LIPSIUS, JUSTUS, 1547-1606; b. at Isque, near Brussels; educated at Brussels, Louvain, and the Jesuits' college at Cologne. The Jesuits, in view of his talents and learning, endeavored to draw him into their order, but were defeated by his removal, through the influence of his mother, to the university of Louvain. There, to his favorite studies of philology and philosophy, he added jurisprudence. His talent was precocious, and at the age of 19 he published in 1567 his first work, Varies Lectiones of some of the principal Roman authors. This he dedicated to cardinal de Granville, who appointed him his Latin secretary. Accompanying the cardinal to Rome, he remained for two years, associating with learned men, and studying the MSS. In the Vatican and other libraries. In 1577, leaving Italy, he settled at Jena as professor of history and eloquence, and became a Protestant. In 1579 he became professor of history at Leyden, where he was held in high repute. Resigning in 1591 he retired to Spa and afterwards to Mentz,
where, in the same year, he returned to the Roman Catholic church, and published two treatises in defense of the worship of saints and of their miraculous powers. While at Spa and Liege he was offered preferments by princes and dignitaries of the church; but he rejected the offers and returned to Louvain, where he was made professor of history and eloquence, remaining there till his death. Of his numerous works the most important are: De Constantia Manuductia ad Philosophiam Stoicam; Physiologies Stoicorum tres; De Militia 1?omana libri quinque. His commentary on Tacitus was the work in which he chiefly distinguished himself. His works were collected under the title of Opera Omnia. At his death he was historiographer to the king of Spain.