WILLIAM DU, lord of Langey, a French general, Bellai, Bellarmin, general, who signalized himself in the service of Francis I. He was also an able negotiator, so that the emperor Charles V. used to say, "that Langey's pen had fought more against him than all the lances in France." He was sent to Piedmont in quality of viceroy, where he took several towns from the Imperialists. His address in penetrating into the enemy's designs was surprising. In this he spared no expense, and thereby had intelligence of the most secret councils of the emperor and his generals. He was extremely active in influencing some of the universities of France to give their judgment agreeable to the desires of Henry VIII. king of England, when this prince wanted to divorce his queen, in order to marry Anne Bullen. It was then the interest of France to favour the king of England in this particular, it being an affront to the emperor, and a gratification to Henry, which might serve to form a strict alliance between him and Francis I. He was sent several times into Germany to the princes of the Protestant league, and was made a knight of the order of St Michael. He was also a man of learning, having given proofs of his abilities and genius as a writer. He composed several works; the most remarkable of which was, the History of his Own Times, in Latin; divided into ogdoades, that is, several parts, each consisting of eight books; most of which, however, have been lost. When Langey was in Piedmont in 1542 he had some remarkable intelligence which he was desirous himself to communicate to the king, and being very infirm, he ordered a litter for his conveyance; but after having passed the mountain of Tarara, betwixt Lyons and Roan, he found himself so extremely bad at St Saphorin that he was obliged to stop there, where he died, the 9th of January, in the year 1543. He was buried in the church of Mans, and a noble monument was erected to his memory.