Espence, Claude-Togniol de

ESPENCE, CLAUDE-TOGNIOL DE. - French theologian, b. at Châlons-sur-Marne in 1511, d. in Paris on 5 Oct. 1571. Even before taking his degree, in 1540, he was rector of the University of Paris. In 1544 he took part in the meeting of Melun, at which the program of questions to be submitted to the Council of Trent was drawn up, where he was later sent by Henry II as his theologian. In 1560 he took part in the Estates of Orléans, where the reform of the Church was discussed, and the following year he was present at the famous Colloquy of Poissy.

His moderate attitude brought him violent attacks from several quarters, also because his doctrine was not always free from inaccuracies. His poor health prevented him from going again to Trent when the Council resumed, yet he had frequent epistolary contacts with the theologians who took part in it. His most important work is the De Eucharistia civique adoratione libri quique, published posthumously in Paris (1573); special mention also deserves: Institutum du prince christian (Lyons 1548), Traicté contre l'erreur vieil et renouvelé des prédestins (ibid. 1548), De clandestinis matrimonis (Paris 1561), De continentia (ibid. 1565) and other works of religious controversy.

Nicolò Del Re