Louis Barbier

Louis Barbier (1593–1670), known as Abbé de la Rivière, was a French bishop, born in Vandélicourt, near Compiègne, France. He entered the church and made his way until he was appointed tutor and then became the friend and adviser of Gaston d'Orléans, brother of Louis XIII. He thus gained an entrance to the court, became grand almoner of the queen, and received the revenue of rich abbeys, such at Saint-Père-en-Vallée.

In March 1655 he was named bishop of Langres, but he spent his time at court, where he was always in demand, and where he gained great sums by gambling. He died very rich.

He willed 100 écus to the person who would write his epitaph, and got the following on his tomb:

Ci-gît un très grand personage,
Qui fut d'un illustre lignage,
Qui posséda mille vertus,
Qui ne trompa jamais, qui fut toujours fort sage...
Je n'en dirai pas d'avantage,
C'est trop mentir pour cent écus.

Here lies a great dignitary,
Descended from an illustrious lineage,
Who possessed a thousand virtues,
Who never deceived, and was always well behaved...
I will say nothing of the benefit,
Of lying so much for 100 écus.

References

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Barbier, Louis" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

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Louis Barbier

References

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