AMYOT, Jacques. — French writer, b. at Melun on 30 Oct. 1513, d. there on 6 Feb. 1593. He studied in Paris, quickly excelling in classical knowledge; as a priest, he taught Latin and Greek for six years at the University of Bourges; he also undertook various diplomatic missions. Charles IX appointed him in 1560 Grand Almoner of France and Councillor of State; elected Bishop of Auxerre, he died there embittered by religious strife and persecuted for the unjust accusation of having advised the assassination of the Duke of Guise.
A master of Greek, he translated Heliodorus’ romantic novel *Theagenes and Chariclea*, Longus the Sophist’s *Daphnis and Chloe*, seven books of Diodorus Siculus’ *History*, and Plutarch’s *Parallel Lives*, to which he added the *Moralia*. The translation of Plutarch was made from manuscripts sought in Rome and Venice and
AMULET — A. suspended from a necklace from Samnium. Pre-Roman period — Naples, National Museum.
obedience ‘to the king.’ A teacher of theology in 1633, in 1634 he published his *Traité de la prédestination* (Saumur), where he professed a doctrine of grace broader than Calvin’s, extending the hypothetical universality of grace even to pagans and distinguishing between grace that can be resisted and grace that is irresistible; an opinion he defended also in the Synods of Loudon (1659–60) and Charenton (1633). He counted among his friends or patrons Cardinals Richelieu, Hardouin de Péréfixe, and Mazarin.
He left numerous writings, including: *Traité des religions contre ceux qui les estiment indifférentes* (Paris 1631); *De providentia Dei in malo* (Saumur 1638); *Disputatio de libero hominis arbitrio* (ibid. 1657). He also wrote notable studies on the Epistles of St Paul and the Acts of the Apostles. In 1660–64, together with friends L. Cappel and Josué de la Place, he published a collection of theological theses: *Syntagma thesium theologicarum in academia salmuriensi variis temporibus disputatarum*, placed on the Index by decree of 24 Sept. 1686.