Boucher, Jean

Boucher, Jean a French theologian, was born in Paris about 1548. Instead of a tranquil life in the chair of a university or in the heart of an abbey, he chose to mingle in the civil disturbances which were then agitating the kingdom, and thus ended his life in exile. At first he taught literature and philosophy at Rhiems, later he taught philosophy at the college of Burgundy, then theology at the college Des Grassins, and finally became rector of the university. Prior of the Sorbonne, he was made doctor of theology and rector of St. Benedict. But the fortune which he had obtained by his merit he compromised by his fury against monarchy. In 1588 he wrote a satire against the duke of Epernon, entitled Histoire Tragique et Memorable de Gaverston, Ancien Mignon d'Edouard II. The year following appeared his treatise, De Justa Henrici Abdicatione e Francorum Regno (Paris, 1589). He delivered and published, during the last days of the resistance of Paris, his Sermons de la Simulte- Conversion et Nullite de la Pretendu Absolution de Henri de Bourbon. Boucher died at Tournay in 1644. Besides the works already mentioned, he wrote several others, among which we notice, Apologie pour Jehan Chastel, Parisien, Execute a Maloot, et pour les Peres et Ecoliers de la Societe de Jesus (1595, 1610): — Avis contre l'appel Interjete par le Clebre Edmond Richer, etc. (Paris, 1612). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.