Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 7 - Section VI
VI. Justel.
Henri de Justel was (says the Biographia Britannica) born at Paris in 1620. He was Secretary and Councillor to Louis XIV. and had a high place in the confidence of that king. As a great scholar and man of letters he was of the same reputation as his father, Christophe Justel (who died in 1649). He was the chieftain of Protestant controversialists, though his position at court compelled him to shelter among the anonymous. His “Answer to the Bishop of Condom’s [Bossuet] Book, entituled, An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholick Church upon matters of controversie,” was translated and printed at Dublin in 1676. It was licensed for the press by Dr Edward Wetenhall with this observation, “If any one should think that in this book he finds anything not quite in conformity with the doctrine and offices of the Anglican Church, let him set that to the account of the peculiar constitution of the Reformed Churches in France. Assuredly I judge the body of the Reply to be truly worth its weight in gold, and worthy of this imprimatur” Justel’s Dedicatory Epistle is “To Monsieur Conrart. Since it is you, sir, who inspired me with the thought of undertaking the defence of our common cause against a Prelate of the reputation of the Bishop of Condom, be pleased also to become responsible to the public for the manner in which I have acquitted myself herein. I am persuaded a man could not set here a better name than yours, to do no wrong to himself, or to give more weight to the Answer he had made. It is notorious that you are known through all parts where desert is known. You are equally loved and esteemed by all worthy persons both of one and the other communion, and by the Bishop of Condom himself. And as all the world agrees, that none can wear a spirit or an heart more upright than that which you own, so it will easily be presumed that those sentiments which you shall have approved are no less sincere than faithful. Nor can any say that this in an anonymous work, in that they see not my name here, if that you will be pleased it be known that he who writ it has the honour to be one of the friends of Monsieur Conrart.”
Justel’s house in Paris was much visited by distinguished Englishmen, among these John Locke and Rev. Dr Hickes are specially mentioned; and to them should be added Wake, who in his publications against Bossuet got many hints from the above-named compendious volume and its author. Dr Hickes returned from France to England in 1674, and by him Justel sent to the University of Oxford the manuscript of Canones Ecclesice Universalis in Greek, which his father had printed. How the University acknowledged this gift, Anthony Wood has recorded in the Fasti: — “1675, June 23. Henry Justell, Secretary and Councillor to the Most Christian King, was diplomated Doctor of the Civil Law; he was a most noted and learned man, and, as the public register said, non modò omni scicntiarum et virtutum genere per se excelluit, verùm etiam parentis optimi et cruditissimi Christoph. Justelli doctrinam et merita, ornando et excolendo, sua fecit. He had given several choice MSS. to the public library, and had sent by Mr George Hicks of Lincoln College (who became acquainted with him at Paris), the original MS. in Greek of the Canones Ecclesiae Universalis, put out by his father Christopher, which is at this time in the Public Library. What this eminent author Henry Justell hath written and published, the printed catalogue belonging to that library, commonly called the Oxford Catalogue, will tell you.”
Hickes, in conversation with Justel in Paris, remarked on the frequent demolition of the Protestant temples, nothwithstanding the Edict of Nantes. Justel replied, “As I am wont to talk in confidence with you, I will tell you a secret which almost none of us know besides myself. Our extirpation is decreed; we must all be banished our country or turn Papists. I tell it you because I intend to come into England where I have many friends, and that when you see me in your country you may remember that I told you.”
In 1676 Henri Justel married his cousin Charlotte de Lorme. Their daughter was buried on March 17, 1681, the eve of their departure from France. Weiss informs us: — “Justel, who was secretary to Louis XIV., early penetrated that monarch’s designs. Resolutely making up his mind, he sold his rich library several years before the Revocation, and went to England. This was great joy to Bayle. ‘I hope,’ he said in his Nouvelles de la République des Lettres, March 1684, ‘Monsieur Justel, who now resides in London, and who is so inquiring, so learned, so well informed in all that concerns the Republic of letters, and so well disposed to contribute his information, will tell us many things that will do much honour to this Journal.’ Scarcely had Justel arrived in London when he was named librarian to the King of England. Such was his reputation as a learned man, that he was more than once chosen to arbitrate in erudite quarrels. His rich and copious conversation attracted St. Evremond, who loved those talking libraries (ces bibliotheques parlantes).”
On his arrival in 1681, Justel called on Hickes at his house on Tower-Hill, and reminded him of his prediction. The office which he obtained was Keeper of the King’s Library at St. James’s; the annual salary was £200. One of his hospitable friends was John Evelyn. We meet him in Evelyn’s diary during the severe frost of January and February 1684, when the ice on the Thames was covered with streets of booths where all sorts of shopping could be executed, meat was roasted, carriages, carts, and horses driven along; there was a printing press where the people had their names printed on cards for sixpence per name; and Justel’s card is still preserved by a collector.
Monsr. et Madme. Justel.
Printed on the river Thames being frozen.
In the 36th year of King Charles the II.,
February the 5th, 1683.
Justel added with a pen V.S. (for vieux style), to indicate that the true date was 1684. On the 8th February Evelyn writes:— “I went this evening to visit that great and knowing virtuoso, Monsieur Justell. The weather was set in to an absolute thaw and rain; but the Thames still frozen;” “3d December, I carried Mr. Justell and Mr. Slingsby, Master of the Mint, to see Mr. Sheldon’s collection of medals.” The last entry is dated 13th March 1691: “I went to visit Monsieur Justell and the library at St. James’s, in which that learned man had put the MSS. (which were in good number) into excellent order, they having lain neglected for many years; divers medals had been stolen and embezzled.”
“Henry Justel” was formally naturalized at Westminster, 15th April 1687, after a residence of six years. This truly great man died in September 1693, and was buried at Eton. His widow survived him. “Madame Charlotte Justel” is registered in London as godmother to Jean Moisant, on 24th January 1695. He was also survived by a son, Henry, B.A. of Oxford in 1700, and MA. in 1701. The Rev. Henry became chaplain to the Duke of Montague. On 4th May 1721 he is registered in the French Chapel of St. James’ Palace as Rector of Clewer in Berkshire, on the occasion of his marriage to Charlotte Francoise De la Croix.[1] The Rev. Henry Justel had three daughters born and baptized at Clewer, of whom two (Charlotte and Emily) survived him. He died in April 1729, and was buried at Clewer.
- ↑ “Le 4 May 1721 en vertu d’une Licence de l’Arch. Mr. Mesnard a beni le mariage de Henry Justel Recteur de Cluer en Berkshire avec Charlotte Francoise De la Croix, de la Paroisse de St. James, fille.”