BAR, FRANOIS DE

born 1538, Seizencourt, near Saint-Quentin, France died March 25, 1606, Abbey of Anchin, near Pecquencourt French historiographer and scholar of ecclesiastical law, whose church histories are considered the most detailed and complete of his time. Named prior of the Benedictine abbey of Anchin in 1576, Bar served during a time of religious and political power struggles. His main contribution, however, was the compilation of extensive documents on church history and law from the valuable library of the abbey. In addition to his historical and legal works, he cataloged and annotated many of the manuscripts in the Anchin library and wrote treatises on geography, cosmography, and church practices.