, Sieur of St. Lazare, a French historian, more known for the number,
, Sieur of St. Lazare, a French
historian, more known for the number, than esteemed for
the value of his books, was a native of Sens. In spite of
every artifice to sell his histories, publishing the same under different titles, filling them with flatteries to the reigning princes, and other arts, it was with great difficulty
that he could force any of them into circulation. It was
not only that his style was low and flat, but that his representation of facts was equally incorrect. Latterly his name
was sufficient to condemn a book, and he only put his initials, and those transposed. He died in 1655. His best
work is said to be, “Histoire des dignités honoraires de
France,
” 8vo, on which some dependence is placed, because there he cites his authorities. He wrote also, 2.
“L'histoire generate des derniers troubles
” comprising
the times of Henry III. and Louis XIII. in 4to. 3. “Histoire de Louis XIII.
” 4to, a miserable collection of facts
disguised by flattery, and extending only from 1610 to
1614. 4. “Histoire de la naissance et des progres de
l'Heresie de ce siecle,
” 3 vols. 4to, the first of which is
by father Richeome. 5. “A Continuation of the Roman
History from Constantino to Ferdinand the Third,
” 2 vols.
folio; a compilation which ought to contain the substance
of Gibbon’s History, but offers little that is worthy of attention. 6. “The Annals and Antiquities of Paris,
” 2
vols. folio. There is another work of this kind by a P. du
Breul, which is much more esteemed; this, however, is
consulted sometimes as a testimony of the state of Paris in
the time of the author.