Baro or Baron, Pierre

Baro Or Baron, Pierre was born at Etampes in France, and was educated at Bourges. Having embraced Protestantism, he came over into England in the time of Elizabeth to avoid persecution. Here he entered himself at Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1575 was made Lady Margaret professor of divinity on the recommendation of Lord Burghley. Dr. Whitaker, then professor of divinity, and several of the heads of houses, were strong Calvinists. Baro, in his lectures, opposed the doctrine of predestination, and about 1581 he was charged with heresy. From that time on he suffered many vexations and annoyances, but he held his ground until 1595, when his opponents, desiring to support their Calvinistic views by authority, drew up the nine celebrated articles known as the Lambeth Articles (q.v.), which were confirmed by Archbishop Whitgift and others. These articles Baro opposed in a sermon, whereupon he was ordered by the vice-chancellor to give in a copy of his sermon, and to abstain thenceforward from all controversy on articles of faith. His position was made so disagreeable that in 1596 he resigned his professorship and removed to London, where he died about 1600. He wrote, among other things — 1. In Jonam Prophetam Praelectiones 39, etc. (London, 1579): — 2. De Fide, ejusque Ortu et Natura, etc. (Ibid. 1580): — 3. Summa trium Sententiarumn de Praedestination (1613): — 4. Sermons, etc. (4to): — 5. De Praestantia et Dignitate Divinae legis (Lond. 8vo, n. d.). — Haag, La France Protestante, 1:262; Hook, Eccl. Biog. 1:540; Strype, Life of Whitgift; Hardwick, History of the Articles, ch. 7.