Perefixe, Hardouin Beaumont De

Perefixe, Hardouin Beaumont De a noted French prelate, was born in 1605. After having finished his education, he attracted the notice of cardinal Richelieu, who became his protector. Perefixe obtained the high office of tutor to Louis XIV in 1644. Four years later his services to the court received recognition by his promotion to the bishopric of Rodez. He became a member of the French Academy in 1654, and was appointed archbishop of Paris in 1662. In this last responsible position he enforced among the Jansenists compliance with the formulary of pope Alexander VII. He died in 1670. Perefixe was a man of great scholarship, and possessed remarkable talents. He was born to rule and to teach. Unfortunately, however, he was more of a politician than an ecclesiastic, and did everything rather to please hisking than to honor his God. He was truly a timeserver. In the Jansenistic controversy he had it in his power to influence the king favorably, but he failed to embrace the opportunity, and was obliged to obey when he might have led. SEE PAVILLON; SEE PORT-ROYAL. His Life of Henry IV is considered a classical work (Histoire du Roy Henry le Grand [Amst. 1661, 12mo]). An English translation was published (Lond. 1663, 8vo; also 1672 and 1785). See Jervis, History of the Church of France, 1:454 sq., 461 sq.; D'Avrigny, Memoires Chronol. 2:444 sq. (J. H. W.)