John Floyd (Jesuit)
Encyclopedia
John Floyd was an English Jesuit, known as a controversialist. He is known under the pseudonyms Daniel à Jesu, Hermannus Loemelius, and George White (also Annosus Fidelis Verimentanus, Flud, and the initials J. R.) under which he published.
He was known both as a preacher and teacher, and was frequently arrested in England.
, and was born in Cambridgeshire
in 1572. After studying in the school of the English Jesuits at Eu, Normandy, he was admitted on 17 March 1588 to the English College, Reims, where he studied humanities and philosophy. Next he went to the English College, Rome, admitted there 9 October 1590, and joined the Society of Jesus on 1 November 1592.
On 18 August 1593 Floyd received minor orders
, at Reims or Douai, and on the 22nd of the same month he was sent back to the English College at Rome with nine companions, where he taught philosophy and theology, and became known as a preacher. In 1609 he became a professed father of the Jesuit order.
He worked for a long time on the English mission. Having visited Edward Oldcorne
in Worcester
gaol in 1606, he was detained, and he was unable either by entreaties or bribes to escape Sir John Popham. After a year's imprisonment he was sent into exile with forty-six other priests, and he spent four years in preaching at St. Omer and composing controversial works. Then he returned to England, where he was often captured, and frequently contrived to pay off the pursuivants.
His last years were spent at Leuven
, where he was professor of theology. He died suddenly at St. Omer on 15 September 1649.
He was known both as a preacher and teacher, and was frequently arrested in England.
Life
He was a brother of Henry FloydHenry Floyd (Jesuit)
-Life:Floyd was the elder brother of Father John Floyd, born in Cambridgeshire. He received his education in the English College of Douay during its temporary move to Reims. On 8 May 1589, then a deacon, he was sent with other students by Dr...
, and was born in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
in 1572. After studying in the school of the English Jesuits at Eu, Normandy, he was admitted on 17 March 1588 to the English College, Reims, where he studied humanities and philosophy. Next he went to the English College, Rome, admitted there 9 October 1590, and joined the Society of Jesus on 1 November 1592.
On 18 August 1593 Floyd received minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
, at Reims or Douai, and on the 22nd of the same month he was sent back to the English College at Rome with nine companions, where he taught philosophy and theology, and became known as a preacher. In 1609 he became a professed father of the Jesuit order.
He worked for a long time on the English mission. Having visited Edward Oldcorne
Edward Oldcorne
Blessed Edward Oldcorne or Oldcorn alias Hall was an English Jesuit priest. He was known to people who knew of the Gunpowder Plot to destroy the Parliament of England and kill King James I, and, although his involvement is unclear, he was caught up in the subsequent investigation...
in Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
gaol in 1606, he was detained, and he was unable either by entreaties or bribes to escape Sir John Popham. After a year's imprisonment he was sent into exile with forty-six other priests, and he spent four years in preaching at St. Omer and composing controversial works. Then he returned to England, where he was often captured, and frequently contrived to pay off the pursuivants.
His last years were spent at Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, where he was professor of theology. He died suddenly at St. Omer on 15 September 1649.
Works
He wrote the following works, some of which appeared under pseudonyms:- ‘The Overthrow of the Protestants Pulpit-Babels, convincing their Preachers of Lying and Rayling, to make the Church of Rome seeme mysticall Babell’ [St. Omer], 1612. This contains an answer to ‘The Jesuites Gospell,’ by illiam Crashaw] , published in 1610. By ‘J. R., Student in Divinity,’ it has been ascribed to Robert Jenison. In reply to this or some other work by Floyd, Sir Edward Hoby wrote ‘A Counter-Snarle for Ishmael Rabshakeh, a Cecropedian Lycaonite, being an Answer to a Roman Catholic, who writes himself J. R.,’ London, 1613.
- ‘Purgatories Triumph over Hell, maugre the barking of Cerberus in Syr Edward Hobyes Counter-Snarle. Described in a Letter to the said Knight, from J. R., authour of the Answere unto the Protestants Pulpit-Babels,’ 1613; to which Hoby rejoined in a book entitled ‘Curry-comb for a Coxcombe,’ 1615.
- ‘Synopsis Apostasiæ Marci Antonii de Dominis, olim Archiepiscopi Spalatensis, nunc apostatæ, ex ipsiusmet libro delineata,’ Antwerp, 1617, translated into English by Father Henry Hawkins, St. Omer, 1617, and again edited by John Fletcher, London 1828.
- ‘Hypocrisis M. A. de Dominis detecta, seu censura in ejus libros de Republica Ecclesiastica,’ Antwerp, 1620.
- ‘Censura X Librorum de Republica Ecclesiastica M.A. de Dominis,’ Antwerp, 1620; Cologne, 1621.
- ‘God and the King; or a Dialogue wherein is treated of Allegiance due to … K. James within his Dominions, which (by removing all Controversies and Causes of Dissentions and Suspitions) bindeth Subjects by an inviolable band of Love and Duty to their Soveraigne,’ translated from the Latin, Cologne, 1620. This was a parody, Latin original (1619) Deus et rex, of the work of the same title (1615) usually attributed to Richard MocketRichard MocketRichard Mocket was an English churchman and academic, Warden of All Souls' College, Oxford from 1614.-Life:...
. - ‘St. Augustine's Meditations,’ translated, St. Omer, 1621, Paris, 1655.
- ‘Monarchiæ Ecclesiasticæ ex scriptis M. Antonii de Dominis … Demonstratio, duobus libris comprehensa, seu Respublica Ecclesiastica M. Ant. de Dominis, per ipsum a fundamentis eversa,’ Cologne, 1622.
- ‘A Word of Comfort; or a Discourse concerning the late lamentable Accident of the Fall of a Roome at a Catholike Sermon in the Black-Friars at London, wherewith about fore-score persons were oppressed … By J. R. P.,’ St. Omer, 1623. This relates to the Fatal VespersFatal VespersThe Fatal Vespers is the name given to a disaster in Hunsdon House, Blackfriars, London, at the time the French ambassador's house.-Event:On the afternoon Sunday, 5 November 1623 about three hundred persons assembled in an upper room at the French ambassador's residence, Hunsdon House,...
. - ‘Of the Sacrifice of the Mass,’ translated from the Spanish of Antonio Molina, St. Omer, 1623.
- ‘On the Real Presence,’ St. Omer, 1624. 12. ‘An Answer to Francis White's [successively bishop of Norwich and Ely] Reply to Mr. Fisher's Answer to the Nine Articles offered by King James to Father John Fisher, S. J.,’ St. Omer, 1625. Francis MasonFrancis Mason (archdeacon)Francis Mason was an English churchman, archdeacon of Norfolk and author of Of the Consecration of the Bishops in the Church of England , a defence of the Church of England and the first serious rebuttal of the Nag's Head Fable put about as denigration of Matthew Parker and Anglican...
replied to Floyd in the second edition of his ‘Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ,’ 1625. - ‘An Apology of the Holy Sea Apostolicks Proceedings for the Government of the Catholicks of England during the tyme of persecution. With a Defence of a Religious State, written by Daniel of Jesus,’ Rouen, 1630. The first part is translated from the French. An enlarged Latin edition was published at Cologne and St. Omer in 1631. This work relates to the disputes between the Jesuits and the secular priests in the matter of the episcopacy. It drew down the censure of the theological faculty of the SorbonneSorbonneThe Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
on its author, who replied with Spongia below. - ‘A Paire of Spectacles for Sir Humphrey Linde to see his way withall; or, an Answeare to his booke called Via Tuta, a Safe Way,’ s.l. 1631. This has been sometimes attributed to Robert Jenison. Humphrey LyndeHumphrey LyndeSir Humphrey Lynde was an English lay Puritan controversialist and Member of Parliament.-Life:He was the son of Cuthbert Linde or Lynde of Westminster. He was elected a queen's scholar at Westminster School; matriculated 14 January 1597 at Christ Church, Oxford, and graduated B.A. 7 July 1600...
's ‘Via Tuta,’ 1628, was answered more fully by John HeighamJohn HeighamJohn Heigham was an English Roman Catholic printer, writer, and translator. He went into exile in Douai and Saint-Omer, where he married and brought up a family...
. - ‘Hermanni Loemelii … Spongia quâ diluuntur Calumniæ nomine Facultatis Parisiensis impositæ libro qui inscribitur Apologia Sanctæ Sedis Apostolicæ circa Regimen Catholicorum Angliæ,’ &c., St. Omer, 1631 A rejoinder was published on the part of the Sorbonne. Joseph GillowJoseph GillowJoseph Gillow was an English Roman Catholic antiquary and bio-bibliographer, "the Plutarch of the English Catholics"....
gives a list of the principal books occasioned by Floyd's works against Richard Smith, bishop of Chalcedon, and the French clergy who supported him. - ‘Answer to a Book intituled “Instructions for the Catholicks of England.”’
- ‘The Church Conquerant over Human Wit,’ St. Omer, 1638, a reply to William ChillingworthWilliam ChillingworthWilliam Chillingworth was a controversial English churchman.-Early life:He was born in Oxford, where his father served as mayor; William Laud was his godfather. In June 1618 he became a scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was made a fellow in June 1628...
's ‘Religion of Protestants.’ - ‘The Total Summ,’ St. Omer, 1638, reprinted in 1639 with The Judgment of an University Man on Mr. Chillingworth's Book, by Father William LacyWilliam Lacy-Biography:William was born at "Hanton", Yorkshire ; suffered at York, 22 August 1582. He married a widow, named Cresswell, whose sons, Arthur and Joseph, became Jesuits. Little is related of his family by his biographers. He had a brother Ralph of Preston in Amounderness, a sister Barbara, and...
. - ‘The Imposture of Puritan Piety,’ St. Omer, 1639.
- ‘A Treatise on Holy Pictures.’
- ‘Vita Brunehildis, Francorum Reginæ, liber primus,’ manuscript folio, at St. Omer. It was cited by Bollandus in his notes to the life of St. Nicet, bishop of Besançon, under 8 February.