BUDÆUS, WILLIAM, the most learned man in France in the 15th century, was descended of an ancient and illustrious family, and born at Paris in 1467. He was placed young under masters; but barbarism prevailed so much in the schools of Paris, that Budæus took a dislike to them, and spent his whole time in idleness, till his parents sent him to the university of Orleans to study law. Here he passed three years without adding to his knowledge; for his parents sending for him back to Paris, found his ignorance no less than before, and his reluctance to study, and love to gaming and other useless pleasures, much greater. They talked no more to him of learning of any kind; and as he was heir to a large fortune, left him to follow his own inclinations. He was passionately fond of hunting, and took great pleasure in horses, dogs, and hawks. The fire of youth beginning to cool, and his usual pleasures to pall upon his senses, he was seized with an irresistible passion for study. He immediately disposed of all his hunting equipage, and even abstracted himself from all business to apply himself wholly to study; in which he made, without any assistance, a very rapid and amazing progress, particularly in the Latin and Greek languages. The work which gained him greatest reputation was his treatise de Affe. His erudition and high birth were not his only advantages; he had an uncommon share of piety, modesty, gentleness, and good-breeding. The French king, Francis I. often sent for him; and at his persuasion, and that of Du Bellay, founded the royal college of France, for teaching the languages and sciences. The king sent him to Rome with the character of his ambassador to Leo X. and in 1522 made him master of requests. The same year he was chosen provost of the merchants. He died at Paris in 1540. His works, making four volumes in folio, were printed at Basel in 1557.