MARETS (Jean de), a Parisian, one of the finest geniuses of the 17th century, became at last a visionary and a fanatic. He was a great favourite of cardinal Richlieu, and possessed an employment of genius under him; for he was called upon to relax and divert him, after the fatigue of business, by facetious conversation. He used, in order to triumph over the virtue of women, when they objected to him the interest of their salvation, to lead them into atheistical principles. He was a member of the French academy from its first erection. He wrote several dramatic pieces, which were well received. He attempted an epic poem; but after spending several years about it, dropped the design, to write books of devotion. He likewise wrote romances; but not such virtuous ones as used to be wrote at that time. He was a declared enemy of the Jesuits. His visions are well described by the Messieurs de Port Royal. He promised the king of France, by the explication of prophecies, the honour of overthrowing the Mahometan empire. In his last years he wrote something against Boileau's Satires.