# Nicolas Mainfroy

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**Nicolas Mainfroy** (c.1570–1611) was the 71st abbot of the [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) [Abbey of Saint Bertin](/source/Abbey_of_Saint_Bertin) in [Saint-Omer](/source/Saint-Omer) from 1604 until his death, and represented the [First Estate](/source/First_Estate) in the States of the [County of Artois](/source/County_of_Artois), which is now in France but was then part of the [Spanish Netherlands](/source/Spanish_Netherlands).[1]

## Life

Mainfroy was born in [Arras](/source/Arras) and entered the Abbey of St Bertin at the age of sixteen. He went on to study in the Benedictine houses of study at the universities of [Douai](/source/University_of_Douai) and [Louvain](/source/Old_University_of_Leuven).

His canonical election as abbot was confirmed by letters patent of the sovereign, the [Archduke Albert](/source/Albert_VII,_Archduke_of_Austria), dated 10 March 1604. At the age of 35 he was consecrated and enthroned as abbot by [Jacques Blaseus](/source/Jacques_Blaseus), [bishop of Saint-Omer](/source/Bishop_of_Saint-Omer), in March 1605. As abbot he settled the disputes between the monastery and the chapter of [Saint-Omer Cathedral](/source/Saint-Omer_Cathedral), and by skilful management of the abbey's assets, depleted during the hostilities of the [Dutch Revolt](/source/Dutch_Revolt), increased its annual revenue.

## Literary patronage

Works dedicated to Mainfroy include:

- [Maximilien de Wignacourt](/source/Maximilien_de_Wignacourt), *Antistitis praecellentis euphemia* (Arras, [Robert Maudhuy](/source/Robert_Maudhuy), 1605)
- [Aubertus Miraeus](/source/Aubertus_Miraeus), *Origines coenobiorum Benedictorum in Belgio* (Antwerp, [Hieronymus Verdussen](/source/Hieronymus_Verdussen), 1606). [Available on Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=UbUWAAAAQAAJ).
- [Guillaume Gazet](/source/Guillaume_Gazet), *Histoire de la vie, mort, passion et miracles des saints* (Paris, Abraham Saugrain, 1606)

## References

1. Henri de Laplane, *Les abbés de Saint-Bertin d'après les anciens monumens de ce monastère*, vol. 2 (Saint-Omer, 1855), 206-220. [Available on Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=Xk8EAAAAcAAJ).

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