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

Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

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 city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...

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

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

faith by Henry Floyd. He was sent to St Omer College, and then entered the English College at Rome 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 ( ; ; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Liège Province, province of Liège, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east o ...

. 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 ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

. 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 II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...

, 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 writers in Latin

Life

Works

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