Guillaume du Vair (1556-1621)
Presented by Olivier Thill


  1. Short biography
     
  2. Selected words
     
  3. Long biography
     

   (Lire cette page en français)

Guillaume du Vair was
a statesman,
a lawyer,
an orator,
and a pious man.
He was very famous
in his lifetime.

1. Short biography


2. Selected words

From La philosophie morale des stoiques:

"Plus le soleil est haut, moins il fait d'hombre."
"Ne recherchons autre récompense de notre labeur que la conscience d'avoir bien fait."
"Il m'est bien plus honorable (disoit Caton) que chacun demande pourquoy l'on ne m'a point dressé de statuë en la place, que si l'on demandoit pourquoy l'on m'en a dressé."
"Nous ne somme maistres que de nos conseils & de nos mouvemens, tout le reste depend d'ailleurs."
"Ce qui nous offense plus, c'est la nouveauté de ce qui nous arrive. Nous le voyons clairement, en ce que les choses les plus fascheuses se rendent douces par l'accoustumance. Les forçats pleurent quand ils entrent en galere, au bout de trois mois ils y chantent."
"Le sage doit aussi bien supporter les vices des meschants sans colere, que leur prosperité sans envie. Il faut qu'il endure les indiscretions des temeraires avec la mesme patience, que le medecin fait les injures du phrenetique. Il n'y a pas une plus grande sagesse ny plus utile au monde, que d'endurer la folie d'autruy."
"L'offense & la vengeance n'est qu'un mesme peché, qui a diverses excuses. L'une & l'autre a une mesme fin, qui est nuire à autruy."
"Accoustumons-nous donc à pardonner à tout le monde."
"Rien ne peut tant à faire bien reüssir ce que nous entreprenons, que de se bien servir de l'occasion. Le temps porte avec soy de certains moments, qui sont les saisons des affaires ; si vous les perdez, vostre peine demeure sans fruict. Si à l'occasion bien prise vous adjoustez encores la diligence, rarement manquerez-vous d'un bon succès."
"De tous les biens que la société civile nous apporte, il n'y en a point que nous devions plus estimer & chérir que l'amitié des honnestes gens : car c'est la baze & le pivot de nostre félicité. C'est elle qui gouverne toute nostre vie, qui adoucit tout ce qui y est d'amer, qui assaisonne tout ce qui y est de doux. "

From Les réponses d'Epictete aux demandes de l'empereur Adrian:

"Qu'est-ce que l'homme ? Une chandelle exposée au vent."
"Qu'est-ce que la victoire ? La fin de la guerre et le désir de la paix."
"Qu'est-ce que des amis ? Des statues d'or."
"Qu'est-ce que les étoiles ? Le livre des pilotes."

From De la constance et consolation:

"Les villes & les Estats sont composez d'infinies choses toutes differentes, qui ne sont alliées & assemblées que par les volontez des hommes, poussées à une communion & société par quelque celeste inclination."
"Comme l'archer addresse la fleche au but que la fleche ne voit pas ; aussi les conduit-il [Dieu] à un effect qu'ils n'entendent ny ne desirent pas."
"Le soldat ne devient Capitaine qu'en travaillant, veillant, patissant, souffrant, endurant, supportant le jour, la nuict, le froid, le chaud, la pluye, le Soleil. Le matelot ne devient pilote qu'entre les tempestes & les orages ; & l'homme ne devient vrayment homme, c'est à dire courageux & constant, qu'entre les adversitez. C'est l'affliction qui luy faict connoistre ce qu'il a de force : c'est elle qui, comme le fuzil du caillou, tire de l'homme ceste estincelle de feu divin qu'il a au coeur, & faict paroistre & reluire sa vertu. Il n'y a rien si digne de l'homme que de surmonter l'adversité, ny moyen de la surmonter qu'en la combatant, ny moyen de la combatre qu'en la rencontrant."
"Comme ce tant celebre Callimaque, en la bataille de Marathon, qui tout transpercé de fleches demeura droit, soustenu par les traicts mesmes qui l'avoient tué ; & donna, tout mort qu'il estoit, l'espouvante aux barbares qui l'estimoient immortel de ce que tant de coups ne le pouvoient faire tomber. Les afflictions qui sont portées constamment, & avec le contre-poids de la raison, nous entretiennent droicts & fermes ; & au lieu qu'autrement nous pancherions trop vers la terre, nous relevent vers le Ciel."
"Comme la santé revient au coprs malade par le moyen des parties saines, qui gardent entiers les principes de la vie : aussi en une ville la paix & la concorde se restablit par l'esprit modeste & non passionné du bon citoyen."
"L'appetit de nostre estomac se peut bien assouvir, pour ce que la nature l'a proportionné à une chose finie, qui sont les vienades necessaires pour notre nourriture : mais celuy de nostre ame se montre insatiable en ce monde, pour ce qu'elle l'a proportionné à la vérité eternelle"
"Les poissons ont bien ceste proprieté qu'ils naissent et se nourissent en la mer sansen tire la salure : mais que les hommes puissent naistre, et se nourrir en l'ordure et infection de la terre, sans en estre entaschez, s'il n'est impossible, il est tres-difficile."

From De l'Eloquence Françoise et des raisons pourquoy elle est demeuree si basse:

"D'autant qu'ainsi que la parole rend l'home plus excellent que les autres animaux, d'autant l'Eloquence le rend elle plus excellent que les autres hommes. Car elle n'est autre chose que la perfection de la parole, & une plus exquise communication du discours & de la raison : bref le gouvernail des ames, qui dispose les moeurs & les affections"
"Rien ne se parfait du premier coup, on ne peut arriver au sommet que par degrez."
"L'Orateur est le vray Medecin des esprits, auquel il appartient de faire ce que disoit Theophraste, guerir la morsure des viperes par le chant des flustes ; c'est à dire les calomnies des meschans par l'harmonie de la raison."

From Remonstrances au habitans de Marseille:

"Apres que ce grand Thimoleon eut delivré la ville de Corinthe de la tyrannie de son propre frere, les Corinthiens luy mirent en main leur armee pour aller à l'entreprise de Sicile; & luy delivrant la commission, ils luy dirent : Nous verrons par ce que tu feras, si tu as exterminé le Tyran ou ton ennemy."
"Aux autres villes on a dressé des statutes à ceux que se sont signalez de tels actes : il faut que vous luy en dressiez une, non en vostre place publique, ains en vos coeurs, non de bronze ou de marbre, subjecte à la roüille, & à l'air; ains d'affection & bien-vueillance eternelle."

From De la priere:

"Comme vous ramenez mainenant sur la terre la clarté du soleil, ramenez aussi sur mon âme la splendeur de votre esprit, afin qu'à mesure que le labeur de mes bras sera employé à l'entretènement de mon corps, les pensées de mon âme le soient à invoquer votre sainte grâce, sous la conduite de laquelle je puisse cheminer tellement par les voies du monde sensuel et corruptible que je ne m'égare point du céleste et incorruptible."


3. The Life Of Guillaume du Vair

Date Event
 Du Vair is from a noble family of Auvergne, near Aurillac.
 His paternal grandparents are Jean du Vair and Jeanne du Puy Radouant.
 His father is Jean du Vair, who has moved to Paris, who has married Barbe François, and with whom he has four children: the elder is Guillaume, then come two daughters: Philippe and Antoinette, and the youngest of the children is Pierre Radouant.
7 March 1556Guillaume du Vair is born in Paris Radouant. The date of the 7th of March 1556, is given by du Vair himself in his will. Erroneous dates had been given by Sainte-Marthe in Gallia Christiania, by Taisand, by Duchenes, in Moreri's dictionary, and in Prosopographie des gens du parlement de Paris Tamizey.
 The godfather of Guillaume du Vair is Guillaume Duprat, bishop of Clermont, who gives him a pension of 56 livres per year.
Jean du Vair was the lawyer of Guillaume Duprat.
Guillaume Duprat was a supporter of the Jesuits. With his donation, the Jesuits opened three new schools: in Billom, in Mauriac, and in Paris. This latter school was established in the Hostel de Langres, rue Saint Jacques, and was renamed Hostel de Clermont in honor of Duprat.
1562His father, Jean du Vair, is avocat au Parlement de Paris, and with the other lawyers, he has to swear his loyalty to the Catholic faifth Radouant.
1564-1565His father, Jean du Vair, is one of the lawyers (with A. de Thou, Pasquier, du Mesnil) hired by the university of Paris against the Jesuits Radouant.
1568His father, Jean du Vair, has been appointed procureur général de la Cour des Aides by the Queen mother, Catherine de Médicis, in order to check the accounts of the tax collectors Radouant, Popoff.
1570Guillaume du Vair obtains a degree in Law, "décret", canon law, in Paris. He is only 14 years old Radouant.
Circa 1572Guillaume du Vair travels to Italy Radouant.
After November 1572
and before April 1575
Guillaume du Vair is attorney to the Parlement de Paris Radouant.
15 January 1573His father, Jean du Vair, becomes maistre des Requestes de l'hôtel du roy, which gives him access to the Conseil du Roi Popoff, Radouant.
1576His father, Jean du Vair with two brothers-in-law, Buffet and Forjat, are accused of having earned a lot of money in a financial transaction where they gave wrong figures to la Cour des Aides. But they will not be condemned Radouant.
Circa 1577Guillaume du Vair is among the Gens de Conseil et Maistres des Requestes working for Fançois, duc d'Alençon, young brother of the king, Henri III.
His salary is 100 livres per year, which is not so bad, but the Duc doesn't pay his people on time.
With the Duc, are corrupt men: Bussy, Fervaques, d'Avrilly, Viteaux, Simier, Harlay de Champvallon, Renauld de Beaune; and honnest men: Dampmartin, Neuville, Simon Marion, Antoine Loisel, d'Emery, Bailly abbot of Bourgueil, Michel Buffet, Pibrac Radouant.
July 1582Guillaume du Vair is in Antwerp/Anvers with the duc d'Alençon Radouant.
August 1582Guillaume du Vair leaves the court of the duc d'Alençon and goes back to Paris, where he is a lawyer again Radouant.
  The coat of arms of Guillaume du Vair is d'azur à la fasce d'or accompagnée de trois croissans montans d'argent, deux en chef et un en pointe, au lambel de trois pendans de gueules en chef Popoff.
1581 or 1582Guillaume du Vair is the author of two poems for a book honoring the memory of Odet Turnebe, third son of the great humanist, Othonis Turnebi in suprema curia parisiensi advocati Tumulus Radouant.
1582Nicolas Aleaume, sieur de Plancy, becomes conseiller au Parlement de Paris. He is the husband of Antoinette, the sister of Guillaume du Vair Popoff.
1582The lawyer, Pierre du Belloy, aged 43, dedicates a dissertation to his friend, "excellent attorney", Guillaume du Vair, aged 27. Maybe du Vair was a student of du Belloy in Toulouse. In return, du Vair writes verses praising du Belloy, Cujas, Roaldes, and the king Radouant.
1583Guillaume du Vair is the author of a poem for a book honoring the memory of Jean Morel, V. C. Ioann. Morelli Ebredun. Consiliarii oeconomique Regii moderatoris illustrissimi principis Henrici Engolismaei, magni Franciae prioris, tumulus Radouant.
1583Guillaume du Vair is the author of a poem for a book honoring the memory of Christophe de Thou, president of the Parlement de Paris, A Ja. Aug. Thuanum Ch. F. Sen. Consolatio Radouant.
1582-83After his return to Paris in August 1582 and before September 1583, Guillaume du Vair is ill. His mother takes care of him Radouant.
8 September 1583His mother dies of the plague Radouant.
In the years 1582-84Maybe it is at that time, when he or his family is ill, that he composes his works of piety: Méditation sur les pseaumes de la pénitence, De la saincte philosophie, Méditation sur sept pseaumes de la consolation.
7 February 1584His father, Jean, is maistre des requestes for the last time, because the king is causing some troubles to him Radouant. Later, in 1594, in a letter to Villeroy, Guillaume du Vair writes: "le feu roy avoit ruiné mon père" Petey-Girard. The reasons are not clearly known.
23 April 1584Guillaume du Vair is received by the parliament for his admission as maistre des requestes, succeding to his father Radouant.
2 May 1584Guillaume du Vair offers his office of maistre des requestes (worth 10,000 livres) to Jacques-Auguste de Thou, in exchange of the office of conseiller clerc (worth 7,000 livres) held by de Thou.
Du Vair and de Thou being friends, this might have been a gentlemen's agreement with a possible financial settlement. De Thou desired to be maistres des requestes since the death of his brother Jean de Thou (5 Aug. 1579) who was himself maistres des requestes. Besides, de Thou was a more experimented lawyer than du Vair. Maybe the exchange was imposed by the king, who had disgraced du Vair's father Celo.
There are two kinds of counsellors in Paris : "conseiller clerc" reserved for religious persons, and "conseiller lai" for non-religious persons. He is "conseiller clerc". The two kinds of counsellors are doing exactly the same job, which consists in judging important judiciary cases and in approving, modifying, or rejecting the laws prepared by the governement.
10 June 1584Death of the duc d'Alençon Lalanne.
26 September 1584His sister, Philippe, dies. She had married Philippe de Vérigny Radouant.
March 1585His father, Jean, is canon and dean of the church Saint-Marcel in Paris Radouant.
About 1585-1595Guillaume du Vair resides in the south of Paris, near La Sorbonne Radouant.
Between 1585 and 1591Guillaume du Vair translates the Enchiridion or Manuel of Epictetus: Le manuel d'Epictete, published in 1591, and he writes La Philosophie morale des Stoiques, translated into English in 1664 by Charles Cotton.
June 1586Henri III forces the acceptance of the creation of new offices despite the opposition of the parliament, the discourses of his president, Achille de Harlay, and du Vair Radouant.
1587Guillaume du Vair writes an elegy honoring the memory of Mary Stuart Radouant, because he is not satisfied with the elegy of Mr de Bourges Lalanne. She died on the 18th of February 1587. A celebration was to take place in Notre-Dame cathedral, where the ligueurs were planing to kill the king and the princes Lalanne.
1588His book, De la saincte philosophie is published in Paris. It will be reprinted in 1592, 1594, 1596, 1597, 1599, 1600, 1603, 1606, 1607, 1609, 1610, 1612, 1614, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1621, 1622, 1624, 1625, 1627, 1636, 1641 Petey-Girard.
9-15 May 1588 9 May 1588, the chief of the ligueurs, the duc de Guise, arrives in Paris and is cheered by the Parisians.
12 May 1588, in the morning, soldiers arrive in Paris, sent by the king, Henri III, who is afraid of the ligueurs. The people of Paris takes to the streets, and repels the soldiers.
13 May 1588, the king, Henri III, flees from Paris to Chartres.
Circa the 15th of May 1588, du Vair makes a speech, asking for a negociation with the king Radouant.
23 December 1588The duc de Guise and his brother are murdered in Blois, and many opponents to the king are jailed. Du Vair writes the elegy of the duc de Guise Radouant, but it is not published, only shown to some ligueurs Lalanne.
16 January 1589About 20 parlemantarians are jailed by the Parisian revolutionaries. Du Vair, who had been warned, stayed home. Two days later, many parlementarians are realeased, probably for money from the families. Some of their offices are given to other people. The brave president Harlay stays in prison Radouant.
February 1589Henri III issues an edict transferring the Parliament of Paris to the city of Tours. The edict is sticked to the porte Saint Jacques in March or April. Du Vair refuses to go to Tours for several reasons: 1. he has to take care of his crippled father, 2. it is not easy to leave Paris, 3. he feels more useful inside Paris than outside, because he believes he can soften extremists and prevent dramatic measures, 4. he thinks he can be a mediator Radouant.
1 August 1589Henri III is murdered by Jacques Clément.
5 August 1589, in Paris, the duc de Mayenne frees the prisoners.
5 August 1589, Guillaume du Vair pronounces a discourse asking for a resolution against robberies, unauthorised assemblies, and new taxes Radouant.
End of 1589Guillaume du Vair with Villeroy, save the life of the president of the parliament, Potier de Blancmesnil Lalanne, who had been jailed for the third time and accused of a plot to let Henri IV enters in Paris Radouant.
Maybe before 1590Guillaume du Vair composes Méditation sur Job and Méditation sur Jérémie Radouant.
Probably in 1590Guillaume du Vair composes De la constance et consolation ès calamitez publiques which is published in 1594 Radouant. The characters in this work are inspired by the friends of du Vair, e.g. Musée is Henri de Monantheuil, Orphée is Jacques Houllier, and Linus is Nicolas le Fèvre Radouant.
1590Guillaume du Vair had bought wheat before the siege of Paris, but his stock is confiscated, and so are his cloths worth 400 or 500 ecus Lalanne, Radouant.
1591Guillaume du Vair saves the life of the lieutenant civil Mathias de La Bruyere Lalanne, Radouant.
1591His translation Le Manuel d'Epictete is published in Paris by Abel L'Angelier and frequently reprinted. An earlier translation by Antoine du Moulin had been published in 1544.
15 November 1591
to
4 December 1591
15 November 1591, a new tribunal is set up by extremists of La Ligue. Three magistrates are sentenced to death and killed: the president Barnabé Brisson, the conseiller Claude Larcher, and the conseiller au Chatelet Jean Tardif.
In the following days, about 30 other persons are killed.
28 November 1591, the duc de Mayenne comes back to Paris and stops the extremists.
4 December 1591, the persons responsible for the killing of the three magistrates are judged and killed.
16 June 1592His father, Jean du Vair, dies Radouant, Popoff. He is burried on the 17th of June 1592 reported Lestoile Radouant.
About 1593Guillaume du Vair would like to get married to Magdeleine Canaye who is the eldest daughter of a rich Parisian attorney Radouant.
January 1593Guillaume du Vair is elected to be one of the six new deputies to the Etats de la Ligue. With him are Le Maistre, Bailly, de Masperault, d'Aubray, and Thielement Radouant.
20 May 1593Guillaume du Vair convinces his colleagues to reject the idea of making the infant of Spain as the new queen of France.
28 June 1593Guillaume du Vair makes a speech about the respect of the Salic Law, therefore endorsing Henri IV. Later, his speech will be revised and printed under the title of Suasion de l'arrêt pour la manutention de la loi salique. An edict is taken by the parliament. It is pronounced by the president Le Maistre, instigated by the conseillers Guillaume du Vair, Pierre Pithou, Nicolas Le Fevre, Jacques Houllier Radouant, Pierre Damours, and Lazare Cocquelay Popoff.
June 1593Only 4 presidents and 51 conseillers of the Parlement de Paris are still present in Paris Radouant. In January 1589, they were about 120 Radouant.
13 July 1593Guillaume du Vair, after a visit to Magdelaine Canaye, escapes from an ambush prepared by soldiers who were obeying orders from some persons from La Ligue, and maybe from Spain Lalanne, Radouant.
25 July 1593In Saint Denis, Henri IV converts to Catholicism.
4 November 1593Guillaume du Vair refuses the money that is offered to the members of the parliament by Feria, ambassador of Spain. Among the other unbribable parlementarians are Le Maistre, Luillier, and Thielement. This was not the first time that Spain had given bribes, and du Vair had always refuses them Radouant.
27 February 1594In Chartres, Henri IV is sacred king of France.
Lyon recognizes Henri IV as its legal sovereign since 8 February 1594, but Paris is still held by the ligueurs.
1594Guillaume du Vair writes De l'Eloquence françoise et des raisons pourquoy elle est demeuré si basse. It is published in 1594, 1595, 1597, 1599, and is in the complete works Petey-Girard.
In the night of 21-22 March 1594Guillaume is almost killed. The Spaniards who are retreating, see him with his white scarf (a sign of sympathy for the king) and shoot at him, but he is not touched. Not very far away, Pierre Pithou who is also wearing a white scarf, is also the target of the Spaniards and one of the bullets gets through his hat but he isn't injured. Later, near the hostel de Cluny, du Vair sees a group of opponents to Henri IV. He goes towards them thinking he is followed by his friends, but he is almost alone. Du Vair is strocked by a halbert which is stopped by the armor he has on underneath his coat. Du Vair keeps on talking. Everybody calms down and nobody gets seriously injured Lalanne, Radouant.
22 March 1594Henri IV enters in Paris, but Laon, Toulouse, and Marseille are still held by the ligueurs.
5 April 1594Guillaume du Vair is apppointed maistre des Requestes Popoff. This office was not vacant, it is a new post founded by Henri IV on 30 March 1594, rewarding du Vair for his action when Paris was under the control of La Ligue.
25 July 1594Joseph-Juste Scaliger sends his booklet about the quadrature of the cycle, Cyclometria elementa duo, to Monantheuil. In the house of J.-A. de Thou, the work of Scaliger is examined by Monantheuil, Le Fevre, Loisel, Pithou, and du Vair.
27 October 1594, Monantheuil writes back to Scaliger, saying his finding is excellent and ingenious. But Clavius, Romanus, and Viete said that the demonstration of Scaliger is erroneous.
17 December 1594, Scaliger admits having made a mistake.
4 March 1595, Scaliger issues a correction, Appendix ad Cylclometrica sua, which is also faulty Radouant.
1606, when Peiresc visits Scaliger, he avoids talking about the quadrature although he knows very well what happened in 1594 Gassendi.
1594 or 1595Guillaume du Vair refuses to interfere in a trial in favor of the lover of Henri IV, Gabrielle d'Estrées, although she had asked for his support Lalanne.
circa 1595Guillaume du Vair does not accept to legitimate the natural son of Henri IV and Gabrielle d'Estrées, César de Vendosme, althought the Parliament of Paris has already agreed to it, and in spite of the pression of Henri IV Lalanne.
March 1595 Radouant
or May 1595 Popoff
Guillaume du Vair resigns from his position of maistre des Requestes.
1596Guillaume du Vair travels to England with the marshal de Bouillon and Nicolas Harlay de Sancy for the creation of a league against Spain who is besieging the town of Calais. He meets with Queen Elizabeth I. When he is about to leave her, she tells him he shouldn't believe in the rumours about her. She knew he had written a speech against her in 1587, when Mary Stuart was killed Radouant, Lalanne. The treaty of Greenwich is agreed. It is an alliance between Henri IV and Elisabeth I Duccini.
17 February 1596In Marseille, Charles de Cassaulx is killed and the Spaniards depart from Marseille in a hurry.
15 October 1596Guillaume du Vair is in Rouen Tamizey.
29 October 1596Henry IV decides to send du Vair to Marseille to bring peace and order overthere Radouant.
14 December 1596, Guillaume du Vair arrives in Aix Tamizey.
23 December 1596Guillaume du Vair pronounces a Remonstrance aux habitans de Marseille, where he declares he is happy to see no Spanish ships and the red crosses on their sails in the famous port of Marseille, and that the king, Henri IV, is giving to the city the most precious jewel of his crown which is his sovereign justice.
4 January 1597Guillaume du Vair presides the court of Justice that he has established in Marseille, in order to solve the problems caused by the civil war Tamizey.
1 November 1597Guillaume du Vair would like to become bishop of Riez Celo, but Henri IV rejects his request Radouant.
1598Plague in Marseille histopro.
2 May 1598Peace of Vervins. The city of Berre is given by the duc de Savoie to du Vair who is representing Provence and is almost its governor.
2 July 1599Guillaume du Vair arrives in Aix where he is going to be the new first president of the parlement de Provence Tamizey Radouant.
12 December 1599The lord of Saint-Ivers kills the lord of Ventadour in a duel. The parliament of Provence prosecutes Saint-Ivers Tamizey.
4 November 1600Marie de Medicis, on her way from Italy to Paris, following her wedding with Louis XIII, arrives in Marseille. She is greeted by are four cardinals (de Joyeuse, de Gondi, de Givry, de Sourdis), then by the chancellor (Pomponne de Bellievre), then by the connestable (Lesdiguieres), then by three dukes (de Guise, de Nemours, de Ventadour), and then by Guillaume du Vair histopro.
A dispute arises between the galleys of Florence and those of Malta Tamizey.
Marie de Medicis, her aunt, sister, friends and servants stay in Marseille for two weeks from the 3rd till the 17th of November Duccini.
On the 17th of November, Marie de Medicis is in Aix, where she listens to a second speech of du Vair.
17 March 1600Guillaume du Vair, in a letter to Henri IV, tells that there are about 40 ships of English pirates seafaring between Sicily and Marseille, and they contribute to the decline of the Mediterranean commerce. In subsequent letters, he expresses other complaints about the English pirates Tamizey.
1602Guillaume du Vair pays a visit to the Maréchal Alphonse d'Ornano in Tarascon Lalanne.
17 May 1602His brother, Pierre du Vair, becomes bishop of Vence, near Nice Radouant. He had a degree of Doctor from La Sorbonne. He is known for his piety Radouant.
1603His brother, Pierre du Vair, restores the episcopal palace of Vence Popoff.
End of 1603Guillaume du Vair asks to be appointed to the see of Marseilles, but the king, Henry IV wants him to stay at the head of Parlement de Provence Radouant. At the beginning of 1604, Guillaume du Vair informs his friends that he has lost hopes of becoming bishop of Marseille Radouant (see letters to Philippe Canaye de Fresne). N. B. Sometimes, it is mistakenly said that it was du Vair who refused the episcopal chair.
 The country house of Du Vair is located between Aix and Marseille, in a place called La Floride.
August 1605Guillaume du Vair goes to Paris in order to prepare the edition of his Complete works, which will be published in 1606 Celo, Petey-Girard, Gassendi.
Spring 1606Guillaume du Vair goes back to Aix Petey-Girard.
1609Guillaume du Vair is requested for the inspection of the financial state of the ambassador of France in Turkey, Jean de Salignac, following complaints from marchants of Marseille Gontaut.
1610A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Geneve.
1610Marie de Medicis writes to Guillaume du Vair, because she wants him to avoid the condemnation of the book of Bellarmin by the Parliament of Provence, like that was done by the Parliament of Paris. The Conseil de la régence had to overrule the Parliament of Paris. The book, Tractatus de potestate Summi Pontificis in rebus temporalibus, adversus Gulielmum Barclaium presented ultramontane doctrines (supremacy of the pope). Guillaume du Vair answers the queen will have no troubles with the Parliament of Provence. Lalanne.
From February 1611
to the end of April 1611
Guillaume du Vair, as president of the Parlement de Provence, is involved in the trial of Louis Gaufridi, accused of sorceries, and who is eventually sentenced to death. It seems that du Vair believes Gaufridy is possessed by the devil Duccini.
1611Guillaume du Vair is ill. Malherbe thinks it is due to the melancholy of du Vair Radouant.
1612A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Rouen.
3 October 1614Louis XIII, aged 13, shows he is major by going to the Parlement de Paris, with his mother and his cousins. He has two edicts registered, one about the peace, and the other against duels and blasphemies Lebegue.
1614A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Rouen.
In the years 1596-1616When Guillaume du Vair is in Provence, he is bothered by the powerful archbishop of Aix, Paul Hurault de l'Hospital de Vallegrand Tamizey.
1615Guillaume du Vair asks a favor to Marie de Médicis: the bishopric of Riez for his nephew, Guillaume Aleaume. Rome delivers his agreement on 18 May 1615 GC.
8 December 1615A letter is written to du Vair saying the queen mother would like to see him at a new post.
9 January 1616Guillaume du Vair writes a letter to Villeroy, secretaire d'estat, where he says he can't accept a nomination at the head of the judicial system, because of the weakness of his own body and spirit, because he doesn't disapprove the way the matters of the state are currently dealt with by Bruslart de Sillery, because it is not easy to give satisfaction to the "princes qui sont maintenant en armes", and because he doesn't want to be quickly dismissed like two former keepers of the sceals: Morvilliers and Montholon.
Between 13 February 1616
and 5 May 1616
At the conference of Loudun, it is decided that the seals will be taken from the Chancellor, Nicolas Bruslart de Sillery, on the pretext that so important a charge must be oppressive to M. de Sillery at his advanced age Pardoe.
April 1616 The secretary of Leonora Galigai, Andrea de Lizza, writes a letter to du Vair, saying he could be the new keeper of the seals. Then Guillaume Ribier, who is working for Claude Barbin, and who is the brother of the husband of Françoise Aleaume, visits Guillaume du Vair in Aix in order to convince him to accept his new post Duccini. Three times did Du Vair refuse the post of keeper of the seals Tamizey.
19 April 1616Guillaume du Vair leaves Aix, with Malherbe and Peiresc, in order to become keeper of the seals in Paris Lebegue. He is sworn in on the 16th of May 1616 Popoff.
25 November 1616Guillaume du Vair has to give the seals to Claude Mangot Popoff, Duccini, Radouant.
Du Vair is disgraced because the queen mother, Marie de Medicis, wanted him to proceed against Charles de Gonzaga, duc de Nevers Pardoe.
Ten days earlier, the duc de Nevers seized the castle of Sii, after he heard the news of the imprisonment of the prince de Condé. Concini and Claude Barbin wants a vigorous reaction against him. Du Vair, Villeroy, and Jeannin wants a conciliation with him, because they know he is a learned man and a good military leader who has fought on the side of Henri IV, his cousin Duccini. Richelieu had visited Nevers before and thought he had won him over, and therefore he now feels betrayed by the duc de Nevers. He advises for a strong reaction Mousnier.
The new keeper of the seals, Claude Mangot, is a loyal servant of Concini Pardoe. He is the son and the brother of distinguished lawyers Mousnier.
Two libels are published: L'Adieu des sceaux, and Discours sous le nom de M. du Vair, rendant les sceaux au roi, in which it is said that the majority for a king is 14 years old, and he is already 15, so he should take over his responsibilities Duccini.
 Guillaume du Vair stays in Paris, within the religious community of les Bernardins.
Later than 1616Guillaume du Vair buys the property of Villeneuve-le-roi Radouant.
25 April 1617After the murder of Concini, Louis XIII takes the seals from Mangot and gives them back to Guillaume du Vair, who will keep them until his death.
8 June 1617A 37-page-long booklet is published in Paris, with the title Reioussance de la France sur l'eslection et restablissement de Monseigneur du Vair Garde des Sceaux, signed by Bautru des Mattras, with a privilege signed by H. de Mesmes.
August 1617Guillaume du Vair does not approve that Louis XIII gives big properties to Charles d'Albert de Luynes Mousnier.
11 August 1617Guillaume du Vair is appointed Bishop of Lisieux in Normandy, but he is not yet a priest Radouant.
November 1617Guillaume du Vair is in Rouen Lebegue, presiding the assembly of les Etats généraux.
1617A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo in Rouen.
20 April 1618On Easter Sunday, in Paris, in the church of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, Guillaume du Vair offends the duc d'Epernon, because he is placed before him Radouant.
1618His nephew, Guillaume Aleaume, is his coadjutor GC.
1618A new edition of du Vair's works is published in quarto at Paris.
25 February 1619Guillaume du Vair becomes a priest Radouant.
1619A new edition of du Vair's works is published in folio at Paris and in octavo at Rouen.
17 January 1620Death of Fervaques who was still holding important properties belonging to the bishopric of Lisieux, and which are given back to the bishop, i.e. Guillaume du Vair.
18 February 1620Guillaume du Vair disagrees with the parlement de Paris Radouant.
5 July 1620Guillaume du Vair is about to leave Paris and follow the king in the south-west provinces of France. He revises his testament. He leaves 36,000 livres for the poor people of the hospital Sainct-Esprit in Marseille; 1600 livres for prayers for soul; 1600 livres for prayers for the souls of his parents and his sister who is already dead; 1000 livres for poor people on the day of his burial; a pension of 400 livres to the hospital of Meaux; a pension of 300 livres to Pierre Lucas; a diamant to Sainct-Aubin; his medals to Peiresc; and various items to the people who were working for him: Claude Martin, homme de chambre; Moreau; François and Isantier, valets de pied; Largillière, maistre d'hostel; an argentier; and other serviteurs et servantes; and Pierre le Long, cuisinier.
 The income of Guillaume du Vair is 30,000 livres per year for his function as garde des sceaux Radouant.
3 August 1621Guillaume du Vair dies on his way to Clairac, at Tonneins (Lot et Garonne, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse).
His death is attributed to a fever caused by a plague Celo.
He was already ill in the town of Saint Barthelemy on 19 July 1621, and then in Bergerac Tamizey.
His body is brought back to Paris and is burried in the church of les Bernardins in Paris, on 30 August 1621.
August 1621After his death, the new keeper of the seals is Charles d'Albert, Duc de Luynes Jugov ; the new bishop of Lisieux is du Vair's nephew, Guillaume Aleaume, who leaves his bishopric of Riez Radouant.
1621In a booklet, Relation véritable de la mort de Monsieur du Vair, garde des Sceaux de France, Louis XIII regrets the death of Guillaume du Vair: "reconnaissant et ayant éprouvé en diverses occasions combien il m'était utile et nécessaire" Mousnier.
1621A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Geneve.
3 August 1622Death of Nicolas Aleaume who was the husband of Antoinette du Vair Popoff.
1622A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Rouen.
1624A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Rouen.
1625A new edition of du Vair's works is published in folio at Paris.
27 or 29 August 1634Death of his nephew, Guillaume Aleaume Tamizey. He is burried near his uncle in the church of Les Bernardins in Paris Radouant.
1636A new edition of du Vair's works is published in octavo at Rouen.
June 1638His brother, Pierre du Vair, dies and is burried in the cathedral of Vence Popoff, Tamizey.
1641A new edition of du Vair's works is published in folio at Paris.
July 1644Death of Françoise Aleaume, niece of du Vair. She had married Jacques Ribier Popoff.
  Richelieu, in his Mémoires, says: "Quand au sieur du Vair, jamais homme ne vint en cette charge [keeper of the seals] avec plus de réputation et ne s'en acquitta avec moins d'estime ; si bien que le choix que l'on fit de sa personne ne servit qu'à faire connaître la différence qu'il y a entre le palais [parlement] et la cour, entre rendre la justice aux particuliers et la conduite des affaires publiques. Il était rude en sa conversation, irrésolu ès moindres difficultés et sans sentiment des obligations reçues." Richelieu did not like that du Vair did nothing to save Leonora Galigai Duccini. Richelieu also says: "Homme austere de sa nature et tenant quelque chose du philosophe stoïcien, comme il parait dans ses escrits." Radouant.
  Some biographers of du Vair are: François Duchesne, Michault, C.-A. Sapey, E. Cougny, Lud. Lalanne, Paul Andral, Abbot Bayle, Honoré Bouche Tamizey.


Sources
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