the Port Royal School. Associated by his introduction to Port Royal with Arnauld, Pascal, Nicole, and Saci, he was soon as much distinguished for his philological, as these great men were, for their moral and theological works. Equally esteemed for erudition, for piety, and for conciliating manners, he was selected with Nicole, to superintend the Port Royal School at Chênet. The celebrated Tillemont, Le Nain, Racine, and the Duke de Chevreuse, the beloved friend of Fénélon, were amongst his scholars. To him chiefly, Europe is indebted for the Port Royal Latin, Greek, Spanish, and Italian grammars. He was also author of the collection of Greek primitives, and of two volumes, octavo, containing me moirs of his patron, the Abbé de St. Cyran, and other miscellaneous pieces. After the malice of the Jesuits had succeeded in abolishing the Port Royal INTRODUCTION, xxix schools, Dom Lancelot became tutor to the young princes of Conti. At the death of the princess, their mother, in 1672, he assumed the rule and habit of St. Bennet, in the Abbey of St. Cyran. The persecution of the Jansenists was still zealously pursued by the Jesuits. Their intrigues prevailed in gaining over the court party. Their united influence succeeded. Port Royal des Champs and the monastery of St. Cyran were both levelled to the ground, and their pious inhabitants exiled or imprisoned. Dom Claude Lancelot was banished to Quimperley in Lower Brittany. He lived to witness the final destruction of those places so endeared to him; and the banishment or death of all the pious friends of his youth, whom he most fondly loved. Yet, God enabled him to rejoice amidst persecution, to bless his enemies, and to endure unto the end. He died in the odor of sanctity, rich in faith and good works. His life was stormy, his latter end peaceful and glorious. He entered into his eternal reward, 15 April, 1712, at the advanced age of ninety-seven. The inhabitants of Quimperley still treasure up his habit as a precious relic. Dom Lancelot composed several learned treatises on the rule of St. Bennet. They are highly esteemed, but are not interesting to general readers. Bishop of Alêt's Reverence for Scripture PAGE Pastoral Instructions and Labors of the Bishop of Alêt 149 His Care to ground his Young Clergy in Scripture 178 ABBE DE ST. CYRAN, p. 187 to 254. |