Cappel, Louis

Cappel, Louis (surnamed de Moniambert), a French theologian, was born at Paris, Jan. 15,1534. He was the uncle of Jacques Cappell (q.v.). At the age of twenty- two he went to Bordeaux with the view of studying jurisprudence. Here he became acquainted with members of the Reformed Church, which he joined. After his return to Paris, his relatives tried to persuade him to resume his pursuit of jurisprudence.; but he continued the study of theology, which he had commenced at Bordeaux, and remained true to the Reformed Church; His co-religionists decided to petition the king to is-sue a decree, allowing the Reformed the free exercise of their religion, and Cappel was asked to plead their case. He succeeded, and the petition being granted, Cappel was appointed preacher at Meaux. Being obliged, on account of the troublesome times, to give up his pastorate, he went to Geneva, and thence to Sedan. In 1569 he accepted a call to Amsterdam, but he soon returned to Sedan. His next pastorate at Clermont was only of short duration. The massacre on St. Bartholomew's day obliged him again to take refuge at Sedan. The French Reformed sent him to Germany, to. enlist the assistance of the Protestant princes in their behalf.' After he had returned from this mission, prince William of Orange called him to Leyden as professor of theology, and in February, 1575, he delivered his inaugural address at the opening of the university. In the following year he returned to France; and, after having acted as field-chaplain of the Reformed soldiers, he returned to Sedan, where he died, as preacher and theological professor, Jan. 6,1586. His inaugural address is printed in Meursius's Athence Batavce. See Bertheau, in Herzog's Real-Encyklop. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B. P.)