Pierre Matthieu wrote five tragedies:
- Clytemnestre (1578) - the story of Clytemnestra
- Esther (1581) - the story of Esther
- Vashti (1589) - the story of Vashti
- Aman, de la perfidie (1589) - the story of Haman
- La Guisiade (1589) - an attack of Henry III and justification of his assassination.
The five tragedies of Matthieu sought — despite their use of Biblical or ancient stories (other than La Guisade) — to explore contemporary issues of the French Wars of Religion and to justify the noble defense of religion; the tragedies' heroes were generally allegorical representations of Henry I, Duke of Guise.
As poet, he published Tablettes de la vie et de la mort and Quatrains de la vie et de la mort.[1]
His novels, La Magicienne, Aelius Sejanus and La Femme Cathenoise were hostile to Concini and his wife.
He also wrote several works of history and royal historiography. For example:
- Histoire de Louis XI, Roy de France (1610)
- Histoire de France et des choses memorables advenues aux provinces estrangeres durant sept annees de paix du règne de Henri IV (1605)
- Historiopolitographia Sive Opus Historicopoliticum: In Qvo Res Toto Pene Orbe Hisce Proximis Annis gestae (1611)