JOSEPH, FATTIER. A popular name for Fran cois Leclerc du Tremblay (1577-1638), the private secretary and confidant of Cardinal Richelieu. Ile was born in Paris of a distin guished family. and was originally a soldier, but. left the army in 1599 and became a Capuchin friar. After some time Father Joseph, as he was called, attracted the attention of Richelieu. and in 1611 became his secretary. He was intrusted by Richelieu with the management of his secret diplomacy, and was frequently sent on important missions abroad. So great was his influence with the Cardinal. and so well recognized his power, that he was known by the sobriquet of 'His Gray Eminence,' in contradistinction to the title of 1-liehelicu. Religious zeal actuated his entire official life, and the conversion and dissemination of the principles of the Church were the objects most dear to him. In pursuance of these objects he lent his aid to the forcible conversion of French Protestants, and also sent missionaries to India and Canada. while he earnestly advocated
a crusade against the Turks. A priest of ascetic habits, but of fiery enthusiasm. he was also a statesman of broad views and comprehensive knowledge, and one of the shrewdest and most able diplomats of his time. llis death took place at Ruel, December 18, l G38. A series of memoirs of his time of which lie is the author is deposited in the 11ffiliotheque Nationale in Paris, but the volumes have never been published, though sup posed to contain important matter for the history of Louis XI II.'s reign. Ile was also the author of Le a Latin poem, and of several po litical and religious tracts. Consult: Richard, lie du pore Joseph (Paris, 1702) ; Fagniez, Lc Joseph ct Richelieu, 1507-1638( Paris, 1894).