Robert, Claude

Robert, Claude, a French ecclesiastical writer, was born at Chesley in 1564 or 1565. He studied at the College of Paris, and became preceptor of the son of Benigne Fremyot. After the education of his pupil was completed and he was made bishop of Bourges, Robert continued to aid him in the administration of his diocese. He filled the same office under the bishop of Chalons-sur-Saone. This prelate rewarded his preceptor by making him archdeacon and his grand vicar. He died at Chalons-sur-Saone, May 16, 1637. He left, besides three Latin treatises, the Gallia Christiana (Paris, 1626), with a geographical chart. This work, the result of thirty years' labor, is an ecclesiastical history of all the dioceses of France from their origin to the 17th century. The documents which he had collected for a second edition were given into the hands of Scevole and Louis de Sainte- Marthe, and the book was published with many additions in 1656. A third edition was undertaken by the Benedictines of Saint-Maur in 1715, and remained unfinished at the thirteenth volume. It was continued in 1856 by M.B. Haureau. See Gallia. Christiana; Perry, Hist. de Chalons-sur-Saone; Socard, Notice Hist. sur Claude Robert; Fouque, Du Gallia Christiana et de ses Auteurs.