Faucher, Jean

Faucher, Jean a French Protestant preacher and controversialist, died at Nismes in 1628. He was minister at Uzes, when he was 'sent in 1611 by the Protestant churches of Lower Languedoc as deputy to the Assembly at Sommieres, and in 1615 to that at Grenoble. When this latter assembly was in the following year transferred to Nismes, Faucher was chosen pastor and professor of theology in that city. He, however, followed the assembly to Rochelle, and did not return to Nismes until 1617, after the conclusion of a peace. He was a man of great energy of character, and agreed in opinion with those Huguenots who hoped by force of arms to secure liberty of conscience, if not the triumph of the Protestant cause in France. He persistently advocated a policy in consonance with such views in the assembly from 1615 to 1617, as indeed also in that convoked by the duke of Rohan in August, 1622, to agree upon terms of peace with the king, declaring that to open their cities to him would prove thee sacrifice of their liberties. Only two works from his pen are known, viz., Exorcismes divins, ou propositions Chretiennes pour chasser hes dimons et les esprits abuseurs qui troublent les royaumes

(Nismes, 1626, sm. 8vo), and Zacharie, ou la Saint/tg dn Mariage et particulierement du Mariage des ecclisiastiques, contra l'usage des sous- introduites et autres impuretes des consciences cauterizees (Nismes, 1627, sm. 8vo).-Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale; Haag, La France protestante. (J. W.M.)