Denis, a celebrated French writer, was born at Saintonge in 1606. He maintained a close correspondence with the fathers of the Oratory, a congregation of priests founded by Philip of Neri. He wrote the life of Charles of Gondren, second superior of this congregation, and published it at Paris in 1643. In this work he said something of the famous abbot of St Cyran which greatly displeased the Port Royalists, who, out of revenge, published a libel against him, entitled Idée Général de l'Esprit et de Livre de P. Amelotte. He was so much provoked by this satire, that he did all in his power to injure them. They had finished a translation of the New Testament, and were desirous to have it published; for which purpose they endeavoured to procure an approbation from the doctors of the Sorbonne, and a privilege from the king. Amelotte, however, by his influence with the chancellor, defeated their intention. In this he had also a view to his own interest, being about to publish a translation of his own. Amelotte's translation, with annotations, in four volumes octavo, was printed in the years 1666, 1667, and 1668, and, according to F. Simon, contains some very gross blunders. He entered into the congregation of the Oratory in 1650, and continued amongst them till his death, which happened in 1678.