Jacques Gaffarel, who had been engaged in similar work for
Richelieu, was his principal agent in Rome. At Padua he was so fortunate
as to secure the services of the archaeologist Tomasini. But his
correspondence shows that the prince of librarians, Gabriel Naude, was at
once his agent, his adviser, and his friend; and it is from Naude that we
take the words of grief which remain as the scholar's memorial. 'Oh cruel
Fate and bitter Death, thrust into the midst of our jollity! Was there
ever a man, I pray you, more skilled in history and philology, more ready
to assist the student, more endowed with wit and wealth and worth, the
equipment of any man who, like Peiresc, is to hold the world of letters
at his beck and call.'
CHAPTER XV.
FRENCH COLLECTORS--NAUDE TO RENOUARD.
Gabriel Naude was a Doctor of Medicine, and held an appointment at one
time as physician in ordinary to Louis XIII. But even as a student he
manifested that passion for books which furnished the real occupation of
his life. Before taking his degree at Padua he was librarian to Henri de
Mesmes, and afterwards to Cardinal Bagni at Rome. On his patron's death
he was placed in charge of the great library which Cardinal Barberini was
establishing in his palace in the Piazza of the Quattro Fontane. Some
part of his time was spent in collecting books for Cardinal Richelieu,
who offered Naude the charge of his library in 1642; but, the Cardinal
having died in that year, Naude transferred his services to Mazarin.
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