Housta, Baudoin De

Housta, Baudoin de An Augustine monk, was born at Toubise in the early part of the 18th century, and distinguished himself greatly by his piety and erudition. He is especially celebrated as the would-be critic of Fleury's work on ecclesiastical history, which he attacked in a work entitled Mauvaise foi de M. Fleury, prouvee par plusieurs passages des Saints Peres, des conciles et d'auteurs ecclesiastiques qu'il Aomis, tronques ou infidlement traduits dans son histoire (Malines, 1733, 8vo). Of course the monk, from his narrow and biased standpoint, was unable to comprehend the greatness of Fleury and the liberality of his views, and he endeavored to ridicule Fleury, and stamp him as an infidel. Housta died at Enguien in 1760. — Chaudon and Delandine, Nouv. Dict. Hist. 6, 315 sq.; Fuller, Dict. Hist. 9, 45. (J. H.W.)