followers did not share that opinion, but were inclined to favour the new philosophy, he turned his arms also against them and their new theological method. His writings were almost all of a polemical character, and carried the scholastic phase of the theology of the Reformed Church to its extreme development. The two best of his works are, "Selectæ Disputationes Theologicæ," 5 vols. 4to, 1648-69; and "Politica Ecclesiastica," 4 vols. 4to, 1663-76.—Paul, son of Gisbert, was born at Heusde, 7th June, 1619, and became professor of civil law in the university of Utrecht. He was the author of several works of law which were long regarded, especially in Scotland, as books of authority, especially his treatise, "De Statutis eorumque Concursu." He died in 1677.—Daniel, also a son of Gisbert, was born at Heusde, 31st December, 1629, and became a professor of philosophy in the university of Utrecht, where he died in 1660. His "Physiologica, seu de Rerum Natura, libri vi.," was published after his death, and was republished with notes by Vries in 1668,—John, son of Paul, born at Utrecht, 3rd October, 1647, followed the learned profession of his father, and held the chair of law successively at Herborn, Utrecht, and Leyden, where he died in 1714. He was the author of a "Commentarius in Pandectas," 2 vols. folio, 1698; and of several other esteemed works on jurisprudence.—P. L.
VOIGT, Godfrey, an able German theologian and philosopher, was born at a place which the author of his funeral oration calls Delitium in Bosnia in April, 1644. He studied principally at Altenburg. When only twenty-four years of age he was appointed rector of the school of Gustrow by Gustavus Adolphus, duke of Mecklenburg, on the recommendation of some of his old professors. Here he remained thirteen years. In October, 1680, he became head master of the Schola Johannea at Hamburg, but he did not enter on his duties till the following year. After seventeen months, however, he was forced to resign on account of ill health. He died on the 7th July, 1682. Though he was thus cut off in the prime of life, and had been engaged for the most part in active duties, he yet left a considerable number of valuable works. He was author of a dissertation in Latin on the faith of infants, Wittemberg, 1666; of a volume entitled "Physical Curiosities" (also in Latin), containing much curious information and ingenious theory, Gustrow, 1669; "Dissertatio contra nivis albedinem," Gustrow, 1669; "Deliciæ Physicæ," Rostock, 1671—a book of the same sort as the second mentioned; "Dissertatio de Trinitate," &c., Rostock, 1680; "Thysiasteriologia, sive de altaribus veterum Christianorum liber posthumus," Hamburg, 1709—a particularly interesting volume, full, as it is, of curious and recondite learning.—R. M., A.
* VOIGT, Johann, a German historian, was born at Bettenham in Saxony on the 27th August, 1786. His parents destined him for the medical profession, but his love for the study of history and philosophy frustrated their intentions. He became a professor at Halle in 1809. In 1817 he removed to Königsberg, where (1822) he obtained the chair of modern and mediæval history. He has published "Hildebrand als Papst Gregor VII. und sein Zeitalter," Weimar, 1815; "Geschichte des Lombardenbundes," Königsberg, 1818; "Jarbücher oder die Chronik Joh. Lindenblatt's," Königsberg, 1824; "Die Geschichte von Marienburg," Königsberg, 1824; "Geschichte Preussens von der aeltesten Zeiten bis zum Untergange der Herrschaft des deutchen Ordens," 9 vols., 1827-29; "Handbuch der Geschichte Preussens bis zur Reformation," &c.—R. M., A.
VOISON, Joseph de, a learned French Hebraist of the seventeenth century, was born of a good family at Bordeaux. He was for some time a counsellor in the parliament of Bordeaux; but finding at length that his numerous avocations did not allow him as much time as he desired for study, he retired altogether from secular pursuits and entered the church. He was subsequently appointed chaplain to the Prince de Condé. Voison was a master of the Hebrew tongue, and deeply skilled in all rabbinical learning. He was author of "Tractatus de Jubilæo," to which was added a Latin translation of the book of R. Maimonides, De Schemitta et Jofel; "Theologia Judæorum, sive opus, in quo rem ipsam quæ nunc religio Christiana nuncupatur, etiam apud antiquos fuisse priusquam Christus veniret in carne, ex Hebræorum libris ostenditur: Errores vero, quos post natum Christum Judæi per fraudem et malitiam attulerunt coarguuntur," Paris, 1647; "Liber de lege divinâ, secundum statum omnium temporum, ab Adamo in statu innocentiæ, et post lapsum usque ad Noë; a Noë usque ad Abraham; ab Abrahamo usque ad Moysen; a Moyse usque ad Christum, et regnante Christo," Paris, 1650. Voison was also the first editor of the Pugio fidei Raymundi Martini, Paris, 1655.—R. M., A.
VOITURE, Vincent, a celebrated French wit, born at Amiens in 1598. He was educated at Paris, and afterwards at the colleges of Calvi and Boncours. Admitted into the Hôtel de Rambouillet, he became the hero of the gay society which circled round Julie D'Angennes, afterwards duchess of Montansier. He was also well received at court, and by Gaston, duke of Orleans, who appointed him master of the ceremonies. During the quarrels of that prince with his brother the king, Voiture followed Gaston into Lorraine, Brussels, and Languedoc. In 1634 he was admitted into the French Academy, and was afterwards sent on a mission to Spain, when he composed some verses in such pure and natural Spanish that at first they were universally ascribed to Lope de Vega. From Spain Voiture proceeded to Africa, and he is also stated to have made two visits to Rome. He appears to have been in England in 1633, and five years afterwards was sent to Florence to announce to the grand duke the birth of the son of Louis XIII. Among the places enjoyed by Voiture at court were those of maitre d'hôtel to the king, and introducteur des ambassadeurs to the queen. With the exception of some college pieces, and some stanzas addressed to the duke of Orleans in 1614, Voiture published none of his own works. After his death, however, his French writings were collected and published in 1650. They consist of letters, poems, and a portion of a prose romance entitled "L'Histoire d'Acidalis et de Zelide." His Latin verses were published afterwards. Voiture was one of the first persons in France distinguished by the name of "bel esprit", and in his own day he was regarded as the model of grace and spirit in writing. More recent criticism has tended generally to depreciate him, perhaps unjustly. He died in 1648.—W. J. P.
VOLKELIUS, Johann, a Socinian minister, was born at Grimana in Misnia about the end of the sixteenth century. He corresponded with Socinus. Volkelius was the author of a book entitled "De Vera Religione," which was published at Racovia in 1630. It consists of an elaborate argumentation against the doctrine of the Trinity. The mayor of Amsterdam seized four hundred and fifty copies of this heretical publication in the possession of a bookseller of that city, and condemned them to the flames, besides imposing a fine of twelve hundred livres on the bookseller, which, however, he did not pay.—R. M., A.
VOLKOFF, Feodor Gregorievitch, a Russian actor, was born at Kostroma in 1729, where his father was a trader. His mother became a widow, and married a certain M. Polouschkin, the owner of a saltpetre mine at Yaroslaff. The latter treated Feodor like a favoured son, and sent him to Moscow to be educated for the church. The boy made rapid progress in the knowledge of poetry, drawing, and modern languages, but evinced no taste for theology. His mind was captivated by the drama, and when he returned home he contrived to represent, on a rude stage, some ancient semi-religious plays of Saint Demetri of Rostoff. A business journey to St. Petersburg resulted in his forming an acquaintance with the Italian players, who were performing at the court of the Empress Elizabeth. Fired with emulation, he engaged a small troop of friends on his return to Yaroslaff to play Russian pieces, chiefly those of Soumarokoff, with him. He soon built a theatre at Yaroslaff fit to hold a thousand people, and succeeded so well with his provincial audience that his fame reached the capital, whither he and his company were invited by the empress, who having witnessed their performance sent them to a cadet corps for some further instruction in polite learning. In 1756 Volkoff was made first actor at the new Russian theatre which Elizabeth had caused to be erected, and which she had committed to the direction of Soumarokoff. In 1759 her majesty sent Volkoff to Moscow, and in less than a year he founded a native theatre there also. Catherine II. on her accession showed signal marks of favour to Russia's first actor, who, like Moliere in another court, was made master of the revels on occasion of the coronation in February, 1763. His masque, "The Triumph of Minerva," was so splendid as to excite the attention of the gazette writers in all parts of Europe. But the effort cost the actor his life. In his eagerness to see to everything in the course of the festival, he exposed himself too much to the severity of the climate, caught cold and fever, of which he died on the 4th of April, 1763. His funeral was accompanied with almost public honours.—R. H.
