Emmanuel Lobb (1594–1671), pseudonyms Joseph Simons or Simeon, was an English

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

and dramatist. He is chiefly remembered for converting the future King James II to the Roman Catholic faith.

Life

Born at

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

, Lobb was at age of 11 sent to Portugal to learn the language for commerce, and there was converted to the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

faith by Henry Floyd. He was sent to St Omer College, and then entered the

English College at Rome The Venerable English College (), commonly referred to as the English College, is a Catholic seminary in Rome, Italy, for the training of priests for England and Wales. It was founded in 1579 by William Allen on the model of the English College, ...

under the assumed name of Joseph Simeon, on 13 October 1616. Having received minor orders in 1617, he left Rome for Belgium on 14 September 1619, and was received into the Society of Jesus at

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

. Lobb was professed of the four vows on 25 January 1632–3. After teaching rhetoric and ''belles-lettres'' at St Omer College for five years, he became professor of theology, philosophy, and sacred scripture in the English theologate of the Society of Jesus at Liège. In 1647 he was appointed rector of the English College at Rome, and in 1650 rector of the theologate at Liège. He was also instructor of the tertian fathers at

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...

. Later sent on the English mission, Lobb was at one period rector of the College of St. Ignatius. In 1667 he became the Jesuit English provincial. When residing in London in 1669 he was consulted by

James, Duke of York James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...

, whom he subsequently reconciled to the Roman Catholic church, although the precise details of James' conversion are unknown, due to a highly effective Government "black-out". Lobb died in London on 24 July 1671.

Works

Lobb was the author of the following verse tragedies, all in five acts: * ''Zeno, Tragœdia'', Rome, 1648, Antwerp, n.d. * ''Mercia, Tragœdia'', Rome, 1648. * ''Theoctitus sive constans in Aula virtus'', Liège, n.d. * ''Tragœdiæ quinque, quarum duæ postremæ nunc primum lucem vident'', Liège, 1657; Cologne, 1680 and 1697. The two additional pieces, mentioned in the title were ''Vitus, sive Christiana fortitudo'' and ''Leo Armenus, sive Impietas punita''. These tragedies were often acted in Italy and Spain. Thomas Blount ascribed to Lobb, at the time, an ''Answer to Dr. Pierce's Sermon preached before his Majesty 1 Feb. 1663. By J. S.'', London, 1663; others give the authorship to John Sergeant.

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;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Lobb, Emmanuel 1594 births 1671 deaths 17th-century English Jesuits English dramatists and playwrights Writers from Portsmouth Clergy from Portsmouth 17th-century Latin-language writers

Life

Works

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