Montluc Jean De

Montluc Jean de brother of the preceding, a distinguished French prelate, noted both for his attainments in ecclesiastical and political life, was born about 1508. He entered in boyhood days the Dominican Order of Gray Friars, and soon made himself the favorite of his associates. The outer world also took a liking to him, and even at court he had many friends. Francis I reposed much confidence in him, and he was intrusted with diplomatic missions. He was successful especially in efforts for a peaceful solution of the differences between his native country and the Ottoman power, concluding for Francis an advantageous peace with Soliman. In 1553 he was made bishop of Valence and of Die, and gained great popularity as a pulpit orator. He was not unfrequently invited to preach at court during the rule of Catharine de Medici. However, after the Conference of Poissy (1561), Montluc seems to have fallen into disrepute at court, for he was believed to have been one of the bishops whom Beza's argument had almost persuaded to be a Protestant" (Browning, Huguenots, 1:108); and two years later he was one of the prelates excommunicated by pope Pius IV (Browning, 1:180). Montluc was finally restored to his former influence and position by the French Parliament; but he never thereafter exerted himself much in ecclesiastical labors, and because of his shrewdness, wisdom, and learning, he was selected by the government of his country for several diplomatic missions, the most important of which was to Poland (in 1572), where he zealously exerted himself to secure the crown for the duke of Anjou. It is generally conceded that Montluc's conduct in this affair was anything but honorable and manly. He persuaded the Poles to believe that the duke had had no part in the massacre of St. Bartholomew. On his return to France he lived at Toulouse, where he died April 13, 1579. His theological writings are: Deux instructions et deux epistres au clerge et peuple de Valence (Avignon, 1557, 8vo): — Cleri Valentii et Diensis Reformatio (Paris, 1557, 8vo): — Recueil des lieux de l'Ecriture servant a decouvrir les fautes contre les dix commandenants de la loi (ibid. 1559, 8vo):Sermons (ibid. 1559, 8vo): — Familiere Explication des articles de la foi (ibid. 1561, 8vo): — Sermons sur les articles de la foi et de l'Oraisoun dominicale (ibid. 1561, 8vo). See De Thou, Hist. sui temporis; Sismondi, Hist. des Francais, chapters 17, 18, 19; Smedley, Hist. of the Ref. Religion in France, 1:122 sq., 189; 2:82; De Felice, History of the Protestants of France, page 142 sq. (J.H.W.)