Accolti, Francis

, the brother of Benedetto, and usually called Francis D'Arezzo, or Aretin, from the place of his birth, was born in 1418. The celebrated Francis Philelphus was his preceptor in polite learning; after which he studied law under the ablest professors, and became himself one of their number, teaching that faculty at Bologna, Ferrara, and Sienna. He was for five years secretary to the duke of Milan, and died of the stone at the baths of Sienna, in 1483. He has been accused, but without proof, of the grossest avarice. If he left vast wealth, it was owing to the profits of his profession, of which he was acknowledged to be the ablest and most successful practitioner. A journey which he made to Rome, when Sixtus IV. was Pope, has given rise to another story, equally without proof, that he solicited to be made Cardinal, which the Pope refused, on pretence of the injury that would accrue to learning from such a promotion. Another story is recorded, more to his honour. While professor of law at Ferrara, he had occasion to lecture to his scholars on the advantages of a character known for probity and honour; and, in order to exemplify his doctrine, he went in the night, accompanied by only one servant, broke open the butchers’ stalls, and took away some pieces. The law-students were immediately suspected of the robbery, and two of them, of indifferent character, were imprisoned. The Professor then went before the Duke, demanded their release, and accused himself: having proved the fact, which was with difficulty | believed, he took the opportunity to show the advantage of a good character, and the dangers of a bad one.

He left several works. The principal are 1. “S. Chrysostomi homilias in Evangelium- S. Joannis, interprete F.A.” Rome, 1470, fol. Erasmus is of opinion that this translation is deficient in fidelity, anJ that the author was not sufficiently acquainted with the Greek language. 2. “Phalaridis Epistolae,” Rome, about 1469, 8vo; afterwards re-printed in 1471, 1474, 1475. 3. “Diogenis Cynici philosophi Epistolae.” 4 -“Authoris incerti libellus de Thermis Puteolorum, et vicinis in Italia, a Fr. de Accoltis Aretino repertus, publicatus, &c.” Naples, 1475, 4to. Some writers, not attending to the title of this work, have considered him as the author of it. 5. “Consilia seu Responsa,” Pisa, a collection of consultations on questions of law. 6. “Commentaria super Lib. II. Decretalium,” Bonon. 1481. 7. “Commentaria,” Pavia, 1495, fol. He also cultivated Italian poetry, and the libraries of Chigi and Strozzi contain several of his poetical pieces in manuscript. Crescembini inserted some of his sonnets in his history of Italian poetry. His Latin letters are in the Ambrosian library at Milan. ¹