Pierre de L'Estoile

Born in Paris into a middle-class background, Pierre de l'Estoile was tutored by Mathieu Béroalde. He knew Agrippa d'Aubigné. He became a law student at Bourges (1565). He became a notary, and royal secretary. He spent time in prison in 1589, being taken for one of the supporters of the politiques. He died in Paris in 1611.

The manuscript diaries of Pierre de L'Estoile (1546–1611) were deposited in the library of the Abbey of Saint-Acheul by his descendant Pierre Poussemthe de L'Estoile when he died in 1718. Pierre Poussemthe de L'Estoile was the abbot of Saint Acheul. The bookseller Pierre Mongie took possession of L'Estoile's manuscripts after the abbey was dissolved, and they were later acquired by the Royal library. The diaries were used as sources for various historical works on the period of Henry III and Henry IV of France. The Registres Journaux (1574-1611) are personal accounts of the reigns of Henry III and Henry IV of France. They contain other matter (sonnets, pamphlets). • Illustration — Journal de Henri III. Roy de France & Pologne: ou Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire de France, par M. Pierre de L'Estoile. MDCCXLIV The Journals were not intended for publication. Material from them was edited and published as Journal de Henri III (1621 by Louis Servin; 1744 by Nicolas Lenglet Du Fresnoy); and the Journal de Henri IV (The Hague, 1741).