Charles Drelincourt


Charles Drelincourt was a French Protestant divine.

Life

His father, Pierre Drelincourt, fled from Protestant persecution in Caen and became secretary to Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon at Sedan, Ardennes. In 1618, Charles undertook the charge of the French Protestant church at Langres, but failed to receive the necessary royal sanction, and early in 1620 he removed to Paris, where he was nominated minister of the Reformed Church at Charenton.

Works

He was the author of a large number of works in devotional and polemical theology, several of which had great influence. His Catechism and his Christians Defense against the Fears of Death became well known in England by means of translations, which were very frequently reprinted. It has been said that Daniel Defoe wrote his fiction of Mrs Veal, who came from the other world to recommend the perusal of Drelincourt on death, for the express purpose of promoting the sale of an English translation of the Consolations; Defoe's contribution is added to the fourth edition of the translation. Another popular work of his was Les Visites charitables pour toutes sortes de personnes affligés. Drelincourt's controversial works were numerous. Directed entirely against Roman Catholicism, they did much to strengthen and consolidate the Protestant party in France.

Family

He married the only daughter of a wealthy Parisian beer brewer. Several of his sons were distinguished as theologians or physicians: