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, Days, Places, and manner of Assemblies, etc. With the Names of its Members, a Character of their Persons, and a Catalogue of their Works.  
Written in French, By Mr. PAUL PELLISON, Counsellor and Secretary to the King of France.  
LONDON, Printed by J. Streater for Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1657.   

To his very much Honoured Friend and Kinsman, NEVIL CATILINE Esquire.  
My dearest Cousin,  
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 find out some way, whereby I might manifest my desire of expressing my Obligations to you, which I cannot do more publicly 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 myself, 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 aim, is easy to guests. For my part, I could never yet perceive, that any Book fared the better for his sake, to whom it was Dedicated, no more than those ships that having painted upon them the glorious Image and Inscription of some Deity, 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 myself, that if I should hear any vilify 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 aught that is mine. For, Translations at the best (as 'tis commonly, but well, said) are but the wrong side of a suit of hang, which, though the stuff 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 itself, abstracting from it the course 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 look best at a distance, and when the Scene is laid in foreign Countries, (for our own has more than 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 'tis pleasant: For, to instance in the present work, What greater contentment can be imagined then to see the whole progress of so Famous a Company, even from its Infancy and Budding in a few select Friends, unto its full growth and maturity, when established in a Body, to the number of forty, and those all eminent Persons, either in Church or State, or at least in the Commonwealth of Learning? Can it be otherwise then extremely 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 the 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 trespass too much, and am afraid, lest 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 un●m icet invideam) pars optima secli;  
Et cordis plus pa●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 Pandíonis 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,  
Nusquam Barbaria est: ●ed gens sibi quaeque diserta  
Et petit, et duros dictis exorat amores:  
Nec solum molles Italos facundia mulcet.  
Sed siquid balbâ de nare loquatur Hibernus  
Orator, vel siquid ovantes gutture Cambri;  
Stridulus aut voces elidat dente Polonus;  
Aut suspiret Arabs expressam ventre loquelam;  
Immitem flectit popularis Suada puellam.   

Usque adeo nullis aut res aut verba negantur,  
Et cunctis placuîsse datum est, ignavia si non  
Porrectam de monte vetet contingere palmam.  
Ah nimiùm demens, limae qui parcit, et idem  
Secula victuram molitur in omnia laudem!  
Non exorandus veniet post funera lector,  
Hâc saltem metuat justos ex parte nepotes:  
Saepiùs exactam liber hic trutinatus ad aurem  
Nec fidit sibi, nec molles nimis anxius ambit  
Auriculas turbae, cui dicat, Candide Lectòr:  
Dum properat patriam studiis accendere pubem,  
Orandi dum jura docet, legesque severas:  
Pagina quod retulit, non horruit ipsa, tribunal.   

Sed quid ego has laudes, et nullo pondere carmen  
Molior infelix? tum demum laude superbus  
Incedes solidâ, nulli cessura triumpho  
Bis tua vicenis si constet gloria punctis.   
C. W.   

The Reader is desired to correct these following Errata with his pen, they being such as corrupt the sense.  
PAge 2 line 12 Commonwealths. p. 3 l. 19 Mancini. l. 24 recite p. 4 l. 15 that great City. p. 5 l. 25 excused. p. 7 l. 5 entertained. p. 8 l. 20. scarce. p. 11 l. 19 Servien. l. 29 three. p. 13 In the margin, after Fabriano, add, the Filoponi of Fajence. p. 15 l. 13 art. p. 17 l. 11 at l. 25 impurities. p. 21 l. 20. this. p. 22 l. 27 writers. p. 23 l. 6. endeavour. l. 18 Academiciens. l. 25 should. p. 27 l. 3 and that. l. 14 tis. p. 28. l. 3. advantages. p. 33 l 18 heads p. 42 Dubourg. p. 43 l. 28 years, yet when. p. 44 l. 3 vexation. l 29 about. l 33 being. p. 45 l. 2. childish, l 13 for France read fare. p. 46 l, 15 strange. l. 20 Gazetier. l. 21 Bureau. p. 54 l. 2 two other. p. 55. l. 22 its. l. 23 which. p. 58 l. 7 here p 59 l. 16 Academies. p. 62 l. 10 Seguier. p. 63 l. 14 other more. p 72 l. 18. this, l 29 Naudaeus. p. 80 l. 12 his. p. 81 ult. only. p. 87 l. 12 your. p 92 l. 18 this. p. 93 l. 1 bounds. p. 94. 31 ' 'twas. p. 100 l. 29 Bardin's p. 106. l. 6. works. p. 107 ult. apply. p. 110 l. 22 itself. p. 111 l. 14 Chambre's conjectures. l. 29 do you. p. 116 l. 1 sense. p. 123 l. 10 petty. l. 21. affectionez. p. 135 l 12 our. p. 139 l. 19 refuse. p. 144 l. 21. pen of. p. 145. l. 10. Bergen. p. 154 l. 11. at Paris. a little after. for corrected read bound. p 155 l. 22 remained. p. 260 l. 25. l. for Royal r. void. p. 166. in the margin, about the middle add, The last part of his discourse was concerning the Actions of an Honest man. p. 167 l. 13 vertus. p. 168. l. ult. as, p. 169 l. 4 Count. p. 170 l. 8. Observations. l. 27. though. p. 173 antepenult. years' old. his stature. p. 174 13 handsome. p. 177 l. 4 least. l. 10 this. p 179 l. 28. numbers. l. 31 Affliction. p. 180 l. 8 works. p. 181 l. 17 for have, r. am. p. 184 l. 6 vatum insanae mentes. l. 16. may p 186 l. 1 by his first wife. l. 14 Cabaret. p. 188 l 9 deal which p 184 l. 4 a great. p. 204 l. 32 So with many p. 206 l. 15 into ●ashion. p. 209 8 newly p. 210 l. 12 for Justice r. Justin. p 214 l. 3 this. p. 217 l. 28 JOHN 221 l. 7 Prince. p. 224 l. 1 these. l. 22 strange. p. 225 l. 32 Roumen.   

A RELATION Containing The HISTORY OF THE French Academy.  
To Monsieur, D.F.F.  
I Resolve, since you will have it so, to write all that I have been able to learn concerning the French Academy, which is a Company that many talk of, and but few know, as it deserves to be known. For whether we look upon its end, which was to advance the Tongue we speak, to its highest perfection, and to chalk us out a way to attain the height of Eloquence; or whether we consider the persons of whom it was composed, whose names are famous, and very likely will be so hereafter; or whether we cast our eyes upon its Founder, the Cardinal de Richelieu, that famous Minister of State, whose Genius and Fortune hath been alike extraordinary; I see nothing in all this, which deserves not to be known, and to have the memory thereof carefully preserved.  
Had any one particularly left us in writing, what passed betwixt Augustus, Maecenas, and the excellent wits of their age; I know not whether we should read the History of it, with less curiosity and delight, than that of the Wars, and State-affairs of those times; Nay I know not, to say something more, whether we should read it with less advantage and profit; we I say to whom fortune hath given neither Armies to conduct, nor Commonwealth to govern, where we might show what we are, and to whom she hath bequeathed only study, and conversation, and such private and domestic virtues.  
I shall not fear then with all exactness on my subject to relate whatever I have collected, either from the Registers, and large notes which have been communicated to me, or from the long and particular discourse which I have had to this purpose with those persons which were best able to instruct me: and I shall not forget even many petty circumstances which an Histonian would questionless omit; but which a friend me thinks may familiarly tell unto his friend. I shall only abstain from following always, and step by step, the Order of the Dates, which would taste a little too much of a Diary, and oblige me too often to fall upon the same things. But nothing will escape me, if I be not deceived. when I shall have handled, as I in tend, these five particulars.  

1. Of the establishment of the French Academy.  
2. Of its Statutes; and withal of the days, places and manner of its Assemblies.  
3. Of that which it did after its Institution.  
4. Of some remarkable things which passed there.  
5. And lastly of the Academiciens in particular.   

The first part. Of the establishment of the Academy  
THE FRENCH Academy was not established by the King's edict, till the year 1635. But we may say that its origine was four or five years elder, 
Mr. Naudé in his Dialogue de mascurat, where he citys, Giou Bapt. Albertinel discorso dill' Academia parte secunda. p. 88  and that it owes in a manner its institution to fortune.  
They that have written of the Accademie of the Humorists of Rome, say that is sprung up by chance at the wedding of Lorenzo Maucini, a Gentle man of Rome, that divers persons of quality among the guests, to give some divertisement to the Ladies, and because 'twas the time of Carnaval, set themselves at first extempore, & aferwards with a little premeditation to receipt some sonnets, comedies, & discourses, which gave them the name of Bellihumori: That afterwards taking an affection insensibly to these exercises, they resolved to form an Academy of good literature: That then they changed the name of Belli humori into that of Humoristi, and chose for their devise, a Cloud, which being form of salt exhalations from the Sea, falls down again in a sweet and gentle shower, with that of the Poet Lucretius, for the Motto, Redit agmine dulci.  
The French Academy did not arise indeed from an accidental meeting, as that did. But certain it is, that those which began it scarce thought of any thing less than that which happened afterward. About the year 1629. some Gentlemen lodging in several places of Paris, and finding nothing more incommodious in that City, then to go many times to seek one another and all in vain took a resolution to meet together one day in a week, at some one of their lodgings. They were all persons of Learning & of Extraordinary merit Monsieur God●au now Bp of Grass, who then was not a Churchman, Mounsieur de Gombauld, Monsieur Chapelain, Monsieur Conrart, Monsieur Giry, the late Monsieur Habert Commissarie of the Artillery Monsieur the Abbot of Cerisy, his brother, Monsieur de Serizay, and Monsieur de Malleville. They met at Monsieur Conrarts, whose lodgings were the most commodious to receive them, and in the heart of the City, from whence all the rest were almost equally distant. There they entertained themselves very familiarly, as it is usual in an ordinary visit, with all kind of things, affairs, news, and good learning. And if any of the Company had composed any Work, as it often happened, he communicated it voluntarily to the rest, who freely told him their opinions. Their conferences were concluded sometimes, with a walk, and sometimes with a collation. Thus they continued three or four years, and as I have heard divers of them say, with extreme pleasure, and incredible advantage. In so much as even at this day when they talk of those times, and of the first age of the Academy, they speak of it as of a golden age: during which, withal the innocency and all the liberty of the primitive times, without noise and without pomp, and without any other laws than those of Friendship; they enjoyed whatsoever an ingenious Society and a Rational life has either sweet or charming.  
They had made an order not to speak of it to any body, which was very exactly observed for a time. The first that failed in it, was Monsieur de Malleville (for 'tis no hurt to accuse him of a fault which the happiness of the event has excursed) He had said something of it to Monsieur Faret, who had then newly printed his Honeste-Homme; and who having obtained Leave to be at one of their conferences, brought with him a Copy of his Book which he gave them. He returned with very much Satisfaction, as well with their judgements which they gave of his book, as with all that passed in the rest of the conversation. But as 'tis a hard matter, that a secret to which we have once given vent, should not soon after become public, and that another should be more faithful to us than we have been to ourselves: Monsieur Desmarests and Monsieur de Boisrobert knew of these meetings, by means of Mr. Faret, Mr. Desmarets' came thither several times, and read there the fifth Volume of Ariana, which he then composed. Mr. de Boisrobert desired also to be present at them, and there was no colour in the world to deny him admittance, for besides that he was a friend to most of these Gentlemen, even his fortune procured him some respect, and rendered him the more considerable. He then was admitted, and when he observed in what manner works were there examined, and that it was not a business of compliments and flattteries, where each one commends that he might be commended, but that they did boldly and freely censure even the least faults, he was filled with joy and admiration. He was then in his greatest favour with the Cardinal de Richelieu, and his chiefest care was to recreare the spirits of his Master, after the noise & perplexties of business, as well by pleasant stories, at which he was the best of any man in the world, as in telling him all the pretty news of the Court and Town: and this divertisement was so useful to the Cardinal, that his Chief Physician Monsieur Citois, was wont to say to him, My Lord, we'll do all we can for your health; but all our drugs are worth nothing, unless you add thereto a little of Boisrobert. Amongst these familiar discourses, Mr. de Boisrobert, who entained him with all kind of news, omitted not to make an advantageous recital to him of the little Assembly he had seen, and of the persons which composed it: and the Cardinal who had a soul naturally carried unto great things, and loved above all the French tongue, in which he himself wrote exceeding well, after he had commended the design, he asked Monsieur de Boisrobert, whether these Gentlemen would make a society and assemble regularly and under public authority. Monsieur de Boisrobert having answered that in his opinion this proposition would be received with joy, he commanded him to make it, and to offer to these Gentlemen his protection for their Company, which he would get established by Letters Patents, and his affection to each of them in particular, which he would manifest upon all opportunities.  
When these offers had been made, and the question was to resolve in particular, what answer they should return, there was scarce any of these Gentlemen which witnessed not a displeasure, and a regret, that the honour which was done them would disturb the sweetness, and the familiarity of their conferences: nay some of them and especially, Monsieur de Sorisay, and Monsieur de malleville were of opinion that they should excuse themselves to the Cardinal the best they could: but these two, besides the general reasons that were common to them with the rest, had a particular one which they had an eye to. Monsieur de Serisay was Controller of the house of the Duke de la Rochefoucant, and Monsieur de Malleville was Secretary to the Marshal de Bassompierre; These two Lords were looked upon as Enemies to the Cardinal, The first perceiving himself in no good condition at Court, had retired to his Government of Poitou, and the other was already a Prisoner in the Bastille. Now you know in what reputation the Cardinal then was. One might think, that seeing himself in a place so envied, and so exposed to the plots of the Grandees, there was scarce any place, where he had not his Scouts to give him notice of all their designs.  
These two Gentlemen then, feared lest that this commerce which they should have with him by means of an Academy, which he was to be Founder and Protector of, should give men occasion to talk, and render them suspected to their Lords. They omitted not therefore any thing which might persuade 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 confessed, 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 unpunished: That he might take it for an affront, if they should refuse his protection and might revenge himself for it, upon each of them in particular: That at least since that by the Laws of the Realm, all kind of Assemblies 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 means break up a Society, which there was none of them, but wished might be eternal. Upon these reasons it was resolved that Monsieur de Boisrobert should be desired to return 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 extremely surprised with his Eminence design, 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 monsieur 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 form and what Laws it would be best to give it for the future.  
Things passed thus in the beginning of the year 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 Academy.  
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 platform of the houses; these in getting together materials, and those in laying the foundations for the Temples and Walls: Imagine that it was just so, in this first Institution of the Academy, 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 increased 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 always zealously imitate the inclinations of the grand Ministers and Favourites especially when they are grounded upon reason and honesty; Those which were near the Cardinal, and that were in any reputation of wit, thought it a piece 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 Seals, 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 defer till then to let you know, when and upon what occasion each of them was admitted.  
And that they might give some order and form to their Assembly, they resolved to create forthwith their Officers: A Director and a chancellor that should be changed from time to time, and a Secretary that should be perpetual; 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 passed in the Assembly, and to keep 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 Academy, 
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 seen in his profession, he was a man of a good judgement, and would not print any scurvy books, so that when you and I came abroad into the world, and began first to read French Pieces, 'twas almost an infallible mark of good ones, that he printed them.  
They consulted likewise in these beginnings, 
Reg. March 20 1634.  what name the Company should take and among others that were propounded that of the FRENCH ACADEMY, which had already been approved of by the Cardinal, was liked best. Some have since called it the Academy of the beaux esprits, others the Academy 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 Academy, in allusion to the quality of the Cardinal who was its Protector: And I confess that I myself was heretofore deceived in the Epistle Dedicatory of the first Book of my Paraphrase of the Jnstitutes; 
See monsieur 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 peruse, the Raffrontati of Farm, the Catenati of Macerata, the Ostinatis of viterbe, the Immobili of Alessandrie, the Occulti of Bresse, the Perseveranti of Trevise, the Filarmonicis of Verona, the Humorosis of Cortona, and the Oscari of Lucca  but in a word it never calls itself by any other name than that of the FRENCH ACADEMY.  
In the choice of this name, which hath nothing in it either of pride or strangeness they have shown perhaps less gallantry; but perhaps too, more judgement and solidity than the Academies beyond the Alps, who wrong themselves in taking one either mysterious, or ambitious, or fantastical, such as we find them in a carrousel or in a mascarade: as if these exercises of the mind were rather debauches and sports, then serious occupations.  
Thus their Academics call themselves at Sienna Intronati, at Florence dela Crusca, at Rome Humoristi, Lincei, Fantastici, at Bolonia Ot●osi, at Genoa Addormentati, at Milan Ricovirati and Orditi, at Vicenza Olimpici, at Parma Innominati, at Milan Nascosti, at Naples Ardenti, at Mantua Invaghiti, at Pavia Affidati, and I know none of them, but the Florentine Academy only which is the most ancient of them all, which took a plain simple Name without any affectation.  
But perhaps I shall one day, elsewhere and in a discourse by itself, treat of all these Academies, and their names; To return at present to that which I began to speak of. At the same time that it chose its name, it deliberated also concerning the Employment it would have, and the Laws it should establish. All the Academiciens were ordered to think of it in private, Monsieur Faret was charged in the mean time to make a discourse, which should contain as 'twere the Project of the Academy, and which might serve for a preface to its Statutes: and Monsieur de Serizay, to frame a letter to the Cardinal, to beseech him to honour the company with his Protection. 'Twas by this Letter, and by this Project, that they began. The letter which is of the 22th of March, 
The Academies Letter March, 22, 1634  1634. contained in effect thus much, That if Monsieur the Cardinal had published his writings, there would want nothing to the perfection of the Tongue, and that questionless he would have done that which the Academy propounds to itself to do: but that his modesty forbidding him to set forth his own rare pieces, did not also hinder him from approving that others searched after those treasures which he keeps locked up, and from authorising their search. That this was the most solid foundation of the Academies design, and of its project, which should be presented to his eminence with this letter by Messieurs de Bautru, du Chastelet, and de Boisrobert: That it would not receive life but from him, and that the hope of his protection obliged it already to an extreme resentment. 
The Project of the Academy  The Project was a discourse very large, full of many excellent passages, which may be reduced in a lesser compass to these heads: That the Country we inhabit hath always bred most valiant men, but that their valour hath been without reputation in comparison with that of the Romans and Greeks, because they never had the act of rendering it illustrious by their writings. That nevertheless at this day the Greeks and the Romans being become slaves to other Nations, and their very languages, though so rich and pleasant, being reckoned amongst the dead; it fell out happily for France that we have continued not only in possession of the valour of our Ancestors, but also in a condition to raise again to life, Eloquence, which seemed to be buried with those, that were the inventors and Masters of it: That after the great and memorable actions of the King, 'twas a most happy accident, that there are found at this day amongst his subjects so many men able to make that be read with delight, which we have seen done with astonishment. That also 'twas none of the least thoughts of that great Cardinal his prime Minister to take on him as he does the protection of Learning, so necessary for the good and glory of the State, and to cause it to flourish by his favour and approbation. That there seemed to want nothing else to the felicity of the Kingdom, but to separate from the number of barbarous languages that Tongue which we speak, and which all our neighbours too will speak erelong, if our conquests continue as they have begun: That for so brave a design, he thought fit to assemble a certain number of persons able to second his Intentions. That these Conferences are one of the most assured means to bring it about. That our tongue which is already more perfect than any other that is spoken at this day, may as well at length succeed the Latin, as the Latin did the Greek, if there were more care taken then hath been hitherto of Elocution, which is not indeed the whole of eloquence, but makes a very considerable part thereof. After this was added. That as for the order, practice, and laws, of his Assembly, 'twas thought fit to reduce them into a Statute apart, and in this place to treat only of two things, which would be too much forced and tortured in that brevity which is proper to the stile of Laws. The first, of the qualities requisite in those who should be trusted in this business; and the second, What should be their Functions, and what kind of matters they should handle.  
1. For the first, That it is not enough to have a large and profound knowledge in the Sciences, nor a facility to speak handsomely in conversation, nor a lively and prompt imagination, good as invention: But that there must be at 'twere a particular Genius, and a natural light able to judge of that which is most neat and profound in Eloquence: That lastly there is requisite a certain mixture of all these other qualities in one equal temper subjected to the Laws of the understanding, and to a solid judgement. As for their Functions, which was the second thing they promised to treat of: That they should be, The purifying of the language from the filth it hath contracted, either in the mouth of the vulgar, or in the crowd of Lawyers, or in the impunities of wrangling, or by the ill use of ignorant Courtiers, or by the abuse of those who corrupt it in writing, or of those that in the Pulpits speak indeed what they ought, but not as they ought. That to this end 'twere good to settle a certain constant use of words: That 'twere fit to retain some of those which are now in use, so that they be referred to one of the three kinds of writings, in which they might be used; that those, for instance, which are naught in a lofty, might be borne with in a mean, and approved in the lowest and Comic style. That one of the means which the Academiciens would make use of, to attain unto perfection, should be the examination and correction of their own writings. That they would severely examine the Subject and the manner of handling it, the Arguments, the Style, the Numbers, and every word in particular. That after so exact observations, they would give any one that would take the pains, leave to add his, perhaps with as ridiculous a success, as those that thought they had found spots in the Sun. That also the Academy desired to please none but the wisest men, and not those fools that begin to be dazzled 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 'tis not probable that so many men assembled together should not be able to decide things, in which it cannot be denied but they have manifested sufficient experience. That this Company hath taken the name of the FRENCH ACADEMY, because 'twas the most modest and most proper to its Function. That for the Seal it would use, and the Privileges it would enjoy, it referred itself therein to its Founder, and to his Authority, who alone having given form to this Institution was able to build it up upon foundation strongs enough to continue as long as the Monarchy.  
This Project accompanied with the Letter which I told you of, was presented to the Cardinal by the 3. deputies of the Company. He caused the Letter to be read to him twice, once by Cardinal de la Valette, who then was with him; and the 2d. time by Monsieur de Boisrobert. He answered the Deputies in these very terms, as I find them in the Register. 
Reg. March 27. 1634.  That he had a good esteem of the whole Company in general, 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 'twas 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, 'twas 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 speak of it, or show it to any body. I learned afterwards one thing which I account very remarkable, 'twas, that to have these thirty Copies they took the way of printing, not only 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 mind hath to judge of it. That one sees more clearly & observes better the graces & the faults of a work, when 'tis written in a good Character, then when in an ill; and better yet, when 'tis printed then when 'tis written. That for Instance Cardinal Perron, who spared neither pains, nor care, nor costs for his books, made them always be printed twice: first to distribute only 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 form 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 Press 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 several Assemblies, whereof many were extraordinary for this very business. 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 Cardinal 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 marginal castigations, written by the hand of Charpentier his Secretary, which related only to the form and expressions of it. 'twas 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. Only assuming to themselves a laudable, liberty in a time when all the Court Idolised the Cardinal, and when 'twould 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 terms, 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 afterwards, which makes me think the Cardinal did not urge them any more. Now the design o● the Academy was to print this Project, with their Statutes when they were finished & 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 cool; 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 satisfy themselves, though they satisfy 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 carriage of it. I durst almost suspect it was thus not only because after they had read it twice, and that with very much pleasure, they seem to me to incline mo●e towards this defect than any other, but besides because in one of the Conferences, wherein 'twas examined, (as I find in the Registers,) there was a general Rule made for the future, which too in my opinion may serve as a general lesson for all writers; 
Reg. July 17. 1634.  That none should hereafter read any discourse in the Company, unless at the same time he bring the Analysis of it by itself, that so the Academy may judge of the whole as well as of the parts.  
They forgot not in the mean time, to deliberate about the principal employment 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 purifying of our Language; and the rendering it capable of the highest Eloquence (as you saw 'twas said in the Project): That to this purpose they are in the first place to regulate the Terms and Phrases, by a large Dictionary, and a very exact Grammar which might give it a part of those Ornaments it wants, and that afterwards it might acquire the rest by a Rhetoric and a Poetic, which should be composed to serve as a rule to them that would write in verse and in prose. This advice which was also the thoughts of all the other Academies, was generally followed: and because Monsieur Chapelain had enlarged himself upon the manner how they ought to proceed in the Dictionary and Grammar, 
Reg. March 27. 1634.  he was desired to draw a platform of it, which was seen afterwards by the Company, and thereupon it was ordered he should confer with Messieurs de Bourzey, de Gombauld and de Gomberville. But I shall have another occasion to tell you more of this platform, and to give you an Abridgement of it, whereby you may judge what esteem and commendations it deserved.  
As for the Statutes of the Academy, 
Reg. March 27. 1634.  the first that travailed in this subject by order of the Company was Monsieur de Chastelet Counsellor of State. After they had seen his Papers, he was ordered to confer about it with the same Messieurs de Bourzey, de Gombauld and de Gomberville. Afterwards it was agreed, that all the Academiciens should be exhorted to give in their memojres in writing upon this subject. I have seen nine of these memoirs or advices of some particular Academiciens, which are those of Messieurs Faret, de Gombauld, Chapelain, Conrart, Sirmond du Chastelet, Bardin, Colleset, and Baudoin. I shall not stay to tell you the contents of them; but I believe I may remark by the way two things, which have not been followed in the Statutes. One which is in the memoire of Monsieur de Gombald, and which I relate here as a Testimony of his piety and virtue. 'tis, that he propounded that each of the Academiciens should be bound to compose every year a piece great or small, in the praise of God. The other, which seems to me very strange, though it was desired by Monsieur Sirmond, a man otherwise of a very solid judgement, 'twas, that he would have all the Academiciens bound by oath, to use those words which were approved by the Major part of voices in the Assembly. So that if this Law had been received, whatsoever particular aversion, one might have to a word, notwithstanding he must of necessity make use of it & if any one should use it otherwise, he would commit not only a fault, but a sin. All these memoirs were put into the hand of 4. Commisioners Messeurs du Chastelet Chaplain, Faret, and Gombauld, 
Reg. Decemb 4. 1634.  to cull out of each what they liked best; and after their choice, Monsieur Conrart, who in quality of Secretary had also assisted at all these particular Conferences, digested and couched in writing the Articles of the Statutes. They were read, examined, and approved by the Company. 
Reg. Novemb. 15. 1634.   
The same Monsieur Conrart had also in Charge to draw up the Letters Parents for the Foundation of the Academy, which seemed to belong unto him upon a double account, because he was both Secretary to the Academy, and Secretary to the King. After that he had read them in the Assembly, Messieurs du Chastelet, de Serizay and de Cerisy were ordered to receive them with him, 
Reg. January 2. 1635.  and to show them to the Lord keeper of the Seals; and Monsieur de Boisrobert, to the Cardinal. I believe you'll take it kindly, that I have here inserted them at large, since that they serve for the foundation to all the rest, and that besides they are conceived in very pure and Elegant terms, which not omitting those clauses and forms of Speech usual to the Chancery do Nevertheless relish the politeness of the Academy and the Court.  

LEWIS, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, to all present and to come GREETING. Since God hath called us to the conduct of this State, it hath been our chiefest Aim, not only to remedy those disorders which the Civil wars, (wherewith it hath been so long afflicted,) have brought into it; but also to enrich it with all the Ornaments, befitting the most illustrious and most ancient of all Monarchies that are now in the World: and though we have laboured incessantly to execute this design, yet till now 'twas impossible for us fully to accomplish it. The troubles raised so often in the greatest part of our Provinces, and the assistance which we have been obliged to give to divers of our Allies, have diverted us from the enjoyment of that quiet, which we have procured for others. But as all our intentions have been just, so have they also succeeded prosperously. Those of our neighbours that were oppressed by their enemies, do now live secure under our protection. The public tranquillity makes our subjects forget all past miseries; & confusion hath at length given place to that good order, which we have revived amongst them, in re-establishing trade, in causing military Disciplinie to be exactly observed in our armies, in regulating our taxes, & in reforming luxury. 'Tis well known to every one what share our dear & well-beloved Cousin the Cardinal, Duke de Richelieu has had in all these things, and we should be thought to wrong those abilities, and fidelity which he has manifested in all our affairs ever since we chose him for our Principal Minister, if in what yet remains for us to do, towards the glory and Embelishment of France, we should not follow his advice, and commit the disposal and direction of those things which are yet thereto necessary, unto his care. Wherefore having made known unto him our Intention, he hath represented unto us, that 'twas one of the most glorious marks of the felicity of a State; that Arts & Sciences have flourished in it, & that as well learning as arms have been there in honour and esteem, since that they are one of the principal instruments of Virtue. That having atcheived so many memorable Exploits, it remains only that we add things delightful, unto those that are necessary, and ornament unto profit, and that in his opinion we could not begin better the● with the most Noble of all Arts, Eloquence. That the French Tongue, which hitherto hath but too much resented the negligence of those which could have rendered it the most perfect of the moderns, is more capable than ever to attain it, considering the number of persons which have a particular knowledge of the advantage, that it is Mistress of, and of those which may still be added to it. That to establish certain Rules of it, he has ordained an Assembly, whose proposals have satified him so well, that to execute them, and to render the French Tongue not only Elegant, but also capable to treat of all Arts and Sciences, there needs only the continuance of these Conferences; which might be done with very much profit; if We would be pleased to Authorise them, and to permit the making of some Laws & Statutes, for the polity which is to be observed there, and to gratify those, of whom it shall be composed, with some honourable Testimony of our Favour. FOR THESE CAUSES; having respect to the advantages, which our Subjects may receive from the abovesaid Conferences, & inclining to the request of our said Cousin, WE HAVE of our special grace, full power, & Royal Authority, permitted, approved, and Authorized, and by these presents, signed with our hand, do permit, approve, and Authorise the said assemblies and conferences: We will that they be continued from henceforth in our good City of Paris, under the name of the FRENCH ACADEMY. That our said Cousin have liberty to Style himself, the head and protector of it: That the number thereof be limited to 40. persons: That he Authorise its Officers, Statutes and Orders, without requiring any other of our Letters, besides these Presents, by which we do confirm as well for the present, as for the future, whatsoever he shall do upon this Account. We will also, that the said Academy have a seal with such a mark and Jnscription as our said Cousin shall think fit, to seal all the Acts which shall proceed from it. And for as much as the pains of those who shall compose it, will be extremely advantageous to the public, & they must employ therein a great part of their time, our said Cousin having represented unto us that divers of them can be but very seldom in the Assemblies of the said Academy, unless we exempt them from certain burdensome charges, which they may be charged with, as well as our other subjects; and unless we grant them power to avoid the trouble of going to solicit upon the place the processes and Lawsuits which they may have in the Provinces remote from our good City of Paris, where the said Assemblies are to be: we have at the request of our said Cousin, exempted, and by these presents do exempt from all Tutelles and Curatelles, and from all Guets and Guards, the said members of THE FRENCH ACADEMY, to the said number of forty: for the time being and for the future, and have granted and do grant unto them the right of Committimus of all the causes personal, possessory and hypotequaires, as well when plaintiff as when defendant, before our trusty and beloved Counsellors the Masters of Requests in Ordinary of our Hostel, or the Courts of Requests of our Palace at Paris, at their own choice, in as ample manner as the domestic Officers and servants of our House do enjoy it. WE THEREFORE charge and command our trusty and beloved Counsellors sitting in Court of Parliament at Paris, the Masters of Requests in ordinary of our Hostel, and all other our Justices and Officers to whom it shall appertain, that they cause these Presents to be read and registered, and that they permit the enjoyment of all the things therein contained, and of whatsoever shall be made and ordained by our said Cousin the Cardinal Duke de Richelieu, in consequence and virtue hereof to all those who have already been nominated by him, and which shall be hereafter to the the number of 40. and to those also which shall succeed for the future, to be of the said FRENCH ACADEMY, causing to cease all troubles and obstacles which they shall meet with. And for as much as there may be need of these Presents in several places, we will that unto a Copy of them compared by one of our trusty and beloved Counsellors and Secretaries, credit be given as to the Original. And we command our chief Huissier or Serjeant, hereupon to do all actions necessary to the execution thereof, without requiring any other permission. FOR SUCH IS OUR PLEASURE, notwithstanding any oppositions or appeals whatsoever, for which we will that it be not differred, abrogating for this end all Edicts, Declaratious, Arrests, Orders, and other Letters contrary to these presents. And to the end that this may be for ever firm and stable, we have caused our Seal to be put thereto, Saving our Right in other things, and the right of others in all things. GIVEN at Paris in the month of January, in the year of Grace, 1635. and of our Reign the twenty fifth. Signed, LEWIS. And on the fold, By the King DELOMENIE. And sealed with the great Seal of green wax, upon Strings of red and green silk.   
There had been added to the other privileges, and 'tis likely it would have been easily obtained, exemption from taxes; but because all the Academiciens were already exempted from them, either by their Nobility, or otherwise; not any one of them thought fit to desire it, lest he should be thought to stand in need of it himself: & thus they preferred an imaginary honour, before the solid and real interest of their successors.  
It was no difficult matter to get these Letters sealed. The Lord keeper of the Seals, had himself too great an inclination to these kind of exercises, 
Reg. Decemb. 4. 1634.  to be any hindrance therein, wherefore he used those deputies which spoke to him of it, 
Reg. January ●. 1635.  with all the civility they could desire. Nay a little while after he sent to tell the Company by Monsieur de Cerisy, that he desired to be comprised in the Catalogue of the Academiciens, which was soon after done. You shall see anon, how this Proposition was received; at present it shall suffice to tell you that he sealed the Letters with all Speed, 
Reg. January 29. 1635.  and that they were brought back to the Academy, by Monsieur de Cerisy, the 29th. of January, 1635.  
There wanted but two things for the entire establishment of this Body: the one, to get their Statutes Authorized by the Cardinal, according to the power given him thereto by the King's Letters. The other to get those Letters ratified in Parliament. The first was very easy, the second on the contrary accompanied with difficulties and delays. To get the statutes Authorized by the Cardinal, 
Reg. Feb. 5. 1635.  who was then at Ruel, they sent to him the 3. officers, with Monsieur de Boisrobert. I have heard Monsieur Conrart say, who was of that deputation as an officer, and whom I think you will acknowledge for a just judge in such matters, that he never heard a man speak better than the Cardinal did in this meeting, that he answered to the speech of Monsieur de Serizay, the director, as if he had seen it a long time before hand, and had leisure enough to prepare himself upon the the head of it, and even upon every word that was in it; that he spoke first for the Academy, in general; then he addressed himself to the 4. Deputies, and at last to each of them apart, but so apposite, with so much grace, civility, majesty and sweetness, that he ravished all that heard him, 
Reg. February 22. 1635.  with admiration. He caused them at last to leave the Statutes behind, that he might view them, and sent them back some time after signed with his own hand, and countersigned by Charpentier his Secretary and sealed with his arms En placard. But I must not forget to tell you that this was after that he had caused one thing only in it to be changed, which would have seemed to be too much to his advantage, and to tax him of a little vanity. The fifth Article of the Statutes was in substance, That every Academicien should promise to reverence the virtue & memory of my Lord their Protector. He desired that this article should be taken away, and the Company ordered it should be so, in obedience to his Eminence; but that there should be mention of it made in the Registers.  
I should now questionless be very tedious, if I should go about to relate to you exactly, how much time & pains was requisite on the other side, to get these Letters Patens ratifyed in Parliament. 
Reg. January 19 and Febuary 5. 1635.  After that they were signed according to order, by Monsieur Delomenie Secretary of state, who was then called Monsieur de Villeauclair, and is at present Monsieur the Count of Brienne; with whom they found no difficulty; they were delivered into the hand of Monsieur Hennequin of Bernay Counsellor, in the great Chamber to make a report of them. They sent several deputies as well to him as to the King's Advocates, and to Monsieur the chief Precedent le Jay; 
Reg. March 12. March 19 April 16. 1635.  but all were to no purpose. And although to give the more force to their Solicitations, after the two first, they resolved to make no more in the name of the Company; but of the Cardinal, who liked well it should be so; and though in his name Messieurs Desmarests, 
Reg. July 23. 30. 1635,  de Bautru de Boisrobert had been to wait upon the Chief Precedent: he gave them but little hopes of obtaining what they desired. This was the reason, why the Cardinal upon the Complaint that was made to him of it by Monsieur de Boisrobert, in behalf of the Company, wrote to the Chief Precedent the following Letter.  
SIR,  
I do not take pen in hand to represent unto you the merit of those persons which compose the FRENCH ACADEMY lately established in Paris, because the most part of them having the honour to be known to you, I think you cannot be ignorant of it; but to conjure you that you would for this reason, and for the affection which I bear to them in general, and in particular, contribute the Power you have in your Parliament for the confirming those privileges, which it has pleased his Majesty to grant them, at my humble desire being profitable and necessary to the public, and having quite another design then that which you have hitherto been made believe. I do not doubt but you will in this occasion bring, for their contentment, all the facility which you can possibly, and which they have reason to promise to themselves upon my recommendation to you; assuring you that besides the obligation which these Gentlemen will have to you for this favour which you will show them in this affair, I shall partake of their resentment, to witness to you mine own also, when ever I shall have opportunity to do you service, and to let you know by my actions that I am.  
December. 1635. SIR, Your most affectionate servant, LE CARD. DE RICHELIEU.  
A Copy of this Letter was read in the Academy, and because the Attorney General expressed a desire of it, they obtained further of the King, three Letters under the Privy Seal; One for him and the Advocate's General: another for the Parliament: and the third for the chief Precedent le Jay: The Attorney General at that time was that great man, to whom I am so infinitely obliged M. Molé, now keeper of the Seals of France. These Letters were all written to the same tenor and purpose and it will be sufficient to relate to you one of them, that you may know the rest.  
BY THE KING.  
TRUSTY AND WELL-BELOVED, We have heretofore by our Letters Patents in form of an Edict, in January last willed and ordained that there should be an establishment of a FRENCH ACADEMY in our good City of Paris, in the which there being only persons of great worth and learning, it cannot be but very advantageous to the public, and to the reputation of France. FOR THESE CAUSES, we will and command that you proceed to the registering of the aforesaid Letters, according to their form and tenor, and that you permit the said Company to enjoy the privileges wherewith we have endowed them, without giving thereto any delay, restriction, or difficulty: hereof fail ye not: FOR such is our pleasure, GIVEN at S.  en Lay, the 30th day of December 1635. Signed LEWIS, and underneath DELOMENIE: and, on the backside, To our trusty & well-beloved Councillors, holding our Court of Parliament at Paris.  
Moreover the Cardinal signified to the Attorney General who came to visit him at Conflans, that he absolutely desired this ratification, and that having set his seal to the Statutes of the Academy, he judged them worthy the privileges that were granted to them. He also let the chief Precedent know, that for fear there should yet be delays and obstacles in this affair, he should cause the Letters to be presented and ratified in the grand Council. They continued the solicit in his name, and those which did it, said from him, that h had forbidden the Academy to trouble itself any more about it, being resolved, it should receive this favour only from himself. At length the Attorney General gave his favourable determination, and Monsieur Savarre, Counsellor in the great Chamber, in whose hands the Letters were, professed also his great willingness, adding withal, That he did not believe, since he was of the Parliament, he had received a greater honour than the contributing something to the establishment of the Academy. Nevertheless he had not this satisfaction, for he fell sick some few days after: and whether 'twere that there were yet some other obstacles, or that his sickness which was long, and of which he died at last, was the cause of it, so if was, that the Letters returned into the hands of Monsieur de Bernay, & were not ratified, till a year after or more, the 10th. of July 1637. with this clause, Provided that those of the Assembly & Academy, take no cognizance but only of the ornament embellishment & augmentation of the French Tongue; and of the books that shall be made by themselves, and by others that shall desire it.  
The Academy being assembled three days after, would have deputed some to go thank the Cardinal; but he sent them word by Monsieur de Boisrobert, that he desired it not, and that they should go only to thank Monsieur de Bernay the reporter, Monsieur the Attorney General, and Monsieur the chief Peresident, which was done by the three Officers. At last Monsieur du Tillet, Clark of the Parliament, sent the Attest of the Ratification to the Academy then assembled the last of July in the same year. His Secretary that had the charge of it, was brought into the Assembly, and thanked in the name of the whole Body, by the director.  
Thus the FRENCH ACADEMY, although they assembled all this while, and had the same meetings which they have at this day, was nevertheless not absolutely established, till three years and some months after that they began to labour in it. For they spent from the month of February of the year, 1634. to that of the year following, 1635, to give it the form it was to have, to make ready its statutes, and to get the order of its Erection sealed, and from February 1635. till July 1637. to get this order confirmed in Parliament.  
WHEN YOU read this, I make no question but you will inquire with some astonishment, for what reason and out of what Caprichio, so judicious a Body as the Parliament of Paris, gave their consent with so much difficulty to a design, I will not say so innocent, but so laudable. But that you may the better understand what was the humour of the Parliament, 'tis requisite I let you know, how all France at that time stood affected, where the Cardinal de Richelieu having advanced the Regal authority much higher than ever any man had done before, was loved and adored of some, envied of others, hated and detested of many; feared, and redoubted of almost all. Besides then, that the Academy was a new institution, which of itself would have divided men's opinions, and at the same time have had enemies and approbatours, they looked upon it as a work of the Cardinals, and judged either well or ill of it,  to the passion wherewith they were prepossessed of him. Those which were his friends, spoke of it with excessive praises: Never had ages past, say they, so much eloquence, as ours shall have, we shall surpass all that have gone before us, and all that shall come after us, and the greatest share of this glory will be due to the Academy and to the Cardinal. On the other side his Enemies, and those which envied him entertained this design with scoffs and jeers. They accused the Academy of coining new words, of endeavouring to impose laws upon things that were not capable to receive them, and they ceased not to decry it by railleries and satyrs. The people too, and those that were either less quicksighted, or more jealous, who suspect every thing that comes from the Cardinal, were afraid lest that under these flowers there lay hid a serpent, and apprehended at the least that this establishment would be a new support to his domination, that they must be his pensioners, taking pay to do whatever he please, and to observe the actions and thoughts of others. Nay they say he cut off fourscore thousand livres of the money levied for the cleansing of the streets of Paris, to give to them 2000 livres pension a piece; and a hundred reports of that nature.  
And to this purpose, if you will give me leave to mingle a little mirth with seriousness, and to forget a while the Parliament of Paris to which I will not fail to return: I could tell you a couple of stories, which will serve not only for a diversion, but also for a confirmation of what I told you even now concerning the opinion which the vulgar had of the Academy. The first is of a certain tradesman of Paris, who had, they say, lately hired a house very commodious for him in Cinq-Diamans street, where Monsieur Chapelain dwelled, at whose house the Academy then met. He observed that at certain days there came a great number of Coaches thither, he enquired the reason of it, and learning it, presently hebrok off his bargain without giving any other reason, but that he would not dwell in a street, wherein there was every week a Cademy of Monopolizers.  
The other story is perhaps no less pleasant than the former. When my Brother, and I went to school, we had leave to go spend the time of the vacation in the Country, at some of our friends houses, sometimes at Ondes that sweet dwelling, whose name and delights I shall never forget; and sometimes in Gascogne at Monsieur Dubourg s in his fair house of Chermont. This Gentleman, as you doubtless knew, together with a great knowledge in good learning, and much wit, was master of so gay and pleasant a humour, that he could almost in every thing find matter of mirth, but so noble and gallant, as 'twas decent and becoming a person of quality, as indeed he was, having the honour to reckon amongst his ancestors the famous Anne Duboury Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris, and Antony Duboury Chancellor of France, in the Reign of Francis the first. We were then at his house, and Monsieur de Fontrailles, his next neighbour, whom you know very well, and who since hath borne so great a part in one of the most important affairs of our times, was there also. There came thither a young Gentleman newly arrived from Court; they asked him (as the fashion is) what news there. He answered that there was nothing more remarkable there, than an Academy established within these few years by my Lord the Cardinal de Richelieu for the reformation of style. You shall see, says Monsieur Duboury, who intended only to be merry, that this man will have invented some new design against the Proctors and other Lawyers to force them either to reform their style, or else fine. The young Gentleman, who perhaps had heard of the false reports that had been given out in Paris of the Academy, believed in good earnest that his Landlord might be in the like error, and to disabuse him, laboured all he could to demonstrate to him by very good reasons that this reformation of style respected only Poets and Orators. Monsieur Duboury, seeing the pleasant humour he was in, continued his discourse and answered that the Cardinal was more crafty than 'twas believed, that within these ten years all the designs, which we have seen, have had as fair beginnings, and as honest pretences but that they would infallibly come from Orators to Lawyers, and lay a fine upon them for every fault they commit, and to get themselves off, force them to pay vast sums of money; that one by name *** who was his Lawyer in the Parliament of Tholose, was ruined. For, added he, 'tis impossible he should reform himself; he has belonged to the law some thirty or forty years, when ever he thinks to make a Compliment, still there escapes him some wrangling Law Term or other. After all this, he appealed to Monsieur de Fontrailles as judge, who approved and consented to all he had said, nor was the young Gentleman ere the less obstinate on the other side, as he continued that whole after-supper time, and with so much zeal in defence of the truth, and relation to see such honest men in so strange an opinion, that this story, which perhaps to you that read it, will seem frigid, never comes into my mind even to this day, but it makes me ready o laugh.  
But to return now to the Parliament of Paris, and the difficulty it made to confirm the Edict of the Academy: You will not believe, and doubtless a man would hardly imagine it, that they should apprehend it for the stile of the Lawyers. For my part, I'll tell you my opinion of it. This great body wherein there are always some Extraordinary persons, amongst many others that are not so, was divided, about the business of the Academy, and of the Cardinal de Richelieu, with the very same passions and opinions that divided all the rest of France, saving perhaps in this Company, there was less affection for him then in others, and that for the most part they looked upon him as the enemy of their liberty, and the infringer of of their privileges. I suppose then that there might be three parties in the Parliament above their business. The first and least, of those who judging of things sincerely, saw not any thing in this design worthy to be blamed or despised. The 2d. of those, who bring animated against the Cardinal, or else too much addicted to the sole study of the law, and civil affairs, laughted at his Institution as a Childish thing; and of this number there was one amongst them, (as I have heard,) who giving his voice concerning the confirmation of the Letters, said, That this business brought into his mind, what one of the Emperors sometimes did, who after he had taken away from the Senate the cognisance of public affairs, desired to know their opinions, what sauce he should make for a great Turbot that was brought him from France. Finally, I believe there was a third & last party, which it may be, was not the least powerful, of those that suspected every thing, and apprehended as well as the Vulgar, some dangerous Consequence of this Institution. Of this I have two proofs in a manner convincing; Frist the Cardinal's Letter, wherein you see he assures the Chief Precedent. That the Academiciens had a Design wholly different from what he was made to believe. Secondly, That Clause in the Order for the Confirmation, That the Academy should take cognisance only of the French Tongue, and the Books which they themselves made, or which were offered to their judgement: As if there had been some danger, that it would have taken to itself other functions, and have undertaken some greater matters. And this, as I think, is the cause of those hindrances which for two years retarded the confirmation of these Lettrrs.  
I SHOULD HERE put an end to the first part of my work, touching the birth and foundation of the Academy, but that I remember I spoke, by the way, of some Satyrs which at the first were made against it; and that, to omit nothing, 'tis fit, I should now say something to you of them, as of some other Circumstances of its Establishment.  
The first that wrote against the Academy was the Abbot of St. , who was then at Brussels, accompanying the Queen Mother Mary de Medici in her banishment. As he continually baited by his writings, and that with a sharp kind of animosity, all the actions of the Cardinal de Richelieu, so he omitted not to speak very injuriously of the FRENCH ACADEMY, which he Confounded with that other Academy, which the Gazelier Revandot had established at the Bereau d'Adress; whether 'twere that he did purposely mistake so or that indeed he had but ill intelligence how things went at Paris. The Academy would not answer to it in a work on purpose; but Monsieur de Chastelet who was of it, and did then in behalf of the Cardinal answer most of those Brussel-pamphlets, was desired, after that he himself had propounded it in the Assembly, to add a few lines about this business, which were afterwards read and approved by the Company. The Abbot of St. , his pieces against the Cardinal de Richelieu have been since printed at Paris in two Volumes, after the death of the late King Lewis the 13th. The answers of Monsieur du Chastelet, were in a piece which he finished not, being prevented by death, and which was never printed.  
Of all the other things that have been made against this Company, I have not above three of them which deserve to be mentioned. The first is that Comedy of the Academy, which after it had passed a long time in manuscript, was at length printed in the year 1650. but with abundance of faults, and without either Author or Printers name. Some are pleased to ascribe it to one of the Academiciens themselves, because it does not ill resemble his Style, wit, and humours, and because he is there spoken of as a man that makes no great reckoning of these conferences. But some others have assured me, that it was a Gentleman's of Normandy, by name Monsieur de St. Evermond. And truly if the Author of it was of the Academy, I'd say he put many things into it, on purpose to make it be believed that he was not of it: as when he makes Monsieur Tristan an Academicien, who was not so yet, until 10: years after; also when he brings in the Marquis of Brevale, deliberating whether he should go to the war, or stay in the Academy: The Marquis of Brevale, I say, who was never of it, and of whom I do not find any mention great or small in the Registers; nor in the notes which have been communicated to me: This piece though artless and irregular, and rather deserving the name of a Jig, then that of a Comedy, is not without wit, and has some very pleasant passages.  
The second which I am to tell you of, and which has been less seen than the rest, is entitled, A Role of presentations made on the great days of the French Eloquence. 'Tis as 'twere a register of some ridiculous requests for the conservation, or suppression of certain words, together with as many imaginary answers of the Academy. As for example, The Secretaries of St. Innocent presented themselves, desiring, it might be declared that the word Secretary might not signify in good French, the Clerk of a Counsellor. Answer, Remonstrances shall be made concerning it to the Roy de la Bazoche. H. Fierbras a cadet of Gascon presented himself, in behalf of all those of his Country, requiring that none might take away the point from their honour, nor the glittering from their sword. Answers, For what concerns the Point, it should be communicated to the Mathematique professors; and for the Glittering, the Fourbishers should be sent to. I have been told by some that this Role of presentations was made by the Author of Frantion, and of The Extravagant shepherd; it was presently printed, and it has been reprinted since in the same Volume me with the Comedy; but very much mutilated, and altered several ways.  
The last of these three pieces is that ingenious Request of the Dictionaries, which too was printed not long since in a little Volume with abundance of faults, and was afterwards printed far more correct in quarto. Every body knows that this was made by Monsieur Menage, not only a very learned and polite man, but also a man of honour and of a solid virtue. He himself had always a very high esteem of the Academy, and has spoken honourably of it in divers of his works. He was a particular and intimate friend, as he is still, of many of the Academiciens, whom he mentions in that Request, and he did not do it, as he protests himself, out of any motion of hatred or envy, but only for a diversion to himself, and that he might not lose some bons mots, that came into his mind upon that subject. Besides he suppressed it after he had made it, and it lay above ten years hid among his Papers, until a certain person that had then all in custody, suffered himself to be robbed of that, by one that you and I know, who presently after gave divers Copies of it.  
These three pieces and all the rest that have been made against the Academy, go upon a false ground; and describe the Academiciens, as men that labour night & day in nothing, but fantastically, forging new words, or else suppressing others, more out of humour then reason; whereas they thought of nothing less, and when any question was offered concerning language, they only enquired after the use of the word, which is the chief master in such matters, and resolved in favour of it. As for me, who have exactly viewed all their Registers, I can give them this Testimony, that I have there met with many handsome and rational decisions, whence M. Vaugelas has taken part of his remarks; but that I never found there, any footsteps of so much as one of those silly Orders, which are attributed to them in these Satyrs. They made the World then believe all those things; and, as you know, every man hath many times an averseness, of which he cannot give any reason, from some certain word and phrases, which he does not love to use. If any one of this Body did express such a kind of averseness in jest or otherwise, presently envy and detraction made this pass for a decision of the Academie's. 'Tis known, for instance, that Monsieur de Gombervile did not love to use the word 
* for.  Car, which indeed is offensive if it be often repeated, and is fit for a disputation, than a Romance or a Poem. He bragged one day that he had rot at all made use of this word in the 5. Volumes of Polexander (where yet I am told it is thrice); they conclude presently from this discourse, that the Academy would banish the word Car, and although it never had the least thought of it, they made a thousand jests upon it, and this was the Subject of that handsome Letter of Vo●ture's, which gins Mademoiselle Car es tant d'une si grand consideration en nostre langue, etc.  
The Academy shown its judgement, in that placing its self above calumny it did not vouchsafe to be moved at all the writings which were made against it: at the very beginning and before it saw any of them, it had as 'ttwere resolved, not to make any answer to whatsoever should be said concerning it. And lest that any particular person should undertake it of his own head, there was an express article put into the Statutes, which forbids all of the Body to meddle in it, without leave and without a public consultation about it.  
The Academies of Italy seem to have gone much farther, and to have resolved not only to contemn, but even to forestall and (as I may so say,) outbrave Calumny, having given themselves most injurious names. Thus the Academy de gli Intronati, if you search the original of the word, signifies the Academy of Dullards or Blockheads, for intronato does properly signify a man whom the noise of thunder hath stunned and deprived of his wits: and many others of those Academies that arose afterwards, in imitation of that, took not to themselves more honourable names.   

THE SECOND PART, wherein is treated of the Statutes of the French Academy.  
BUT 'tis time to come to my second part, which shall be much shorter than the first, wherein I must entertain you with the Statutes of the FRENCH ACADEMY, and withal of the days, places, and form of its Assemblies.  
I have read elsewhere with pleasure that the same Academy degl' Intronati of Sienna which I was but now speaking of, thought it enough at its birth to establish these six fundamental Laws very short.  
1. Orare. 1. To pray. 2. Studere. 2. To study. 3. Gaudere. 3. To be merry. 4. Neminem laedere. 4. To wrong no body. 5. Non temerè credere. 5. To believe nothing rashly. 6. De mundo non curare. 6. Not to trouble themselves with the world.  
Perhaps afterwards and in time, they added new Laws to these first, but however very certain it is, that according as a Company increases, and is composed of a greater number of persons, which have not all the same Genius or inclination, and which must by death make room for others, 'twill have need of a greater number of Statutes to avoid confusion and disorder.  
Those of the FRENCH ACADEMY, contained 5. Articles, written in such a Style as Laws should be, perspicuous, brief and plain, without any affectation of Argument.  
I shall report only some of the principal passing by the rest, whereof there have been many expressly changed, by a consultation of the whole Body or tacitly abrogated by custom, as it always happens and will do continually, in all humane Societies.  
By these Statutes, the Academy was to have a Seal, to seal in blue wax all the Acts made by its Order. Upon this Seal was to be graven the Image of its Founder, with these words, ARMAND CARDINAL DUKE DE RICHELIEU, PROTECTOR OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY, ESTABLISHED IN THE YEAR. 1635.  
It was also to have a Counter-seale, where was to be represented a crown of Laurel, with these words, Al'immortalité. It was to have 3. Officers, a Director, a Chancellor, a Secretary, and besides a Stationer.  
The Office of the Director, is to preside in Assemblies, to see that good order be kept there with all exactness and civility possible, and as it ought to be amongst equals; 'tis the very expression in the Statutes.  
He is to gather the Votes, according to the rank that the Academiciens chance to sit in, beginning with his right hand man, and giving his own vote last, after the two Officers, as they after the rest of the Assembly.  
The Office of the Chancellor, is to keep the seals, and to seal all the Acts made by the order of the Academy.  
The Office of the Secretary is to write the resolutions and to register them, to sign all the Acts, to keep all the evidences and all the papers of the Academy, and to make Certificats for those of the Body, that have need of a Testimony that they are of it. He is also to write the Academies Letters; & here you must observe by the way that it wrote two sorts of Letters. Sometimes the whole Company speaks in the Letters, & there it's signed thus, for example, Your most humble servants. CONRART, Secretary to the French Academy. Sometimes the Secretary only speaks in the name of the whole 
† 
In this or the like form.  
The Academy hath appointed me to write to you.   Body, and then he subscribes his own name, as it 'twere his own private business, saving that as he writes for a society, he is more reserved in the terms of the Subscription of his Letters.  
In the absence of the Director, the Chancellor presides at meetings, and in both their absences, the Secretary.  
The Secretary is perpetual and for life, but the Director and the Chancellor are to be changed every two months, yet sometimes this term is prolonged by a Common consent, upon divers occasions. Monsieur de Serizay, and Monsieur Desmarests, who were the two that bore those Offices, at the beginning of the Academy, held them even to its complete establishment, that is, near upon 4. years, from the 13th. of March 1634. to the 11th. of January 1638. although during this space of time they did very often beseech the Company to appoint them successors. I do not find in the Registers any prolongations so large, but many less, is for four months, six months, and a who●e year.  
The Stationer of the Academy is also perpetual, though he be received upon this condition so long as the Company shall think fit, which signifies only that it shall be free to take another if it please. His charge is to be at the Assemblies of the Academy as often as he can, to receive its Orders, and to print its works, and those of particular Academiciens; which shall be examined by it, and to whom it shall give a Certificate of it approbation. The Statute, (with nevertheless they begin to dispense with, of late,) says, that 'tis to those works only to which 'tis permitted to Subscribe, By such a one of the French Academy. And that they may not be printed by any other Stationer but he; who is bound to change nothing in it after the approbation of the Academy, to which for this end he takes an oath at his first admission to his charge.  
The Director and the Chancellor are to be chosen by lot after this manner. They take as many white Balls as there be Academieciens in Paris: amongst which there are two, whereof one is marked with two black specks, and the other with one; all these Balls are put together into a box, each of the Academiciens present take one; there are some also taken for all the rest that are at Paris, although they be not then present in the Assembly: He that has the Ball marked with one Black speck, is Director: he that has that which is marked with two black specks is Chancellor. 
Reg. July 7. 1641. Decem. 1. 1642 Aug. 25. 1644.  And though the lot falls upon the Secretary for one of these Offices, he may hold it, as I find in the Regi●●ers, and it is not Incompatible with his own. It is observed as a Caprichio of fortune, that from the very beginning of the Academy to this present, Monsieur Chapelain, who is without question one of the most considerable persons of the Company, was never yet Director nor Chancellor.  
As for the Office of Secretary; No man can have it but by the suffrages of the Academiciens, Assembled to the number of twenty at the least.  
The same number of twenty is requisite for the Election or for the Ejection of an Academicien. These Elections and Ejections are done by white and Black balls: For an Election, the Number of the white must be four more than the black: For an Ejection there must be 4. black ones more than the white. There is an Article, by which no man can be chosen that is not approved by the Protector. Wherefore when there is a place void in the Academy, they proceed in this manner. The Director most commonly or some other of the Academiciens propounds him that is presented to fill it; or if there be more of them, they are all propounded together. Then they appoint some one of the Company to know whether the Protector be pleased, that they consult about the reception of him or them, and after that he has given his consent, to proceed to Election by Balls, the next meeting. I find in the Register that the Academiciens which are at Paris and are sick, 
Reg. May 10. 1652.  may send their Suffrages in writing, to the Company.  
When an Academicien is admitted, the Statutes must be read to him, which he is exhorted to keep; and the act of his admission must be Registered.  
In all other things but these Elections, they must give their votes clarâ voce aloud; and this must be done without interruption or jealousy, without reproving in choler or contempt the opinion of any one, without saying any thing more than necessary, and without repeating what hath been said. The determinations are referred to other succeeding meetings: I find in the Registers that sometimes the decision has been referred to the Protector; as for example, being troubled to know whether they should make a Funeral Oration for the Cardinal de Richelieu in public or in private, and the Company being not able to agree about it, they referred themselves concerning it to the Lord Chancellor.  
These Statutes contain many things touching the employment of the Academy, of which I shall have occasion to speak elsewhere: only I observe there, that matters of Religion are forbid, and that if they examine any Theological writings, it must be only for the terms and form of them. That for Political and moral matters, 'tis said that they shall not there be handled, but with conformity to the Authority of the Prince, and to the State of Government, and to the Laws of the Realm. Those which are not of the Academy, may not be admitted into Assemblies Ordinary or Extraordinary upon any pretence whatsoever; and when any one desires to present a book to the Company, or give it any other Compliment, all the advantage he hath, is, to be brought into the place of the Assembly to be heard, and to receive the thanks which they return him, without being present afterwards at that day's Conference. The Academiciens, which cannot be present at the Assemblies, are bound to send their excuse, and this was exactly observed a while. Now if any one does absolutely neglect to be present there, it is the custom, that if in case, he want a Certificate that he is of the Academy, or any other the like act, it may be denied him.  
If any Academicien commit any fault unworthy a man of honour, he may be either expelled, as I said before, or interdicted for some time, according to the Importance of his fault.  
This law will seem to you at first sight to presage ill, and you will say perhaps, there was no need of one to this purpose in the Academy, no more then in the Common wealth of Athens, against parricides; but that which happened since, which I will tell you elsewhere, will show you that this providence was not altogether unprofitable.  
To debate upon the publishing of any work of the Academiciens, there must be twenty at the least, which number the Statutes require, in all affairs of any great consequence. But to give approbation of any particular man's work 'tis sufficient if there be twelve, under which number there can be nothing resolved either in this, or any thing else. This approbation of the Academy must be engrossed in parchment, signed by the Secretary, and sealed with the Academies Seal; it must be plain and without commendation, according to a constant form. It is forbidden to be printed before the book; but they may put this into the Title, as I told you before; By such an one of the French Academy. There are many good rules to this purpose, but the difficulties and delays, which are met with in obtaining this kind of approbation, are the cause that the Academiciens never look after them.  
To conclude, I will add only two Articles of the Statutes. The first, by which the Academy imposes this law upon itself, to judge only of the works of those of its Body; With this clause, That if, for any Important reason it find self obliged to examine any other, it shall plainly declare its opinion, without either censure or approbation.  
The other Article, is, that which I spoke to you of before, and which seems to me so judicious: by which 'tis forbidden any private member to write any thing of his own head in defence of the Academy, without having thereto obtained leave of the Company assembled to the number of twenty at least.  
SUCH ARE the Statutes of the FRENCH ACADEMY: add we now one word of the days, places, and form of their Assemblies.  
The days of these Assemblies have changed very often, they were at first every Monday after dinner, as it appears by one of the articles of the Statutes. 
Article 17. Reg. December 21. 1637. Reg. March 20. 1638.  Afterward, I know not for what reason, they chose Tuesday instead of Monday, to which nevertheless a while after they returned. And yet afterwards when the Lord Chancellor was made Protector of the Academy upon a desire of it in his name, and to the end that he might be the more often present at the Assemblies, 
Reg. December 14. 1643. Reg. December 27. 1643.  they changed it to Saturday, and presently after to Tuesday. There have been divers other Changes of the day which 'tis of no Importance to observe, 'tis sufficient that you know that the Academy must assemble regularly one afternoon every week; and if the Ordinary-Day chance to be a Holiday they take another, and most commonly that which goes before or that which follows. But if there be any thing extraordinary in hand, they meet extraordinarily, as when 'twas debated about making the Platform, or the Statutes of the Academy, and the sentiments on the Cid. And when they desired to hasten the business of the Dictionary, they meet several days and at several places, as you shall see anon. Even now, when I writ this, they assemble twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday, on purpose to forward this work, and to repair the time that's lost. The Academy hath commonly its Vacations about the end of August, 
Reg. August 25. 16, 44. Reg. July 1638 and elsewhere  which last till St. Martin's day. But this has no certain rule, nor is there any article in the Statutes concerning it.  
THE PLACE of the Assemblies hath changed oftener than the Day. For to say nothing of those which were at the beginning at Monsieur Conrarts house, betwixt that small number of friends, I find that they have been since held in several places. 
March 13. 1634. Octo 30. 1634. April the last 1635. July 9 1635. Decem. 3. 1635 Decemb. 24. 1635. June 16. 1636 May. 3. 1638. June 14. 1638  At Monsieur Desmarests in Clocheperce-Street, at the Hostel de Pelué, at M. Chapelaine's, in Cinq Diamans-Street at M. de Montmor's in St. Avoye-Street, after which they came again to M. Chapelains, and after that to M. Desmarests: since all these, they met at M. de Gombervile's near St. Gervais Church: at M. Conrart's in St. Martin's Street, at M. de Cerisy's, at Sequire Hostel: at M. the Abbot's the Boisrobert, at the Hostel de Mellusine.  
These frequent changes of place proceeded sometimes from the sickness or absence, and sometimes from the business of those Gentlemen, who had lent them their houses. But at last, in the year 1643. Feb. 
Feb. 16. 1643.  16. after the death of Cardinal de Richelieu, The Lord Chancellor sent word to the Company, that he desired they would for the time to come meet at his house: as they have done ever since. And truly when I consider the various retreats, which this Company had for almost ten years, sometimes at one end of the City, sometimes at another, till the time of this new Protector: me thinks I see the Poet's Island, Delos, Errand and floating until the birth of its Apollo. In earnest, it would make a man wonder that the Cardinal de Richelieu, who founded it did not take a little more care to furnish it with a constant place of meeting. If that be true which the Lawyers say, that Temples, Palaces, theatres, and in a word, all public places are as 'twere so many strong bonds of civil society, which tye and unite us straight to one another; he could not doubt but that a certain place assigned to the Academy, and common to all that were of it, would in some sort strengthen this sweet society, and contribute much to its duration. And if otherwise he sought in all things the greatness and immortality of his name, the very term Academy might seem to hint to him, that the small expense in a business of this nature, would make him more talked of hereafter, than a thousand other stately Edifices. For, pardon me that I make this digression, how many Kings and great men have there been, of whom we are Ignorant whether they ever had a being, who nevertheless have founded Temples & magnific places? Academus on the other side was only a petty burgess of Athens, yet was pleased to bestow upon the Philosophers of his time, a garden of some Acres of ground, in the suburbs of that famous City; This place was called the Academy, from whence comes that word so well known at this day over the whole world, which will make the name and memory of this Hero live for ever; So the Greek History positively calls him, though we do not find that he ever did any thing else that was remarkable.  
All these things, which the Cardinal was not Ignorant of, would make one believe what divers have said, that having long intended to build in the Horse-Market, near the gate of Saint Honorè, a great Piazzo, which he would have called Ducale or the Duke's place, in imitation of the Royal, which is at the other end of the City, he would there have set apart some convenient lodgings for the Academy, an● that he would have endowed it with some revenues; but that this design and many others which he reserved for more calm and quiet times, was interrupted by his death.  
AS for the form of the Academies meetings, 'tis thus. In winter they are in an upper, in summer in a lower room of Seguier Hostel: and without much ceremony, they sit round a table; the Director on that side next the Chimney: the Chancellor and Secretary at each hand of him, and all the rest as fortune, or Common civility ranks them. The Director presides. The Secretary keeps the Register. This Register is at other times kept very exactly from day to day; but at present, the business of the Dictionary being the sole employment of the Academy, 'tis kept only in those meetings, where there happens any thing extraordinary and important. When the Protector is present, he sits in the place of the Director, who, with the other two officers, sit at his left hand. He gathers the votes and pronounces the resolutions, as the Director uses to do. The Cardinal was never there; but the Lord Chancellor is often present, and does all what I told you but now. That which is most remarkable is, that he honoured this Company with his presence, not only at his leisure and when free from business; as many others that never study but when they have nothing else to do: but even when he was most in favour, and had the greatest Employments. I find particularly in the Registers that he was present there the 19th. of December 1643. 
Reg. Decem. 19 1643. Reg. April 20. 1651.  after he was made Protector, and the 20th. of April 1651. a little after that the Seals were delivered to him, which had been given to Monsieur de Chasteauneuf. That even then he propounded to meet twice a week, to forward the business of the Dictionary, as I told you, which they do even to this day. They give Him also this Testimony, that at these meetings 'tis not possible to use one with more civility than he does all the Academiciens; and that he presides with the same familiarity, that any one amongst them could do, even to the taking pleasure in being stopped, and interrupted, and forbidding even those very Gentlemen that are his Domestiques, to call him My Lord.   

THE THIRD PART, what the Academy has done since its Institution.  
I COME NOW to the Employments of the Academy since its Institution: You saw in its project, that it intended to give not only rules but also examples and to examine its own writings very strictly that it might first arrive at that perfection, to which it desired to direct others. Therefore after the design o● a Dictionary, Grammar, Rhetoric, and Poetic, on the second day of January 1635, even before the Letters of its Establishment were sealed, 
Reg. January 2. 1635.  they made by lot with Balls, a Catalogue of the Academiciens, and made an order that each of them in his turn, should be bound to make a discourse upon what subject and of what length he pleased; that there should be one of them every week, beginning at the first of February next, that those which destructed their memories, might read what they had made; that those which were absent should be sent unto, to the end that if they could not come to pronounce their own discourses themselves, they should send them. But the fantasticalness of Fortune having cast the first places upon some that were absent, or were not in a condition to apply themselves to these exercises, they changed the order of the Catalogue and put into their places some other Academiciens that were present, and seemed to have most inc ination to it. Thus instead of Monsieur Maynard, who was the fit upon the roll they put Monsieur du Chastelet; in the place of Monsieur de l'Estoile, who was se●ond Monsieur de Bourzey; in the place of Monsieur Bardin, who was the third Monsieur Gode●u now Bp of Grass; and in the place of Monsieur de Colomby, who was the sixth, Monsieur de Gombaud. There were twenty of these discourses pronounced one after another in the Academy.  
The first was Monsieur du Chastelet's Concerning the French Eloquence. 
Feb. 5. 1635.   
The second Monsieur de Bourzey's, 
Feb. 12. 1635.  Concerning the design of the Academy and the different Genius of languages.  
'Tis very this discourse, which our Common friend Monsieur de Saint-Alby, who so long ago promised us a relation of what he has seen of the Academy della Crusca, has for so many years had a Copy of, without knowing the Author of it, who in my judgement is none of the least.  
The third was Monsieur Godeau's against Eloquence. 
Feb. 22. 1635.   
The fourth was Monsieur de Boisrobert's, In defence of Stageplays. 
Feb. 26. 1635.   
The fifth Monsieur de Montmor's Master of Requests, 
March. 5, 1635  Of the usefulness of conferences.  
The sixth Monsieur Gomband, 
March 12. 1635 March 19 1635.  upon I know not what.  
The seventh was Monsieur de la Chambre. That the French are of all nations the most capable of perfect Eloquence.  
The Eighth Monsieur Porcheres Laugiers Panegyre in praise of the Academy, 
April the last 1635.  its Protector and the members of it.  
The ninth Monsieur de Gomberville's, 
May 7. 163●  That when ever any age hath produced an excellent Hero, there have been also found those that are able to commend him.  

May 14. 1635.  The tenth was, Monsieur de l'Estoill'es, Of the excellence of Poetry, and the scarcity of complete Poets. Where amongst other things he declaimes very handsomely against the servilenesse of Rhyme, and revenges himself of all the mischief he suffered by it.  

May 21. 1635.  The eleventh was, Monsieur Bardin's, Of a Philosophical Style where he endeavoured to show that Philosophy, according to its several subjects, is capable of all sorts of Eloquence; and that especially there is no necessity of those barbarous terms, with which the Schoolmen have perplexed it; and to give an example of it, he explains in very pure and natural language two of the subtlest Problems in metaphysics: That there is something which is more than all, and something that is less than nothing. By the first he means God: and by the second, Sin. He pronounced this Discourse, which indeed is a very fine one, eight days before his death.  

July 9 1635.  The twelfth was, Monsieur de Racan's Against the Sciences, which was printed a little while since, with some of his Poems. Being absent, he sent it from his house to the Academy: It was read by Monsieur de Serizay.  

July 23. 1635  The thirteenth was, Monsieur de Porcheres Laugiers Of the differences and conformities which are betwixt Love and Friendship.  
The fourteenth was, Monsieur Chapelain's Against Love, where by ingenious reasons, whose grounds are not without solidity, he labours to take away from this passion, that Divinity which is attributed to it by the Poets.  
The fifteenth, Monsieur Desmarests, Of the love of souls, where he undertakes to show that if the love which Monsieur Chapelain spoke of, aught to be blamed and condemned, this is not only to be esteemed, but besides, has something of Divinity in it.  
The sixteenth was, Monsieur de Boissat Of the love of Bodies, were by natural reasons taken from Sympathies and Antipathies, and the conduct of the world, he would show that the love of Bodies is no less Divine than that of Souls.  
The seventeenth, was sent by the late Monsieur de Meziriac and read in the Assembly by Monsieur de Vaugelas: The title of it is Of Translating. In this discourse the Author who was esteemed very learned, and especially in the Greek, after he had extolled the wit, pains and Style of Amiot in his translation of Plutarch, and as it seems with a great deal of ingenuity, pretends to show that in divers passages which he had taken notice of even to two thousand, this Grand Translator hath committed very gross faults, of divers kinds, whereof he gives some examples. I have been told that all the rest of his Observations, together with his own new Translation of Plutarch, are in the hands of Madame de Meziriac his widow, and likely to be published very shortly. When they are, we shall be better able to judge whether his pretensions be true or no; but if it be so, I know not whether this example aught more to deter or encourage those that addict themselves to translate: for if on the one side, 'tis a sad case, that so excellent a man as Amiot, after all the time and pains, which every one knows, he bestowed upon this work, could not avoid slipping in two thousands places, on the other side, 'tis a great Comfort, that maugre these 2000 faults, he has, by a greater number of places in which he has hit right, not failed of acquiring to himself an immortal reputation. But I return to the Discourses pronounced in the Academy. The three last, to make up twenty, are, that of Monsieur Colletet; Of imitating the Ancients.  
That of Monsieur the Abbot of Cerizy, Against the plurality of languages.  
And that of Monsieur Porcheres d'Arbaud, Of the love of the Sciences.  
These discourses were pronounced every week, unless those that were to make them had a lawful excuse, or there intervened some other kind of business. They delivered them afterwards to two or three Academiciens appointed by the Assembly, who were to make an exact report of them. But because this examination took up too much time, and was the whole business of the Conferences: 'twas resolved that these Commissioners might proceed further to things in which they were agreed, without reporting to the Company any but the mo●t important, and such wherein they disagreed.  
I find that three Academiciens failed to make these kind of discourses in their turns, though they were very able to do it.  
First Monsieur de Serizay, 
Reg. April ult. 1635.  who desired the Company to con●ent that Monsieur Porcheres Laugier might make a speech in his steed and that's the reason you will find, in the Catalogue I gave you two discourses of this Academicien's: The first in the place of Monsieur de Serizay, and the second in his own.  
Monsieur de Balzac, 
'Tis at the of the second part, 4th. book and sixth Letter.  as it appears by one of his printed Letters, did only send to Monsieur du Chastelet some of his works, desiring him to read them in the Academy, and to accompany them with somewhat of his own which may serve (●ud he) both for the thanks and speech which he owed it.  
M. de S. Amant too dear and had leave to be exempted, 
Reg. December 14. 1637.  on condition he should collect, as he himself offered, the Comical part of the Dictionary and the Grotesque terms, that is to say as we call them now a days Burlesque; but the word Burlesque which has been a long time in Italy had not yet past the mountains, and Monsieur Menage observes very well in his Origines, that it was first used by Monsieur Sarrazin, a long while after. Then we may say that it not only passed in France, but that it has overrun it, and made strange havoc there. Is it not plain that for these last years we have played at this game, where he that wins, loses? and is it not the opinion of most men, that to write well in this kind, 'tis sufficient to speak things that have neither sense nor reason. Every one thinks himself able enough for it, of what sex soever, from the Ladies and Lords at Court to the Chambermaids and Pages. This madness of Burlesque, which at last we begin to be cured of, went so far, that the Stationers would meddle with nothing that had not his name in the front; that whether out of ignorance, or the better to put off their wares, they fixed it upon things that were the most serious, provided only that they were short verses: whence it was that in the time of the war at Paris in 1639. they printed a piece, bad enough in deed, but yet serious, with this title, which struck with horror all those that read no more of it, The Passion of our Lord in Burlesque verses, and the learned Monsieur Maudaeus, who doubtless was of this number, reckons it amongst the Burlesque-books of our times.  
I beg your pardon for this digression, which a just anger against this unsufferable abuse drew from me. To return to my subject; The Academy spent all the time of its Conferences in hearing or examining these Discourses. This employment was very well liked by some of the Academiciens, but most of themwere not well pleased with an exercise, which when all is done, wa too like the declamations of young boys: and the Cardinal also expressed that he looked for something greater and of more solidity from such a Society. They began to talk of the Dictionary and the Grammar, when Fortune threw another work upon the Academy, which they little expected.  
AS many times one man that is of great Eminence, is able to lead the Dance to a whole Kingdom; that great love which the Cardinal bore to Dramatic Poems, had at this time raised them amongst the French, to the highest pitch that they ever were at. All, that found they had any Genius that way, failed not to labour for the Stage. 'Twas the only means to get access to the Grandees, and to be favoured by the prime Minister of State, who scarce liked any of the divertisments of the Court, but that. 'Twill not be amiss ere I pass farther to let you know how much he was addicted to it. He was not only present with much delight at all new Comedies, but took pleasure also to confer with the poets to see their design in its birth and to furnish them himself with plots. And if he knew any good wit that of himself had no great inclination to travail in this kind, He would insensibly engage him in it, with all manner of care and good usage. Thus seeing that Monsieur Desmarests was very averse from it, he desired he would at least invent a plot for a Comedy, which he would get somebody else, he said, to make up. Monsieur Desmarests brought him four, presently after; That of Aspasiae, which was one of them, pleased him infinitely, but after he had given him a thousand Commendations, he added, That he only that was able to invent it, would be able to handle it worthily. And obliged Monsieur Desmarests to make him the like every year. And when he thought to excuse himself with being employed about his Heroic Poem of Clovis, of which he had already made two books, it aiming at the glory of France, and even of the Cardinal himself; the Cardinal answered that he had rather enjoy the fruits of his Poetry, as much as 'twas possible, and that believing he should not live to see the end of so long a work, he conjured him for his sake to busy himself in making Plays, wherewith he might refresh himself with pleasure from the weariness of greater affairs. By this means he got him to compose the inimitable Comedy Des Visionaeires [or the Fanaricks] the tragicomedy of Scipio, that of Roxana, Mirame, and Europa. 'Tis true indeed that part of the plot and humours of Mirame were his own ' and hence 'twas, that he expressed a Fatherly tenderness of this piece, the representation whereof stood him in two or three thousand crowns, and for which he caused that great Hall of his Palace to be built, which still serves for these Shows. And no question but he himself invented the plots of the three other Comedies namely, The Tuilleries, The blind man of Smyrna, and The Grand Pastoral. In this last there were at least five hundred verses of his own making, but it was not printed as the other two were: the reason was this. When he had a design to publish it, he desired that Monsieur Chapelain should reveiw it, and make exact observations upon it. These observations were brought to him by Monsieur de Boisrobert, and though they were written with very much discretion and respect, so vexed and nettled him, whether for their number, or for the knowledge they gave him of his faults, that before he had read them through, he tore them in pieces. But the night following as he was in bed, and all the house asleep, having considered of the Choler he had betrayed, he did a thing incomparably more to be esteemed then the best Comedy in the world, 'twas that he yielded himself to reason, for he commanded the torn pieces of this paper to be gathered up, and laid together again, and after he had read it from one end to the other, and made deep reflection upon it, he sent to have Monsieur de Boisrobert waked to tell him, that he preceived well that the Gentlemen of the Academy understood these matters better than he, and he must talk no more of having this printed. He caused to be made the verses of those pieces (which were then called The pieces of the five Authors) by five several persons, distributing to each an Act, and by this means finishing a Comedy in one month. These five persons were M. de Boisrobert, Corneille, Colletet, de l'Estoille, de Rotrou, on whom, besides the Ordinary pension he gave them, he bestowed considerable gratuities, when they writ nobly according to his mind. Thus M. Colletet has assured me, that when he carried to him, The Monologue of the Tuilleries, he stopped particularly upon two verses of the description of the square Fishpond, at this passage.  
La cane s'humecter de la bourbe de l'eau.  
D'une voix enrouèe, d'un battement d'aisle.  
Animer le canard qui languit auprés d'elle.  
And that after he had heard all the rest, he gave him with his own hand fifty pistoles, with these obliging words, That 'twas only for these two verses which he found so excellent; and that the King himself was not rich enough to reward him for all the rest. M. Colletet told me one thing more which was very pleasant. In that passage which I related to you just now, instead of La cane sohumecter de la bourbe de l'eau, the Cardinal would persuade him to put in, barbotter dans la bourbe de l'eau. He delired, to be excused, as conceiving that word too low: and not content with what he then said, when he was returned to his lodging, he wrote a Letter to him about it, perhaps that he might speak of it with the more freedom. The Cardinal had newly read it, when there came in some of his Courtiers, who complementing to him about some of his Majesty's happy successes in the wars, told him, That nothing was able to withstand his Eminence: You're deceived, answers he laughing, for I find even here in Paris those that withstand me. And when they asked him, who those were that durst be so audacious, Colletet, says he, for having quarrelled with me yesterday about a word, he will not yield it, but has even now written me a large Letter here, about it. He made afterwards those Comedies of the five Authous, be acted before the King and the whole Court, the Stage being very magnificently adorned. These Gentlemen had a seat by themselves in one of the most convenient places, they even named them sometimes with praise, as at the acting of the Tuilleries, in a Prologue made in prose, where among other things the invention of the plot was attributed to M. Chapelain, who yet did only mend it in some places; but the Cardinal desired him to send him his name in this occasion; adding, that in recompense he would lend him his purse in any other. It was about this time that M. Corneille; who was looked upon till then, as one of the chiefest in that kind of writing, having let his Cid be acted, was placed, at least in the common opinion, infinitely above all others. 'Tis hardly imaginable with what opprobation this piece was received by the Court, and by the public. They were never weary with seeing it, they talked of nothing else in Company, every body could say some part of it by heart, they made their Children learn it, and in many places of France, it went for a proverb, to say, 'tis as brave as the Cid. It need not be asked, whether the glory of this Author raised jealousy in his Concurents: many would persuade us, that the Cardinal himself was not free from it, and that (though he esteemed M. Corneile very much, and gave him a pension) he was vexed, to see, that other pieces of this nature, and especially those wherein he had any hand, were quite discredited by this. For my part, without examining, whether this Soul as great as it was, were capable of this weakness, I shall faithfully report what passed in this business, leaving every one to believe what he pleases of it, and to follow his own conjectures.  
Amongst those that could not endure the approbation that was given to The Cid and that believed it did not deserve it, Monsieur de Scudery appeared the first, in publishing his observations against it, whether for his own satisfaction, or as some say, to please the Cardinal, or for both together. Whatsoever the reason were, most certain it is, that in this difference which divided the whole Court, the Cardinal seemed to incline to M. de Scudery's side, and was well pleased that he dedicated it, as he did, to the French Academy, to refer himself in it to their judgement. One may well enough perceive the Cardinal's desire, which was that it should declare in this business. But the most judicious of this body expressed very much repugnance to this design. They said, That the Academy, which was but newly born, ought not by any means to ronder itself odious, by a judgement, which would perhaps displease both parties, and could not choose but disoblige one of them at the least, that is to say, a great part of France. That It was hardly borne with, out of a mere imagination which they had, that it pretended to a kind of Empire in the language; what would it be if it should manifest that it affected it, and should go about to exercise it upon a work which has given content to a great number, and gained the approbation of the people; That it would moreover retard its principal design, the execution whereof must needs of itself be but too slow. That lastly Monsieur Corneille, did not desire this judgement, and that by the Statutes of the Academy, and by the Patent of its foundation, it could not judge of any work without consent and approbation of the Author. But the Cardinal had this design in his head, and these reasons seemed to him very slight, saving the last, which might be taken away by the consent of M. Corneille. For the effecting thereof, M. de Boisrobert, who was one of the chief friends, writ to him divers Letters, acquainting him with M. de Scudery's proposal to the Academy. He, who saw well enough, that after the glory which he had acquired, there was in all probability more to be lost then gotten by him at this dispute, kept himself upon the compliment, and answered. That this Employment was too low for the Academy. That a Libel, which deserved no answer at all, did not deserve its Judgement. That it would be of dangerous consequence, because it would authorise and encourage others to importune these Gentlemen, and that as soon as there should appear any thing handsome upon the Stage, presently the lesser Poets would think they had ground to commence a suit against the Author of it, before their Society. But at last, being pressed by M. de Boisrobert, who gave him sufficiently to understand the desire of his master, after he had said in a Letter of the 13th. of June 1637. the words which I now related, he chance to add this, The Gentlemen of the Academy may do what they please, since you tell me that my Lord will be well pleased to see their judgement of it, and that it must serve for a diversion to his Eminence. I have nothing to say against it. There wanted nothing else, at least in the opinion of the Cardinal, to ground the Academies juridiction, who yet did still excuse themselves from undertaking this business: but at last he declared himself openly, saying to one of his domestics, Let those Gentlemen know that I desire it, and that I shall love them, according as they love me: Then they perceived there was no way to avoid it; and the Academy being assembled on the 16. of June 1637. 
Reg. June 16. 1637.  after that they had read M. de Scudery's Letter to the Company; those which he had written to Monsieur Chapelain upon the same subject, and those which M. de Boisrobert had received from M. Corneille; after too that the same M. de Boisrobert had assured the company that the Cardinal was well pleased with this design: it was ordered that three Commissioners should be nominated to examine the Cid, and the Observations against the Cid; that this nomination should be according to the major part of voices by Balls; which should be seen by the Secretary only; which was done accordingly▪ & the three Commissioners were Monsieur de Bourzey, M. Chapelain, and M. Desmarests. The task of these three Gentlemen was one to examine the body of the work in gross; for as for that of the verses, 'twas resolved that it should be done in the Company. Monsieur de Cerisy, de Gombauld, 
Reg. Janu. 30. 1637.  Baro, and l'Estoile, were only charged to look upon them in private, and to report their observations on which the Academy having deliberated in several conferences, Ordinary and Extraordinary, Monsieur Desmarests had order to put thereto the last hand. But for the examination of the work in gross, the business was somewhat more difficult. M. Chapelain presented his notes first; 'twas ordered that M. Bourzy, and Desmarests should add theirs to them, and whether they were performed or no, whereof I find nothing in the Registers, so it is, that M. Chapelain made a Complete body which was presented to the Cardinal in writing. I have with abundance of pleasure seen this manuscript, with Animadversions of the Cardinal in seven places, in Monsieur Citois' hand his chief Physician. Yet there's one of these notes, whereof the first word is with his own had, and there's another, which shows plainly, what his opinion was of the the Cid. 'Tis at a passage where 'tis said, that Poetry would have been now a great deal less perfect than it is, were it not for the contests that are made about the works of the most famous Authors of the latter times, The Jerusalem of Tasso and Pastor Fido. At this passage he puts in the margin, The applause and the blaming of the Cid is only betwixt the Learned and the Ignorant; whereas the Contests about the other two pieces have been betwixt men of judgement. Which shows that he was persuaded of that which was reproached to M. Corneille, that his work was not according to rule. The rest of these animadversions are not considerable, for they are only some petty notes, as this, whereof the first word is written with his own hand, Good, but it might have been expressed better, and that other, This example should be somewhat smother. Whence yet, we may gather, he examined this work with very much care and attention. His judgement in brief was, that the substance of it was good, But that there wanted, (for in these terms he expressed himself,) some handfuls of flowers to be sprinkled here and there. But this was only as 'twere the first draught, which they were willing to present to him, to know whether in gross, he approved of their Sentiments. The work was then given to be polished according to his intention, and by the deliberation of the Academy, to M. the Serizay, 
Reg. July 17. 1637.  de Cerizy, de Gombauld, and Sirmond. Monsieur de Cerizy, as I am told, couched it in writing, and M. de Gombauld was nominated by the three others, and confirmed by the Academy, to have the last reveiwing of the Style. The whole was read and examined by the Company, in several Assemblies Ordinary and Extraordinary, and given at last to the Printer. The Cardinal was then at Charonne, 
Reg. July the last 1637.  whither they sent the first sheets to him; but they did not satisfy him in the least; and whether 'twere that he judged rightly of it, or that they took him in an ill humour, or that he was prejudiced against M. de Cerisy, he found that they had passed from one extreme to the other, that they had given it too many ornaments and flowers, and sent away presently in all haste to tell them, that they should stop the printing of it. He sent then to have M. de Serizay, Chapelain and Sirmond come to him, that he might the better explain his meaning to them. M. de Serisay excused himself, for that he was ready to take ho●se to go into Poictou. The two others went. To hear them, he was pleased to be alone in his Chamber, except M. de Bautru whom he called for, as being of the Academy. He talked with them a long time, with all civility, standing, and uncovered. M. de Chapelain as he told me himself, endeavoured to excuse M. the Cerisy the best he could, but he soon found that this man would not be contradicted. For he saw him grow hot and active, in so much that coming to him he took him by the bandstrings and held him so, a good while, as a man will do, not thinking of it, when he would speak home to another, whom he would convince of something. The conclusion was, that after he had explained to them in what manner he thought this work should have been written, he gave it in charge to M. Sirmond, who had indeed a very good Style, and that far from all affection: But neither did M. Sirmond  him at all. Mon. Chapelain was therefore to resume all that had been done both by himself and others, out of which he compos d the work such as now it is, which being approved by the company & the Cardinal, was published soon after, very little different from what it was at first, when 'twas presented to him in writing, saving that the matter here is a little more amplified, and some ornaments added.  
Thus after about 5. month's travail, came forth THE SENTIMENTS OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY UPON THE CID. 
Reg. Novem. 23. 1637.  In all which time this Grand Minister that had all the affairs of the Kingdom in his hands, and all those of Europe in his head, was not weary of this Design, nor gave any respite to his care for this work. It was diversely received by Monsieur de Scudery, Mon ieur Corneille, and the Public As for M. Scudery, though his Adversary were not condemned in all things and had received very great praises in many, he thought that he had gained the day, and writ a Letter of thanks to the Company with this title. To the Gentlemen of the Illustrious Academy, where he returned them thanks with a great deal of submission, both for what they had approved in his writings, and for what they had taught him in correcting him, and professed in conclusion, that he was entirely satisfied with the justice they had done him. The Secretary was commanded to write him an answer. The sense of it was, that he assured him, That the Academy had made it their Principal care to hold the balance right, and not to make a matter of Compliment or Civility of a serious business. But that their greatest care after this was, to express themselves with moderation, and to tell their reasons, without wronging any one. That they were well pleased with the justice he had done them, in acknowledging them just, that they would hereafter requite his equity; and that on all occasions, where it would be permitted them to be obliging, he should not fail of it. As for M. Corneille, though he would hardly have summitted to this judgement, yet being resolved to comply with the Cardinal herein, he expressed at the beginning that he attended the event of it with a great deal of deference. To this purpose he writ to Monsieur de Boisrobert in a Letter of the 15th. of November 1637. I expect with a great deal of impatience the Sentiments of the Academy, that I may learn from hence forward what I must follow; till then, I cannot write but with distrust, nor dare I confidently make use of any word. And in another, of the third of December; I prepare myself not to have any thing to answer to the Academy, but thanks. But when the sentiments upon the Cid, were almost quite printed, having understood by some means that this judgement would not be so favourable to him, as he hoped; he could not refrain from expressing some resentment of it, writing in another Letter of which I have seen only a Copy without date or Subscription, I am resolved, since you will have it so, to suffer myself to be condemned by our Illustrious Academy, if it meddles only with one half of the Cid, the other will remain unto me whole and entire. But I beseech you to consider that it proceeds against me with so much violence, and that it makes use of so soveregin an Authority, to shut my mouth, that those who shall know its proceed, will have reason to think that I should never have been found guilty if I might have been permitted to show my Innocence.  
He complains afterwards as if they had denied to hear the defence he would have made of his book viuâ voce and in the presence of his judges; whereof yet I have not found any footsteps, either in the Registers or in the memory of the Academiciens whom I have consulted.  
He adds to this. After all, behold what is my satisfaction! I assure myself this famous work, which so many gallant wits have been these six months' ●● travail with, may well be esteemed, the Sentiments or opinion of the French Academy, but perhaps 'twill never be the opinion of the rest of Paris; at least I have my sentence before them, and I know not whether they can expect theirs. I made the CID to divert myself, and for the divertisement of honest people that delight in Comedies. 'Tis a suficient Testimony to me of the Excellency of my piece, that it has been so often acted, that there has been such an extraordinary concourse of people to see it, and such general acclamations given it. All the favour the Sentiment of the Academy can hope for, is to go as far; I do not fear it will out go me, etc. And a little after, The Cid will always be handsome, and will keep its reputation of being the best piece, that ' has appeared upon the Stage, until there comes another, which will not tyre the Spectators, even at the 30th. time. etc.  
At last, when he had seen the Sentiments of the Academy, I find that he writ a Letter to Monsieur de Boisrobert, Decemb. 22. 1637. in which after he had thanked him, for the care he had taken to let him taste the Cardinal's bounty namely in getting him his pension paid, & after he had given him some orders to have this money kept for him at Rouen, he said, Moreover, I beseech you to believe that I am not at all angry that you have shown, nay given, my Letter to the Gentlemen of the Academy. If I had desired it of you, I could blame only myself; but if my memory fail me not, I think, I only desired you in that Letter, to assure them of my most humble service, as I desire you would do still, notwithstanding their sentiments. All that troubles me, is that the Gentlemen of the Academy, having resolved to be judges in this Controversy, before they knew whether I would consent to it or no, and their sentiments being already in the press, as you writ me word, before you received that Testimony of mine, they have endeavoured to build their judgement thereupon, and make it be believed, that what they have done therein, was only to oblige me, and at my entreaty, etc. And a little after; I was resolved to answer them, because Ordinarily the silence of an Author that is written against, is taken for a sign that he sleights his censurers: I have thus used it towards Monsieur de Scudery; but I did not believe it would become me to do the same towards the Gentlemen of the Academy, and I was persuaded that so Illustrious a Body did well deserve, that I should render them an account of the reasons upon which I built the conduct & choice of my design, and therefore I should extremely force my humour, which is not to write in this kind, and to divulge the secrets of my Art. I was confirmed in this resolution, by the assurance which you gave me, that my Lord would be well pleased with it, and I resolved in myself to address the epistle Dediatory to his Eminence, after I had first asked his leave. But now that you advise me not to answer any thing considering the persons that are engaged in it, I want no Interpreter to understand it, I am somewhat more a man of this world than Heliodore, who chose rather to lose his Bishopric then his book, and do more prise the favour of my Master, than all the reputation upon earth: I will hold my Peace then, not out of contempt, but respect, etc. This Letter contained very much more to the same purpose, and at the bottom he added by way of postscript, I conjure you, not to show my Letter to my Lord, if you think there hath escaped me any word which may be ill taken by his Eminence.  
But as to that which is employed by this Letter, that the Academy had begun to make their Sentiments and even to print them, before they had the consent of Monsieur Corneille, as M. de Boisrobert had write him word; I cannot tell what past between them, only this that M. de Boisrobert might have told him, to oblige him perhaps with the less difficulty to consent to this judgement, as to a thing already resolved on, and begun, that his resistance could not hinder it. But I know very well by the Registers of the Academy, which are very faithful and very exact at that time, that they began not to speak of the Cid till the 16. of June 1637. that this was after that they had there read a Letter of Monsieur Corneille's. That the first which I spoke of, wherein he said, The Gentlemen of the Academy may do what they please, etc. is dated at Rouen the 13th. of the same month. That thus it might have come to Paris and been shown to the Academy the 16th, and that lastly this work was not given to the Printer till about 5. Months after. Monsieur Corneille who has since been received into the Academy as well as Monsieur Seudery, with whom he is fully reconciled, did always believe, that the Cardinal and another person of great quality raised this persecution against the Cid, witness these words which he writ to a friend of his and mine, at that time, when having published his Horace (another Tragedy) 'twas reported that they would make more observations and a new judgement upon this piece. Horace, saith he, was condemned by the Duumviri, but he was absolved by the People. Witness also those 4. verses which he made after the death of the Cardinal, whom he looked upon in one respect as his Benefactor, and in another as his Enemy.  
Qu'on parle mal ou bien du fameux Cardinal,  
Ma prose ni mes vers n'en diront jamais rien.  
Il m' a fait trop de bien pour en d're du mal.  
Il m' a fait trop de mal pour en dire du bien.  
that is,  
Talk well or ill o' th' famous Cardinal,  
But neither, from my prose or verse, shall fall.  
He did me too much good to speak him ill:  
He did me too much harm to speak him well.  
Such were the thoughts of the parties most interessed, touching the work of the French Academy. The Public received it with very much approbation and esteem. Even those that were of a contrary opinion, ceased not to commend it; and envy itself, that expected all this while when something of this Companies would come forth that it might tear it in pieces, never meddled with this. For my part, I know not whether the famous Academies of Italy, ever produced any thing better, or so good, upon the like occasion. I make account in the first place, 'tis very much that without exceeding the bonds of justice, these Gentlemen could satisfy a prime Favourite, that had the whole power of France at his command, and he too, their Protector; who for certain, what ever were the cause of it, was incensed against the Cid. For I am sure he would have desired, that they should treat it more hardly, if they had not let him know, in their address, That a Judge ought not to speak as a Party, and that a man loses so much of his Authority as he betrays Passion. Again if you examine this book seriously you will find in it a very solid judgmemt, with which 'tis propable Posterity will rest satisfied, much learning and much wit without any affectation either of the one or the other; and from the beginning of it to the end, so much liberty and moderation both together, as can never be sufficiently commended. Moreover those that fancied to themselves that the Academy was a Company of strange Dispositions, that would do nothing but quarrel about syllables, and bring-in some new words and banish others, and in plain terms, weaken and wound the French Tongue, under pretence of reforming and polishing it: Those I say, to disabuse themselves, need only read this piece where they'll find a masculine & vigorous Style, the Elegance whereof hath nothing forced or strained; the terms choice, but without scruple and swelling; the word Car and many others which they accused the Academy of intending to banish, very frequently used. Nay they'll see that it is so far from bringing in new words, that it has retained some which seemed to be Antiquated, and which perhaps many men would have scrupled to use. Thus has it used the word dautant for parce que and aucunement instead of en quelque sort, which are now a days very rarely used in that sense. p. 185. Dautant que les unes out esté fait es, devant les regles, etc. p. 14. speaking of the Academy, & s'est aucunement conso lee, etc. p. 89. nous serious aucunement satisfaits p. 113. Rodrique return chez Chimene non plus de nuict, que les tenebres favorisoient aucunement sa temerité, etc.  
AFTER that the Academy had done with the Cid they deliberated anew, what employment they should take. 'Twas resolved The Discourses should be continued, and that Monsieur Sirmond who was the first in order should be desired to bring his, which yet he did not till 6. months after, 
Reg. Decem. 7. 1637. Reg. May 3. 1638. Reg. Decem. 14. 1637.  I never saw this discourse, nor could I learn the subject of it, which is not expressed in the Register. But the principal thoughts of the Academy at that time, were The design of the Dictionary, which was propounded to fall seriously upon. Monsieur de Vaugelas, who long ago had made many rare and curious observations upon the Tongue, offered them to the Company, 
Reg. Decem. 14. 1637.  which accepted them and ordered that he should confer about them with Monsieur Chapelain, and that they two together should bring in some notes for the platform, 
Reg. Janu. 18. 1638.  and carrying on of this work. Monsieur de Vaugelas gave in his, which were very brief, and respected only the body of the design, whereto he offered farther to contribute his remarks, and he divided these remarks into three sorts. The first, which belonged properly to the Dictionary, regarding only simple words. The second for Construction, which belonged to the Grammar. The third consisting in certain Rules which could not properly be referred either to Dictionary or Grammar, because they respected neither Barbarism nor Solecism, the matters upon which Grammar and Dictionary employ the whole extent of their jurisdiction, which nevertheless, said he, were most necessary for the purity, ornament, grace, elegance, and politeness of Style, and by so much the more necessary, as there are fewer persons that know how to write without Barbarisms, and Solecisms from which a Style may be free, and yet be extremely imperfect.  
As for Monsieur Chapelain; at the first establishment of the Academy, he had made a large project for a Dictionary, which had been seen by the Company. He presented it to them again, and because it descends much to particulars & for that 'tis upon this very platform that even to this day they proceed in this work, perhaps it will not be besides the purpose, to relate here briefly the contents of it, as I promised elsewhere. This Project then said,  That the design of the Academy being to render the Language capable of the highest Eloquence, it would be needful to make two large Treatises, the one of Rhetoric, the other of Poetry. But that to follow the order of nature, there should precede them a Grammar, which should furnish out the body of the Language, whereon are built ornaments of Oratory and the figures of Poetry. That the Grammar should comprehend either the simple terms or the received phrases, or the constructions of words one to another. That so, in the first place, it would be necessary to make a Dictionary, which should be as 'twere the Treasury, and Magazine of simple Terms, and received Phrases; after which for finishing the Grammar, there would remain only an exact Treatise to be made of all the Parts of speech, & of all the Constructions regular and irregular, with the resolution of doubts that might occur upon that subject. That for the design of the Dictionary, there should be made a selection of all deceased Authors, that have written the purest in our language, and a distribution of them to all the Academiciens, to the end that each of them read with care, those which shall be allotted to him; and that in several papers, he set down in an alphabetical order, the words and phrases which he shall believe to be the best French, quoting the passage from whence he takes them. That these Papers be brought back to the Company, who judging of these phrases and words, may collect in a little time, the whole body of the Language, and insert into a Dictionary the passages of these Authors, acknowledging them for Originals in the things that shall be cited from them, yet without acknowledging them for such in others, which are tacitly disapproved of, if they be not in the Dictionary. And because there may be phrases and words in use, whereof exsamples may not be found in good Authors, that in case the Academy approve of them, they may have a mark set upon them, to show that Use hath authorized them. That the Dictionary be in one volume, but in two several parts, First, in an alphabetical order, the simple words, whether Nouns or Verbs, or others that deserve the name of roots, which may have produced compounds, derivatives, diminutives, and which otherwise may have phrases that are grounded upon them. That in this part, after having put down each simple word with some mark, to signify what part of speech it is, there follow in order the compounds, derivatives, diminutives, and the phrases depending on them, with the authorities, which yet may be omitted for the simple words, as being out of doubt, and sufficiently known to every one. That thereto be added afterwards, the Latin interpretation for the good of Strangers. That the Masculine, Feminine, or Common gender of each word, be marked with some note. That there may be others to distinguish Poetical terms from those of Prose: and others to signify those of the 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 pronunciation. That they keep themselves to the received 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 Latin 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 private terms, which enter not into common traffic, 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 Academy. 'Tis 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 thereto what they should judge 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. 'Tis true too, they have not punctually observed whatever is in this Project, as may be seen in that which respects the quotations. Yet 'twas resolved 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 memoirs 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 doubtless 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, Rapine, Saint Marthe. The Bookseller 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, 'twas 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 Dictionary, unless in the making of it, they thought good for phrases that were dubious, to cite some approved Author that had used them. 'Twas also resolved for the furthering of this work, that the Cardinal 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 principal 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 Cardinal, as I find by the answer that M. de Boisrobert returned to the Academy, gave no answer to this proposition, whether 'twere 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 Academy that offered himself voluntarily to take upon him the performance of this work, every one had his own affairs, and his own private thoughts, from which he was not willing to be taken off. Thus this design, for which they even now expressed 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 itself about other things, which I shall tell you o●, by and by. At ●ast, the Cardinal having often complained, that they did nothing that was profitable to the Public, 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 Vaugelàs; and for this end, to get re-establisht upon him by the King, a Pension of two thousand Livres, which was no longer paid him● 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 desired 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 choicest company; 'twas then that he made that happy reply which questionless 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 always 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 less that of Gratitude. From that time, 
Reg. Febr. 7. 1639.  began M. de Vaugelas to write some sheets of the Dictionary, which he brought afterwards to the Company; and 'twas Ordered, 
Reg. Feb. ult 1639.  that at the end of every Assembly, those words should be read, which were to be examined the next time to the end they might have time to consider of them. They propounded once more a distribution of the best Authors to all the Academiciens, to collect out of them the phrases & the elegancies of the Language, but 'twas never performed. They began to examine the letter A; 
Reg. Apr. 11 1639.  where, to to take notice of it by the by, there happens a pleasant passage, 'tis that the word Academy was omitted in its place, no body observing it, till a while after. 'Twas resolved since, 
Reg. July 11. 1639.  that besides the ordinary Assemblies, there should be extraordinary ones, for this very business, on Wednesdays, at two boards, which should be at the same time; one at the Lord Chancellors, the other at Monsieur d'Ablancourt's, in whose absence they removed it afterwards to M. Sirmonds. Notwithstanding all this, the work went on extreme slow; For the letter A, that was begun Febr. 7. 1639. was not finished till the 17th of October, about 9 months after. They thought then, that besides these two boards, they must establish two more; 
Reg. May. 19 1642.  one on Fridays at M. de Bourzey's, the other on Wednesdays at M. Conrart's, and allot certain Academiciens to sit at each of them. But this care has been almost useless; For as they travelled not in these four places, neither with the same assiduity, nor with the like Genius, and force; they were necessitated to repass many things, which these lesser boards had decided, in which they were then employed when I wrote this Relation. The death of two persons hath happened since ' which has much retarded the design of the Dictionary. First, that of Cardinal de Richelieu, which, notwithstanding the care and diligence of the new Protector, hath taken off much of that zeal, with which they went on at first. The other is that of Monsieur de Vaugelas, who had, as I told you before, the management of this work; not but that they have given the same charge to Monsieur de Mezeray, who acquits himself very worthily. But M. de Vaugelas, having a meaner fortune than he deserved; after his death, the papers of the Dictionary, with the rest of his writings were seized among other things by his creditors, who thought to get a considerable sum of money for them of some Printer, so that the Academy could not recover what belonged unto it, but by a Suit at Law, and a Decree du Chastelet of the 17th of May 1651. Presently all were delivered into the hands of the Secretary of the Company, upon his demanding of them: but the Company Ordered there should be a Copy of them taken to remain always at the Lord Chancellors. They met twice a week to go on with the Dictionary, but to omit that, they were forced to go over again part of that which had been done at those lesser boards, it has hitherto advanced no farther than the Letter I: and this slowness together with the uncertainty what fortune may befall the Academy hereafter, is enough to make it doubted whether it will ever be finished.  
Many do very much wonder, that so many men, famous for their worth, and capable of the greatest things, as their particular worths do sufficiently manifest, should amuse themselves so long about a work, which seems to have nothing of Noble in it, and of which perhaps not one of them hopes to see an end. For my part I shall not defend the French Academy by the common example of that other Della Crusca, which s●ent nigh 40 years in its vocabulary, from which at last it reaped very much glory, and the Italian Tongue very much profit. But I shall be bold to say, that, if we look a little nearer into things, this design, and their constancy in the execution of it, deserve nothing less than high commendations. I know very well, that in this I exceed the bounds of History, which contenting itself to make a faithful relation, aught to leave the judgement to the Reader, and always continue Neuter between contrary parties; but if I fail herein, you will pardon this fault I am confident, for the desire which I have to let you know, what have been my thoughts many times concerning this business, and to clear a truth, which seems not to me to be sufficiently known. First then, it will not be denied me, I think, but that the Project of a Rhetoric and a Poëtick, which I formerly told you of, was most worthy of this Company. 'Twill also be granted me, I conceive that to do this, a Dictionary and a Grammar, are two things, either necessary or at least very useful, according as I have above related. But, suppose these four works a Dictionary, a Grammar, a Rhetoric and a Poetic, should be finished, I say not in 4 years, but even in 20 or 30, who is there that would not speak of it to the advantage of the Academy? Now if you will commend this design, and blame the delay of its execution, you commend that which properly belongs unto it, & blame that which does not, & so ought not to be imputed to it. For if the Cardinal that founded it, had had more care to put it forward, and had made this employment the most important and principal business of all, or most, of the Academiciens; I do not doubt but these four works would have been printed long ago, and followed also with many others. And if in other things, as I always say, true glory consists in doing good service to the Public, in what manner soever it be; Such a Dictionary, whether you look upon', as a means to attain to Rhetoric and Poetry, or consider it barely in itself, it cannot but make very much to the honour of its Authors. If any one that is big with high conceits shall here pretend, proudly to contemn this whole study of words and language, I shall not dispute the case, but willingly suffer him to follow his own inclinations, and employ himself wholly, either to the affairs of the world, or to more sublime studies; but let him beware lest that pursuing, it may be, a false good, or entertaining Opinions for Verities, and Conjectures for Demonstrations, even when he thinks he applies himself wholly to solid matters, he embrace a cloud as well as others. I speak now to them, who to those knowledges that are indeed the most important, do add also that of good literature, making it one of their greatest pleasures, who would be weary of the world, were it not for this delightful amusement, who find in it wherewith to comfort themselves in afflictions, and recreate themselves in prosperity, whereby to entertain themselves with their friends & content themselves in their privacies. In a word, wherewith to render themselves fit for what ever the Public, or a private society can require of them. I make no question but these men would receive the Academies Dictionary with joy, and prise it highly, and receive by it a wonderful benefit. What comfort must it needs be to those that writ, when in the heat of composing, they are perplexed with some one of those tedious & irksome scruples in the language, of those petty remoras that on a sudden arrest the greatest Vessels in the main Sea, even when they go with full sail: what comfort, I say, must it needs be to be delivered from them, presently to pass on to other things of more importance, and to have the Warrant of so famous a Company for what they shall write? I know well that the spirits of the French are not willing to be enslaved; nor would I desire, to forbid such as find in themselves a certain particular Genius, from yielding any thing to their own Palates, when it is not absolutely extravagant, nor directly contrary to that of the Public; but when all's done, in things of indifferency, and which merely depend upon institution, the testimony of forty persons the most understanding in such matters, has very much weight and authority, and all men that are any thing rational, would, were it only for quietness sake, choose much rather to yield than to contend. The remarks of Monsieur de Vaugelas, may furnish us with an example hereof; they were encountered by many, scarce any one but found somewhat or other in them, contrary to his own judgement: And yet 'tis well known, they do by little and little take with the wits, and daily gain credit amongst them. This is but the work of one Academicien; if that of the Academy were published, it would not only resolve us an infinite number of doubts; but besides, 'tis very likely it would confirm and in some sort six the Body of the Language, and hinder it, not from changing at all, (for that can never be hoped in any of the living Languages) but at least from changing so often and so suddenly as it doth. All other Nation's reproach ours with this inconstancy; Our elegantest and most polite Authors, in a few years become barbarous, 'twould make one sick to read the best and most solid of them, when they begin to grow old; and if ever we can be cured of the evil, in my opinion it must be only by this remedy. Nor must we pass by, as matter of no concernment, the advantage we shall reap by this Dictionary, to find at once the roots of all derivative words; a judicious advice, whether they are low or high, proper for prose or for verse; in what kind of writing they may be used most aptly, an almost indubitable decision of the length or shortness of syllables, for pronunciation, and of é open or close, which are the rocks that not only all strangers, but even all that are not of the Isle of France, do so rudely dash against. Well, let the present age say what it please, Posterity, if it sees this Dictionary, either it will not stand to inquire how long it was making; or if it does, will so much the more extol the Authors of it, and account it so much the more indebted to the Academy. I shall go a little farther, and add, that though this Dictionary be never finished, since that after all, they have incessantly laboured in it, who can doubt, but that this exercise of exactly considering words in their Original, of observing their several acceptions, of remarquing all the phrases that may be made of them, was most proper for a Body, that propounded to itself the embellishment of the Language as its end; and most profitable to particular Academiciens for their instructions; and consequently advantageous to the public, to whom they daily publish part of their Works?  
I HAVE spoken of three principal employments of the Academy since its Institution: The Discourses or Harangves● the Sentinents on the Cid, and the Dictionary: But during all this time, and in divers intervals, they were often busied with examining the Pieces that were presented them by those of the Company. I find that there were read at several times, The Poems of Monsieur de Gombauld, and the l'Estoile; 
Reg. Janu. 14. 1636. Reg. Apr. 14 & 15. 1636. Reg. Apr. 28 1636.  the Preface of Monsieur de la Cambre's; Conjectures about digestion, part of Monsieur de Balzac's Prince, which he then called, The Minister of State; a Political discourse of M. Silhon's to justify the administration of Cardinal de Richelieu, 
Reg. May 3. 1638. Reg. Jan. ult. 1639. Reg. May 15. 1652.  another of Monsieur de Sirmond, in justification of the War against the Spaniards; The Prologue of M. Desmarest's Europa; the verses of M. de Racan, and many other things of less importance. Whatever was presented to them after this manner, was examined with so much care and rigour, that the Cardinal thought himself obliged many times, to exhort the Academy, to remit somewhat of it. Perhaps I shall do a pleasure, to insert here what I find to this purpose in the Register of Monday the 12th of Nou. 1634. 
Reg. Nou. 12. 1634.  which will also let you see the manner of these Registers.  Upon that which M. de Boisrobert said to the Company, that the Cardinal desired them not to affect too great a severity, to the end that those whose works shall be examined, might not be discouraged by a too long and painful curiosity, from writing any more; & that the Academy might bring forth the fruit which his Eminence promised himself from it for the embellishment and perfection of our Tongue: After the Votes were gathered, 'Twas ordered, that the Cardinal should be most humbly desired to be pleased that the Company might not remit any of that severity which is necessary to bring those things which must bear its name or receive its approbation, the nearest that may be to perfection. And in explaining the nature of this severity 'twas said that it should have nothing of affectation or sourness, but only be sincere, solid, and judicious, that the examination of works should be done exactly by those that shall be named Commissioners, and by the whole Company when it judges of their Observations. That the Authors of the pieces examined, should be bound to correct the places shown them, according to the resolution of the Company. Monsieur de Gombauld having beseeched the Assembly to deliberate, whether an Academicien, bringing a work to be examined, should be bound always to follow the judgement of the Company in all its corrections. though not wholly conformable to his own It was resolved, that no man should be bound to labour beyond his strength, and that those which have made their works as good as they were able, might receive approbation of them, provided that the Academy were satisfied of the order of the piece in general, of the justness of its parts, and purity of its Language. 
In reading these works, the Academy very often gave decisions upon the Language, of which its Registers are full, it did the like also many times upon the mere proposal of some one Academicien; and if at Court, as it often happens, a word had been the subject of some long dispute, they seldom failed to speak of it in the Assembly. Such was, for instance, that merry contest, that arose at Rambovillet Hostel, whether one should say Muscardins, or Muscadins, which was decided by the Academy in favour of the last, which I the rather mention, 
Reg. Feb. 1. 1638.  because it serves to explain a piece of raillery, made by Monsieur de Voiture, against them that will have it to be Muscardins, which was never printed.  
Au siecle des vieux Palardins,  
Soit Courtesans, soit Citardins,  
Femmes de Cour, ou Citardines,  
Prononsoient troûjours Muscardins,  
Et Balardins et Balard nes,  
Mesme l'on dit qu'en ce temps là  
Chacun disoit rose muscarde,  
J'en dirois bien plus que cela,  
Mais par mafoy je suis malarde,  
Et mesme en ce momeut voila  
Qu'l'on m'apporte une panarde.  
So in the year 1651. Monsieur Naud● consulted this Company about the word Rabougri which signifies properly a Plant that is not come to its perfection and just bigness, in which sense we read in the old Statutes Des arbres rabougris. He made use of it in a trial, which he had in Parliament upon an answer made him by two of these Gentlemen, who had asked the opinion of the whole Body concerning it, and he printed their Letters at the end of a little Book, which he then published against his adversaries. Strangers also, amongst whom our Tongue is insensibly spread, have sometimes acknowledged the authority of the Academy in the like occasions. Thus in the year 1652, it was obliged to pronounce upon a wager of consequence, which had been laid in Holland, concerning the word Temperature; but as it gave these decisions only by the by, I think I ought not to stay any longer upon them.  
SOMETIMES also, when the Academy had nothing else to do, 
Reg. Jaly 16. 1638.  they read and examined some French Book, and to this purpose 'twas ordered, that there should be always some Book in the place of the Assembly. I took delight to read in the Registers the examination of Malherbe's Stanza's upon the Kings going to Limosin: for if there be any thing that makes appear, that which is so commonly said, that his verses were never finished, certainly 'tis this reading of them. There is scarce one Stanza, wherein, without being too severe a Critic, one meets not with one or more things which one could wish were changed if 'twere possible, without destroying that rare sense, that marvellous elegance, and that inimitable smoothness of the verses, which is found throughout those excellent works. I said without being too severe a Critic; for to give you some Examples of them, in that first Stanza; 
O Dieu! dont les bontez de nos larmes touchées  
On't aux veins fureurs, les armes arrachées,  
Et rangé l'innocence aux pieds de la raison,  
Puisqa ' a rien d'imparfait ta lovange n' aspire,  
Acheve ton ovurage au bien de cet Empire,  
Et nous rents l'embonpoint comme la guerison.   
These Gentlemen observed well, 
Reg. April 19 1638.  that La bontè touchée de nos larmes, was better than Les bontez; that the third verse Et rangé l'innocence aux pieds de la raison, was not good since; that in the fourth verse, Ta loüange not aspire à rien d'imparfait, was not good French, but they did not observe, as a fault, what he says at the end. Et nom rend, embonpoint comme la guerison; though to look a little more narrowly into it, methinks, and in our Ordinary discourse, a man may say well enough in our Language, rendre la santé, and rendre la vie, but not rendre la guerison. But as for that verse, Et range l'innocence aux pieds de la raison, The Academy was not at all satisfied with it, and 'tis true, there cannot be picked out of it any reasonable sense; but it proceeds from a fault in the printing, which has been committed in all the Editions that ever I saw of Malherbes works, and which no man that I know of, has hitherto perceived; instead of l'innocence, it should be l'insolence. I thought of it first by Conjecture, but I now make no question of it, since I saw the verse printed after this manner in three Collections of French Poems, which are those of 1615, 1621., & 1627. Ranger l'insolence aux pieds de la raison, is not only good sense, but also very neat and very poetical.  
There is one Stanza which is the 16. upon which I do not find any thing in the Registers, unless that it was admired by every one, and that there was no fault found with it.  
Quand un Roy faineant, la vergogne des Princes.  
Laissant à ses flateurs le soin de ses Provinces,  
Entre les voluptez indignement s' endort,  
Quoy que l'on dissimule on n' en fa●t d'estime,  
Et si la verité se peut dire sans crime,  
C' est avecque plaisir qu' on survit à sa mort.  
Yet in this Stanza certainly admirable, he has the word vergogne, which many now a days would be very loath to use, and which the meanest judges would not fail to condemn. I might add many other things like these, did not I fear to be too long. But there are two passages which I think it not amiss to mention, because the Academy, 
Reg. April 26. 1638.  observed that in them Malherbe himself fell short of his own rules. The first is, in the third Stanza.  
Certes quinconque a uû pleuvoir dessus nos testes,  
Les funestes éclats des plus grands tempests:  
Qu' exciterent jamais deux contraires partis.  
Et n' en voit aujourd'huy nulle mark paroistre.  
En ce miracle seul, il peut asses connoistre.  
Quelle force a la main qui nous a garantis.  
Malherbe was of opinion that Stanza's of six ought to have a rest at the end of the third verse. And here yet he goes to the end of the fourth  he rests; but you will not wonder at it when you know, what I believe the Academy itself at that time was ignorant of, and which I learned very lately out of some notes that Monsieur de Racan gave me of the life of that excellent Poet. 'Tis that he made these Stanzas, and many other of his pieces, before that he imposed this law upon himself. And hence it is that there are some of his works where it is not exactly observed, as for example, in the Consolation to Caritée in this Stanza.  
Pourquoy done si peu Sagement.  
Dèmentant Vostre judgement.  
Passez-veus en cette amertume.  
Le meilleur de vostre saison.  
Aimant mieux pleurer par coustume.  
Que vous consoler par raison.  
But I shall say more hereafter of this rule when I speak of Monsieur Maynard, who was the first Author of it.  
I told you there was another passage, where, in the Judgement of the Academy, Malherbe transgressed his own Maxims. 
Reg. July. 16. 1638.  'Tis in the seventh Stanza, in these verses.  L' infaillible refuge, & l'asseuré secours 
Hear you see he says asseuré secours instead of secours asseuré, as I remember he does also in another place.  
De combien de Tragedies  
Sans ton asseuré secours.  
Yet he held it for a Maxim, that those adjectives, that have their termination, in é masculine, should never be placed before the Substantive, but after: whereas others that have the feminine termination, may be placed before or after, according as shall be thought fit. That one may say, for instance, ce redoutable Monarque, or ce Monarque redoutable; and on the contrary, that we may say ce Monarque redonté but nót ce redout Monraque. I took not this example without reason, and at adventures, for I have often heard Monsieur de Gombauld say, that before ever any one had made this reflection, Monsieur de Malherbe and he walking together one day, & talking of certain verses of Mademoiselle Anne de Rohan's, where there was,  
Quoy faut il-que Henry ce redouté Monarque. Monsieur de Malherbe assured him several times that this end displeased him, and yet he could not tell any reason why: that this made him himself consider of it attentively, and that having presently discovered the reason, he told it to M. de Malherbe, who was as much pleased with it, as if he had found a treasure, and afterwards made of it that general rule.  
The Academy spent almost three months in examining these Stanza's, 
From April 9 to July 6. 1638.  and yet they made not an end of them, for they never touched the four last, because they had other thoughts, and that year's vacation came very soon after.  
Some of them, and amongst others Monsieur de Gombauld, and M. de Gomberville, were very impatient that the Company did thus censure the works of a great personage after his death, which they thought somewhat cruel and inhuman. But the moderation which it used in this examination (which I have already remarked) seems sufficiently to show, that its intention was altogether innocent. And if I may Judge of others by myself, I am fully persuaded of it; for, for my part, if being so far from suppressing this whole Article, I have enlarged myself upon it somewhat beyond my custom, I am sure that neither a youthful desire to find fault with every thing, nor any other unworthy inclination, has engaged me in this discourse: but on the contrary if I had had less esteem and respect for Malherbe, I should not have spoken of his faults; and that lastly I have reported them only (if I may compare things sacred with profane) as the Scripture doth those of the Saints, to Comfort them that are too much troubled at their failings, and to keep them from despair.  

Reg. Dec. 3. 1635. Reg. March 15. 1638.  Such were the employments of the Academy. I find too, that 'twas propounded several times to make two Collections, one of the Verses and tother of the Letters of those of the Company, but it was never performed.   

THE FOURTH PART: Of Some remarkables that passed in the Academy.  
I WILL add now according to my promise, some considerable passages that happened in the Academy, which I could not handsomely bring in any where else.  
That which offers its self first, according to the order of time, (which I observe as much as I can, in each Particular) is the generosity which the Academy expressed after the death of Camusat, its Stationer, having in favour of his widow and Children, opposed, as I may so say, the will of the Cardinal, its Protector. Presently after his death, Monsieur de Boisrobert, who was then with the Cardinal at Abbeville, wrote to the Academy, That his Eminence having heard the news, though he thought there was not any man in Paris, more capable to fill this place then Cramoisy, his own Stationer, whom he esteemed and loved, nevertheless would not make use of that Authority which he had, as their Head, to command them to receive him, but only desired, that he should propound him to them, with this condition, that if they knew of any other, that would be fit for them, they might take him, not desiring in the least manner, either in this or any thing else to violate their choice. By way of postscript 'twas added. Since the writing of my Letter, my Lord sent for me before much noble Company, to tell me, that you would do him a kindness to take the said Cramoisy; I see plainly he is very earnest in this business, having done me the honour to speak to me thrice about it. For all this Camusat's Widdoe being desirous to continue her trade, and having with her for this purpose one du Chesne, a kinsman of her Husbands, and a Scholar, who now is a Dr. in Physic; the Academy desired to continue that honour to her family, and answered M. de Boisrobert in such a manner, as not forgetting the respect which it owed the Cardinal, and submitting itself always to obey his will, it let him plainly know, that it was but justice to do so. This Letter had the effect which was desired, 
Reg. July 15. 1639.  and M. de Bosrobert wrote another presently after to the Secretary of the Academy, containing the Cardinal's approbation and consent that du Chesne should be admitted to excercise that charge in the name of the Widdoe. Thus after they had ordered an answer to M. de Boisrobert, to thank him, and to desire him also to present their most humble thanks to the Cardinal; du Chesne was brought into the Assembly took the Oath in the name of the Widdoe, and was exhorted to imitate the discretion, care, and diligence of the deceased. And because at the death of Monsieur Bardin, 'twas resolved that at the death of all those of the Body, there should be performed a service in les Carmes Reforms called des Billettes. It was ordered there should be one also for Camusat, & this was the honour which this Company did to the memory of its Stationer. But concerning M. de Boisrobert's Letter to the Academy, me thinks I ought not to forget this pretty Circumstance. It was signed Vostre tres-humble and tres-obeissant Serviteur. The Academy that thought good to answer from the whole Body, to the end that the Letter might be the more effectual in favour of the Widdoe, was somewhat at a stand what to subscribe. On the one side the whole body writing to one of its Members, ought not in appearance to treat him as an equal, and on the other side merely to say, the tres-affectioner serviteurs, according to the custom, seemed not civil enough, and to be used only to persons very inferior. At last they took this mean, Vos tros-passionnez serviteurs, CONRART, as being somewhat more civil than tres-affectionnez, and less than treshumbles.  
I AM now to speak of the death of another Person more considerable, which I know not how to pass by in silence, 'twas that of the Cardinal himself, the Protector & Founder of this Body. Whether it were ill for the State, as I ever thought it was, this is no place to dispute. But most certain it is, that at least Scholars and the Academy in particular suffered therein an almost irreparable loss. 
Reg. Dec. 9 1642.  The ninth of the same month, the Company being met, Monsieur de l'Estoille, who had been made Director eight days before, said; That he thought there was not any one in the whole Body, but was most sensibly touched with this dysaster, and was ready to express it, not only in ordaining a Service, and in composing an Elegy for the Cardinal, as they were wont to do for the Academiciens that died; but besides in founding an anniversary for him, with the greatest solemnity that was possible. That nevertheless all this pomp respecting more the satisfaction of the living, than the glory of the dead, he thought that the Academy ought rather to give proof of its piety and gratitude, by some speedy and zealous actions, then by any great preparations, which must needs be retarded a long time. That he therefore desired the Company to deliberate, what was to be done in this business. Upon this proposition it was resolved there should be performed a Service for the Cardinal in the Carmes des Billettes, at the charge of the Company, every one contributing thereto what he pleased, to the end that the action might be done the more honourably, and with the greater dignity: That Monsieur de la Chambre should make an Elegy, for him M. de Serisay an Epitaph, and Monsieur the Abbot of Cerisy a Funeral Oration, that each of the other Academiciens should compose something in Verse or Prose in praise of him, as many had already done, and Monsieur Baro amongst others; a Sonnet of whose upon the Church de Sorbonne (where the Cardinal chose to be buried) was then read: But as to the Funeral Oration; the votes were divided, in resolving whether it should be pronounced in public, or no; and as I told you elsewhere, they referrd themselves to the Chancellor, who thought good to have it pronounced only in the Academy; which was done a while after. As for the Service, they judged afterwards, that 'twas fittest it should be only done decently and without pomp. Monsieur de l'Estiolle the Director, desired that he might have leave to defray, the charge of it alone, which was granted him, and the Service was celebrated on the twentieth of the same Month at ten of the clock in the Morning.  
But the thing of most importance for the Academy was, to choose a Protector in the place of him, whom they had lately lost: many inclined to Card. Mazarin, concerning whom envy & faction had not yet divided men's minds, every one rejoicing to see him succeed in the Ministry of Card. de Richelieu. 'Twas thought that this election would be so much the more acceptable to him, as not being born a Frenchman, it would in some sort seem to him to be the more glorious. Others thought of the Duke of Enguien now Prince of Conde; who had not won● any battles, nor done those things which have been since admired, in the first years of the Regency; but in whom being very young there did even then appear much spirit, and a great inclination to good literature. On the Contrary all those of the Academy that were dependants or servants to the Chancellor, were passionately desirous to gain Him this title, and no man seemed to have more right to it then Herald At the very beginning of the Academy, when he desired to be admitted into it, they talked of making him Protector with the Cardinal; but they went no farther for fear of displeasing that great Minister, who had already shown some tokens, of jealousy thereupon. So that all the honour they did him then, was to set his name first in the Catalogue, and at a distance from the rest, whom they ranked by lot. The Academy nevertheless had him always in a particular Veneration. They deputed some to go thank him for the honour he was pleased to do them to be one of them: and when from Lord Keeper of the Seals, he came to be Chancellor of France they wrote a Letter to him to Testify their joy. They thought therefore they could not with reason cast their eyes upon any but him, since that they were always very sensible, that in the birth of the Academy, he expressed so much affection to it: and that besides being raised to the prime dignity of the Robe, he was a lover of those that make profession of learning, & favoured them upon all occasions. These reasons outweighed all the others in the minds of the Academiciens, and in the same Assembly of Dec. 9 'twas resolved that the Officers with Monsieur de Priesac, Chapelain, and de Serisay, should go and beseech him to honour the Company with his Protection. The Officers who are ordinarily three, were then but two, for that Monsieur Conrart, perpetual Secretary, had been made Chancellor, these two charges being not inconsistent, as I told you. M. de l'Estoile, who was the Director spoke for them all, the 17th of the same month. His Compliment was so short and so good that it may be here inserted.  
My Lord,  
WE make it sufficiently appear, that all great griefs are not dumb, since, that for the death of my Lord the Cardinal leaveth us yet voice enough to beseech you not to abandon us in this misfortune. And if there does still remain to that great Genius any care of things here below, he will be well pleased that you are the support of that Company which he loved as his own work. He begs it of you, My Lord, both by that near affection which tied you to him, and by that which you bear to learning. You never denied him any thing, and this makes us hope that the tempest will cast us from one Port into another, and that we shall recover in you, what we have lost in him; that is, a Protector not only illustrious, by his birth and dignity, but also by his virtue. We might say more, and cannot say enough; but your modesty and our grief permit us only to assure your Lordship, that a Protection so glorious as yours, is the greatest of our desires, that we will make us Laws from your will, and,, that we are all in general, and in particular,  
Your &c.  
They were received with great civility, and with many testimonies of joy. The Lord Chancellor began then to be 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.  
'Twas 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 florins, Academia, Fastis: and were received with all the esteem and civility, as they deserved, though I do not find 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. 'Twas ordered that Messieurs de Gomberville and de Malleville should go and thank him for it at his house. 'Twas in this book that this good man, who had many very pleasant fancies, caused to be set before his book, the Portraiture of the Cardinal in Taille douce, with a Crown of rays 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 error.  
Le Sieur Belot, Advocate, 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, entitled, An Apology for the Latin Tongue, and 'twas this which gave occasion to that handsome passage in the Request of the Dictionaries.  
Le pavure Langue Latiale,  
Alloit estre trousse en male,  
Si le bell Advocate Belot, etc.  

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 Council, 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. 'Twas for this reason that in the same Request of the Dictionaries 'tis said, 
Et le Seneque fa●soit nargue.  
A vostre Cand dat les Fargue.   

Reg. Nou. 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 published in the year 1650. a Treatise of Incommensurable quantities, with a Translation of the tenth Book of Euclid, 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 published 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 ask 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 happened 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 see 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, ●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 w●ich they made. And if I suppress 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 l●a●e any mark of resentment or bitterness against those persons with whom he is wholly reconciled, whose quality and birth I in my own particular, do as I ought very much honour.  
The second Letter of Monsieur DE BOISSAT without date, with this superscription,  
To the Gentlemen of the Academy of Eloquence, assembled in a Body.  
Gentlemen,  
AS I give you an account of the unheard of misfortune, which happened unto me at the house of the King's Lieutenant in Dauphiné; so I impart to you an Agreement yet more strange, which the nobility of this Province endeavoured for the space of three months, and for which they assembled themselves together more solemnly than they were wont to do upon other occasions. This extraordinary means which Providence hath raised to put an end to a misfortune, which my sentiments would have rendered immortal, has been able to bring me back to quietness, though the opinions of my Master, my friends, and my kinsmen carried me thither; and though, having sent no less than three Gentlemen to Grenoble, I perceived the way of Arms was impossible, through the care that is generally taken of the preservation of the Grandees. The principal reasons that have obliged me hereto, besides the will of all my friends, you will soon know if you remember, Gentlemen, that a part is indebted and cannot deny its self to its whole, that the Nobility at first undertook the cause for me, and that afterwards desiring the entire cognizance of the business, those that were my Enemies were both Party and Judge all at once; that a Body of a hundred on six score Gentlemen, is a Warrant more proportionate to my honour then a Prince. That I have as many cautions as there were heads then assembled; That moreover to repair the honour of a private person, they might make new Laws in their own Country, since that they are the very source of honour; That it is a thing unheard of, in the Kingdom of France, that there should be such high satisfaction made to a Gentleman. And lastly, that he who commands them wholly, should submit himself unto them after a manner unknown to all Ages. See, Gentlemen, the motives which obliged me to vanquish my own resistance, and resign my will to that of your whole Province. To tell you now, in what manner they have proceeded, this Copy, the Original whereof I have by me, will testify and show unto you, That these true Gentlemen have had more regard to my innocence, and their own honour, then to all the Grandeurs of the earth. All I can add from myself is, that for the space of twelve days, they met together morning and evening with invincible patience, and that all which passed there, is great, memorable, and without example. I hope, Gentlemen, that having known me always perfectly to revere your Body, and to cherish above all things the honour which I have to be a member of it, you will be pleased that Monsieur de Serisay may acquaint me with your judgements hereupon, that if this affair do merit (as I make no question it will) your approbation, I may receive a more perfect contentment, if it be possible, then that I which now have. This I beg of you with all the respect I own you, and that you would believe me to be more than any person in the world,  
Gentlemen, Your most humble, most obedient, and most passionate servant, P. DE BOISSAT.  
A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT MADE IN DAUPHINE, BY ORDER OF THE NOBILITY, ASSEMBLED ON PURPOSE.  
For the Gentlemen of the Academy: who are most humbly beseeched to hear it read in a full Assembly.  
MONSIEUR the Count de Sault, Chevalier of the Orders of the King, chief Gentleman of his chamber, and Lieutenant General for his Majesty in Dauphiné, and Monsieur de Boissat, having remitted their difference to the judgement of the Nobility of this Province, assembled on purpose, after they had known from them the subject of it; they gave judgement for the satisfaction both of the one, and of the other. That a Gentleman man of the Assembly, accompanied with a kinsman of M. de Boissat's, should go to the house of Madam the Countess of Sault to deliver to her in the presence of those that she shall think fit to call in, the Declaration which the Sieur de Boissat has made in the said Assembly, That he never had in his thoughts an intent to offend her, and that he did always highly esteem her for her birth, virtue, and all those excellent qualities that are in her; and that, if he did but suspect in the least that he had so reproached and offended her, as she believed, he would not only beg her pardon for it, but should also think himself unworthy to obtain it, and should not forgive himself.  
After which, Monsieur the Court de Sault accompanied with his Guards and Domestics, shall come into the place where the Nobility shall be assembled, when he knows that Monsieur de Boissat is sent for thither, and shall say to him: Sir, you know the cause that has made me to confess the wrong that hath been done you, which makes me hope you will the more easily grant me the pardon which I beg of you for it: Acknowledging that I was carried to that excess with too much heat, having therein employed my Guards, and that if you had had a sword, you would have used it, as long as you had any life: For which I am extreme sorry, and wish that I had lost some of my blood rather than this had happened. I beseech you to believe it, and that I take you for a Gentleman of worth and courage, which you have witnessed upon all occasions, and might have given proof of, by ways which would have been more satisfactory to you, had not the Nobility taken the pains to compose the business. I will add to this a second favour which I desire of you, and shall account, if it be possible, a greater obligation; 'tis Sir, that you would grant the pardon which I beg of you for Monsieur de Vaucluse, since that I know with how much submission he will wait upon you at your house, to testify how sorry we are, for your having been so outrageously abused. And that you may the better perceive how much it affects me; I bring those by whom you received this injury, to submit them to whatever the Nobility shall appoint, and you can desire for your satisfaction. I assure myself that you rightly judge by what I have said, and what I do, that you have reason to forget what has offended you. You will extremely oblige me to be satisfied with it, and to be my friend, as I desire it of you with all my heart.  
After that Monsieur the Count of Sault shall have said thus, he that is Precedent in the Assembly, addressing himself to Monsieur de Boissat, shall say to him, Sir, You have sufficiently seen by the discourse which Monsieur the Count of Sault hath made unto you, with what grief he resents the wrong that has been done you, and with what passion he desireth you would remain satisfied. This Company believes, that you cannot defuse what he desires of you, and doth with him beg of you, to cast away the remembrance of what is past, and to receive the offers which he makes you of his affection. Whereupon Monsieur de Boissat shall say to M. the Count of Sault, Sir, I give to the repentancewhich you manifest, and to the prayer of these Gentlemen, that which you desire of me, And at the same time M. the Count of Sault shall desire to embrace him, which being done, when he with draws from the Assembly, he shall leave behind him those of his Guards and Domestics, which he is to submit, and then he that's Precedent of the Assembly, shall command the Guard to present themselves without Arms, and to fall on their knees before the Sieur de Boissat, and say to him, Sir, This Company has condemned t●ese of the Guard that have strucken you to as long imprisonment as you shall think fit. And after that the Sieur de Boissat has Declared his pleasure, the Precedent shall send them away, and cause the servants to be brought in; who falling on their knees the Sieur de Boissat shall take a cudgel from the hand of the Precedent and use it, as he shall think fit.  
The same day the Sieur de Vaucluse, in the company of three or four Gentlemen of the Assembly, shall go to the Sieur de Boissat at his own house and say to him, Sir, I come hither to beg your pardon in the presence of these Gentlemen, and to offer you all the submissions that a Gentleman can do, for your satisfaction. Mine shall be perfect, if you believe me your servant, as I beseech you to do. To which the Sieur de Boissat shall answer, Sir, I have promised to M. the Count of Sault, & the Nobility to forget all that is passed in this business.  
And after this the Gentlemen that are present shall make them embrace.  
The judgement of the Nobility contained in this writing was punctually observed, saving that M. de Boissat made not use of the judgement which they gave him against the Guard, nor of the cudgel towards the servants, out of the respect he was pleased to show to the Assembly, and out of his own generosity. At Grenoble, the 15th of February 1638. Monsieur the Marquis of Bressieux, nominated by by the Company Precedent for the time, signed thus in the Original,  


BRESSIEUX-MONTEILHER.  
MEYPIEU, LA MARCOUSSE, LA CHARFE, BOISSIEU  
DE SALVAIN, L'ESTANG, CHAT, EIDOCHE,  
S. JULLIEN, PARIS, MONTFERRIER, LES ADRESTS,  
LA dirty, MONTFALCON, BOVIERES, MARCIEU,  
LORAS, CHAMANIEU, MOYRANS', DEAGEANT DE  
VIRE, alias DEAGEANT DE BANNETTES, ROLLIGNY,  
LA PIERRE, MONTENARD, MIRIBEL, DE ROCHEBLAVE,  
RALHANETTES, DE LA BLACHE, DE CALIGNON,  
ASPREMONT, DE LANGES, BONREPOS, H. FERRAND,  
DE REPELLIN JANSAC, SERVIERE, S. ANDRE,  
S. ANDRE deport, VALLAMBERT, LANGON,  
ASPRES ROMME DU PONT DES OLERES,  
CHAMBRIER, DELISLE, LA PENE DE CHARYAYS,  
DE RUYNAC, C. ROMME, SOUGIER, DE LIONNE,  
BOFFIN, ARMAND, DE VILLARS DE VILLIERS  
DE BENANIN, DU THOU, CLAVESON, DE MOTET,  
DE MONIERES, DE LOVAT, GRESSE, DE LA MORTE:  
BARDONANCHE DE REVOL. A Copy compared with the Original, Signed, DU FOUR DE LA REPARA Secretary to the Nobility.    
The other Gentlemen, to the number of above sixty, being returned home, some one, some two days after the Assembly, according to their affairs, it could not in so short a time be Signed by a greater number than those sixty four, or sixty five, which are there under written.  
An Answer to the Letter written by Mounsieur du Boissat, to the Gentlemen of the Academy.  
SIR,  
I was commanded by the Gentlemen of the Academy, to write this Letter to you, to thank you in their name for that which M. the Serizay gave them from you; and for the Copy of the act, which came along with it. They therein learned with contentment how your interests have been dear to the Nobility of Dauphinê, and with what care they procured you the satisfaction you have received; All the Company found your complaints just, and your resentment lawful. But if the evil were great, it must be confessed also, that the remedy which was brought thereto, is extraordinary; and they think you could not have refused it, without doing wrong to yourself, and offending those who provided it for you with so much wisdom, and judgement. They believe then that you had reason to yield to the advice and prudence of those Gentlemen, and that you could not have more sure, nor more illustrious Cautions of the reparation of your honour, then so many persons to whom it is more precious than their own lives, who perfectly understand the Laws of it, and are, to use your own terms the most able to make new ones, as they have manifested upon this occasion. In a word, Sir, they think a Gentleman cannot be treated more gloriously than you have been by all those of your profession, Who in this Agreement, appeared no less your Protectors then your Judges; and they do promise themselves a particular advantage by it, namely, to see you here very shortly, where they will themselves testify to you, how much they praise God that this affair is so happily ended; but in the interim whilst they expect you, they thought fit to give you this testimony, which you desired, of their judgement, and affection, by the pen  
Sir, Your most humble and most affectionate servant, CONRART.  
This is all, if I be not decieved, that has been written hitherto to the French Academy, or done in its honour. But as I was in this part of my Relation, there happened one thing, which deserves to be added, and will show you in what esteem this Company is at this day in foreign Countries. The Intronatis of Sienna vaunt that a learned man, by name Thomas, of the City of Bergve in Norway, sent by his Prince to search out the greatest rarities of Italy; came on purpose into their City, with Letters of Recommendations from the famous Vicenzo Pinells of Milan, to see their Company, and to have a Copy of their Statutes. The French Academy received some few days since an honour that may be accounted far greater. The Baron Spar, a great Lord of Swedland, signified to them by Monsieur Tristan, that he desired to salute them, and being brought in, he made his Compliment to them, (as I find it in the Registers,) in terms not only pure, 
Reg. May 15. 1652.  and very good French; but also very elegant. He assured them, both of the extreme desire that he had to see their Assembly, as one of the most remarkable things in Paris, and the Kingdom; and of the particular esteem which the Queen his Mistress had of their Body, concerning whom she never failed to ask what news of all those that return from France into Swedland. The Director answered for them all, as the Civility of this Baron deserved, and the rare qualities of that most Noble Princess, whom we may justly Style the Ornament of our age, and the principal glory of learning. The Ba●on, whom they made to sit at the left hand of the Director, in the Secretary's place then absent, was present also at the reading an Ode of Horace translated by Monsieur Tristan. After which he withdrew, and was reconducted by the Officers, together with the other Academiciens, to the gate, where were M. de Racan and the Boisrobert to receive him with Monsieur Tristan.   

THE FIFTH PART. OF the Academiciens in Particular.  
I am come at length to the last part of my work, which re pects the Academiciens in particular. In it, I will observe this Order. First, I will tell you when and upon what occasion each Academicien was received into the Company, since its first Establishment: then I'll speak of those that are already dead: and lastly I will add something of those that are living.  
I call them Academiciens, because they themselves chose this name in the Assembly of the 12th. of Feb. 1635; 
Reg. Feb. 12. 1635.  that of Academists, which was also propounded having been rejected because of other Significations which it ordinarily has.  
I told you in the beginning, that those which gave birth to the Academy by their private and familiar meetings, were M. Godeau, now Bishop of Grasse M. de Gombauld, M. Giry, M. Chapelain, Messeiurs Habert, M. Conrart, M. de Serisay & M. de Maleville. To these were joined M. Faret, M. Desmarests, & M. de Bo●srobert. After that the Cardinal would make a Body of them, there were added many persons at several times, as M. de Bautru, M. S●lhon, M. de Sirmond, Monsieur the Abbot de Bourzey, M. de Meziriac, M. Maynard, M. Colletet, M. de Gomberville, M. de S. Amant, M. de Colomby, M. Baudoin, M. the l'Esto●le, and M. de Porcheres d'Arband, saving that the absence of some of these Gentlemen hindered them from receiving this honour. Then began they to make orderly meetings, and to keep a Register, which shows at what time each of the other Academiciens were admitted.  
The first was Monsieur Servien, 
M. Servien Reg. Mrrch 13. 1634.  than Secretary of Estate, afterwards Plen●potentiarie and Ambassador for the peace at Munster, and Minister of Estate of whom 'tis said thus in the Register of March the 13. 1634. The Academy thinking itself honoured with the entreaty of M. Servien, Secretary of Estate, to be admitted into it, ordered that he should be thanked for it, and assured that he should be admitted when ever he pleases. He comes thither afterwards on the tenth of April, 
Reg. April 10. 1634.  excuses himself for not having been present sooner, by reason of some important affairs in which he was employed, makes his compliment to the Academy, and receives an answer from the mouth of the Director; But I pass over in two words all these things, that I may not be excessive long.  

M. de Bardin Reg. March 13. 634.  The same day, March 13. 1634. in which M. Servien was propounded, M. de Bo●srobert shown a Letter which he wrote of his own head to M. de Balzac. Wherein he advertised him of the Cardinal's design for the establishment of the Academy, adding, That if he desired to be admitted into it, he might signify so much to the Company by his Letters, and that he doubted not but they would willingly grant it to him, in consideration of his worth. This was done to execute a resolution which was lately made, not to admit any one that did not desire it, which is still observed. What followed, appears not in the Registers, but infallibly M. de Balzac upon his answer was received soon after into the Academy, and I find that in the year 1636. he read there some part of his Prince; which he then called, the Minister of Estate.  

M. Bardin. Reg. March 27. Apr●l 3. 1634.  Monsieur Bardin, who was of the number of those, which they cast their eyes upon at first, was received next; after that he had excused himself of some coldness which he was said to have shown in the business, and assured the Company of the displeasure he took at that false report which had been raised of him.  
Those which were admitted; next after him, 
M. de Vagelas, Vo ture, Porcheres Laugier. Reg. Nou. 6. 27. & Dec. 4. 1634. Reg. Ybid. Reg. Jau. 12. 1635.  are M. de Boissat M. de Vagel is M. de Vo●ture & M. de Porcheres Laugier. But at the reception of this last, who was propounded by M. de Malleville, there were two orders made, which I must not omit. The first, that for the future they should give their votes at Elections, by balls and not by word of mouth, as they had done hitherto. The second that they should not admit any Academicien, that had not been presented to the cardinal, and received his approbation. I have been told since, that he did not love M. de Porcheces Laugier, looking upon him as a man that had been intimate with his greatest enemies, that therefore he was very much troubled at this election: that they offered him to revoke it, & that he had so much moderation as to be satisfied with an order for the future. This rule has been observed hitherto, both for him, and for the Chancellor, since he was Protector, upon the propounding of it by Monsieur de la Chambre. Nou. 27. 1646. It was, 
Reg. Nou. 27, 1646.  if I be not deceived to appease the Cardinal that M. the Porcheres Laugier made such haste to make his speech before his own turn came, in the place of M. the Serizay, and took for the subject of his discourse the praises of the Academy and its Protector, as you saw before.  

M. de Montmor & M. de la Chambre. Reg. Jan. 2. 1635.  Monsieur Habert de Montmor, Master of Requests, and M. de la Chambre were received a little whi●e after, and both at once. And I find that January 2. 1635. M. de la Chambre came thither first, and that M. de Cor●sy speaking for his Cousin M. de Montmor, gave thanks to the Company for the favour they di● him the last Sitting, and assured them he would come and his place there as soon as he returned from a voyage he was to make to S. .  
'Twas on the same day, Jan. 2. 1635. that they propounded the making of the Discourses, and that to this purpose they drew a Catalogue of the Academiciens, whi●h I told you of before. They would be ranked in it by lot without having any regard to the difference of their qualities. And for my part, I assure you also, that when I happen to name many of them together in this relation, I place them likewise by lot, that is, according as their names come into my mind by chance, so that from thence you must not make any consequence.  
This Catalogue which was of thirty six persons being shown to the Lord Keeper of the Seals now Chancellor of France, 
M. the Chancellor. Reg Jan. 8. 1635.  he sent word to the Company by M. the Cerisy, that he desired to be comprised in it. 'Twas ordered that his name should be written in the front, as I told you elsewhere. And that M. de Montmor, du Chastelet, and the three Officers should go and give him most humble thanks for the honour he did the whole Company▪ In this occasion, M. de Serisay, who was the Director, was speaker, and they say, discharged it wonderful well. His speech was read eight days after in the Assembly. 'Twas said he gave a Copy of it, to be kept amongst the works of the Academy, but whatever were the cau●e of it, neither this peech, nor many others which he made upon several occasions, during that long time he was Director, wherein he satisfied a●l men to the utmost, are to be sound nor saw I so much as one of them amongst the papers that were communicated to me.  
They received next, 
M. The Abbot de Chambon. Reg. Feb. 26. 1635. M. Granier Reg. Sept. 3. 1635.  Monsieur the Abbot de Chambon, Brother to M. du Chastelet: and six months after or thereabouts, M. Granier. He was elected by balls, which were all for him, except three. The event shown that the three which would have excluded him were not to blame; for I find in the Registers that on the 14th. of May following, upon the Proposition that was made thereof by the Director, in the name of the Cardinal, he was depo●ed for some ill action by a Common consent, and without hope to be restored. It would have in it perhaps somewhat of inhumanity to dwell any longer upon this matter, he being still alive, and as they say, wholly given to devotion, although the book entitled, The Estate of France in the year 1652, has put him amongst the Academiciens that are dead. It shall suffice me to tell you, not to return to him again, that he was an Ecclesiastical person; a Native, as I am to d of the County of Bresse, a man of a handsome aspect, good wit & pleasant conversati n together with much knowledge & good Learning. That he might settle Paris, he associated himself with a stationer, named Chapelain, and afterwards with another named Boûillerot: and having been curious of good Manuscripts, he set forth some of them that were very rare; To him we own The memoirs of Queen Margaret, and those of Monsieur de Villeroy, the Letters of Cardinal d'Ossat, and of Monsieur de Foix. He caused these Books to be printed, and corrected, with the greatest care that was possible, made many presents of them, was very neat in his house, very civil and officious towards ingenious and learned persons, who for this reason were very willingly at his house, where he had as 'twere a kind of Academy. All these things brought him into repute, and made him known, first to the Chancellor, who gave him a pension & afterwards to the Cardinal, who was plea●ed that M. de Boisrobert should propound him to be of the Academy.  

M. Giry. Reg. Jan. 14. 1636.  The first that was received after him was Monsieur Giry. For though he were of those Assemblies of friends at M. Conrarts, he had retired himself, and was not called when they began to make a body of the Academy. I find in the Registers that he was propounded then by M. de Bo●srobert in the name of the Cardinal, who judged him worthy to be of it, upon the reading of his Translation of Tertullia's Apologetic. The number of forty was not not yet full. In the interim, Monsient Bardin and Monsieur Chastelet died almost at the same time, and left two new places void.  
They repaired this double loss by receiving M. Bourbon, and M. d'Ablancourt. 
M. Bourbon & M. d'Ablancourt. Reg. Sept. 23. 1637. Reg. March 25. 1638. M. Esprit & M. de la Mothe le Vayer. Reg. Feb. 14. 1639. M. de Priezac. M. Patru. Reg. Sept. 3. 1640. M. de Besons. Reg. Jan. 26. 1643.  There died besides, about the same time two other Academiciens, M. Habert Commissarie of the wars and M. de Meziriac.  
They received then and on the same day Monsieur Esprit and M. de la Mothe le Vayer; Fortune placed them as I name them. And at last to fill up the sole place that remainder of the number of forty, they propounded, in the same Assembly, M. de Priezac Counsellor of Estate, who was admitted eight days after.  
Those which have been received since, are M. Patru in the place of M. the Porcheres d Arbaud.  
Mousieur de Besons, then chief Advocate General in the Grand Counsel, now Counsellor of Estate in Ordinary, in the place of the Chancellor, when he was made Protector after the Cardinal's death.  

M. de Solomon. Reg. Aug. 12 1644.  Monsieur de Solomon, then also advocate General in the Grand counsel, in the place of M. Bourbon. He was preferred before M. Corneille who had desired the same place. The Protector ●ent the Academy word, that he eft them their Liberty of choi●e; and you'll judge by the sequel that they determined thus, because M. Corneille making his abode at Province, could scarce ever be present at Assemblies, and discharge the function of an Academicien.  

M. du Ryer Reg. Nou. 21. 1646.  I say you'll judge by the sequel, for since, M. Faret being dead they propounded on the one side the same M. Corneille and on the other M. du Ryer, and the last was preferred. Now the Register in this place mentions a resolution the Academy had taken; Of two persons, where both of them are sufficiently qualified, always to prefer him that makes his residence at Paris.  

M. Corneille.  M. Corneille was nevertheless received at last, in the place of M. Maynard for that he sent word to the Academy that he had so Ordered his affairs, that he might spend one part of the year at Paris. M. the Balesdens was propounded also: and as he had the honour to belong to the Chancellor, the Academy had this respect for their Protector, to send five Academiciens to him, to know whether these two proposals were equally acceptable to him. The Chancellor answered that he would leave the Company to their absolute Liberty. But when they began to deliberate about this business; M. the Abbot of Cerisy, presented them a Letter of M. Balesdens' full of very many, civilities to them & to M. Corneille whom he desired the Company would be pleased to prefer before him protesting that he gave him this honour as being his due in all respects. 
M. Balesdens  The Letter was read and commended by the Assembly & afterwards he was received in the first vacant place, which was that of M. de Malleville, but I find not on what day: or from that time the long & frequent indispositions of the Secretary to the Academy, have left a great 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. Baudo●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. 'Twas 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 Marquis 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 Marquis of Coaslin, his grandchild, thinking he could not better cultivate the inclination, & the great hopes which this young Lord gave for all excellencies befitting him. Yet he sent word to the Company with a great deal of civility, that he desired it as a favour, and that he did not intent 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 days after by balls, which were all for him: and 'twas 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 extreme 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 'twas 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 Solomon, Corneille, Balesdens, de Mezeray, de Montereul, Tristan, Scudery, Doujat, Charpentier, the Abbot Taleman, and the Marquis of Coastin. But of this great number of Academiciens, not to speak of the Chancellor who of an Academicien, is become Protector of the Company, whose Eulogies shall be seen in Histories more important, and more famous than this; seventeen are dead: concerning each of whom I think it not amiss 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 extreme 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 than the matter which he treats of. But I will not forget that I writ more for others, then for myself, 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 than 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.  
Ha●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.  
Monte●eul.  
De l'Estoile.    

MONSIEUR BARDIN.  
When 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 Elegy succinct and without affectation of praises, which should be as 'twere an abridgement of his life. Some days after 'twas added that there should be a●●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 Elegy, 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 'twas judiciously established it would have been no hard matter for me to speak of the Academiciens that are dead. Those Eulogies would have either made my labour needless, or have furnished me with excellent good memoirs. But 'tis 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 ELEGY OF M. BARDIN  
THE French Academy thought of nothing but composing Songs of triumph, for his Majesty's victories, when it was forced to go into mourning and bewail the loss 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 than his Masters judged, he would prove a man more than ordinary: But as the fruits of the Autumn do many times surpass 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 less 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 Mathematics, with so good success as kindled jealousy in the most able. The love of sovereign Truth casting him upon the study of Divinity, he stopped not but at the clear and wholesome springs, f●om whence he drew those beams which did enlighten and yet not dazzle him. After he had collected much treasure from Authors both sacred and profane; 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. Envy itself spoke not a syllable against him, or if it did, it was in secret. This encouraged 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 ware. He was in travel of the third, when an unexpected accident snatched 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 dwelled 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 passionately; for seeing him in danger to be drowned, be run 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 always 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 Virtue, that it was not offensive to any one. Although his estate were less than he deserved, yet he thought it high enough, and to make it better, would not stoop to any of those servile diligences which custom has rendered almost honourable. Eight days before his death, he spoke 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 Centre. His stature was moderate, the colour of his hair and visage shown a just temperament of that melancholy, which Philosophers call wise and ingenious. The Academy did solemnly perform their devoirs to him, which Piety obliged them to, and 'twas 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 public 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 than those which represented to them his Virtue.   

The Epitaph on Monsieur BARDIN.  
STAY Passenger, and weep. Who e'er thou art, thou hast lost a friend, if thou be'st one to knowledge and to virtue. 'Tis PETER BARDIN, worthy of all other honour but that of a grave; Nevertheless comfort thyself, 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 died, and he for whom he was afraid, died not. The danger was innocent, and the fear was mortal. This accident surprises thee, it did not surprise him. He was always ready and his sudden death did only shorten his griefs and hasten his felicity. But I am injurious in staying you, to teach you his praises: pass on, go whither 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 liquid element luy declara la guerre  
Et de ses plus beaux jours éteignit le flambean,  
Mais son esprit exempt des outrages de l'onde,  
SH' 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 Tomb,  
A too too sudden death snatched him away.  
The liquid Element his Foe become,  
And quenched, alas! the torch of his bright day,  
But his brave soul free from the outrages  
O'th' waves, is fled unto them Court of bliss.  
'Twas 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 Elegy and these Epitaphs. Those that knew this Gentleman, say he was really such as you see him there described, and do give very honourable Testimony of his virtue. His writings sufficiently manifest all the rest, and the beauty of his mind 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 been told of some other works of his, which I have not seen, nor are they mentioned in the Elegy. They are, The great Chamberlain of France, dedicated to the Duke de Cheureuse, 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 entitle 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 years ago from that of the Earls of Carlisle, one of the most illustrious families of Scotland. He was at first advocate General to the Parliament of Rennes, and afterwards Counsellor of Estate in ordinary. He had likewise very honourable employment, at the Commission to establish the Parliament at Pau; and in the year 1635. the Intendance of justice in the King's Army, where the late King, Louis 13. the Court of Soissons, and the Cardinal de Richelieu, were in person. He was nominated to be one of the Commissioners in the trial of the Marshal de Marillae; but the Marshal excepted against him, as his Capital Enemy, and one that had made a Latin satire in rhyming prose as well against him, as against his Brother the Lord Keeper of the Seals. It has been reported of him since, that he denied before the King, and that with an Oath, that he was the Author of that piece that yet afterwards when the same exception was made against him another time, he owned what he had formerly denied. Whereupon the King in choler caused him to be Clapped up. As for his own part, in the Observations which he had made upon the trial of Marillac, he only protests, that he never made any Oath before the King, without saying any thing more of that business. But I know very well what he has said of it to his most familiar friends, and I have had very private memoirs concerning it, which in a word may be reduced to this; that being desirous to withdraw himself out of the number of the judges, he himself caused that Petition of the Marshals excepting against him to be suggested, and that his artifice being discovered, by some potent persons that were his Enemies, raised the King's displeasure. Most certain it is, that after the last petition of exception, which was presented against him at Ruel, where the trial was, he was committed by the King who was then at S. , and carried the same day to Villepreux: and that during his imprisonment, to make his peace at Court, he wrote those Obervations I spoke of, which got him his Liberty. Afterwards he collected divers pieces of several Authors in defence of the King and his Officers, and printed them with this title. A Collection of pieces useful for a History, and put before it that long Preface, which is as 'twere an Apology for the Cardinal de Richelieu. He was a man of a good aspect, of a hot Spirit, and very resolute; he spoke and writ very well, and did infinitely love the exercises of the Academy. And 'tis said they were not unprofitable to him, and that there appears a vast difference between those pieces he wrote before, and those he wrote after the establishment of this Body. 'Twas he that read, there, the first discourse of the twenty, which I formerly mentioned: I say, that read there; for through having gone through many Offices, and in particular that of advocate General, he was always accustomed to speak in public, he protested that never any Assembly appeared more awful to him then this, and therefore he made use of the Liberty which the Statute gives to all the Academiciens, to read their Orations, if they please, instead of speaking them, I have heard some say which are said to be his, that me thinks deserve to be related. When Monsieur de Bouteville's trial was, he made a Factum for him, which was as eloquent as bold, and the Cardinal having objected to him, that it was to condemn the justice of the King, Pardon me, said he to him, it is to justify his mercy, if he be so good as to make use of it towards one of the valiantest men in his Kingdom. One day, as he accompanied Monsieur de Saint Preüil, who solicited the Duke of Montmorency's pardon, and expressed much zeal for it, the King said to him, I believe that Monsieur du Chastelet would have lost an arm to save M. de Montmorency. I would Sir, have lost them both; answered he, (for they are unable to do you service,) and have saved one, that hath won you battails, and might yet win you more. At his coming out of prison, the Cardinal making some excuse for his confinement, I make a great difference, answered he, between the evil your Eminence does, and that which it permits; and shall be never the less obliged to serve you. And a little while after being carried to the King's Chapel, who did not look upon him, nay it seems did on purpose turn his head another way, as if out of a kind of shame, to see a man whom he had lately treated in that manner; He stepped to Monsieur de S. Simon, and said to him, I beseech you, Sir, tell the King I forgive him with all my heart, and do desire he would do me the honour to look on me. Monsieur de S. Simon told the King, who laughed at it, and afterwards was very kind to him. He died being forty three years and five months old, April 6. 1636. of a quartan ague, and as I have heard some say, through the Physician's fault, and for having been too much blooded. He left works both in Verse and Prose. That which I have seen in Verse, is the Advice to the absent, against those that were then at brussels with the Queen Mother, Mary de Medicis, and Monsieur, the King's only Brother; A pretty long Satire, Against the Court-life, which gins, Sous un calme trompeur, etc. which has been falsely attributed to Theophile; Another cruel and bloody Satire, against a Magistrate, under the name of ***. His works in Prose are Prose rimée, or Prose in rhyme, in Latin, against the Marillacs. Observations on the trial of the Marshal de Marillac: The preface to The Collection of pieces, useful to a History. His Style especially in this preface is magnific and stately, perhaps even to excess. He had begun another piece in answer to the Abbot of S. German, as I said elsewhere; but he died before he had finished it, and what he did, was never seen,   

MONSIEUR HABERT.  
PHILIP HABERT was of a very ancient family in Paris, of which there are at this day some in the greatest offices belonging to the Robe, and it hath had very honourable alliances. Of five Brothers that were of them, this was the second, and the Abbot of Cerisy the third. In his Childhood he gave tokens of very much Genius for Learning but after he had finished his studies the employments into which he entered, insensibly engaged him in the profession of arms. The last, in which he died, was that of Commissary of the Artillery, which had been given him by Monsieur de Mesteraie of whom he was extraordinarily beloved. He was present at the most remarkable transactions of those times, at the battle of Avein, at the passage of Bray, at the sieges of la Motte, Nancy, and Landrecy. But in the year 1637. some troops of the French Army having received order to besiege the Castle of Emery, betwixt Monts and Valenciennes, as he was amongst the ammunition of war, which he had the conduit of, a Soldiers march falling into a great barrel of powder, b●ew up a wall, under whose ruins he was or'ewhelmed. He was not then above two and thirty pears 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 been assured, he was like to have died 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 only very amiable, but also worthy of a most particular esteem. The only 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 always with the like happiness, or that he had not leisure to correct, and polish them, as he did the others, which he changed and rechanged for the space of three years, to bring them to that perfection in which we see them. He made also a Relation in prose of the passages in Italy under the Marquis d'Uxelles, General of the army which King Lewis the 13. sent to the succour of the Duke of Mantua. The Academy caused an Elegy 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 Mythology, in Algebra, in the Mathematics, 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 retired 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 imagine. 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 satisfy a reasonable ambition, as his was. As for his estate, it was at the first worth five or six thousand livres rend, 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 avoided all public offices and employments, which others sought after with so much care. Whilst he was yet at Paris, they talked of making him Tutor to the late King Lewis 13. this was the reason that he made such ha●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 cho●e rather to take a wife without any Portion, but one of a good family, handsome, and of very sweet conditions, and perfectly agreeing with his own. He never repent 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 only inconvenience was, that he had now and then some light touches of the gout. But the principal part of his happiness consisted in his disposition, for 'twas naturally facile, discreet, and moderate; always merry, and displeased with nothing. There was not any Science, which he had not applied 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 domestics, 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 skilful even to the best niceties; dancing amongst a Company of Ladies, and that with so much Liberty that he would often have his Table-book carried after him, to write when he had a mind to it, without leaving the Room where the Company was. With his free and familiar humour, 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. Nevertheless 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 confer with them about it. And sometimes he would allot them parts in plays. And to this purpose I remember I have often heard a friend of ours relate at large, how he caused The shepearddesses, a Pastoral of Monsieur de Racan's who was his intimate friend, to be acted by persons of quality, that he himself picked 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 contrived & ordered with an extreme deal of care; And when a certain fiery dragon began to appear, one of the actors fell into a swoon, 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 admired 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 'ttwere possessed 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, Aesop's, and Montdories, and weeping himself first, made the whole assembly weep. This than was the life of this Academicien, which was not long: for he was scarce five and forty years old when he died. 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 Lat●n Poems.  
Many Poems in French. They are in the Collection of 1621. which is called The delights of the French Poesy, and in that of the year 1627.  
One Volume which contains part of Ovid's Epistles, translated into French Verse, with very learned Commentaries. There is one of them which he says was translated twenty years 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 wondered how he was able to do it, and that he should never have finished it, had it not been for that Melancholy and obstinate humour, which was brought upon him by a quartan ague he then had.  
A Book of Arithmetical 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 Mathematical Recreations.  
A treatise of Affection, translated out of Cacciaguerras 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 finished, when he died, and 'tis hoped we shall one day see it published. He citys often in his work. A Commentary on Apollodorus which appears not, and very likely 'tis also amongst his papers.  
Of all the things he was skilled in, there was nothing he knew more throughly and absolutely, than the Fabulous History, 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 the 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 Governor 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 Cardinal de Richelieu. He retired himself into Bourgogne, where he married and died. 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 Physician and grand nephew of another Nicolas Bourbon, a Latin Poet in the days of our Fathers, whose Elegy is to be seen in Paulus Jovius, and Sanmarthanus; and who, being a smith's Son, among his other works made a description of a Smith's forge, in a Book which he calls Nugae, and, by the way, 'tis this Book, on which du Bellay made this merry Epigram.  
Paul 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 public employment was to teach Rhetoric in the College des Grassins', and afterwards in that de Calvy, and then in that de Harcour. But as he withdrew himself 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 King's 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 sickliness and particularly of an almost perpetual want of sleep, which he was troubled with, he retired himself to the Company of the Fathers of the Oratory, 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, only he went alone with a secular servant. Whilst he belonged to one of the Colleges, he was imprisoned, for having made a Latin Satire, entitled Indignatio Valeriana, against an Arrest of Parliament, which had suppressed 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 Academy, and was constantly there; although he made as 'twere another Academy at his own house, through the concourse of several persons of all sorts, which his Learning and worth drew thither. The Cardinal de Richelieu gave him a pension, and towards the end of his days the last Bishop of Beauvais, of the House of Potier, who had been his Scholar, and was an Attendant of the Queen Regent's, Anne of Austria, settled another pension on him. But he enjoyed it not long, for he died very shortly after. I have heard him accused 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 seemed 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 sustained. He was in his youth a great friend of Regnier. He is commended for an excellent memory, and 'tis said among other things, that he could say almost by heart all Thuanus his History, and all the Eulogies of Paulus Jovius. He was very courteous, a great approver of other men's 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 imagined had been 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 near Bourdeaux M. de Balzac answered him in another Letter in French, addressed to the same M. Guyet, and printed in one of his Volumes: There 'tis that he makes this pretty allusion upon the quality of his adversatie, who was accounted one of the Fathers of the Oratory, and the great Poet.  
Heu vatem insanae mentis! quid vota furentem,  
Quid delubra juvant?  
Monsieur Chapelain reconciles them, upon which there are Latin Verses both of the one and others making. He died 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 Eulogies made on him, which you make see. He was esteemed by the public, the best Latin Poet of his time: and his Prose, though it has made less noise, deserves perhaps no less praise than his Verse.   

MONSIEUR FARET.  
NICOLAS FARET was of Bresse, of a family little known. He came to Paris very young with Letters of recommendation from M. de Merziriac to several ingenious persons; amongst others, to Monsieur de Vangelas, and de Boisrobert. He applied himself to these two, and to Monsieur Coeffetean, to whom he dedicates his translation of Eutropius. He continued are Paris a long time without getting any employment. At length, Monsieur de Boisrobert and some others of his friends preferred him to be Secretary to the Count of Harcour. 'Twas a place in appearance little advantageous; for this Prince had not as yet an allowance answerable to his birth, and the whole House of Lorraine 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 persuaded him that the Cardinal, to divide the the House of Lorraine, which was an enemy 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 Cardinal embraced this counsel, took into his alliance the Count of Harcour, and afterwards bestowed on him great employments. Faret who had always lived with him with very much familiarity, and more like a friend then a domestic, shared in this prosperity. He married twice very richly, especially the last time. They say, he died very well to pass, 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 ruin his own estate. He died 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 gross, of a Chestnut coloured hair, and high coloured visage. He was a great friend of Mol●ere's, the Author of Polyxena, and of Monsieur de S. Am●nt, who has commended him in his ver●es, as a brave goodfellow. However he was nothing near so much, as a man would guess from thence, although he did nor hate good cheer and mirth; and he ●aies himself somewhere in his works, that the fitness of his name to time with Cabaset [which signifies a tippling-house] was partly the cause of this report, which M. de S. Amant had rai●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 Sty●e and a good genius for Language and eloquence. His principal work is The honest man, which he made about the year 1633. It has been translated into Spanish. This book deserves to have its Author esteemed, for that being judiciously assisted by the writings of such as wert before him & particularly the Count Balihasar Cast●glio; he has collected in a little room, and explained in very elegant terms, a great deal 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 several Authors, amongst which there are many of his own.  
He made but few verses, neither am I certain that he has any more than an Ode to Cardinal 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 Piedmont 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 Grandfather 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 Parliament of Tolose, a great Lawyer. His is commended for continuing faithful in the King's service; in a time when civil wars had divided all the Sovereign 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 joyeuse. 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 contained 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 success you are not ignorant, which was very well received of the public, even in the Author's life time, and translated, as I hear, into divers languages.  
Gerard had John his eldest Son, who was also Counsellor in the Parliament of Tolose, but did not long exercise this charge, dying being very young; and Francis Maynard, of whom we speak, who for his wit and verses is become more famous than any of his Ancestors. He was Precedent in the presidial 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 entitled Philander, after the manner of that of Monsieur d'Urfé's, and The transformation of the Shepherdess Iris of Destingendes. In the year 1634, he went to Rome, where he was in the attendance of Monsieur de Noailles Ambassador for the King. There he was intimately acquainted with and beloved of Cardinal 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 Copy of his Latin Poems. Nor was he less known and esteemed in France by the greatest: but his fortune was not any thing bettered by them, as the continual 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 Academy. But the Cardinal de Richelieu never did any thing for him, and 'twas partly, as I have heard by some, because he loved not to be asked for any thing, but that they should leave him the glory, of giving of his own accord. And therefore it was that he rejected that handsome Epigram of his, which gins with, Armand, l'aage affoiblit mes yeux, and that too, as is said, in a great rage, contrary to his custom. For having heard the conclusion of it, which says, 
Mais s'il demande en quel employ;  
Yew n● ' as tenu dedans le monde,  
Et quel bieu j'ay receu de toy;  
Queen veux-tu que je luy reponde?   
That is, 
But if he ask what use of me  
You made whilst here on earth I stayed,  
Or what good from you I have had,  
What will you have my answer be?  He answered in choler, Nothing. This was the cau●e of though e verses which Maynard made against him after his death. He made yet another voyage to the Court in the Regency of Queen Anne of Austria, and there 'twas that I ●aw and came acquainted with him. But succeeding then no better than formerly, he returned to his house, where he died at the age of 64 years, Dec. 28. 1646. Some time before, he set up this Inscription over his Study, which expressed his disgust of the Court, and of his Age.  
Las d'esperer, et de me plaindre,  
Des Muses des Grands, & du Sort.  
C'est icy que i'attends la mort  
Sans la desirer ni la craindre.  
That is, 
With hoping and complaining tired  
'Gainst th' Muses, Grandees, and my Fate,  
'Tis here that I will death await,  
Which is nor feared, nor desired.  He left amongst other children one Son named Charles whom he often mentions in his ver●es and of him I received some notes concerning his life, written very neatly & in handsome terms. He lost another son which was his eldest, and of whom he had great hopes. As for himself, he was a man of a good aspect, such almost as you see him in his picture before his Poems. To this purpose, Monsieur de Balzac said of him.  Consul Fabricio dignusque numismate vultus. 
His stature was none of the tallest, and towards the end of his life he grew somewhat corpulent. He was of a pleasant humour in his Conversation, and extraordinarily delighted with mirth and good cheer: nevertheless he was a person of honour, and a true friend. Besides that French Poem which I mentioned, and some Latin ones not printed, there are two volumes of his, one of verses, which he set forth at his last going to the Court: the other of Letters, which an intimate friend of his published after his death; and in my opinion, he never made them to have them printed. However we may say, they have done him no discredit; for there appears almost throughout, the purity of his wit, and that plain and familiar style which is proper to this kind of writing. But 'tis from his verses he hath gotten his greatest credit, as he himself also acknowledged: & truly it must needs be confessed, that they have that facility clearness, elegancy, and a certain roundness or smoothness which few can imitate. Two things, if I be not deceived, have been the principal cause hereof. First, as he himself confesses, in the 17th of his Epistles, he affects to have his Verses not tread upon the heels of one another; whence 'tis that you shall see very often 5 or 6 of them, every one having its perfect and complete sense in itself.  
Nos beaux soleils vont achever leur tour.  
Liurons not coeurs à la mercy d'Amour.  
Le temps qui fuit, Cloris, nous be conseille.  
Mes cheveux gris me fout déja fremir.  
Dessous la tombe il faut toujours dormir.  
Elle est un liet où jamais on me veille.  
In the second place he observes every where in his expressions a simple, natural construction, in which there is no transposition nor violence; so that, although he took incredible pains about it, one would think that all his words came into his mind by chance while he was writing, and that he could hardly have placed them otherwise; though he would. I remember to this purpose, that one day when I went to see him. I found him hearing some verses of his Son's, who read them to him. He came to a place where there was some word or other out of its natural place, which made the sense somewhat dubious for it might be referred both to that which followed, and to that which went before. But yet the sense of the place took away the difficulty, and the passage was clear enough. He bid him read it to him three times, making as if he could not understand it, and at last turning to his Son: Ah Son, said he, here you are not a right Maynard; for they do not use to place their words thus.  
I think it will not be amiss to relate also to this purpose three pretty passages, which speak somewhat of him, and of his Genius for verse, in the memoirs which Monsieur the Racan has written of the life of Malherbe.  
He had (saith M. the Racan speaking of Malherbe) for his Shollars Mounsieur Touvant, Colomby, Maynard, and de Racan; of whom he gave different judgements, and said in general terms, that Touvant made verses rarely well, without telling us wherein he excelled; That Colomby had an excellent wit, but that he had no Genius for Poetry; That Maynard made the best verses, but that he wanted strength; and that he gave himself to a kind of writing, which he was not fit for, meaning Epigrams; and that he never came cleanly off with them, because he had not sting enough. And for Racan, that he had strength, but did not take pains enough about his verses; that most commonly to save a good conceit, he took too much licence; and that these two last, put together would make one excellent Poet  
In another place: He strove earnestly (he speaks always of Malherbe) wi●h one Monsieur de Laleu to make Sonnets with a great deal of liberty, whereof two quatrains should not rhyme alike. Colomby would never make any of them, nor could he approve them. Racan made one or two of them, but he was the first that disliked them. At length also M. de Malherbe was weary of them, and there was only Maynard of all his Scholars that continued to make them as long as he lived.  
I'll add one word to this passage, that 'tis true that Maynard not only made of these kind of Sonnets to his death; but that also in his latter years, wherein I was acquainted with him, he was altogether for them, and cried out against the tyranny of those that opposed them. And that he would be very angry when some to defend his opinion alleged the example of M. Malherbe, saying, he wanted it not, being strong enough by reason and his own authority; and lastly, that no man could hinder him from making Epigrams of fourteen verses.  
The last passage of the three, is this:  
When M. de Malherbe came first to Court, which was in 1605. as we said before, he did not as yet observe the making a pause at the third verse in Stanza's of six, as may be seen in the prayer which he made for the King going to Limousin, where there are two or three Stanza's in which the sense is continued; and in the Psalm Domine Dominus noster, in this Stanza, and perhaps in some others, which I do not remember at present.  Si tossed que le besoin excite son desir, etc. 
He continued always in this negligence, during the life of Henry the Great, as you may see yet in that Piece which gins with Que n' estes-vouz lassées. And in the second Stanza whose first verse is, Que ne cessent mes larmes, etc. which he made for Madam the Princess, and I know not whether he continued not the same negligence even in 1612. in the Verses he made for the Place . Certain it is that Maynard was the first that took notice that this observation was necessary for the perfection of Stanza's of six, and this perhaps was the reason why Monsieur de Malnerbe accounted him the only man in I r●nce that knew best how to make verses. Racan who could play a little upon the Lute, and was a lo oer of music, grew soon into credit with the Musicians, who could not make their stops in Stanza's of six if there were not a rest at the third part: But when M. de Malnerbe and Maynard would have in S anz 's o●en, besides the stop at the fourth e s●, another at the seventh, Racan opp●● he●●, and scarce ever observed is. His reason was because Stanza's of ren●ce● scarce ever sung, and though they were, a man could not sing them in thre● breaths; and therefore it suffices to make ●e ●●●●e fourth. This was the 〈…〉 that happened betwixt M. d● Mal erbe, and his Scholars, and the re son wh●●hey were almost ready to dect● 〈◊〉 F●e● ick in Poetry.  
The judgement which Malherbe gave of Maynard in the first of the e passages is conformable enough to that o very many understanding men. Yet it must be confessed, that he has done wonderful well in many of his Epigrams, especially in tho●e which he has imitated, of the Ancients: and our illustrion Precedent de Caminade, who gave him every year a Martial for a new-years gift, was questionless of this opinion. Thephile, whose wit nevertheless I acknowledge is much more to be valued than his judgement, said that his Epigrams seemed to have a kind of Magic in them; but in a word, be it now it will, no man can doubt but that Maynard whether for this kind of writing or for others de erves to be counted amongst the prime Poets of France. The Judges of the Floral Games of Tolose, of whom the same Monsieur de Caminade was then P esident, admitted him into their Body, although he had not disputed for, and gained the three Flowers, according to the Custom. And as they had formerly given to Ronsard an Apollo, and to Baif a David of silver, they Ordered that there should be given to Maynard a 
† Claud. Binet in the Life of Ronsard says It was a Minerva: but two persons of quality of Tolose, that were Judges of the Floral Games, h ve assured me, that they fi●d in their Registers it was an Apollo  Minerva of the same matter; but to the shame of our age, the Capitouls, that are the sole executors of these determinations, either out of covetousness or neglect, never accomplished it, as may be seen by that Epigram in his works with this title, On a Minerva of silver promised, but not given.   

Mr. DE MALLEVILLE.  
CLAUDIUS' DE MALLEVILLE was a Parisien. His Father had been an Officer in the house of Retz, and his Mother was of a good family in Paris. He studied very hard at College, and had a very delicate wit. They sent him to be instructed in affairs to one of the King's secretaries, named Potiers, who was of the Finances, but he tarried not long there; through the inclination he had to Learning. He grew acquainted with M. Porcheres Laugier, who presented him to the Marshal de Bassompierre. He was a long time with this Lord in quality of Secretary, but had very little employment there; and being a man of great ambition, he was much troubled at it, and desired him to consent that he might leave him, to dwell with the Cardinal de Berule, who was then in favour. But finding no better success there, he returned to his first Master, to whom he did many services, in the time of his imprisonment, who having gotten his liberty and a re-establishment in his charge of Colonel of the Swisses, gave him the Secretary's place which is annexed thereto. This employment was worth a great deal to him, and in a little time he got twenty thousand Crowns by it. Part whereof he laid out in a Secretary's place to the King, which he sought after: upon which there are in his works some verses to Monsieur the Chancellor. He accompanied M. the Bassompierre, in his voyage to England; but not in that to Suisserland. He died at a little above fifty years of age. He was of a low stature, very slender, his hair was black and so were his eyes, which were somewhat weak. That which he was most esteemed for, was his wit, and the Genius he had for Poetry. There is a Volume of his Poems printed since his death, which have all of them wit, life, a rare exactness of the verse, much of delicacy and sweetness, and show a very rich vein; but methinks there are but few of them that are quite finished. In his youth he made some Epistles in prose, in imitation of Ovid's, but he has since disclaimed them. 'Twas never yet my fortune to meet with them.  
In the year 1641. he caused to be printed by Courbé, a Collection of Love-Letters, of several Authors not naming them. There are many of them his own, and, as they say, some of Desportes, and I observed among them some of Voiture's. He has made also Latin verses, some of which against Mamurra I have seen. 'Tis said, he was the Author of the Translation of Stratonice, the Italian Romance, but that he gave it to d'Audiguier, who was one of his best friends, and nephew to that other d'Audiguier, who be ●des o'th' r works writ The loves of Lysander and Cal●sta.   

MONSIEUR DE VOITURE.  
VINCENT VOITURE, born at Amiens, but bred at Paris and at the Court, wou d furnish me with many things to say of him, but that they may be had elsewhere. Most of the works which he has left, are such wherein the Author makes known himself whether he will or no; and paints forth, if I may so say, his own humour, and the circumstances of his life. That piece which was printed under the name of his Funeral Pomp, has also a good part of his ●ortune●. And lastly his Genius, and the Character of his wit is, as they say, most live●y and naturally express in the third Vo ●m o Cyrus in the person of Callicrates. Though his birth were not high, yet his worth made him live familiarly with persons of the highest qua ity. His Father was a Merchant of Wines by the great, and being a follower of the Court, was a man that loved good cheer, and was well acquainted with the Great ones. He had three Sons, his eldest which d●ed young. This, that was the second whom he never loved, and of whom he was wont to say that they had changed him at Nurse, becau e he drunk nothing but water, being o● a very weak complexion: And lastly, the youngest which he loved most tenderly, because he was a good companion tke himself. He died in the wars in the King of sweden service, having behaved himself very nobly. As the Court is the Theatre of Envy, the birth of Voiture was often objected to him, both in jest and in earnest. Thus they say one day at the Duke of Orleans', coming by chance into a room, where some Officers were drinking, one of them with the glass in his hand, said these verses to him.  
Quoy Voiture tu degenere,  
Horse d'ici magrebi de toy,  
Tu ne vaudras jamais ton pere,  
Tu ne vens du vin ni n'en boy.  
Another time they made this Epigram, for that 'twas thought he was a suitor to one of the King's Pourveyers daughters, and reported that they were to be married.  
O que ce beau couple d'amans',  
Valerio gouster de contentemens',  
Que leurs delices seront grandes!  
Il● seront tousiours en f●stin,  
Car si la Prou fourn●t les viands,  
Voiture fournira le vin.  
Madame Destoges playing at Proverbs with him, and having a mind to reject one of his, That's naught says she, pierce another of them. They attribute also to Monsieur de Bassompierre this jest on Volture. 'Tis pity he was not of his Father's trade, for loving sweet th●ngs as he does, he would have made us drink nothing but Hippocras. And this too, Wine that fetches others to life, makes him swoon, meaning that he apprehended he was jeered for it. For my part I have made no scruple to relate his Original, because, in my judgement, if those that are born Nob e are most happy, those which deserve to be Noble are most praise worthy. They say he was brought into the Court at first partly by the means of Monsieur d'Avaux with whom he had been a fellow-student in the College de Boncour who was also of the same age and had the same inclinations with him. Monsieur de Chaudebonne was the first that carried him to Rambovillet Hostel, that is, to the Rendezvous of all the gallant wits and prime persons of the Court, where the Chamber of the Illustrious Artenice was always full of them. He dwelled afterwards with the Duke of Orleans, than the King's only Brother, whom during the Broils of this Kingdom being retired into Languedoc, he followed thither. From thence he was sent by him into Spain, whence out of curiosity he passed in afric, as may be seen in his Letters. He was highly esteemed at Madrid, and 'twas there he made those Spanish Verses, which every body tool to be Lopez de Vega's: the phrase and language of them was so pure. The Count Duke d'Olivares expressed much affection to him, and took pleasure to discourse with him very often. And he desired him to write to him when he should be returned into France, saying to him twice at his departure, no dexe V M. de escrivir me aunque no fuera de negocios, nos escriveremos aforismos. As if he had said, fail not to write, if there be no business, yet some fine things or other. I found these words in some notes written by Voiture's own hand, in the time of his voyage. There were some other particularities of the Count Duke, pretty remarkable, and amongst the rest these two which I remember. First that he bragged to him in private, that in all the time he was in favour, he never gave any man an offensive word. The other was, that he judged commonly of men very right, and rather by the ill, then by the good that was spoken of them, that is, if he saw they spoke but little ill of a man, or with but little certainty, he conceived a good opinion of him. I have seen also some fragments of a piece in prose which Voiture being in France, intended to make in praise of this Minister of State, wherein he expressed much of esteem and veneration for him. He made two voyages to Rome, and was sent to Florence to carry the news of the birth of K. Lewis 14. that now reigns. He had divers offices at Court, as Master of the Hostel to the King & Introductor of Ambassadors to the Duke of Orleans. He had also many pensions: and received divers favours from Monsieur d'Avaux, who being Sur-Intendant of the F●nances, made him his Commissary, only that he should receive the profits of it without performing the duty. He would have died very rich had it not been, for his extreme love to gaming. It had such power over him, that he would engage himself insensibly to losses far above his condition, as was that of 15. hundred pistoles which he lost in one night, which was then all the talk of the Town, when I made my first voyage to Paris. In this at least he was like to his Father, who was a very great Gamester at Piquet, and was wont to say that he counted the Set won when he could get up to the Quarré, that is to say 66. with they set up with four counters in a square, whence it comes that to this day amongst Gamesters they call this point, Voitures Quarré.  
Voiture was also of a very amorous complexion, or at least made as if he were so, and though they accused him of having never been really in love, he bragged that he had been thought to be so with all sorts of persons from the highest quality to the lowest, or as 'twas said of him from the Sceptre to the Sheephook, and from the Crown to the Coyf. He was well pleased that it should be believed he was in favour with all his several Mistresses, and indeed he was with so many who were deeply in love with him. He was never married, and left only a natural Daughter. He died at the age of fifty years or thereabout of an ague which he caught, as they say, to purge himself having the gout. He was o● a low stature, had b ack eyes and hair, his visage somewhat simple, but yet pleasant. He drew his own picture himse f in one of his Letters to an unknown M●stresse, and that which is cut in Brass at the beginning of his works is, as they say, very like him. He spoke things after a quite peculiar manner; with an ingenious liveliness. Although he never printed any thing, yet was he in great repute, not only in France, but also in foreign Countries for the excellency of his wit; & the Academy of the Humor●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 public 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 natural and so exact both together, that the reading thereof is infinitely taking. His Verses perhaps are no less 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 Madam the Marquis 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, 'twas he that brought again into the fashion in our age, the Rondeaux or sonnets that end as they begin, which have been quite out of use ever since Marot's time. I have amongst my papers one thing which justifies what I now said. 'tis a Letter of his, which was never printed, written to Monsieur de la Jonquiere, Father to Monsieur de Paillerols, my Cousin. 'Tis 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 Wits in the humour of making them. 'Tis a kind of writing which is proper for jesting and raillery. I know not whether you are grown more grave now, than you were when you were a Boy; I for my part am always in the same humour I was in, when we stole the drake. If then you love my follies, read them, but by no means let the Ladies see them, whose hands I kiss.  
Rondeau.  
Cinq ou six fois Cette nuit en dormant, etc.  
Ou vous savez tromper bien finement, etc.   

MONSIEUR SIRMOND.  
JOHN SIRMOND was a native of Rion in Auvergne, of a good family of the Robe, he was nephew to Father Sirmond the Jesuit, 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 days, was made Historiographer to the King with a pension of 1200. crowns. He wrote divers pieces for the Cardinal, on the affairs of the times, but almost all of them under assumed names. The Abbot of S. , who was the writer one the adverse part, treats him extreme ill in the Tract which he called The Chimerique Ambassador. He made an answer to it which is in the Collection of Monsieur du Chastelet. The Abbot of S.  replied, 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. died in the interim, and he could never obtain under the Regency a privilege to print this Book. Hereat he was very much troubled, and seeing besides that his Enemy was upon his return to Court, and that favour would be no longer on his side, he retired into Auvergne, where he died, being about threescore yeats Old. He left a Son, who, as they say, will print some of his works, particularly his Latin verses. His Prose shows that he had an excellent Genius for Eloquence; his Style is strong and Masculine, and wants no adornment. The pieces which I have seen of his, are these whereof the greatest part are in the Collection of Monsieur du Chastelet: The Pourtraicture of the King, made of the times of the Constable of Luynes. The tr●ck of State of K. Lewis 13. writ in favour of Cardinal de Richelieu; The Letter decifred: An Advertisement to the Provinces by the Sieur de Cleonville, which I have heard accounted his Masterpiece. L' Homme du Pape and du Roy, in answer to the Count de la Rocque, Spanish Ambassador at Venice, who had written a Book against France under the name of Zambeccari. The Chimaera 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 acknowledgement, that one of his Books was one of the first things that made me relish our Language. I was but newly come from College 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 rational. 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 only no longer to contemn the French Language, but even passionately 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 CAWIGNY, Sieur DE COLOMBY, was of Caen in Normandy a kinsman to Malherbe, whose Disciple and follower he was. He was also of kin 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 'twas 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 than they were. Towards his latter end, he took upon him a religious habit, but he was no Priest. He died at the age of threescore years. He was of a great stature & very strong of an ambitious humour, 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 persuade him to return into France, when he had withdrawn himself in discontent, and here it is that he subscribes himself Your most humble servant & Orator. I have heard also of a piece which he writ against Judicial Astrology, & a Treatise of Soveragnity & no doubt he had many others upon the affairs of the times, as Letters, Apologies, etc. 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 always neglected this kind of Memorials, 'tis 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, 'tis impossible, but that many things must escape them.   

MONSIEUR DE VAUGELAS.  
CLAUDIUS FAURE, Sieur DE VAUGELAS, Baron of Peroges, was of Chanberry, and son of the Illustrious Precedent Faure, Author of the Volume which we call Code Fabrien, which is of great use in those our Province which are governed by the Civil Law. He was the sixth Son, and had no more portion, than the Barony 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 Madam of Savoye. 'Twas 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 day's 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 m●ny voyages he took in following his Master, and other troubles, made him die poor, so that his estate was not sufficient to satisfy his Creditors. He died aged about 65. years of an Imposthume in the Stomach, which was many years growing upon him, and often times brought upon him a pain in his side, which they attributed to the spleen. At last in the year 1649. having been 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 Air in the Garden of the Hostel de Soiffons where he had lodgings. But the next Morning his pain 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 ask him how he did, You see, my friend, (replied he coldly and without motion) what a poor thing man is. After these words he spoke no more, and lived but some few minutes. He was a comely man, well made in body and mind, of a good stature; his eyes and hair were black, his visage full, and well-coloured. He was very devout, civil, and respectful even to excess; particularly towards Ladies, for whom he had an extreme veneration. He always feared to offend any one, and upon this account, he scarce ever durst take part in any controversies or disputes. He was very frequent at Rambovillet Hostel. His most intimate friends were M. Faret (who had been as 'twere 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 chief imitated Monsieur Coeffetedu and had so great an esteem of his writings, and above all of his History 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 judgement, of Monsieur de Vaugelas there was no salvation out of the History of Rome, no more than 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, unless 'twere extempore, upon a frolic. As for example, it happened that one day passing through Nevers, where Princess Mary, now Queen of Poland, then was, some of her Gentlewomen who were then making a purse for some poor man, came into the Inn where he was; he could not see them, because he had taken Physic; but he sent two pistoles with his Epigram.  
Empesché d'un empeschement  
Don't le nom n'est pas fort honest,  
je n'ay pû d'un seul compliment  
Honourer au moins vostre quest:  
Pour en obtenir le pardon,  
Vous direz que je fais un don  
Aussi honteux que mon remedy:  
Mais rien ne paroist precieux  
Aupres de l'Ange qui possede  
Toutes les richesses des Cieux.  
'Twas the Princess he meant. I have also another Epigram of his made in promptu, upon the mistake of a word which a Porter of Rambovillet-hostel had committed, when he delivered a message to him from the Lady Marquis.  
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-vove lain prononcé?  
These Epigrams might have been spared, but that the least things of great men are precious. He had a present wit, and made many times very excellent replies such as that I spoke of before, which he made to Cardinal 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 remarks on the French Tongue, against which Monsieur de la Mothe le Vayer has made some observations, and it has since been written, against by le Sieur Dupleix: but in the public opinion it merits a most particular esteem. For not only 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 ingenuity, 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 loss of them which happened after his death, in the hands of those that seized upon his papers. The other Considerable work and as yet unprinted, is The Translation of Quintus Curtius, upon which he had been 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 less 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 several ways, almost all of them very good. Monsieur Chapelain and Monsieur Conrart, who take the pains to review this work with all exactness, 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 jeer him for that excess 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 applied what is said in Marshal, of the Barber that was so long in shaving a man's 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 finished the fourth part of Astrea, Baro caused it to be printed and composed the fift part out of his papers. He came to Paris and there married a widow, his Land-laday's Sister. He had great access to the Duchess of Cheureuse, for which reason the Cardinal de Richelieu was hardly brought to consent he should be of the Academy. 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 died aged about 50. years, and left Children. He made many Plays, divers others Poems, but his greatest and principal work is, The Conclusion of Astrea, where he seems to have been inspired with the Genius of his Master.   

MONSIEUR BAUDOIN.  
JOAN 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 Marshal 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 Masterpiece is The Translation of Davila; but he has done likewise many others which are not to be contemned, as Sueton, Tacitus, Lucian, Sallust, Dion Cassius the History of the Ynca's by an Ynca, Tasso's Jerusalem, The discourses 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, Aesop's 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 Countess of Pembrokes Arcadia, and was assisted in the work, as they say, by a French Gentlewoman, who had been a long time there, and whom he afterward married. In all these works his Style is facile natural, and French. And if perhaps in many places, he has not done things so well as they might have been, 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 died at the age of above sixty years. He was of small Stature, had Chesnut-coloured hair, and a lively Complexion. He left a Daughter & one Son which is since dead in the wars.   

MONSIEUR DE MONTEREUL.  
JOHN DE MONTEREUL a Parifien, and Son of an Advocate in Parliament, after he had been a very hard Student, he began to plead at the Bar; but at the age of 18. or 19 years he was in Italy, with Monsieur de Belieure, who presented him to Cardinal Antonio, nephew to Pope Urban the 8. This Cardinal made him Cannon of Thoul which obliged him to return into France & from that time he was retained to be Secretary to the Prince of Conty; This Prince was then at College, and had not any reed of his service. Therefore he omitted not in the mean time to take some other employment. He was at Rome, with the Marquis de Fontenay Mareüil, Ambassador of France, in the quality of his second Secretary; but at last, Monsieur Bovard, who was the first, having been 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 quality of Secretary to the Embassy, 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 supple Spirit, quick, and resolute, and one that scarce ever did any thing without design. 'Twas he that gave the advice that the Elector Palatine should pass 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. 'Twas he also that, thinking thereby to do some good Office to the King of England, negotiated that he might be put into the hands of the Scots. This unfortunate Prince (of whom he hath since given this Testimony, that he never saw a man of a greater Spirit & more virtue) delighted often to discourse with him, and expressed a great deal of affection to him. After he had been sometime in Scotland, he settled in his place one of his Brothers, who was the third. He returned into France to take possession of the Charge of Secretary to the prince of Conty, who sent him to Rome in 1648. to solicit for a Cardinals Hat. This absence injured him, for in the mean time Monsieur Sarazin, was likewise made the Prince's Secretary, and shared his employment, or, to say better, kept to himself the best and most profitable part of it. This sets them at variance, and wrought him much vexation even to his death. His Master being clapped up with the Prince of Condê, and the Duke de Lougueville, 'tis incredible what service he did them during their imprisonment, for he found out means to win the Soldiers of the Guard to deliver them letters, who writ a world of them continually for their deliverance, and in a word, as 'tis reported, he alone laboured as much as all their other servants together. The Princes after his coming forth, said publicly. That they were more indebted to him for their liberty, then to any man. I learned from a friend of mine, to whom he told it himself, that for to write to them, he made use of a secret, which the King of England had taught him, in the long conferences which they sometimes had together. 'Twas a certain powder, very rare, which being cast on the paper, made that which was before hand written there with a white Liquor, to appear; which, without that, was wholly imperceptible. There were many drugs sent to the Prince of Conty, who feigned himself very sick; they were wrapped up in white papers, and every paper was a Letter, yet so that nothing could be seen, though it were never so narrowly looked upon, unless they made use of that powder which the Princes had. It lay commonly over the Chimneys of their Chamber, and to the eyes of the Guard, passed for powder to dry their hair. By this artifice and several others, there was scarce a day, wherein he sent not news, and heard not from them; and he shown no less than 300. Letters of the Prince of Conde's writing. After their coming forth, 'tis very like they rewarded him according to his desert; and since that, he had bestowed on him in the court of Rome, to the value of ten thousand Livres, all the benefices of the Prince of Conty, who 'twas then believed was very speedily to marry Mademoiselle de Cheureuse. But he was wanting to his fortune, and died at that time, being about seven or eight and thirty years old. He seemed not to be above twenty, or five and twenty, for he was naturally very fair, and retained even then the complexion and flower of his first youth. He was of a middle Stature, flaxen haired, of a visage very white, and mixed with an handsome redness. They found upon his lungs a strange protuberancy, in form of a mushroom, which by little and little choked him. There is nothing of his in print, but he left divers pieces both in Verse and Prose, which perhaps will one day come forth.   

MONSIEUR DE L' ESTOILE.  
CLADIUS DE L' ESTOILE Sieur de Sassay, was a Parisien, a Gentleman and of a very ancient family, so as to reckon a Chancellor of France amongst his Ancestors. His Father who was Audiencier to the Chancery of Paris, collected divers Memoires of the affairs of his time, out of which a friend of his, to whom he lent them, extracted the book entitled, A diary of what passet under Henry the third. His Children would never suffer the rest of these Memoires to be seen, which now perhaps are lost. There were three Brothers of them, the eldest which died young, the second which was Secretary to the Cardinal de Lion: and this, who was the third, and had no other employment but Learning, and Poetry, wherein he is become very famous. He had more of parts than study and learning. He particularly addicted himself to making of Verses, which he did rarely well, and according to the rules of the Stage, which he ptofessed to have learned of M. de Gombauld, and M. Chapelain. One of his private friends told me; then when he had a mind to study, if it happened to be in the day time, he would have the windows of his Chamber shut, and a Candle brought; and that, when he had composed any thing, he would read it to his servant, (as 'tis also said of Malherbe) to know whether he had done it well, believing that Verses have not their entire perfection, unless they be filled with a certain beauty, which is perceivable even to the most rude and clownish. He was a great admirer of the Verses of Monsieur de Serisay, and Monsieur de Gombauld: of the latter of these, going one day with him to the Hostel de Burgogne, I heard him say very seriously, that he had rather be the Author of that Scene of the Danaïdes, where the act of those cruel Sisters is described, then of all the best Plays that have been made there 20 years. He was of a very amorous complexion, and 'twas this passion that was the cause of almost all the troubles and afflictions of his life. In his latter days he married, for love, a woman of a mean estate. He kept his marriage private a longtime, and being not so rich, as was requisite to live handsomely at Paris with a family, he retired to a Country house, where he spent most of the remainder of his life. He died about fifty years old. He was of a middle stature and very slender. His hair and eyes were black, his visage very pale and meager, scared, and without beard in some places, by reason that being a child he fell into the fire. He was a person of very much virtue and honour, and bore his ill fortune without making any complaint of it, and without being troublesome or importunate to any one. He would reprehend boldly and smartly, and with a strong severity, what he disliked in things wherein his judgement was required. They charge him to have been the cause that a young man died of grief and vexation, who came out of Languedoc, with a Comedy which he thought was a Masterpiece, wherein he shown him manifestly a thousand faults.  
A friend of mine who had never seen him, was carried one day to his house to ask his opinion concerning a piece of the same nature. He heard the first and second Scene of it read without speaking a word, but at the third, in which there was a King, that spoke not to his humour, starting up, This King is drunk, said he, else he would ne'er talk thus. He wrote with extraordinary care, and reviewed the same things a hundred times, which is the reason we have so few things of his. He left two Plays, The fair slave, and I Inc●igne des F●●●u●, and had almost finished a third when he died, which he called, The Secretary of Saint Innocent. He had a part, as I told you, in that of the five Authors. There are divers Odes and Stanza's of his very excellent in the last printed Collections.  
THIS is all I have to say of the Academiciens that are dead. I wish I might speak of those that are living, with the same liberty, and render to every one of them, that I am more intimatly acquainted with, that testimony which their wit and virtue deserves. But there are many reasons which hinder me, and one which makes me glad that I am hindered. 'Tis, that if I regard the public, their Images will questionless be seen elsewhere in a more noble place, and by some better hand; and if I consider you in particular, you know my mind well enough, and have not forgotten what I have so often said to you of them in our long walks at Roumers, where there were only trees and fountains that heard us. Be contented therefore to see them here named amongst the rest, according as they are in the Catalogue of the Academy: I shall add only a word or two, to let you know the Christian name, and quality of each, his Country, and the title of his works, by which he is known.    

A Catalogue of the Gentlemen of the French Academy.  
THE ABBOT DE BOURZEYZ Amable de Bourzeys, Abbot of Saint Martin de Cores, born in Auvergne. There is nothing of his printed under his own name, but one Letter to Prince Edward Palatine, which is a Treatise of Religion.  
THE BISHOP OF GRASS. Anthony Godeau Bishop of Grass and Vence, born at Dreux. His works that are hitherto printed, according to the Catalogue that was given me of them, are these; The Preface to the Dialogue of the causes of the corruption of eloquence, translated by M. Giry. That, before Malherbe's works. The Paraphrase on the Epistles of S. Paul, and the Canonical Epistles. The life of S. Paul. Christian Instructions and Prayers for all sorts of persons. Synodical Ordinances and Instructions. Meditations on the Lord's Prayer. A Funeral Oration on K. Lewis 13. Another on the Bishop of Bazas. The Idea of a good Magistrate in the life and death of Monsieur de Cordes. A Treatise of the Ecclesiastical Tonsure. Another of the Ecclesiastical Vocation. Elevations to Jesus Christ after the manner of Meditations, and, A new Paraphrase on the epistle to the Hebrews. A Remonstrance made to the King against the Parliament of Tolose. An exhortation to the parisians, touching Alms and Charity to the poor of Picardy & Champagne. Advice to the parisians, concerning the Procession made in the year 1652. for the bringing forth of the shrine of S. Geneviefue under the name of a Curate of Paris. The life of S. Augustin in quarto, An Ecclesiastical History of the four first ages, in two Volumes, in folio. His Poems in print are: One Volume of Christian Poems. The Paraphrase of all the Psalms in French verse, which have been set to music by Sieur Govy. An Ode for King Lewis 13. The institution of a Christian Prince for K. Lewis 14. La grande Chartreuse. La Sorbonne. A Hymn of S. Charles Borromée. A Hymn of S. Geneviefue. He has made a Poem on S. Paul in five Cantos, which is not yet published, as also several other Hymns, Discourses, and Epistles in verse addressed to his private friends.  
THE ABBOT DE BOISROBERT. Francis de Metel, Sieur de Boisrobert, Abbot of Chastillon upon Selne, Consellor of State, and Almoner to the King, born at Caen in Normandy. He has composed (besides some Letters in Prose, and some Poems which we see of his in several Collections,) A book of Epistles or Discourses in verse after the manner of Horace, Many Dramatic Poems. A Tragedy entitled, The chaste Dido, or The loves of Hyarbas. Two Tragicomedies, which are The Coronation of D●rius and Palene. Three Comedies, the first of his own invention, entitled The three Ororta's, and the two others, The self jealous one; and The foolish Wager, taken from Lopez de Vega.  
DE MONTMOR. Henry Lewis Habert, Counsellor to the King in his Counsels, and Master of Requests of his Hostel, born at Paris.  
DE GOMBAULD. John Ogier de Gombauld born in Xantonge at S. Just de Lussac near Brovage. His works in print are Endymion, Amaranthe a Pastoral, a volume of Poems, a volume of Letters. These following are not yet printed, The Danaides, a Tragedy; Cidippe, a Tragicomedy; Three Books of Epigrams, several other Poems, Letters, and Discourses in Prose.  
DE LA CHAMBRE. Marin Cureau de la Chambre, Counsellor to the King in his Counsels, and his Physician in ordinary, born at Mans. His works in print are, New Conjectures about digestion. New Conjectures concerning the causes of Light, The overflowing of Nile, And the love of inclination, The Characters of the Passions, in two volumes. A Treatise of the understanding of Beasts. New Observations and Conjectures about the Rainbow. If he perfects what he has begun we shall have, A continuation of the Characters of the Passions, A Treatise of human beauty, Another of the nature and Dispositions of Nations, and The Art of knowing men. He hath translated into French, The eight Books of Aristotle's Physics, which is not printed, and gives us hopes ere long of A Commentary on Hippocrates' Aphorisms, which he calls, Usus Aphorismorum, where his design is, after he has set down Hippocrates' meaning in each Aphorism, to apply, it to other subjects, and show all the uses that may be made of it.  
DE GOMBERVILLE. Marin Le Roy, Sieur de Gomberville, a Parisien. The printed works which I have seen of his, are the Romances of Polexander in five Volumes, of Cytherea in four volumes. The young Alcidiana, which is not yet finished. The Preface to Maynards' Poems.  
DE SERISAY. James de Serisay, born at Paris, Intendant of the House to the Duke de la Rochefoucault. There is not any thing of his in print; but he has many Poems, and other works in prose, to print.  
DE. S. AMANT. Mark Anthony Gerard, Sieur de S. Amant, born at Roüens. There are of his Three volumes of Poems. He is making an Heroic Poem, called Moses.  
DE PORCHERES LAUGIER. Honorat Laugier Sieur de Porcheres, of Provence. They have printed several Poems of his, in the Collections. And a hundred love Letters under the name of Erander. He has many pieces both in verse and prose not printed, and amongst others, A Treatise of Devises.  
THE ABBOT DE CERESY.  Habert, Abbot of de la Roche, and Abbot and Earl of Nostre-Dame de Ceresy, a Parisien. He set forth The Life of Cardinal de Berule in prose. There are divers Poems of his in some of the Collections of verses. Some Paraphrases of the Psalms, and The Metamorphosis of Philis' eyes 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 Volumes. 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 Plays Aspasia, Roxana, Sc●pio, Les Visionnaires, Mirame and Europa. A book of prayers in verse. The Poem of the Christian virtues, in 8. Canto's. He had almost done two other Plays which the death of the Cardinal made him leave off, entitled 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 published it, The Insciption on the King's Statue in brass in the Place Royal is his, He is making an Heroic Poem of the Baptism of Clovis, whereof there are nine Cantos finished. He was also, by his Master, the Duke de Richelieu's order, about a considerable work in prose, which he calls The abridgement of universal Knowledge, which contains, in near a thousand Chapters the summary 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 Shepherdess's 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 volumes of Letters. One of several works. One of verses and Letters in Latin. The Prince. The Christian Socrates, with which are, many other small Tractats or Dissertations in one volume in octavo. He hath made a Political work entitled 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 Parliament of Grenoble, Master of Requests, chief Precedent in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, Secretary of State, Ambassador extraordinary in Savoy, Plenipotentiary and Ambassador 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. D●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 Dunkirk: and another for the return of the Duke of Orleans, which are not printed. He is making an Heroic Poem, Of the Pucelle of Orleans, which is to have 24 Cantos, 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 Angers, Count of Serran, Counsellor of State in ordinary, heretofore Introductor of Ambassadors to the King. Ambassador to the Archduke in Flanders. The King's Envoy into Spain, England, and Savoy.  
COLLTET. William Colletet, a Parisien. Advocate to the Parliament and Counsel. His printed works are, Verses in the Collection, called The delights of the French Poesy. 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, Precedent in the Parliament, and entitled, Elements of the Knowledge of God and of ourselves. 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. Eulogies 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 Scholars. The Banquet of Poets, with divers other verses in Burlesque. The translation of a Treatise of Monsignior de la Casa, concerning the mutual duty of great Lords, and those that serve them. The life of Raimond Lullie. That of Nicholas Vignier Historiographer of France. That of Friar 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 Ethics.  
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 'twere a Natural Theology. 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 Parliament 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. Tertullia's Apologetic. 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' Praise of Helen. Plato's Apology of Socrates, and Dialogue called Crito. Salpitius Severus' Holy History, Cicero's Dialogue called Brutus, or, of the famous Orators. He has also translated Some select Epistles of S. Augustin, which are not yet printed.  
D'ABLANCOURT. Nicholas Perrot Si●ur d'A●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 C●cero, which are those for Quintius, for the Manilian Law, for Marce●us, for Ligarius. Arrian of the wars of Alexander. The retreat of ten thousand Grecians, by Xenophon. All Tacitus' works. Caesar's 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 moth 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 humours 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 Music. 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 virtues 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. Judgement on the Ancient and principal Historians Greek and Latin, of whom there is any thing extant. Letters concerning the late remarks on the French Tongue. One volume in quarto of small Treatises, by way of Letters written to divers learned persons. Another volume of the same not yet printed. A Prince's Geography, a Prince's Ethics, a Prince's Rhetoric, for Monsieur the Duke of Anjou. A Prince's Economics, Politics, and Logic, 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 volumes of the privileges of the Virgin. D●sceptatio legitima, in controversia mota inter Apostolicae Camerae cognitorem, Actorem: & Eminentissimos Cardinals Barberinos', excellentissimumque urbis Romae praefectum; Defensores. One volume in quarto of Politic Discourses. He is now composing a second.  
PATRU. Oliver Patru, a Parisien, Advocate in Parliament. 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 Precedent la Mesme, for the widow and children of Camusat, before The Imitation of Jesus Christ, translated by Father Antony Girard, Jesuit. He has Several Plead and other works to print. And 'tis from him that Monsieur de Vaugelas in the Preface to his remarks, gives us some hopes of a French Rhetoric.  
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 Solomon 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 Roven, where he was born. He has composed already two and twenty Plays, which are Melite, Clitander, The Widow, La Galerie du Palais, La Suivante, La Place , Medea, The Comic Illusion, The Cid, Horace, Cinna, Polyeucte, The death of Pompey, The Liar 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 Philippics, and the rest of the Orations of Cicero. The Paradoxes, Offices, and Tusculans of the same Author, the rest of whose works he intends to Translate. Isocrates' praise of Busiris, Two Tomes of the History of Flanders by Strada. Herodotus, All Seneca, except that which Malherbe has Translated of him. Livy entire, with the Supplement of Freinshemius. The Supplement of the same Author to join to the Quintus Curtius of Monsieur de Vaugelas. The life of S. Martin, by Sulpitius Severus. The King of Portugal's Psalms. Berenice a Tragi-comedy in prose. And for verse he made eighteen Plays, 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 Parliament 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 Aquavitae, 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 Maxims.  
MEZERAY. Francis de Mezeray, a native of the Vicounty of Argentan, in the Diocese of Sees. He has set forth A Continuation of the Turkish History from the year 1612. to the year 1648. And 3. volumes in folio, of the History of France, from the beginning of the Monarchy to the Peace of Veruins, 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 March. His works in print are, divers Plays, Mariana, Panthea, The death of Seneca, of Crispus, of the Great Osmar, the folly of the wise. Three Volumes of Poems, entitled, Les Amours, La Lyre, & les verse Herioques. In prose, one Volume of Letters, and some other small Treatises. He is making a Romance of many volumes which he calls, Coromene, an Oriental History. He has also made The Office of the Virgin, in French, which contains divers spiritual pieces, in verse and prose.  
DE SCUDERY. George de Scudery, Governor of Nostre-Dame de la Garde, born at Haure de Grace. He has made 16. Dramatic Poems. L●gdamon. The Deceiver punished. The generous Slave. The Comedy of Comedians in verse and in prose. Orante. The Bastard. The disguised Prince. The death of Caesar. D●d●. The liberal Lover. Tyrannical Love. Eudoxa. The illustrious Bassa a Tragicomedy. Andromira, Axiana, Arminius▪ Many miscellaneous Poems, printed at the end of his Prays, to the number of ten or twelve thousand verses. The Cabinet which is a Collection of Poems upon Pictures. One volume of several Poems, in quarto. He made The Cardinal de Richelieu's Epitaph, which was printed and afterwards cut in brass, to set upon his Tomb. He is making an Heroic Poem, which he calls, Rome vanquished. His works in prose are; An Apology for the Stage● Observations on the Cid. Two Letters to the Academy, and one to Monsieur de Balzac, upon the same subject. The Translation of Manzini's works. The illustrious Bassa, a Romance in four parts. Two Volumes of Orations of Illustrious women. Politic Discourses of Kings. The Grand Cyrus, a Romance, which will be ten volumes.  
DOVIAT. John Doujat, a Tolosain, Advocate in Parliament, the King's sole Reader and Professor of the Canon Law in the College Royal of France. He has divers large works, and in a good forwardness, in several Sciences; and particularly two upon the Law, which he calls Praenotiones Canonicae & Civiles. He has published upon occasions several pieces in Latin or French verses. There is a little Spanish Grammar of his, to which he has not put his name, nor to his Dictionary of Gascon words on Goudelin. He is Author of the Preface to Comenius' Vestibulum the Copy of which was given him, and of one of the Epitaphs upon Thuanus, which was printed without his knowledge very faulty, in Vittorio Siri, it gins thus, Lege Viator etc.  
CHARPENTIER. Francis Charpentier, a Parisien. He has printed The life of Socrates, and the Translation of the memorable things of that Philosopher out of Xenophon's Greek. He has translated likewise all the Cyropaedia; and some pieces of the Emperor Julian; but this is not yet printed. For verse, he has made A Paraphrase of the Psalm, Confitemini Domino, which is in print; and many other Poems, which are not.  
THE ABBOT TALEMANT. Francis Talemant, born at Rochel, Almoner to the King. He has Translated some Treatises and some Lives of Plutarch, which he has not printed.  
THE MARQUIS OF COASLIN. Armand du Cambout Marquis of Coaslin, Baron of Pontchasteau, and of Roche-Bernard, Lieutenant for the King, in Low Bretagne, born at Paris.   

THUS I have related to you the birth, establishment, and progress of the French Academy to this present time. You do not expect I should proceed any farther, and imitate that excellent Historian, who judging of the future from the knowledge of what was past, has so well made the Horoscope of the Commonwealth of Rome. The fortune of the Academy 'tis very likely will follow that of the State: and be good or bad according to the Kings and grand Ministers which it shall please God to give us. It is impossible to foresee all that may happen from without, for its destruction or for its glory: but I'll tell you betwixt you & me, that if there be any thing from within whereby it may fail, it is perhaps a certain Custom or unwritten Law, which it observes more exactly than any of its Statutes. For I beseech you, do you not think that the advantage of getting into this Body, must needs be looked upon as a reward to all the Pens of France, and to all those that find in themselves any Genius extraordinary? If these Gentlemen, when they are to choose themselves a Colleague, were bound always to name the most worthy, whoever he be, be confident none would refuse this honour, or if any one should be so mad, all the shame and discredit would fall upon himself. Nevertheless they preserve inviolably this Maxim, not to admit any man of what merit otherwise soever he be, that does not ask it. I know very well, what may be said in favour of this Order, and make no question but those who were the first Authors of it, did it then upon very considerable grounds: but I doubt much whether the evil that it may produce now a days, be not greater than the good which may be expected from it. For, if I may speak my mind freely, there proceeds from it one thing of most dangerous consequence. That scarce any one Petitions to be admitted, who before he propounds it in public, does not make sure to himself suffrages in private, where common civility hardly suffers one to deny the request of a friend. I am well satisfied that all vacant places hitherto have been fitted as well as a man could wish; Nay, I see some amongst the last comers, which this Company reckons amongst her prime and greatest ornaments. But who shall assure us that it will be so hereafter, and who knows not that corruption creeps every day, & too fast, into all humane Institutions, even when nothing has been forgot that may keep it out? Those that will be least capable of this employment will be perhaps most eager to look after it, and will obtain it easily, in a Country & Age where men know not how to deny any thing but what respects money and private interest. On the contrary many others whom the Academy ought to desire for its members, will keep themselves out of the way through natural modesty, or that honest pride which ordinarily accompanies virtue and merit. 'Twill be answered perhaps, that they are not such, because they do not trouble themselves for it. Posterity will not admit of this excuse: and if it sees small or mean Actions appear upon the Stage, whilst others, that were able to have acted the chief parts, continue hid behind; it will without doubt blame the judgement that shall have made so ill a choice.  
But if this Company subsist long, and with the same honour it has done hitherto, although it produce not those works which are expected from it, yet 'tis impossible, but that France should receive much advantage by it.  
So many men of parts and learning cannot meet together every week, without stirring up one another to industry and the study of good Letters, without reaping much profit from these conversations, and without spreading insensibly the profit they shall have gained to themselves, over all Paris, and over all the re●t of the Kingdom.  
For my part, such as I am; I profess and acknowledge that from my childhood, I have form myself, either by the writings or conversation of some of this Society, which have been my chief Masters. What you find most tolerable in the Style, and in the manner of this work, you own it to the Academy. But if the Academy itself be not displeased, that I have taken upon me this employment, it shall know that it is indebted for it to you, and that, had it not been for our friendship, and your laudable curiosity, I had never written its History.   
FINIS.   

THE FRENCH ACADEMY having desired to hear this Book which was as yet only a Manuscript, read in a full Assembly; Some days after, it ordered of it own Inclination, in favour of the Author; That the first place that should be vacant in the Body, should be set a part for him, and that in the interim, it should be lawful for him to assist at meetings, and vote there as an Academicien: with this clause, That the like favour should never be granted to another, upon any consideration whatsoever. This is the subject of the ensuing Oration.  

An Oration of thanks to the Gentlemen of the French Academy, pronounced in their Assembly. Dec. 30. 1652.  
GENTLEMEN,  
IF you expect from me thanks answerable to the greatness of your benefit or to the dignity of this Assembly: I make no doubt but you will soon repent, that you have so generously obliged me. But if we may speak of the favours which you do, as it has been sometimes said of those of Heaven, that a man then deserves them, when he perfectly understands the value of them; never man deserved them better than I, and you never made a more judicious election.  
I know how glorious it is to be a member of so noble a Body, what profit is joined to this honour, what pleasure accompanies this profit; how many obstacles in the thing itself might forbid you to bestow it upon me.  
These several considerations are continually present before me. There's not one of them but does arrest me, but does sensibly affect me, but does raise in me towards you, gentlemans, some particular motion of gratitude.  
Shall I begin with the glory which is heaped on me by so rare a favour? Kings & Conquerors, and even some of those Heroes of whom the Ancients made their gods, have sometimes taken it for a great honour, to be made Burgesses of certain Commonwealths. And yet, Gentlemen, if we consider, as we ought, a State never so flourishing, and as illustrious as 'tis possible; what is it else but a mass of people, whom only interest and necessity join together; where things are carried sometimes by riches, sometimes by force and violence, sometimes by cheating and cozening, and very rarely by virtue and merit? Certainly, if we be not dazzled with outward pomp, and judge more by the eye then by reason; as much as wisdom is above the multitude, the soul above the body, and the desire of knowledge above that of living: so much is the Academy above the Commonwealth, so much does the honour which you have done me, surpass that which heretofore those Kings, and those conquerors, and even those very gods of Antiquity, gloryed in. And when from these general reflections I descend to those that are more particular, when I cast my eyes upon this famous Society, established in the chiefest City of the chiefest Kingdom in the world, founded by the greatest Statesman that ever was, and protected even at this day by another, who, in a word, is most worthy to succeed him; when I look upon it, composed of so many excellent men, known, esteemed and admired of all Europe: When I consider that for the future, I shall have a place amongst them, that I shall see my name in the midst of theirs, carried through the whole Universe, and partake of those immortal praises which are due unto them: shall I be bold to say it, Gentlemen? I question whether I am awake or asleep, and whether this be not one of those pleasant dreams, which without taking us from the earth, make us believe we are in Heaven.  
But Gentlemen, those pleasant dreams leave nothing behind them, whereas the glory to which you call me, must soon be followed by a solid and real advantage. To what purpose should I dissemble it? If from my infancy good Letters have been my delight, if I have always looked upon the Art of writing well, as the end and scope of all my endeavours; It was neither easy nor possible for me to attain it, but by the favour which you do me. There is indeed a small number of extraordinary persons whom Nature took pleasure in forming, who find all things in themselves, who know what they were never taught, who follow no rules, but make and give them to others. Such are you in our days, Gentlemen: Such in former Ages were some great Personages of Rome and Athens. But as for us that are of an inferior rank, if we have only our own strength, and if we borrow nothing from others; which way should we, with one only judgement and one only wit, and that too, but ordinary and mean, content so many different wits, so many several judgements, to which we expose our writings? Which way should we of ourselves get together so many qualities, whose principles seem contrary? That our writings should be at the same time subtle and solid, strong and delicate, profound and polite. That we should always join together Art and Nature, sweetness and majesty, perspicuity and brevity, liberty and exactness, boldness and modesty, nay sometimes even madness and reason? 'Tis very much if our birth gives us a part of that which is necessary for these great things, we must receive all the rest from our breeding; we must have recourse to precepts, examples, friends and masters; and these precepts, these examples, these friends, these masters, 'tis amongst you Gentlemen that I look to find them. What shall I say now of the sweetness which I fancy to myself of your Conferences? Those whom you admit unto them may perhaps express in some sort both the honour and the profit which they expect thence; but as for that pleasure, which doubtless the sweet commerce of good things affords you, that pleasure, which virtue joined to friendship, which the union of spirits, and the conformity of laudable desires, do infuse into all your conversations, one must, if I be not deceived, taste it for to comprehend it; it is felt & cannot be expressed. I call to witness yourselves, Gentlemen, I call to witness these hours which slide away so fast, and that importune darkness, which most commonly comes sooner than you desire, to part you, and to break up these Assemblies.  
But I dwell too long, Gentlemen, on that which is least peculiar in your benefit. It would have been my duty to have thanked you thus, if you had granted this honour to my merit, to my earnest supplications, to the necessity of filling your company, and obeying your Statutes. But now that you shut your eyes upon all my defects, that you prevent both my endeavours and my hopes, that for me you forget your customs and your Laws, that there's no obstacle so great, but your goodness surmounts it; With what words, with what eloquence, although 'twere even your own, can I sufficiently thank you? I will not here examine those defects, which you have been pleased not to consider, and which should have hindered you from casting your thoughts on me; and I would to God I could either wholly amend them, or hid them from you as long as I live. But I know not how to be silent of this excess, this profuseness of your favours, this manner of obliging me, contrary to all precedents. I am afraid, Gentlemen, I speak too boldly of it; you have done, methinks, in this action, both more than you ought, and more than you could; you have in some sort, preferred my glory before your own, the interest of a private person without desert, before that of all your most noble Body, I thought, Gentlemen; and perhaps you thought so too, that this should have been the principal matter of my Discourse: But how can I enlarge any farther on a subject, where if I would commend your bounty, I see myself almost constrained to blame your indulgence, where all my thanks would be reproaches, where I can neither defend you without pride, nor accuse you without ingratitude? Of a truth if the Academy never did so much honour to any man, never had any man so firm and so true a design to honour it; if for my sake it has violated its own Laws, it shall never complain that I violate them. But yet I fear that all my good resolutions cannot excuse hers. What am I, Gentlemen, that in favour of me those foundations should be shaken which were laid with so much judgement, and strengthened by the practice of so many years? What am I that to give me entrance into this sacred place, it should be necessary, not to open the gates thereof; but, if I may be bold to say it, to beat down the ramparts, and the walls, as they are wont to do for a triumphant victorious King. I shall be carried away with vanity if I proceed any farther. I feel that sweet confusion thoughts, which proceeds from joy and gratitude, and all those other delightful passions when they are at the highest pitch: and in this disorder of my soul; all I can do is to resume my own words, to make an end just as I began, and to shut up all with this conclusion: If you expected from me thanks that should have been answerable to the greatness of your benefit, or to the dignity of this Assembly; I make no question but you have already repent you of all the favours you have done me: But if to deserve them be nothing else but perfectly to understand the value of them, never man deserved them better than I, and you never made a more judicious election.   
FINIS.