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
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
THE HISTORY OF THE French Academy Erected at Paris by the late Famous Cardinal de RICHELIEU and consisting of the most refined Wits of that Nation Wherein is set down its Original and Establishment its Statutes Daies Places and manner of Assemblies c. With the Names of its Members a Character of their Persons and a Catalogue of their Works Written in French By Mr. PAUL PELLISON Counseller and Secretary to the King of France LONDON Printed by J. Streater for Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in S. Pauls Church-yard 1657. To his very much Honoured Friend and Kinsman NEVILLE CATELINE Esquire My dearest Cosen I Ever looked upon that friendship which you have been pleased to afford me as a very considerable part of my Happiness and have made it my business to finde out some way whereby I might manifest my desire of expressing my Obligations to you which I cannot do more publickly than I do now Hereby also making as many as shall vouchsafe to read this Witnesses of that sincere and unfeigned affection I bear you This is the only end of the present address and not the least hopes I have fancied to my self that the Book will find a more candid reception or any desire to put you to the trouble of defending it where you come No these Considerations are as far from my thoughts as perhaps they are common to most men upon the like occasion For the first of these give me leave to tell you what I have many times thought of such as promise to themselves from the high and splendid names they prefix before their writings to acquire I know not what honour or at least Protection That they are like those silly people of Arcadia I think that presumed if they could once attain the top of a certain high Mountain they might with ease touch the Moon but when they had with a great deal of pains reached the top of it how much they fell short of their aime is easie to guess For my part I could never yet perceive that any Book fared the better for his sake to whom it was Dedicated no more then those ships that having painted upon them the glorious Image and Inscription of some Deitie were notwithstanding torn by common tempests and made the sport of every ordinary wave Et pictos verberat unda Deos. For the second I should be very unjust to expect that at your hands which I am so far from doing my self that if I should hear any vilifie and condemn it as poor and low I should if no worse at leastwise readily assent to what they say so mean a conceit have I of ought that is mine For Translations at the best as 't is commonly but well said are but the wrong side of a sute of hangings which though the stuffe be never so rich and the workmanship artificial looks but untowardly I do not therefore invite any to read this Translation but advise them rather both for their own sakes and for the Authors whom I do very much honour to read it in the French as it came from the most accurate hand of the noble PELLISSON But if they can neither procure that as I think they will hardly nor if they do understand it they may make use of this which I offer them If notwithstanding all this any shall scorn it because a Translation I shall give them their liberty so they will allow me mine to say which is all I am likely to bring in my own defence that Volentibus non nolentibus transtuli For the Book it self abstracting from it the coorse English habit I have given it I suppose it cannot be unacceptable to any that care to know what is done abroad in the world I do not mean of the routing of Armies and sacking of Towns which indeed looke best at a distance and when the Scene is laid in forreign Countries for our own has more then satisfied us with such cruel delights but of Learning and Learned men an enquiry after whom is a pardonable if not laudable curiosity I am sure 't is pleasant For to instance in the present work What greater contentment can be imagined then to see the whole progresse of so Famous a Company even from its Infancy and Budding in a few select Friends unto its full growth and maturitie when established in a Body to the number of fourty and those all eminent Persons either in Church or State or at least in the Common-wealth of Learning Can it be otherwise then extreamly delightful to know their Designs to hear their Debates and in some degree to enjoy the conversation of so many ingenious Spirits such as Monsieur de Balzac de Gomberville the Author of Polexander and de Scudery Whom I the rather mention for that their Names are so well known among us by their works that are done into English But I trespasse too much and am afraid least this Pleasure which so much transports me seem dull and flat to you coming from my Pen. I therefore beg your pardon and beseech you to accept of this small testimony of the great Love and Respect of SIR Your most affectionate friend and humble servant H. S. Carmen Gratulatorium DE Translatione hujus Libri feliciter absolutâ ERgo tibi patuit felici munere linguae Paucorum domus et Gallis adeunda Corinthus Sic fastiditae vitas contagia plebis Antiquo satur eloquio madidusque lepôre Natali curas volucres trans aequora mittis Et fecunda salis tellus et mater aceti Gallia grata tibi est hîc siquos protulit aetas De me iore luto factos adsciscis amicos Celtarum proceres quos inter jura secantes Misceris patriae decus et novus advena luces Sic tamen ut totum ne Sequama sorbeat absis Hoc unâ—m icet invideam pars optima secli Et cordis plus paâ—te mei citò redditus artes Transfer et externis populares dotibus orna Id statuis rectè faciunt sua secula doctum Vivitur hoc aevi Ne me sibi postulet uni Roma vetus neu collapsae PandÃonis arces Ingratum mea me si gens si nesciat aetas Sunt Itali Gallique nec absunt forsitan Angli Quos redimam sanus quâ vis mercede legendos Talis Virgilius Flaccô rata vota ferente Jam tum florentes petiit rediturus Athenas Haud secus Archytam per littora grata Tarenti Quaesivit Plato praeclarus Samnitibus hospes Talis inis meliùs cultae sacraria linguae Sic penetras nemus et reseras mirantibus Anglis Laurigeros longo stantes ex ordine Bardos Sunt nimis ignari rerum propriâque Seripho Contenti siqui Veneres mirantur inesse Angligenis solis claris bellique togaeque Crede mihi sapiunt et possunt dicere bellè Livones et trisles Lappi et quas longiùs oras Sol videt aut subigunt protecti pelle coloni Haud adeò miseris laesit praecordia frigus
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
lofty yea mean and the lowest kind of speech That there be observed also the accents upon long syllables That they mark also the differences of é when open and when close for the pronuntiation That they keep themselves to the receiv'd orthography not to molest the common reading nor hinder but that Books which have been printed formerly may be read with facility That they should nevertheless endeavour to take away all superfluities that may be cut off without any harm That in the second part all simple words or others be set down without any distinction in an alphabetical Order with a reference only to the Page of the great Dictionary where they are explained and where also may be marked also all the words and phrases out of use with their explication for the understanding of old Books where they are found with this notice That these words or phrases belong to the Language but must not be used any more That in conclusion for the good of Strangers one may yet if one will add a third part only of simple Latine words with a reference to the pages of the great Dictionary where they may explain the French words That they may lest the volume be too big leave out of the Dictionary all proper names of Seas Rivers Cities Mountains which are alike in all Languages as also privat terms which enter not into common traffick and are only invented for the necessity of Trades and Professions leaving to those that have a mind to it the liberty to make distinct Dictionaries for the profit of those that addict themselves to those particular Knowledges This was the Project of the Dictionary which Monsieur Chapelain made and was approved of by the Academie 'T is true that some time after Monsieur Silhon who was then Director propounded whether it would not be better that they might make an end of it quickly to follow the Common Dictionaries only adding therto what they should judg meet But I do not find that this Proposition which was then put off to the next Assembly was either received or so much as taken into consideration again 'T is true too they have not punctually observ'd whatever is in this Project as may be seen in that which respects the quotations Yet 't was resolv'd at first to follow the Project in that and they began a Catalogue of the best reputed Books in our Tongue to which they at several times added more according as they thought good For Prose Amiot Montagne du Vair Desportes Charron Bertaud Marion de la Guesle Pibrac d'Espeisses Arnauld le Catholicon d'Espagne The memoires of Queen Margaret Coiffeteau du Perron de Sales Bishop of Geneva d'Vrfé de Molieres Malherbe du Plessis Mornay what ever is extant of Monsieur Baudin's and of Monsieur du Chastelet two Academiciens that were lately dead Cardinal d'Ossat de la Nouë de Dammartin de Refuge Audiguier to which doubtlesse they would have added others as Bodin and Steven Pasquier which deserved not to be forgotten For verse they put into the Catalogue Marot S. Gelais Ronsard du Bellay Belleau du Bartas Desportes Bertaud Cardinal Perron Garnier Regnier Malherbe Deslingendes Motin Touvant Monfuron Theophile Passerat Rapin Sainte Marthe The Book-seller to the Academy was charged to bring to the Director a note of all the principal Authors of the Tongue and of their several works But a while after the Acadamie began to apprehend the pains and the length of the citations and having consulted many times about it 't was resolved by the advice even of M. Chapelain who was the first that put them upon these thoughts not to set down the Authorities in the Dictionarie unless in the making of it they thought good for phrases that were dubious to cite some approved Author that had used them 'T was also resolv'd for the furthering of this work that the Cardinall should be given to understand that it would be very fit to choose out of the Company one or two persons that should wholly apply themselves to it and have the principall charge of it Monsieur de Boisrobert was desired to mention it and to propose to him M. de Vaugelas and M. Faret as fittest for this employment and best able to discharge it worthily if they were acquitted from the cares of their fortune and could bestow their whole time upon it The Cardinall as I find by the answer that M. de Boisrobert returned to the Academie gave no answer to this propos tion whether 't were that he did not like it or that his thoughts were taken up with something else In the mean time there was not any one in the Academie that offered himself voluntarily to take upon him the performance of this work every one had his own affaires and his own private thoughts from which he was not willing to be taken off Thus this design for which they even now exprest so much zeal began to cool and for eight or ten months there was no talk of the Dictionary the Academy all this while amusing it self about other things which I shall tell you oâ— by and by At â—ast the Cardinal having often complained that they did nothing that was profitable to the Publick and being vexed at it so far as to say that he would abandon them these Gentlemen resolved to make once more the same Proposition to him M. de Boisrobert then being thereto exhorted by all the Academiciens and in particular by Monsieur Chapelain and some others of his most familiar friends acquainted the Cardinal that the only means speedily to finish the Dictionary was to give the principal charge of it to M. de Vaugelà s and for this end to get re-establisht upon him by the King a Pension of two thousand Livres which was no longer paid himâ— extolling highly his abilities as to this business his noble birth his merit which has a long time been known to the whole Court The Cardinal at that time received favourably this overture and answered That he would if need were give the Pension out of his own purse But he desir'd to see after what manner M. de Vaugelas would proceed in it They presented him the two Projects he liked well the larger of which I related to you almost all Reg. June ult 1639. The Pension of 2000 Livres was re-establisht upon M. de Vaugelas who went to thank the Cardinal for it and as he had a very ready wit and very polite through long practice at Court and in the choisest company 't was then that he made that happy reply which questionlesse you have heard of For they say that the Cardinal seeing him come into his chamber arose with that sweet and pleasant Majesty which almost alwaies accompanied him and coming towards him Well Monsieur saith he you will not forget I hope in your Dictionary the word Pension Whereupon Monsieur de Vaugelas making a low reverence to him answered No my Lord and lesse that of
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
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
Philosophy and the Mathematicks with so good success as kindled jealousie in the most able The love of soverain Truth casting him upon the study of Divinity he stopt not but at the clear and wholsome springs fâ—om whence he drew those beams which did enlighten and yet not dazle him After he had collected much treasure from Authors both sacred and prophane he believed he should commit a piece of theft if he were not liberal therewith The first fruits of his pen were consecrated to the glory of God by the Paraphrase of Ecclesiastes which he composed and entitled PENSEES MORALES In this work the dignity of the subject is maintained with an Elocution strong without rudeness rich without ornament curious and handsome without affectation It was generally received with extraordinary applause Envie it self spake not a syllable against him or if it did it was in secret This encourag'd him to make another Present to posterity which was the first and second parts of his LYCEE in which describing an Honest man he drew his own picture ere he was aware He was in travel of the third when an unexpected accident snacht him from France in the two and fortieth year of his age and deprived posterity of the fruits of his studies He had the conduct of Monsieur d'Humieres in his youth and afterwards dwelt with him to assist him with his Counsel in his most important affairs which he embraced as his own He gave a very good testimony that he loved him passionatly for seeing him in danger to be drowned be ran to his succour not considering that in such encounters charity is commonly dangerous Fear of the danger wherein he saw a person that was so dear to him confounding him he lost both his strength and breath so that he was not able to resist the impetuosity of the waters which turning in the place where he was lost made a whirlepool in the midst of one of the most calm and gentle Rivers of the world This misfortune would have disquieted his friends for the state of his soul had not the integrity of his life assured them that he was alwaies prepared for death there could not be a more lamentable kind of death nor a more glorious cause He was of a most sweet conversation and he knew so well to temper the severity of his Vertue that it was not offensive to any one Although his estate were lesse then he deserved yet he thought it high enough and to make it better would not stoop to any of those servile diligences which custome has rendred almost honourable Eight dayes before his death he spake in the Academy and his soul was elevated to so high a pitch that one might judge from thence that he began to untack himself from matter and that he drew nigh his Center His stature was moderate the colour of his hair and visage shewed a just temperament of that melancholy which Philosophers call wise and ingenious The Academy did solemnly perform their devoirs to him which Piety oblig'd them to and 't was a long time ere they could dry their tears The regret which he begat even in those that knew him not was a consolation to his friends and the publick sadness was a remedy to their private grief For a stately Monument they preserved the memory of his name in their souls endeavouring to follow his example and had no thoughts sweeter then those which represented to them his Vertue The Epitaph on Monsieur BARDIN STAY Passenger and weep Who e're thou art thou hast lost a friend if thou beest one to knowledge and to vertue 'T is PETER BARDIN worthy of all other honour but that of a grave Neverthelesse comfort thy self thou hast not lost him quite the better part of him remains I might say all if thou hadst all his HONEST MAN which he had begun to frame in his LYCEE Thou wantest nothing of him but what is wanting of that Book yet thou mayst finish it if thou knowest his life Alas he was taken away in the two and fourtyeth year of his age I dare not say unhappily since it was with glory Seeing his Benefactor ready to be drowned he threw himself in to help him He dyed and he for whom he was afraid dyed not The danger was innocent and the fear was mortall This accident surprizes thee it did not surprize him He was alwaies ready and his sudden death did onely shorten his griefs and hasten his felicity But I am injurious in staying you to teach you his praises passe on go wither thou wilt there are few places upon earth where you will not hear them The other Epitaph Bardin repose en paix au creux de ce tombean Vn trespas avanoc le ravit a la torre Le liquide element luy declara la guerre Et de ses plus beaux jours éteignit le flambean Mais son esprit exempt des outrages de l'onde S' envola glorieux loing des peines du monde Au palais immortel de la felicité Il eut pour but l'honneur le savoir pour partage Et quand au fond des eaux il fut precipité Les verus avec luy firent toutes naufrage That is Bardin doth rest in peace within this Tombe A too too sudden death snatcht him away The liquid Element his Foe become And quencht alas the torch of his bright day But his brave soul free from the outrages O' th waves is fled unto theÌ„ Court of blisse 'T was Honour that he made his mark and Crown Knowledge the portion that his Parents left And when to th'water's bottom he sunk down Each Virtue was with him of life bereft I scarce know what to add to this Elogie and these Epitaphs Those that knew this Gentleman say he was really such as you see him there deâ—cribed and do give very honorable Testimony of his vertue His writings sufficiently manifest all the rest and the beauty of his minde appears in that of his expressions and Sty e which perhaps has no other fault but that it is a little too diffuse I have bin told of some other works of his which I have not seen nor are they mention'd in the Elogy They are The great Chamberlain of France dedicated to the Duke de Chevreuse and printed at Paris by du Val in the year 1623. A book dedicated to the King and a reasonable long Letter concerning the possession of the Nuns of Londun He had resolved to intitle his Lycee THE HONEST MAN and was troubled that Monsieur Faret to whom he communicated his design had prevented him and made use of that title himself MONSIEUR DU CHASTELET Paul Hay in Sieur du Chastelet was of the ancient house of Hay in Bretagne which glories that it sprung six hundred yeares ago from that of the Earles of Carlile one of the most illustrious families of Scotland He was at first advocate Generall to the Parliament of Rennes and afterwards Counsellor
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
Monsieur Chapelain reconciles them upon which there are Latin Verses both of the one and others making He dyed at the age of about threescore and ten August 6. 1644. There is of his a volume of works in Latin with which there is a Collection of Elogies made on him which you make see He was esteemed by the publike the best Latin Poet of his time and his Prose though it has made lesse noise deserves perhaps no lesse praise then his Verse MONSIEUR FARET NICOLAS FARET was of Bresse of a familie little known He came to Paris very young with Letters of recommendation from M. de Merziriac to severall ingenions persons amongst others to Monsieur de Vangelas and de Boisrobert He applyed himself to these two and to Monsieur Coeffetean to whom he dedicates his translation of Eutropius He continued ar Paris a long time without getting any employment At length Monsieur de Boisrobert and some others of his friends preferr'd him to be Secretary to the Count of Harcour 'T was a place in appearance little advantageous for this Prince had not as yet an allowance answerable to his birth and the whole House of Lorrain was at that time out of favour However it happened that Faret contributed to the good fortune of his master and therein to his own For as he often saw M. de Boisrobert he perswaded him that the Cardinall to divide the the House of Lorraine which was an enemie to him could not do better then to draw to his side this Prince who was already upon no good terms both with his Elder Brother Monsieur d'Elboeuf and his mother and who in the condition wherein he stood would the more easily be brought to be at the commands of the Court The Cardinall embraced this counsell took into his alliance the Count of Harcour and afterwards bestowed on him great employments Faret who had alwayes lived with him with very much familiarity and more like a friend then a domestique shared in this prosperity He maried twice very richly especially the last time They say he dyed very well to passe though out of a laudable gratitude he divers times engaged himself to help Monsieur de Vaugelas in his wants which had well nigh made him ruine his own estate He dyed aged about fifty years of a Malignant fever after he had endured very much He left one Son by his wife and other Children by his second He was a man of a good Complexion somewhat fat and grosse of a Chesnut coloured hair and high coloured visage He was a great friend of Molâ—ere's the Author of Polyxena and of Monsieur de S. Amâ—nt who has commended him in his verâ—es as a brave good-fellow However he was nothing neer so much as a man would guesse from thence although he did nor hate good cheer and mirth and he â—aies himself somewhere in his works that the fitnesse of his name to time with Cabaset which signifies a tipling-house was partly the cause of this report which M. de S. Amant had raiâ—ed of him A man may perceive by reading his writings that he had an excellent wit very much of purity and cleanness in his Styâ—e and a good genius for Language and eloquence His principall work is The honest man which he made about the year 1633. It has been translated into Spanish This book deserves to have its Aâ—thor esâ—eemed for that being judiciously assisted by the writings of such as wert before him particularly the Count Balihasar Castâ—glio he has collected in a little room and explained in very elegant terms a great deale of good counsel for all sorts of persons and especially Courtiers He has left also his Translations of Eutropius dedicated as I told you but now to Monsieur Coeffeteau who ever since highly esteemed him for his Language He collected two Volumes of Letters of severall Authors amongst which there are many of his own He made but few verses neither am I certain that he has any more then an Ode to Cardinall de Richelieu which is in The sacrifice of the Muses and a sonnet which is to be seen in Nostre-Dame Church with a Picture for a vow which he made in Piemont at the Combat de la Route where he was with his Master MONSIEUR MAYNARD FRANCIS MAYNARD a Tolosain was of a very good family His Grand-father John Maynard a Native of S. Cere though born in an age when Learning but began to revive in France in the reign of Francis the first was in esteem for his Learning and wrote Commentaries on the Psalms which are still extant From him issued Gerard Maynard Counsellor in the Parlement of Tolose a great Lawyer His is commended for continuing faithfull in the Kings service in a time when civill wars had divided all the Soverain Courts of the Realm He was one of those that retreated to Chastel-Sarrasy when the Company was wholly oppressed by the Power of the Duke of Ioyeuse At length to withdraw himself yet farther from the troubles he quitted his employment and returned to dwell at S. Cere In this retirement he collected that great Volume of Arrests wherein is contain'd almost all the Law of our Province This book which my late Father afterwards took the pains to abridge for his own private use with what successe you are not ignorant which was very well received of the publike even in the Authors life time and translated as I hear into divers languages Gerard had John his eldest Son who was also Counsellour in the Parlement of Tolose but did not long exercise this charge dying being very young and Francis Maynard of whom we speak who for his witt and verses is become more famous then any of his Ancestors He was President in the Presidiall Court of Aurillac and had also the honour before his death to be Counsellor of State In his youth he came to Court and was Secretary to Queen Margaret beloved of Desportes and camarade to Regnier He then writ a large Poem in Stanza's which he intituled Philander after the manner of that of Monsieur d'Urfé's and The transformation of the Shepheardesse Iris of Destingendes In the year 1634 he went to Rome where he was in the attendance of Monsieur de Noailles Embassadour for the King There he was intimately acquainted with and beloved of Cardinall Bentivoglio the rarest Wit and best writer that Italia has brought forth in our age And so he was of Pope Urban the 8th who often delighted to discourse with him about ingenious matters and gave him with his own hand a Copie of his Latin Poems Nor was he lesse known and esteemed in France by the greatest but his fortune was not any thing bettered by them as the continuall and perhaps too excessive complaints which he makes of it in his writings do but too much manifest He was nominated at the first as you saw before to be of the Academie But the Cardinall de Richelieu never did
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
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