Michel d'Esne de Betencourt (1540–1614) was a prelate in the Habsburg Netherlands.

Michel d'Esne
ChurchCatholic
DioceseTournai
SeeNotre-Dame de Tournai
PredecessorJean Vendeville
SuccessorMaximilien Villain
Orders
Ordination5 January 1589
Personal details
Born1540
Died1 October 1614
MottoVirtute non sanguine

Life

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D'Esne was born in early January 1540, either in Tournai or in Cambrai, the son of Adam d'Esne, lord of Betencourt, and Bonne de Lalaing.[1] He was educated at Houdain college in Mons and at the age of fifteen became a page at the court of Philip II of Spain. He went on to serve as a soldier for six years in Flanders and Spain. D'Esne then studied theology and poetry, and on 5 January 1589 was ordained to the priesthood. Living in Douai, he spent his time translating devotional and edifying works.[2]

In 1597 Philip II nominated him as bishop of Tournai; papal confirmation followed on 29 November 1597. During his reign as bishop, d'Esne founded or oversaw the establishment of numerous educational and charitable foundations. In 1600, he held a reforming diocesan synod in Tournai, the statutes of which were published.[2] He died on 1 October 1614 and was buried in the choir of Tournai Cathedral.[1]

Translations

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  • Les quinze mystères du rosaire de la sacrée vierge Marie (Antwerp, Plantin Press, 1588)
  • Recueil de tout ce qui s'est faict au Consistoire assemblé à Rome par N.S.P. le pape Grégoire XIII où furent receus les embassadeurs des trois rois du Jappon, et presterent publiquement obéissance à Sa Sainteté le xxiij mars l'an 1585 (Douai, Widow of Jacques Boscard, 1593)
  • Giovanni Pietro Maffei, Le trois livres de la vie du père Ignace de Loyole qui a fonde la compagnie de Jesus (Douai, Jan Bogard, 1594)[3]
  • Lettre du Japon des années 1591 et 1592 (Douai, Jan Bogard, 1595)[4]
  • Pedro de Ribadeneira, La vie du père François de Borja (Douai, Balthazar Bellerus, 1596)
  • John Brugman, La vie de la très Saincte et vrayment admirable vierge Ludyvine (Douai, Balthazar Bellerus, 1608)

References

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  1. ^ a b F.F.J. Lecouvet, "Michel d'Esne", Messager des sciences historiques (1861), pp. 281-288.
  2. ^ a b Auguste Vander Meersch, "Esne (Michel d')", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 6 (Brussels, 1878), 696-598.
  3. ^ Les trois livres on Google Books.
  4. ^ Lettre du Japon on Google Books
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Tournai
1597–1614
Succeeded by