Achery, Jean Luc D

Achery, Jean Luc D'

a learned Benedictine, of the congregation of Saint Maur, born at St. Quentin, in Picardy, 1609. At a very early age he entered the order of St. Benedict, and devoted himself to study, and his whole after-life was passed in entire abstraction from the world. He died at the abbey of St. Germain- des-Pres, April 29, 1685. To the labors of this learned writer we owe the publication of many MSS. which, but for him, would probably have still remained buried in the libraries. His principal published works are the following:

1. S. Barnaboe Epistola Groece et Latine, Hugonis Menardi notis illustrata (Paris, 1645);

2. Lanfranci Cantuar. Episcopi Opera, together with Chronicon Beccense; B. Helluini et 4 priorum Beccensiuin Abbatum; S. Augustini Anglorum Apostoli vita; duo de Eucharistia Tractatus Hugonis Lincolnensis Epis. et Durandi abbat. Troarnensis, adversus Berengarium (Paris, 1648, fol.);

3. Indiculus Asceticorum, etc. (Paris, 1671, 4to, 2d ed.);

4. Acta Sanctorum ordinis S. Benedicti in seculorum classes distributa. Although D'Achery made the necessary collections for this work, it was published with notes and observations by Mabillon, after his death, at various periods [ SEE ACTA SANCTORUM ];

5. Veterum aliquot Scriptorum qui in Gallioe Bibliothecis delituerant, maxime Benedictinorum, Spicilegium. Published at Paris, at different periods, from 1655 to 1677, by different printers, in 13 vols. 4to. A new and improved edition was published by M. de la Barre, at Paris, in 1723, 3 vols. fol., with this title, Spicilegium, sive Collectio veterum aliquot Scriptorum qui in Gallice Bibliothecis delituerant, olim editum opera et studio D. Lucae d'Achery, etc., ed. Baluze, Martene, et de la Barre, This collection contains a vast number of works of different authors, Acts and Canons of Councils, Histories, Chronicles, Lives of Saints, Letters, Poems, and Documents, which had not previously appeared. The obligations of subsequent scholars have been so great to the indefatigable industry of d'Achery, that almost every one who has treated of the antiquities of mediaeval and modern European history has been obliged to acknowledge the debt due to him.