Sanders, Nicholas

Sanders, Nicholas, A prominent Roman Catholic writer of the 16th century. He was born at Charlewood, in Surrey, about 1527, and educated at Winchester school, whence he removed to New College, Oxford. He was made fellow of his college in 1548, and in 1550 or 1551 took the degree of bachelor of laws. He declined the office of Latin secretary to queen Mary for the sake of study. In 1557 he was one of the professors of canon law, and delivered the Straggling Lectures (lectures not endowed) until the accession of queen Elizabeth, when his principles induced him to leave England. He arrived at Rome in 1560, studied theology, became doctor of divinity, and was ordained priest by Dr. Thomas Goldwell, bishop of St. Asaph. Soon after cardinal Hosius made him a member of his family, using him as assistant in the Council of Trent. Returning to Flanders, he was settled at Louvain for twelve years, and in 1579 he arrived in Ireland as papal nuncio. He died in 1580 or 1581. Among his works are, Supper of Our Lord (Louvain, 1566-67, 4to ): — Treatise on the Images of Christ, etc. (ibid. 1567, 8vo): — The Rock of the Church (ibid. 1566-67, 8vo): — Treatise on Usury (1566): — and others.