But the writers of history are as yet very inexpert; the _Histoire generale des rois de France_ of Bernard de Girard, seigneur de Haillan (1576), the _Grandes Annales de France_ of Francois de Belleforest (1579), the _Inventaire general de l'histoire de France_ of Jean de Serres (1597), the _Histoire generale de France depuis Pharamond_ of Scipion Dupleix (1621-1645), the _Histoire de France_ (1643-1651) of Francois Eudes de Mezeray, and above all his _Abrege chronologique de l'histoire de France_ (1668), are compilations which were eagerly read when they appeared, but are worthless nowadays. Historical research lacked method, leaders and trained workers; it found them all in the 17th century, the golden age of learning which was honoured alike by laymen, priests and members of the monastic orders, especially the Benedictines of the congregation of St Maur. The publication of original documents was carried on with enthusiasm. To Andre Duchesne we owe two great collections of chronicles: the _Historiae Normannorum scriptores antiqui_ (1619) and the _Historiae Francorum scriptores_, continued by his son Francois (5 vols., 1636-1649). These publications were due to a part only of his prodigious activity; his papers and manuscripts, preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris, are an inexhaustible mine. Charles du Fresne, seigneur du Cange, published Villehardouin (1657) and Joinville (1668); Etienne Baluze, the _Capitularia regum Francorum_ (1674), the _Nova collectio conciliorum_ (1677), the _Vitae paparum Avenionensium_ (1693). The clergy were very much aided in their work by their private libraries and by their co-operation; Pere Philippe Labbe published his _Bibliotheca nova manuscriptorum_ (1657), and began (1671) his _Collection des conciles_, which was successfully completed by his colleague Pere Cossart (18 vols.). In 1643 the Jesuit Jean Bolland brought out vol. i. of the _Acta sanctorum_, a vast collection of stories and legends which has not yet been completed beyond the 4th of November. (See BOLLANDISTS.) The Benedictines, for their part, published the _Acta sanctorum ordinis sancti Benedicti_ (9 vols., 1668-1701). One of the chief editors of this collection, Dom Jean Mabillon, published on his own account the Vetera analecta (4 vols., 1675-1685) and prepared the _Annales ordinis sancti Benedicti_ (6 vols., 1703-1793). To Dom Thierri Ruinart we owe good editions of Gregory of Tours and Fredegarius (1699). The learning of the 17th century further inaugurated those specialized studies which are important aids to history. Mabillon in his _De re diplomatica_ (1681) creates the science of documents or diplomatics. Adrien de Valois lays a sound foundation for historical geography by his critical edition of the _Notitia Galliarum_ (1675). Numismatics finds an enlightened pioneer in Francois Leblanc (_Traite historique des monnaies de France_, 1690).