Montenses seems to have been a local name of the Donatists. St. Augustine says distinctly that in his time those heretics were called "Montenses" at Rome (Aug. H(er. Ixix). Epiphanius and Theodoret both asso- ciate the name, on the other hand, with the Novatians (Epiph. Hcer. lix ; Theodor. Hcer.-fab. iii, 5). In the early list of heresies which goes under the name of St. Jerome it is said that the Montenses were found chiefly at Rome, and that they were so named because they had concealed themselves in the hill-country during a time of persecution. This author speaks of them as distinct from the Donatists and Novatians, but as adopting the heresy of the one as to the rejection of penitents, and of the other as to rebaptism (Pseudo-Hieron. Indicul. de Ilceres. xxxiv). In one of the canons of the African code, which directs the mode of receiving a person into the Church when coming "de Donatistis vel de Monten- sibus," the two names seem to be used as synonymous.
Moiltereuil, BERNARnix, a learned Jesuit, was born in Paris in 1569, and died there in 1646. But lit- tle is known of his personal history. He is, however, distinguished for his works, of which A History of the early State of the Church and A Life of Jesus Christ are highly esteemed.
Montesar. See Moncox.
Montesino, Anthony, a noted Spanish Domini- can, fiuurishcd in the 16th century. He entered the order at Salamanca, and died as a martyr in the West Indies in 1645. His only work is, Informatio juridica in JudiEorum defensionem. See Echarii, Biblioih. Pra- dicatorum (Par." 1719-21, 2 vols, fol.), ii, 123.
Montespan, Fran^oise Athenais, Marquise de, one of the mistresses of Louis XIV, noted for her prof-
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MONTESQUIEU
ligacy and vices, deserves a place here because of the I duced into France and Germany, the state now cnntrol- inlhieiice she exerted on the fate of the religion of ling its affairs, and not the Church. It has also been France. .She was bom in 1041, married to the marquis t introduced into Spain, and into the Spanish provinces de Montespan in 1663, but, supplanting the duchess de of the Netherlands. It formed the model of the Loun- laValliere in the affections of the king in 1608,the mar- Finul Jiimnl of Ireland, established by the administra- quis was bani^^licd from court. The marchioness, freed tion of (piefn Victoria. (.J. II.W.) from the authority of her husband, became the mistress [ Montesquieu, CiiAULiis i>e Seconi.at, Baron of a ruler who claimed to be a faithful servant of the j j^ /„ /y^.^j^ ^^ ^^p^ ,„,g y,-^,,^ ^^^^^ j^^j^j moralists of the Church of Home. In 16/0 she accompanied him to ^,.,,^1,1^ and a celebrated French ^^^^ter, was born Jan. 18, Flanders, and unblushmgly revealed her real position at i,;x<,, at the Chateau de la Brede, in the immediate court. She openly braved the queen and the whole neighborhood of Bordeaux. He was descended from a kingdom. But, what is stranger still, she endeavored to reconcile imperious vice with humble piety, and formed a set of morals for herself which Christians would liardly care to endorse. She did not disdain to work for the poor, and, like many others, brought her- self to believe that fre(iuent alms and exterior practices of devotion woukl purchase a pardon for everything. She even presented herself at the communion-table, fa- vored by absolutions, which she either purchased from mercenary or procured from ignorant priests. One day she endeavored to obtain absolution from the curate of a village who had been recommended to her on account of his flexibility. " What !" said this man of God, " are you that marchioness de Montespan whose crime is an offence to the whole kingdom V Go, madam, renounce your wicked habits, and then come to this awful tribu- nal." She went, not indeed to renounce her wicked habits, but to complain to the king of the insult she had received, and to demand justice upon the confessor. The king, naturally religious, was not sure that his author- ity extended so far as to judge of what passed in the holy sacraments, and therefore consulted Bossuet, pre- ceptor to the dauphin and bishop of Condom, and the duke de Montauzier, his governor. The minister and the bishop both supported the curate, and tried upon this occasion to detach the king from Madame de IMon- tespan. The strife was doubtful for some time, but the mistress at length prevailed. In 1675 she lost her hold on the king, who had fallen in love with IMadame dc Maintenon (i]. v.), and she never regained her former position in the reign of her master and former lover. She retired to Paris for the winter, and in the summer visited watering-places. In 1707, while away at one of these places (Bourbon), she died, neither regretted by the king, her children, nor the nation. One half of her life was spent in grandeur, and the other half in con- tempt. She was rather ashamed of her faults than pen- itent for them. In a word, her reign was so intolerable and fatal that it was looked upon in France as a judg- ment from heaven. See Ueinrdl Jiioijiniiliicitl liirlhui- ari/,s.y.; Saint-Simon. .l/«///"//'x .• Ndltairc .s/' rA ,/, Louis XIV; lloussave,'.!///.. <l> l„ Volli.n- ,t Mm,, d, MoiiUspiin ; see also Loi:is XIV. (J. H. W.)