to Michelangelo’s designs. The library’s staircase was com-
pleted by Bartolommeo AMMANATIand Giorgio VASARIin
- Among the library’s 10,000 manuscripts are some of
the most important surviving classical texts, including a
fifth-century copy of Virgil, and the oldest complete Latin
Bible known, the eighth-century Codex Amiatinus. In
1808 the Medici library at the convent of San Marco (see
MARCIANA, BIBLIOTHECA) was combined with the Lauren-
ziana to form the present Bibliotheca Medicea Lauren-
ziana.
Lazarillo de Tormes An episodic narrative published in
1554 (though evidence suggests there may have been an
earlier edition). It is remarkable for its social satire, and its
scathing anticlerical passages caused it to be put on the
INDEX LIBRORUM PROHIBITORUMin 1559, but its continued
popularity was such that Philip II authorized an expur-
gated edition in 1573 (Lazarillo castigado). Authorship
has never been determined; among the candidates pro-
posed are Fray Juan de Ortega, Diego de HURTADOde Men-
doza, and the brothers VALDÉS. The tale relates the
adventures of Lázaro, a boy from the dregs of society. He
learns the art of survival as he moves from one corrupt or
deluded master to another: as helper to a blind beggar
who starves him, as altar-boy to a priest who is even
meaner, as servant to an impoverished hidalgo, and so on.
The hero ends, optimistic and contented, as a towncrier in
Toledo married to the mistress of an archpriest—in other
words, in a dismally low position and a cuckold. The book
introduced the realistic autobiographical narrative and is
thus the forerunner of the PICARESQUE NOVEL. It was trans-
lated into English in 1586.
Lebrija, Elio Antonio de See NEBRIJA, ELIO ANTONIO
MARTÍNEZ DE CALA DE
Lefèvre d’Étaples, Jacques (Faber Stapulensis)
(c. 1453–1536) French humanist and theologian
Born at Étaples, Lefèvre became a priest and a teacher of
philosophy in Paris. He visited Italy in the late 15th cen-
tury and embarked on the study of Greek classics, trans-
lating and editing some of the works of Aristotle. Around
1505 he was teaching Greek in Paris. He subsequently
turned his attention to the Scriptures, publishing his Com-
mentaires sur les épîtres de Saint Paul in 1512; by 1530 he
had completed the first French translation of the Bible.
Lefèvre’s approach to religion and to the study of biblical
texts made him a leader of the pre-Reformation movement
in France and an enemy of the Sorbonne; in 1525 he was
forced to abandon his post as vicar-general to the bishop
of Meaux and take temporary refuge in Strasbourg. After a
brief period of service as tutor to the children of Francis I
he retired to Nérac, where he enjoyed the protection of
MARGUERITE DE NAVARREfor the last five years of his life.
Leicester, Robert Dudley, Earl of (c. 1532–1588)
English nobleman, courtier, and soldier
He was the fifth son of the duke of Northumberland and
shared in his family’s disgrace over the abortive attempt
(1553) to place his sister-in-law, Lady Jane GREY, on the
throne. However, Mary I pardoned him, and on the acces-
sion of ELIZABETH Ihe rapidly rose in royal favor, becom-
ing a strong contender for the queen’s hand. In 1560 his
wife Amy Robsart died from a fall in suspicious circum-
stances; rumor had it that Dudley was implicated in her
death to facilitate his marriage with the queen. This mar-
riage was now out of the question, but he nonetheless re-
mained a royal favorite and Elizabeth created him earl of
Leicester in 1564.
Leicester was a generous patron of writers, particu-
larly those with a strongly Protestant, even Puritan, bias;
his nephew Sir Philip SIDNEY, Edmund SPENSER, and Ed-
ward Dyer were the most distinguished poets among his
literary protégés. He was also a patron of Nicholas
HILLIARD, apparently promoted Federico ZUCCARO’s visit to
England, and sat for his portrait over a dozen times. His
anti-Catholic policies embroiled him in the catastrophic
expedition (1585–87) to aid the Dutch against their Span-
ish Hapsburg overlords (see NETHERLANDS, REVOLT OF
THE). By his marriage (1578) to Lettice, widow of the 1st
earl of Essex, he became stepfather to Robert Devereux,
Earl of ESSEX.Leiden See LEYDENLeipzig A central European city in which Germans were
settled by the early Middle Ages. After obtaining munici-
pal status (1170), Leipzig prospered on account of its po-
sition on important trade routes. Its two annual markets,
which became imperial fairs in 1497, and further com-
mercial privileges from the Holy Roman Empire ensured
continuing prosperity during the period of the Renais-
sance, especially from the fur trade. By the 16th century
Leipzig was known for its publishing and for its annual
book fairs. Its university (founded 1409) was known for
its humanist and Greek studies by 1500. In 1519 Leipzig
was the site of the famous disputation between LUTHER
and ECK. Many historic landmarks were restored after
World War II.Leipzig, Interim of (1548) Articles of religion imposed
on his subjects by Maurice, Elector of Saxony. The Interim
was a Lutheran modification of the Interim of AUGSBURG,
intended to preserve the unity of the Church until the dis-
puted doctrines should be resolved by the Council of
Trent. This compromise was abandoned at the Peace of
AUGSBURGin 1555.LLeeiippzziigg,, IInntteerriimm ooff 2 27733