Bodin

Bodin, Jean, was born at Angers in 1530, and after studying and lecturing on law at Toulouse, started as an advocate in Paris with such meagre success that he took up literature for a livelihood. His first important work was entitled Methodus ad Facilem Historiarum Cognitionem (1566), and his admirers claim that it lays the foundation of a science of history. A discussion on the rise of prices directed his attention to political economy, of which science he was a pioneer. In 1576 Henry III. made him his attorney at Laon, but his opposition to the League and to the king's claim to alienate the royal demesnes soon lost him his post. This year witnessed the publication of Les Six Livres de la Republique, a splendid attempt to build up a science of politics, based partly on Aristotle, but displaying great observation, liberality of mind, and dialectical skill. Yet he was an ardent believer in witchcraft, joined readily in persecuting the wretched victims of that superstition, and wrote a book called Demonomanie des Sorciers. In 1581 he visited England with his patron, D'Alencon. His closing years were passed at Laon, where he died of the plague in 1596, his Universale Naturale Theatrum appearing just before his death; a remarkable colloquy which he left on religious toleration was not published until 1857.