THEOPHILUS, an eminent physician born at Geneva, March 15th 1620. He took his degree in physic in 1643, after he had gone through most of the famous universities, and was for some time physician to the duke of Longueville. Mean while his skill in his profession got him considerable practice; but being seized with deafness, it obliged him to retire from business, which gave him leisure to collect all the observations Bonifacio, James, one of the most polite writers of the 16th century, was born in Italy, near the lake Garda. He was secretary to the cardinal de Bari, and after his death to the cardinal Ghinucci. He afterwards read public lectures on Aristotle's politics, and on rhetoric; and was made historiographer to the republic of Genoa. He applied himself to compose the annals of that state, in which he wrote too satirically on some families. This creating him enemies who were resolved to ruin him, they accused him of the unnatural sin; and, as witnesses were found to convict him of it, he was condemned to be burnt. Some say that this sentence was executed; and others, that his punishment was changed, and that he was beheaded. This was in the year 1560. Upon the day of his execution he wrote a note to John Baptist Grimaldi, to testify his gratitude to the persons who had endeavoured to serve him; and promised to inform them how he found himself in the other world, if it could be done without frightening them. But it does not appear that he performed his promise, any more than the many who had promised the like before him.—His history of Genoa is esteemed. We have also some letters, some orations, and Latin and Italian poems, of his, which were printed at Bologna in the year 1744, octavo.

Bonfinius, Anthony, flourished in the 15th century. He was a native of Accoli in Italy, and attached himself to the study of the belles lettres. Matthias Cowin king of Hungary, having heard of his learning, sent for him, retained him, and settled upon him a pension. He wrote, 1. A history of Accoli; 2. A treatise of virginity and conjugal chastity; 3. An history of Hungary; and other works.

Bonfrerius, Janes, a learned Jesuit, born at Dinant, in 1573. He wrote a commentary on the Pentateuch, and learned notes on the Onomasticon of the places and towns mentioned in the Scripture. He died at Tournay in 1643, aged 70.

Bongars, James, in Latin Bongarius, a native of Orleans, was one of the most learned men of the 16th century. He applied himself to the study of critical learning, and was for near 30 years employed in the most important negotiations of Henry IV. whose resident he was several times at the courts of the princes of Germany, and at length his ambassador. He was of the Protestant religion; and, when very young, had the courage to write and post up in Rome a very spirited answer to a bull of Pope Sixtus V. The public is obliged to him for the edition of several authors who have written the History of the expeditions to the Holy Land; he also published, among other works, an edition of Justin, in which he restored several passages that had been corrupted, by consulting valuable manuscripts, and added notes which explained many difficulties. He died in 1612, aged 58.