Very good, decorative and clean copy of the uncommon first Latin edition of all relevant texts in the famous controversy between Mabillon and De Rancé regarding the lawful occupation of monks. It was a heated controversy where nevertheless they maintained a respect for one another that is a model of civil discourse. Jean Mabillon (1632-1707) famous French benedictine (Maurist) scholar and historiographer is considered the founder of palaeography and diplomatics. He became famous for his "De Re Diplomatica" where he gives a detailed history of the Latin script and demonstrates the way in which the handwriting of his day developed out of the capital Roman letters. Following the universal acclaim for his work, Mabillon was invited to draw up a plan of study for persons leading a monastic life. This work first appeared in French (Traité des études monastiques) in 1691, was translated in Latin in 1702 and in 1705 by Giuseppe Porta Astense and had an enormous success. It immediately brought him into opposition with Jean-Armand le Bouthillier de Rancé (1626-1700). This reformer of the Cistercian life and Abbot of the Abbey of La Trappe had condemned in a book entitled De la sainteté et des devoirs de la vie monastique (Paris, 1683- 85), and in la Règle de S. Benoist (Paris, 1689) the studies of monks, and recommended a pious devotion to prayer and work only. De Rancé wrote an answer to Mabillon, who responded with his Reflexions (Animadversiones), shorlty after. This work was translated into latin for the first time in 1730. In our third edition in Latin not only Mabillon's own work and his response to De Rancé but also the latter's response as well as other relevant texts in this controversy are brought together here for the first time in Latin. In the first volume Mabillon sketches out a course of study for monks (first part); adds a second part on the difficulties of deciphering ancient manuscripts; and, in the third part, provides a Catalogue of books recommended for a monastic library (Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica Mabillonica). The second volume contains the Animadversiones of Mabillon against De Rancé, while in the third volume De Rancé reaction to Mabillon's tractatus and criticism is presented (with a separate title-page: Tractatus de studiis...complectens responsionem domni Armandi Buthilierii de Rancé, abbatis monasterii trappae...ad eumdem tractatum, quae nunc primum prodit e Gallico in Latinum sermonem conversa.) Some of the less scholarly monks in his own abbey criticized Mabillon also for being too academic, and some declared that he was breaking the rules of his order by devoting his life to study rather than manual labour. Mabillon also caused trouble by denouncing the veneration of the relics of "unknown saints," wrote a controversial critique of the works of St. Augustine, and was accused of Jansenism, but at all times he was supported by the king of France and the church. Front endpapers missing, title-page yellowed; binding rubbed and with small defects to the leather. 1 copy in Dutch Central catalogue (NCC); 3 copies with all 3 volumes in OCLC (29082122); Graesse, III, p. 317; NBG 32, col. 437-449.