, a native of Burgundy, was made treasurer of the finances, and
, a native of Burgundy, was made treasurer of the finances, and provost of the merchants of the city of Paris. He built the Bastille by order of Charles V. king of France, in 1369, as a fortress against the English but being accused of heresy by the clergy, he was condemned to be immured between two walls, where he doubtless would have ended his days, had he not have been set at liberty by the Maillotins, who wanted to make him their captain in their insurrection upon account of the taxes. But that night he made his escape from them into Burgundy, where he soon after died in 1382. From this person the Hugonots are said to have derived their name, which seems not very consistent with the conjectures of most historians.
, a native of Burgundy, born in 1540, and bred as an advocate in
, a native of Burgundy, born in
1540, and bred as an advocate in the parliament of Dijon,
rose by his talents and probity to the highest situations in
his profession. The states of Burgundy employed him to
administer the affairs oi that province, and had every reason
to felicitate themselves upon their choice. When the
orders for the massacre of St. Bartholomew were received
at Dijon, he opposed the execution of them with all his
influence; and a few days after arrived a courier to forbid
the murders. The appointments of counsellor, president,
and finally chief president, in the parliament of Dijon,
were the rewards of his merit. Seduced by the pretences
of the leaguers to zeal for religion and for the state, Jeanniu
for a time united himself with that faction; but he soon
perceived their perfidy and wickedness, as well as the
completely interested views of the Spaniards, and repented
of the step. After the battle of Fontaine Francoise, -in
which the final blow was given to the league, Henry IV.
called him to his council, and retained him in his court.
From this time he became the adviser, and almost the
friend of the king^ who admired him equally for his frankness and his sagacity. Jeannin was employed in the negotiation between the Dutch and the court of Spain, the most
difficult that could be undertaken. It was concluded in
1609. After the death of Henry IV. the queen-mother
confided to him the greatest affairs of the state, and the
administration of the finances, and he managed them with
Unparalleled fidelity; of which his poverty at his death
afforded an undoubted proof. He died in 1622, at the age
of eighty-two, having seen seven successive kings on the
throne of France. He was the author of a folio collection
of negociations and memoirs, printed in 1656, and reprinted
in a beautiful edition, 2 vols. 12mo, in the year 1659, which
Were long held in the bighest estimation. The regard
which Henry IV. felt for him was very great. Complaining
one day to his ministers that some among them had revealed
a state secret of importance, he took the president by the
hand, saying, “As for this good man, I will answer for
him.
” Yet, though he entertained such sentiments of him,
he did little for him; and, being conscious that he had been
remiss in this respect, said sometimes, “Many of my subjects I load with wealth, to prevent them from exerting
their malice; but for the president Jeannin, I always say
much, and do little.
”