amendments to the Essais and published the augmented
work in 1595.
Of English translations of the Essais, that by John
FLORIO (1603) was the earliest and also the most fre-
quently reprinted, for instance in the Tudor Translations
series (1892–93). Accessible modern versions include
those in the Penguin Classics series by J. M. Cohen (Har-
mondsworth, U.K., 1958) and M. A. Screech (London and
New York, 1993). The Essais have also been translated by
Donald M. Frame in an edition of the Complete Works of
Montaigne (Stanford, Calif., 1957); this translation was
subsequently reissued separately (Stanford, 1958; New
York, 1960). The travel journal was lost for many years
and only rediscovered in 1770; it was published four years
later as Journal de Voyage de Michel de Montaigne en Italie,
par la Suisse et l’Allemagne en 1580 et 1581 (2 vols). A
modern edition is that by Fausta Garavini (1983). An
English version, The Journal of Montaigne’s Travels, ap-
peared in 1903, translated and edited with an introduction
and notes by W. G. Waters. Donald Frame’s translation
was published in 1983 under the title Montaigne’s Travel
Journal.
Further reading: Peter Burke, Montaigne (Oxford,
U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1981); Anne Hartle, Michel
de Montaigne: Accidental Philosopher (Cambridge, U.K.:
Cambridge University Press, 2003); George Hoffmann,
Montaigne’s Career (Oxford, U.K. and New York: Claren-
don Press, 1998); Dudley M. Marchi, Montaigne Among the
Moderns: Reception of the Essais (Providence, R.I. and Ox-
ford, U.K.: Berghahn Books, 1994).
Montano, Benito Arias (y) See ARIAS MONTANO, BENITO
Montchrestien, Antoine de (c. 1575–1621) French
dramatist, poet, and economist
Montchrestien was a native of Falaise. As a youth he was
almost killed in a fight and later had to flee abroad after
taking part in a duel. He traveled in Holland and England,
a keen observer of commercial activities, and established
steelworks in France after his return. Although a Catholic
he was killed at a tavern while fomenting a Huguenot up-
rising in Normandy.
Montchrestien’s six tragedies (published 1601, except
Hector, 1604)—based on classical myth and history, bibli-
cal subjects, and contemporary history—are notable for
their baroque lyrical and descriptive passages. They are:
Sophonisbe, L’Écossaise (on the death of Mary, Queen of
Scots), Les Lacènes (on the Spartan king Cleomenes),
David (on David and Bathsheba), Aman (on Haman, Es-
ther, and Ahasuerus), and Hector. Also published in 1601
were Susane (a long poem on Susanna and the Elders) and
Bergerie, a pastoral play. His Traité de l’économie politique
(1615), one of the earliest works on the subject, influ-
enced Cardinal Richelieu and Jean-Baptiste Colbert.
Monte, Philippe de (1521–1603) Flemish composer
Born in Malines, Monte went to Italy while still young.
From 1542 to 1551 he served the Pinelli family in Naples
as singer, teacher, and composer. In 1554 he traveled to
England, and sang in the private chapel of the queen’s hus-
band, Philip II of Spain. In 1568 he became Kapellmeister
to Emperor Maximilian II at Vienna. From this time he
composed prolifically and published many of his works.
Though he remained in the imperial service for the rest of
his life, he also held various nonresidential positions at
Cambrai cathedral. He died in Prague. Among Monte’s
friends were LASSUS and BYRD. About 48 Masses, 300
motets, 45 chansons, and an amazing 1100 madrigals sur-
vive. The Masses are largely based on motets by contem-
porary composers. His madrigals show close attention to
the text (usually by contemporary pastoral poets such as
GUARINI); later madrigals become simpler in form and
tend towards increased homophony. Monte’s secular
music was widely sung, as the distribution of his publica-
tions and manuscripts testifies.Montefeltro family A family prominent in the Romagna
from the 13th to the 16th century as CONDOTTIERIand
rulers of Urbino. The Montefeltro fought for the
Ghibelline (imperial) forces until Guido submitted to
Pope Boniface VIII in 1295. They first ruled Urbino in
1234, but lost and regained power on several occasions.
Antonio, who recovered Urbino in 1377, made peace with
the pope and ruled as papal vicar until his death (1403).
His son, Guidantonio, papal vicar and lord of Urbino
(1403–44), married a COLONNA and enjoyed papal
support against the MALATESTA. Federico (1422–82), who
succeeded his father in 1444, was an outstanding military
leader in the service of Pope SIXTUS IV, who created him
duke of Urbino (1474); he also served Lorenzo de’ MEDICI.
Federico consolidated his family’s power and spent his
earnings as a condottiere on art, his palace, and other
public works. Federico’s son, Guidobaldo, was the last
Montefeltro to rule Urbino (1482–1508); his court,
presided over by his wife Elisabetta Gonzaga, was in 1506
the setting for Castiglione’s THE COURTIER.
See also: DELLA ROVERE FAMILYMontemayor, Jorge de (c. 1519–1561) Portuguese
writer and poet
Montemayor was born at Montemor o Velho, near Coim-
bra, into a Portuguese converso family and became a sol-
dier and a professional musician. He served the Infanta
Juana, the Spanish wife of Prince John of Portugal and
mother of King Sebastian. He followed her to Spain after
the death of her husband and was subsequently in the ser-
vice of Philip II, whom he accompanied to England in
1554 and also probably to the Netherlands. He was killed
in Italy, apparently in a duel resulting from a love affair.
His works, written in Spanish, include a Cancionero pub-MMoonntteemmaayyoorr,, JJoorrggee ddee 3 32211