Bossu
Bossu (Lat. Bossulus), JACQUES LE, a French theologian, was born at Paris in 1546. He entered the order of St. Benedict, received the degree of doctor at the Sorbonne, and was tutor to the cardinal of Guise. His affection for his former pupil led him, during the troubles of the League, to favor ardently the projects of the house of Lbrraiie. He especially did this by hispreaching at Paris and Nantes, and it was partially due to his efforts that Nantes revolted against royal authority. He claimed that Henry III was justly punished for his crimes by James Clement, and that the fact of Henry IV being a heretic removed from him all claim to the crown. The success of this monarch obliged Le Bossu to take refuge at Rome, where he attached. himself to cardinal Alexandrin and a Spaniard, Francis Pegua, auditor of the tribunal, who by his writings had, opposed the admission of Henry IV into the heart of the Church. Thanks to the protection of Pegua, Le Bossu was appointed by pope Clement VIII consulter of the society de Auxiliis. He distinguished himself by his regularity of conduct and purity of manner, and at the succession of Paul V manifested a desire to return to France; but this pontiff, highly appreciating his talents, opposed his leaving, and accorded to him large, pensions, with permission to dispose of them as he saw fit at his death. Le Bossu used this favor in behalf of the poor. He died at Rome, June 7, 1626. He published,. Les Devis d'un Catholique et d'un Politique (Nantes, 1589), in which work he strongly opposed the house of Bourbon: — Sermon Funebre pour la Memoire de F., Edim. Bourgoin (ibid. 1590): — Sermon Funebre pour Anniversaire des Princes Henri et Louis de Lorraine (ibid. eod.). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.
