume The Truth of Fables in two Volums Erigone a Comedy in Prose The Games of Cards of the Kings of France of famous Queens of Geography and of Fables which he invented by Cardinal Richelieu's order for instruction of K. Lewis 14. in his childhood and when he was Dauphin An Answer to the Ladies of Rennes for his game of the famous Queens A book of prayers and Christian Meditations And for Verse one Volume of Poetical works which among other things contain his Playes Aspasia Roxana Scâ—pio Les Visionnaires Mirame and Europa A book of prayers in verse The Poem of the Christian vertues in 8. Canto's He had almost done two other Playes which the death of the Cardinal made him leave off intituled Annibal and The Charmer charmed There is another of his quite finished which is altogether Comical in short verses called The Deaf man he has not yet publisht it The Insciption on the Kings Statue in brasse in the Place Royal is his He is making an Heroick Poem of the Baptism of Clovis whereof there are nine Canto's finisht He was also by his Master the Duke de Richelieu's order about a considerable work in pâ—ose which he calls The abridgment of universal Knowledge which contains in neer a thousand Chapters the summarie knowledge of most things that fall into ordinary discourse DE RACAN Honorat de Beüil Knight Marquis of Racan son of a Knight of the Orders du Roy born at la Roche Racan in Touraine His printed works are The Shepherdesses a Pastoral several copies of Verses in the Collection of the year 1627. The 7. Penitential Psalms His sacred Odes upon the Psalms which he continues having already made 65. of them His Oration to the Academy Against the Sciences DE BALZAC John Lewis Guez Sieur de Balzac Counsellor to the King in his Counsels born at Angoulesm His works hitherto printed are Six volums of Letters One of several works One of verses and Letters in Latine The Prince The Christian Socrates with which are many other small Tractat's or Dissertations in one volum in octavo He hath made a Political work intituled Aristippus which he is about to publish THE COUNT DE SERVIEN Abel Servien Minister of State and Keeper of the Seals of the Order having been heretofore Procurator General in the Parlement of Grenoble Master of Requests chief President in the Parlement of Bourdeaux Secretary of State Embassador extraordinary in Savoy Plenipotentiary and Embassador for the Peace at Munster He was born at Grenoble He has not printed any thing in his own name but several of his works about important matters have been seen with general approbation CHAPELAIN John Chapelain a Parisien Counsellor to the King in his Counsels His Poetical works printed are Odes for the Cardinal de Richelieu For the birth of the Count de Dunois For Duke d'Anguien For Cardinal de Mazarin A Paraphrase on Miserere Dâ—vers Sonnets on several subjects particularly for Tombs and some other Poems He has made also The last words of Cardinal Richelieu An Ode for the Prince of Conde upon the taking of Dunkerk and another for the return of the Duke of Orleans which are not printed He is making an Heroick Poem Of the Pucelle of Orleans which is to have 24 Canto's 13 of which he has already done In Prose he has The Preface to Cavalier Marino's Adonis He had also made A Dialogue of reading the ancient Romans which is not printed DE BAUTRU William de Bautru native of Anger 's Count of Serran Counsellor of State in ordinary heretofore Introductor of Embassadors to the King Embassador to the Arch-duke in Flanders The Kings Envoy into Spain England and Savoy COLLTET William Colletet a Parisien Advocate to the Parlement and Counsel His printed works are Verses in the Collection called The delights of the French Poesie Amorous despair The duty of a Christian Prince translated out of Cardinal Bellarmin printed under the name of Lanel The adventures of Ismenes and Ismenia translated out of the Greek of Eustathius Divertisments which is a Collection of Poems divided into six parts The Blessed Virgin 's lying in translated into prose out of Sannazarius his Latin S. Augustin's Christian Doctrine and Manual to Laurentius The translation of a Book written in Latin by the Lord Peter Seguier President in the Parlement and intituled Elements of the Knowledge of God and of our selves Divers Homilies in French amongst others all those of Lent taken out of the Latin Breviary Several Odes Stanza's Sonnets and other Poems made and published on several occasions upon the affairs of the times Many discourses in prose upon the like occasions A Collection of Poems in 1642. Cyminde a Tragi-comedy Elogies on the famous Learned men that flourished the last age in France translated out of the Latin of Scevola Sammarthanus The Translation of two Latin Letters of Mrs. Anne Marie Schurman upon the Question Whether it be fit for young maids to be bred Scholers The Banquet of Poets with divers other verses in Burlesque The translation of a Treatise of Monsignior de la Casa concerning the mutuall duty of great Lords and those that serve them The life of Raimond Lullie That of Nicholas Vignier Historiographer of France That of Fryar John de Housset a Hermit at mount Valerien He has translated four Books of Herodotus and Polydore Virgil de inventoribus rerum But these two are not printed He is writing The lives of the French Poets and other Famous men BOISSAT Peter de Boissat of Dauphiné He has printed A volume of Poems A Christian Ethicks SILHON John Silhon Counsellor of State in ordinary a native of Sos in Gascogne His printed works are One volume in quarto of the Immortality of the Soul which is as 't were a Natural Theologie Two parts of the Minister of State A small Book of the requisites of a History Another whose Title is A clearing of some difficulties concerning the administration of Cardinal Mazarin The Preface to Monsieur de Rohan's Perfect Captain There are also some of his Letters in the printed Collections CONRART Valentine Conrart Counsellor Secretary to the King House and Crown of France a Parsien THE ABBOT OF CHAMBON Daniel Hay Abbot of Chambon born in Bretagne GIRY Lewis Giry a Parisien Advocate to the Parlement and Counsel His printed works are the Translations following The touchstone out of the Italian of Boccalino The Dialogue of the causes of the corruption of eloquence Tertullians Apologetick The fourth Catilinarie which is one of the 8. Orations of Cicero translated by several Authors and printed in the same volume
The Orations of Symmachus and S. Ambrose concerning the Altar of Victory Isocrates's Praise of Helen Plato's Apology of Socrates and Dialogue called Crito Salpitius Severus's Holy History Cicero's Dialogue called Brutus or of the famous Oratours He has also translated Some select Epistles of S. Augustin which are not yet printed D'ABLANCOURT Nicholas Perrot Siâ—ur d'Aâ—lancourt born in Champagne His works in print are The Preface to the Honest woman and the following Translations Minutius Felix's Octavius Four of the eight Orations of Câ—cero which are those for Quintius for the Manilian Law for Marceâ—us for Ligarius Arrian of the wars of Alexander The retreat of ten thousand Grecians by Xenophon All Tacitus's works Caesars Commentaries He now translates Lucian ESPRIT James Esprit born at Beziers There is nothing of his printed but The Paraphrase of some Psalms DE LA MOTHE LE VAYER Francis de la Mothe le Vayer a Parsien Counsellor of State in ordinary Tutor to M. the Duke of Anjou as he was also to the King for the space of a year His works in print are A Discourse printed under the name of A Translation of Fabricio Campolini a Veronois of the contrariety of humors that are between certain Nations and in particular between the French and Spanish with two Political Discourses A brief Christian Discourse of the Immortality of the Soul with a Corrollarie and a Sceptical Discourse of Musick A Discourse of History Considerations on the French eloquence of these times Of the Instruction of my Sord the Dauphin Of Liberty and Servitude Of the vertues of Pagans with the proofs of the quotations Four volumes in Octavo of small Treatises Brief Sceptical Discourses on that usual form of speech He has not common sense Judgment on the Ancient and principal Historians Greek and Latin of whom there is any thing extant Letters concerning the late Remarques on the French Tongue One volume in quarto of small Treatises by way of Letters written to diverse learned persons Another volume of the same not yet printed A Princes Geographie a Princes Ethicks a Princes Rhetorick for Monsieur the Duke of Anjou A Princes Oeconomicks Politicks and Logick for the King These three last are not yet printed PRIEZAC Daniel de Priezac Counsellor of State in ordinary born at Priezac-Castle in Limosin His printed works are Observations against the Abbot of Melrose's book intïtled Philip the Prudent Vindiciae Gallicae Three volums of the priviledges of the Virgin Dâ—sceptatio legitima in controversia mota inter Apostolicae Camerae cognitorem Actorem Eminentissimos Cardinales Barberinos excellentissimumque urbis Romae praefectum Defensores One volume in quarto of Politick Discourses He is now composing a second PATRU Oliver Patru a Parisien Advocate in Parlement There is of his A Translation of the Oration pro Archia which is one of the eight translated by several Authors A Prefatory Epistle to Cardinal de Richelieu under the name of the Elzivirs before de Laets New world Another to President la Mesme for the widow and children of Camusat before The Imitation of Jesus Christ translated by Father Antonie Girard Jesuite He has Several Pleadings and other works to print And 't is from him that Monsieur de Vaugelas in the Preface to his Remarques gives us some hopes of a French Rhetorick DE BEZONS Claudius Basin Seigneur de Bezons a Parisien Counsellor of State in ordinary heretofore Advocate General to the Grand Counsel There is of his A Translation of a Treatise of the Prague peace to which he has not put his name SALOMON Francis Salomon a Bordelois Counsellor of State formerly Advocate General to the Grand Counsel There is of his A Discourse of Estate to Monsieur Grotius and A Paraphrase of a Psalm in verse CORNEILLE Peter Corneille Advocate General to the Table de Marbre at Rouen where he was born He has composed already two and twenty Playes which are Melite Clitander The Widow La Galerie du Palais La Suivante La Place Royale Medea The Comick Illusion The Cid Horace Cinna Polyeucte The death of Pompey The Lyar first and second parts Rodogune Theodore Heraclius Don Sancho of Arragon Andromeda Nicomedes Pertharite He has also printed two Books of the Imitation of Jesus Christ and intends two more DU RYER Peter du Ryer a Parasien His works in print are For prose the following Translations The Oration of Cicero for King Deiotarus and that which is ascribed to him For Peace which are two of those eight I formerly mentioned The three Catilinaries all the Philippicks and the rest of the Orations of Cicero The Paradoxes Offices and Tusculanes of the same Author the rest of whose works he intends to Translate Isocrates's praise of Busiris Two Tomes of the History of Flanders by Strada Herodotus All Seneca except that which Malherbe has Translated of him Livie entire with the Supplement of Freinshemius The Supplement of the same Author to joyn to the Quintus Curtius of Monsieur de Vaugelas The life of S. Martyn by Sulpitius Severus The King of Portugal's Psalms Berenice a Tragi-comedy in prose And for verse he made eighteen Playes namely Lisander and Caliste Argenis the first and second parts The revenge of Surene Alcimedon Cleomedon Lucrece Clarigene Alcinoée Saul Esther Scevola Themistocles Nitocris Dinamis Amaryllis which was formerly printed without his consent Two others which are not printed Aretaphile and Clitophon and Leucippe He is finishing the 19th which he calls Anaxander BALLESDENS John Balesdens a Parisien Advocate in Parlement and Counsel He has translated the book called The Mirror of a penitent sinner and has published the following Manuscripts out of many more which he has collected Cartiludium Logicae seu Logica Memorativa vel Poetica R. Patris Thomae Murner cum notis et conjecturis Rudimenta cognitionis Dei Sui Petri Seguierii Praesidis infulati Elogia clarorum virorum Joannis Popyrii Massonii in volumes The Deeds of Conveyance of Dauphiné to the Crown of France A Treatise of Aqua-vitae by M. John Bronant Physician to the King He also reprinted Aesopes Fables in French of his own correction for the instruction of the King with Political and Moral Maximes MEZERAY Francis de Mezeray a native of the Vicounty of Argentan in the Diocesse of Sees He has set forth A Continuation of the Turkish History from the year 1612. to the year 1648. And 3. volums in folio of the History of France from the beginning of the Monarchy to the Peace of Vervins and intends to continue it to our times TRISTAN Francis Tristan l'Hermite Gentleman in ordinary to the Duke of Orleans born at Souliers Castle in the Province of la Marche His works in print are divers Playes Mariana Panthea The death of Seneca of Crispus of the Great Osmar the folly of the wise Three Volums of Poems intituled Les Amours La Lire les vers Herioques In prose one Volume of Letters and some other small Treatises He is