Goulart, Simon

, a protestant divine, and voluminous writer, was born at Senlis, Oct. 20, 1543, and studied divinity at Geneva, where he was ordained in October 1566, and was appointed one of the ministers of that city, a situation which he filled for the long space of sixtytwo years. His residence at Geneva was never discontinued but on account of three journies he took to France, on matters relating to the protestant churches, the one in 1576, when he went to Forez; the second in 1582, to | Champagne, and the third in 1600, to Grenoble. The rest of his life he devoted to his pastoral duties, and to his numerous works, which prove him one of the most indefatigable writers of his time. He died Feb. 3, 1628, in his eighty-fifth year, and in full possession of his faculties. He preached but seven days before his death. Scaliger, who had a great esteem for him, says he was an ingenious man, who learnt all he knew without the assistance of a master.

Among the works which he edited and commented upon, were those of Plutarch, St. Cyprian, Seneca, &c. He made a collection of “Remarkable Histories,” in 2 vols. 8vo, and wrote several pieces relating to the history of his own times, particularly a “Collection of the most memorable events which occurred during the League, with notes and original documents,” in 6 vols. 4to. Many of his pieces were anonymous, but to these he usually affixed the initials S. G. S. signifying “Simon Goulart Senlisien.” He was so well acquainted with the secrets of literary history, and of anonymous publications, that Henry III. of France, wishing to know the author of a piece published under the assumed name of Stephanus Junius Brutus, and intended to propagate republican doctrines, sent a person to Geneva to consult Goulart, but the latter refused to communicate the fact, for fear of exposing the author to serious injury. He had a son, who was a minister of the Walloon church at Amsterdam, and a strenuous assertor of Arminian tenets, but did not attain his father’s reputation. ¹