Menard, Claude

Menard, Claude a French theologian, was born at Angers in 1580. He began his career as a barrister, and was made a lieutenant-general of the provostship. Becoming depressed in mind by the loss of his wife, he forsook his calling, and intended to retire from the world. His friends prevented his entering a cloister, but he embraced the ecclesiastical profession, and showed his interest in monastic institutions by contributing to the erection of several convents. He applied himself to researches in the antiquities of his province with so much success that his compatriot Menage calls him "Le pere de l'histoire d'Anjou." He died Jan. 20,1652. He is noted for the -following works: Les deux premiers livres de St. Augustin contre Julien (Paris, 1617, folio and 8vo) :-S. Hieronymi endiculus de Hceresibus Judasorum (ibid. 1617, 4to). Menard published this history from a manuscript which he had found at Lasal. He added different Latin treatises of the same age, and notes, in which he showed much judgment and erudition. Menard's edition served as a basis for that of Ducange, in which the notes and observations of the former are upheld :-Itinerarium B. Antonini martyris, cum annotationibus (Angers, 1640, 4to):-Recherches et avis sur le corps de St. Jacques le Majeur (Angers, 1610). In this work he maintains, against general opinion, that the relics of this apostle are kept in StMaurille's Church at Angers. To Menard is also attributed L'histoire de l'ordre du Croissant, a MS. in the library at Paris. See Biographie Universelle, s.v.