[MANUSCRIT]. AMYOT (Jacques)]. Preces latinae [Collectanea d - Lot 82

[MANUSCRIT]. AMYOT (Jacques)]. Preces latinae [Collectanea divinarum] In Latin and French, autograph manuscript on paper France, ca. 1570-1580 (?) 137 ff, preceded by a complete sheet of paper (watermark close to Briquet 12561, Pot with fleur-de-lis: Orléans, 1572-1574), text inscribed in a frame drawn in pale red ink (justification: 58 x 95 mm), engraved portrait of Jacques Amyot (etching Aug. St Aubin sculp[sit]. 1803: this is Augustin de Saint-Aubin (1736-1807) engraver and draughtsman) pasted on the verso of fol. 1. Bound in 16th century full soft vellum, smooth spine with cold fleurons and title inscribed in ink, framed with simple cold fillet on the boards, traces of fasteners (fasteners incomplete), gilt edges, inscriptions and pen tests in ink on the boards including "Consollés les gens avec [le] sainct esperit". Size: 95 x 132 mm. Autograph manuscript in the hand of Jacques Amyot, comparable to that found in Amyot's personal copy of Plutarch's Lives of Illustrious Men (trans. Amyot) (Paris, 1559) [Melun, Médiathèque Astrolabe, Patrimoine, Réserve CF, In-Folio 301 bis; see also BnF, Res-J-103, Moralia de Plutarque, copy annotated by J. Amyot]. Amyot compiled a certain number of prayers of Catholic obedience during the troubled times of the Wars of Religion, citing his sources and the Fathers of the Church. The prayer to be recited in times of religious war is worth noting. Jacques Amyot, prelate and humanist translator, was born in Melun and died in Auxerre. He was a pupil of Pierre Danes. At the age of 19, in 1532, he obtained his licence in Paris and became master of arts. He decided to continue his studies at the University of Bourges where the Milanese jurist André Alciat taught, and became a doctor of civil law at the University of Bourges. At that time, Bourges had a school of ancient Greek and an important educational network. He found employment as a tutor and then as a reader of ancient Greek and Latin in 1537. Recommended to Marguerite de Valois, then duchess of Berry, he was appointed professor of Latin and Greek at the university of Bourges. His translation work was rewarded by François I, who granted him the benefit of the abbey of Bellozane left vacant by the death of François Vatable. He later became tutor to the children of Henry II, including the future kings Charles IX and Henry III. He translated seven works by Diodorus of Sicily (1554), the Amours pastorales de Daphnis et Chloë by Longus (1559) and the Œuvres morales by Plutarch (1572). His work on Plutarch had an immense influence on several generations of French writers. Montaigne paid him a warm tribute in his Essays (II4): "I give, with reason, it seems to me, the palm to Jacques Amyot on all our French writers" and: "We ignorant people were lost, if this book had not lifted us out of the quagmire". A note indicates that the present manuscript would be related to Amyot's functions as Commander of the Order of the Holy Spirit, created by Henry III in 1578, and then as "Grand Chaplain of France and of the Order of the Holy Spirit". Amyot was one of the prelates excommunicated by the resolutions of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Paris for having attended mass on January 1, 1589 in the company of Henry III. A pious and conscientious clergyman, he courageously stuck to his principles. He is said to have advised King Henry III's chaplain to refuse absolution to the murderer of the Princes of Guise, a murder which he is nevertheless suspected of having approved. He ended his life in Auxerre. Provenance: Jaques Amyot (1513-1593), copied in his hand. A note attached to the upper counter-guard reads: "Ces prieres pourroient etre celles que Amyot prestoit (?) a un chevalier du St Esprit... ». A note on the front of the first guard reads: "At the royal library, where the writing of Jacques Amyot is preserved, I have verified that this volume, which is entirely in one and the same handwriting, is really in his hand. These prayers seem to be those which Amyot used in the ceremonies of the Order of the Holy Spirit of which he was chaplain.