JOANNES, or John de Serres, a learned French Protestant, was born about the middle of the 16th century. He acquired the Greek and Latin languages at Lausanne, and devoted himself to the study of the philosophy of Aristotle and Plato. On his return to France he studied divinity. He began to distinguish himself in 1572 by his writings, but was obliged to forsake his country after the dreadful massacre of St Bartholomew. He became minister of Nîmes in 1582, but was never regarded as a very zealous Calvinist: he has even been suspected, though without reason, of having actually abjured the Protestant religion. He was one of the four clergymen whom Henry IV. consulted about the Romish religion, and who returned for answer, that Catholics might be saved. He wrote afterwards a treatise in order to reconcile the two communions, entitled De fide Catholica, sive de principiis religionis Christianae, communi omnium Christianorum consensu, semper et ubique ratis. This work was disliked by the Catholics, and received with such indignation by the Calvinists of Geneva, that many writers have affirmed that they poisoned the author. It is certain at least that he died at Geneva in 1598, at the age of 50. His principal works are, 1. A Latin translation of Plato, published by Henry Stephens, which owes much of its reputation to the elegance of the Greek copy which accompanies it. 2. A Treatise on the Immortality of the Soul. 3. De statu religionis et reipublicae in Francia. 4. Mémoire de la 3me guerre civile et derniers troubles de France sous Charles IX. &c. 5. Inventaire général de l'Histoire de France, illustré par la conférence de l'Église et de l'Empire, &c. 6. Recueil de chose memorable venue en France sous Henri II. François II. Charles IX. Henri III. These three historical treatises have been justly accused of partiality and passion; faults which it is next to impossible for a contemporary writer to avoid, especially if he bore any part in the transactions which he describes. His style is exceedingly incorrect and inelegant; his mistakes too and misstatements of facts are very numerous.