BUDEUS (the Latinized form of Guillaume Bude), one of the greatest French scholars of his age, was b. iu Paris in 1467. He studied there and at Orleans. His works on philology, philosophy, and jurisprudence display extensive learning, but the two best known are the De A836 et Purtibus ejus (Paris, 1514), which contains a very thorough investigation into ancient coins; and the Commenturii Lingua Graew (Paris, 1519), which greatly advanced the study of Greek literature in France, and is still held in high estimation by classical scholars. R's knowledge of Greek was particularly good. His style both in Latin and French is nervous, but harsh, and abounds in Greek construc tions. His abilities were manifested not only in literature, but in public business. Louis XII. twice sent him to Rome as ambassador; and Francis I. also employed him in several negotiations. At B.'s suggestion, Francis founded the College de Prance, and
was also persuaded to refrain from prohibiting printing, which the bigoted Sorbonne had advised in 1533. During his life, B. held several important offices. lie was royal librarian, maitre des requites, and provost of Paris. He died 23d Aug., 1540. A col lected edition of his works appeared at Basel in 1557. B. was suspected of a leaning towards Calvinism. Certain circumstances render this highly probable. Iu his corres pondence with his friend Erasmus, he repeatedly expresses his contempt for monks and ignorant ecclesiastics, and on one occasion terms the doctors of the Sorbonne "prating sophists." Besides, what is perhaps even more conclusive, shortly after his death, his widow and several members of his family went to Geneva, and openly abjured Cathol icism.