François-Timoléon de Choisy (Paris, August 16, 1644 - Paris, October 2, 1724) was a French abbot and writer. biography
Choisy was the grandson of a Caen Receiver of Finance, from Balleroy in Normandy, son of a councilor and Languedoc's incendant, chancellor of Gaston d'Orléans and a confederate of Maria van Gonzaga, queen of Poland. His mother dressed him as a girl until his 18 years to meet the grills of Monsieur, brother of Louis XIV. He stands under the protection of Cardinal of Bouillon, with whom he becomes friends and whose reverence he devotes a long chapter in his later Mémoires.
After a short period of time dressed as a man, he, with the approval of the pastor, installs the bishop (who will see), the neighbors, as Miss de Sancy in Saint-Médard. The duke of Montausier, his uncle, makes him publicly accused in the opera, and Miss Sancy leaves Paris, to Bourges, where she buys a castle, and installs as Countess of Barres. Under this name, she is familiar with local nobility and notables, and their daughters, tempting him under the approval of their mothers, who see only the attitudes of a nice Countess.
He ceases to be female at his 23th, and turns over to his second passion, the game of chance. He ruins himself. In poverty he must live from the proceeds of his church beneficians of Saint-Seine in Burgundy. In 1676 he accompanied Cardinal de Bouillon to Rome and he (shortly) came to repentance. He also acquainted with Daniel de Cosnac, Bishop of Valence, about whom he has extensive in his Mémoires.
A career in the church is not for him, as a travesty he does not give a chance of promotion to bishop. And his fortune is forgotten.
In 1685 he accompanies the Chevalier the Chaumont on his trip to Siam. He is dedicated to the priest, and describes his subjects in his Journal the voyage au Siam. The journey does not reach its goal completely: the king of Siam was not really eager to become Catholic. He sends ambassadors back to Louis XIV, who are received with great praise. Reception of the emperors of Siam in 1686, painted by Nicolas Larmessin.
Back in France, he receives the privilege of Saint-Benoit-du-Sault's Priory in 1689 and the title of the cathedral of Bayeux in 1697. He becomes a member of the Académie Française in 1687, writes together with Charles Perrault the Opuscules sur la langue française.
He reports a wonderful and sometimes funny report about a number of remarkable moments from the life of the young Louis XIV: Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de Louis XIV. From this we learn about historical characters, including Cosnac, Madame, Monsieur, Nicolas Fouquet, and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, and the whole background with details of Fouquet's inconvenience and fall. He also writes some solid religious and historical works, including Histoire de l'Église in 11 parts. The cape of Abbot himself notes: "Thanks to God, I have written the history of the Church. Now I'm going to study them."
His "History of the Countess of Barres" (Histoire de la Comtesse de Barres) is a pleasantly written work based on his adventures and conquests as a young woman. It shows a happy and airy impression of an age whose reality and daily life are not known to us.
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