Boussard, Geoffroi

Boussard, Geoffroi a French theologian, was born at Le Mans in 1439. He studied at the College of Navarre, at Paris, and in 1487 became rector of the University of Paris, and chancellor of that Church. Travelling in Italy, he preached at Bologne in 1504, in the presence of Julius II. He was appointed scholastic of the cathedral of Le Mans by the cardinal of Luxembourg, who confided to him, in part, the administration of this diocese. In 1511 he was deputed by the university to attend the Council of Pisa, then transferred to Milan, and died after his return, in 1522. He published a corrected edition of the Ecclesiastical History of Rufinus (1497), and a commentary of Venerable Bede, or Florus Diaconus, on St. Paul (1499). He also wrote, De Continentid Sacerdotum (Paris, 1504, 4to), a rare and curious book, proving that the pope may in peculiar cases dispense with the celibacy of priests:De Sacrifo Misse (ibid. 1511, 1520; Lyons, 1525, 4to):

Interpretatio in Psalmos Penitentiales (Paris, 1519, 1521, 8vo). See Biog. Universelle, v, 398.