, 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.
, 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.
, a celebrated architect of Milan, of the sixteenth century. He was a successful student
, a celebrated architect of Milan,
of the sixteenth century. He was a successful student of
mathematics, physics, and philosophy. Under the pontificate of Gregory XIII. there was a design at Rome to remove a vast obelisk to St. Peter’s square, and Agrippa was
one of those employed in this undertaking, hitherto thought
so difficult. He published the result of his plan under the
title of “Trattato di trasportar la guglia in su la piazza,
&i San Pietro,
” Rome, 1583, 4to. His other works are,
1. “Trattato di scientia d'Arme, con un Dialogo di Filoofia,
” Rome, Dialogo sopra la generatione de Venti, &c.
” Rome, Dialogo del modo di mettere in Battaglia,
”
Rome, Nuove Invenzioni sopra il modo
di Navigare,
” Rome,
, a celebrated and learned lawyer, was the son of a rich merchant of Milan, according to Pancirolus, and born in that city in 1492.
, a celebrated and
learned lawyer, was the son of a rich merchant of Milan,
according to Pancirolus, and born in that city in 1492.
After having studied the liberal sciences under Janus Parrhasius at Milan, he attended the law-lectures of Jason at
Pavia, and those of Charles Ruinus at Bologna. Then taking a degree in law in his twenty-second year, he followed
his profession at the bar, in the city of Milan, till he was
called to the law-chair by the university of Avignon. He
discharged his office with so much capacity, that Francis I.
thought he would be a very proper person to promote the
knowledge of the law in the university of Bourges, and accordingly prevailed on him to remove thither in 1529; and
the next year he doubled his salary, which before was six
hundred crowns. Alciati acquired here great fame and reputation; he interspei’sed much polite learning in his explication of the law, and abolished that barbarous language,
which had hitherto prevailed in the lectures and writings of
the lawyers. Francis Sforza, duke of Milan, thought
himself obliged to bring back to his native country a man who
could do it so much honour; and this he compassed at last,
by giving him a large salary and the dignity of a senator.
Alciati accordingly went to teach the law at Pavia, but soon
after removed to the university of Bologna, where he continued four years, and then returned to Pavia; from whence
he went to Ferrara, being solicited thither by duke Hercules d'Este, who was desirous to render his university famous.
It resumed its reputation under a professor so much followed; but at the end of four years Alciati left it, and returned to Pavia. Paul III. gave him an honourable reception as he passed by Ferrara, and offered him ecclesiastical preferment; but Alciati was contented with that of
prothonotary, and would not give up his profession of the
law. He seems to rejoice that he had refused Paul’s offers,
in a letter to Paulus Jovius, whom the pope had a long
time amused with fallacious promises: “I am very glad,
”
says he, “that I did not suffer myself to be deceived by
this pope’s offers, who, under the promise of a great recompense, wanted to draw me to Rome.
” The emperor
created Alciati a count-palatin and a senator; and Philip,
afterwards king of Spain, presented him with a golden chain
as he passed by Pavia.
, a native of Milan, was one of those Italians who forsook their country in
, a native of Milan, was one of
those Italians who forsook their country in the sixteenth
century, to join with the Protestant church; but afterwards explained away the mystery of the Trinity in such a
manner as to form a new party, no less odious to the Protestants than to the Catholics. Alciati had borne arms. He
began his innovations at Geneva, in concert with a physician named Blandrata, and Gribaud, a lawyer, with whom
Valentine Gentilis associated himself. The precautions,
however, that were taken against them, and the severity of
the proceedings instituted against Gentilis, made the others
glad to remove to Poland, where they professed their heresies with more safety and success, and where they were soon
joined by Gentilis. It was indeed at Alciati’s request that
the bailiff of Gex had released him out of prison. From
Poland these associates went to Moravia; but Alciati retired
to Dantzick, and died there in the sentiments of Socinus,
although some report he died a Mahometan, which Bayle
takes pains to refute. Of his Socinianism, however, there
can bfe no doubt. He published “Letters to Gregorio
Pauli,
”
rote on the marriage of Isabella of Arragon, daughter of Alphonsus II. with John Galeas Sforca, duke of Milan. This is published in the Carm. Illust. Poet. Ital. and
, one of the Latin poets who
flourished in Italy in the fifteenth century, was born at
Basilicata, in the kingdom of Naples, or as some think, at
Mantua. He studied, however, at Naples, which he made
his residence, and associated with Pontanus, Sannazarius,
and the other literati of that time and place, and acted as
preceptor to prince Ferdinand, who came to the throne in
1495, by the resignation of his father Alphonsus II. According to Ughelli in his “Italia sacra,
” Altilio was
appointed bishop of Policastro in Gabriel
Altilius,
” says he, “composed an excellent epithalamium,
which would have been still better, had he restrained his
genius; but, by endeavouring to say every thing upon the
subject, he disgusts the reader as much in some places, as
he gives him pleasure in others: be says too much, which
is a fault peculiar to his nation, for in all that tract of Italy
they have a continual desire of talking.
” k may appear
singular that his Latin poetry 'should hare raised him to
the dignity of a prelate; yet it certainly did, in a great
measure, to the bishopric of Policastro. Some have also
reproached him for neglecting the muses after his preferment, though they had proved so serviceable to him in
acquiring it: “When he was made bishop,
” says Paulus
Jovius, “he soon and impudently left the muses, by whose
means he had been promoted: a most heinous ingratitude,
unless we excuse him from the consideration of his order,
which obliged him to apply to the study of the holy
scriptures.
”
In the year 374, Auxentius, bishop of Milan, died, and immediately the bishops of the province met
In the year 374, Auxentius, bishop of Milan, died, and
immediately the bishops of the province met together to
elect a successor. The emperor, Valentinian, sent for
them, and told them, that they, as men acquainted with the
scriptures, ought to understand better than himself the
qualifications necessary for so important a station; that
they should chuse a man fit to instruct by life as well as
doctrine, in which case, he (the emperor) would readily
submit his sceptre to his counsels and directions; and,
conscious that he was liable to human frailty, would receive his reproofs and admonitions as wholesome physic.
The bishops, however, requested his majesty to nominate
the person, but Valentinian persisted in leaving the decision to their choice. This was at a time when factions
were strong, and when the Arian party were very desirous
of electing one of their number. The city, accordingly,
was divided, and a tumult seemed approaching, when Ambrose, as a magistrate, hastened to the church of Milan,
and exhorted the people to peace and submission to the
laws. On concluding his speech, an infant’s voice in the
crowd was heard to say: “Ambrose is bishop;
” and immediately the whole assembly exclaimed: “Let Ambrose
be bishop,
” a decision in which the contending factions
agreed unanimously.
ferred. He soon, however, commenced preacher, and officiated everj Sunday, and as head of the church of Milan, he labouret unremittingly in discouraging the Arian heresy
The first step he took, which probably confirmed the good opinion to which he owed his election, was to give to the church and to the poor all his personal property, and his lands in reversion, after the death of his sister Marcellina. His family he committed to the care of his brother Satyrus. He now applied himself to the study of theology, under Simplician, a presbyter of Rome, a man of great learning and piety, whom he invited to Milan, and who was afterwards his successor in that see. His studies he pursued with ardour and perseverance; but it has been uniformly regretted that he made the works of the fanciful Origen so much the object of his study, for to this all the extravagant opinions in his writings may be referred. He soon, however, commenced preacher, and officiated everj Sunday, and as head of the church of Milan, he labouret unremittingly in discouraging the Arian heresy in Italy, ii which, it will soon appear, he would have made little progress, had he not been endowed with an uncommon share of heroic firmness.
hough he had, by his talents in negociation, averted for a tune the invasion of Italy from the court of Milan. In the year 386, she procured a law to enable the Arian
Still, however, Justina, the empress, continued his
enemy, although he had, by his talents in negociation,
averted for a tune the invasion of Italy from the court of
Milan. In the year 386, she procured a law to enable the
Arian congregations to assemble without interruption;
and Auxentius, a Scythian, of the same name with the
Arian predecessor of Ambrose, was now introduced, under
the protection of the empress, into Milan. He challenged
Ambrose to hold a disputation with him in the emperor’s
court, but the latter denied that it was any part of the
emperor’s business to decide on points of doctrine; adding, “Let him come to church, and upon hearing, let
the people judge for themselves; and if they like Auxuutius better, let them take him; but they have already declared their sentiments.
” Auxentius then demanded that
a party of soldiers might be sent to secure for himself the
possession of the church called Basilica; and it was represented as a very unreasonable thing, that the emperor
should not be allowed one place of worship agreeable to
his conscience. This, however, was not the fair question,
for the emperor, if he chose to exert his authority, might
have commanded any, or all the churches. The fact
was, that Ambrose was now requested to do what he could
not do conscientiously; namely, by his own deed to resign a
church into the hands of the Arians, and thereby, indirectly at least, acknowledge their creed. He therefore
refused, telling the officers that if the emperor had demanded his house or land, money or goods, he would
have freely resigned them, but that he could not deliver
up that which was committed to his care. And although
another attempt was made to obtain forcible possession of
one or two churches, and violent commotions were about
to ensue, Ambrose persisted in his principles of duty, and
his resistance was effectual.
into the service of the cardinal Ascanio Sforza Visconti, and afterwards into that of the archbishop of Milan. During a residence there of ten years, he formed an
, an Italian scholar,
was born in 1455, at Arona, on the Lake Major. His family, one of the most illustrious in Milan, took the name of
Anghiera, from the same lake, which is partly in the county
of Anghiera. In 1477, he went to Rome, and entered
into the service of the cardinal Ascanio Sforza Visconti,
and afterwards into that of the archbishop of Milan.
During a residence there of ten years, he formed an acquaintance with the most eminent literary men of his time,
and among others, with Pomponio Leto. In 1487, he
went into Spain in the suite of the ambassador of that
court, who was returning home. By him he was presented
to Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen, and served in
two campaigns, but quitted the army for the church, and
was appointed by the queen to teach the belles lettres to
the young men of the court, in which employment he continued for some time. Having on various occasions shown
a capacity for political business, Ferdinand, in 1501, employed him on an errand of considerable delicacy, to the
sultan of Egypt, in which he acquitted himself greatly to
his majesty’s satisfaction. While engaged in this business,
he took the opportunity of visiting some part of Egypt,
particularly the pyramids, and returned to Spain in the
month of August 1502. From this time he became attached to the court, and was appointed a member of the
council for the affairs of India. The pope, at the king’s
request, made him apostolical prothonotary, and in 1505,
prior of the church of Grenada, with a valuable benefice.
After the death of Ferdinand, Anghiera remained as much
in favour with the new king, and he also was presented
by Charles V. to a rich abbey. He died at Grenada in
1526, leaving several historical works, which are often
quoted by the name of Peter Martyr, as if that were his
family name; and in the Diet. Hist, he is recorded under
Martyr. His principal works are, 1. “Opus Epistolarum
Petri Martyris Anglerii, Mediolanensis,
” De
rebus Oceanicis etorbe novo Decades,
” a history of the discovery of the New World, compiled from the manuscripts of
Columbus, and the accounts he sent to Spain to the India
council, of which our author was a member. These Decades
were at first printed separately; the first edition of the whole
is that of Paris, 1536, fol. which has been often reprinted.
3. “De insulis nuper in vends et incolarum moribus,
” Basil, De legation e Baby lonica,
libri tres,
” printed with the Decades, which contains an account of his embassy to the sultan of Egypt. Some other
works, but rather on doubtful authority, have been attributed to him.
n enabled him to secure the favour and patronage of Giovanni Galeozzo and Lud. Maria Visconti, dukes of Milan, to whom he was secretary and prime minister, and employed
, a learned Italian of the fifteenth century, was a native of Perugia, and of a family of
some rank. He was the scholar of Joannes Antonius Campanus, and published the first and perhaps only entire edition of Campanus’ works, 1495. Michael Fernus, a Milanese scholar, at his request superintended the press, and
enriched the publication with a copious life of Campanus,
and a variety of elaborate prefaces addressed to various
persons. That which is addressed to Antiquarius himself
bears ample testimony to his literary reputation. On quitting his native city, Antiquarius obtained a political orKce
of consequence and responsibility at Bologna. About 1460
he removed to Milan, where his erudition enabled him to
secure the favour and patronage of Giovanni Galeozzo and
Lud. Maria Visconti, dukes of Milan, to whom he was secretary and prime minister, and employed his influence in
the patronage of literature. As he was in the church he
obtained some rich benefices from pope Alexander VI.
Many learned works, the publication of which he had encouraged, were dedicated to him, but we have nothing of
his own, except an “Oratio,
” Milan,
a great part of Lombardy, and Milan was the chief city. He was educated under Laurentius, archbishop of Milan, who died in the year 504. Arator is said to have died
, the secretary and intendant of finances to Athaiaric, and afterwards subdeacon of the Romish church, flourished in the sixth century, and, according to some accounts, was born in the year 490, but the place of his birth has been contested. He certainly was of Liguria, but in his time Liguria comprehended a great part of Lombardy, and Milan was the chief city. He was educated under Laurentius, archbishop of Milan, who died in the year 504. Arator is said to have died in the year 356. At first he employed his poetical talents on profane subjects, but afterwards on those which were of a more serious kind. In the year 544, he presented Pope Vigilius with the Acts of the Apostles in Latin verse, with which the pontiff was so much pleased that he ordered the work to be read in the church of St. Peter ad Vincula, and it met with universal approbation. We find in it many of the allegories which the venerable Bede introduced in his commentary on the Acts. It was printed with other poetry of the same description, at Venice, 1502, 4to, Strasburgh, 1507, 8vo, Leipsic, 1515, 4to, and in the Bibliotheca Patrum, Paris, 1575, 1589, &c. Father Sirmond published at the end of his edition of Ennodius, a letter in elegiac verse, which Arator wrote to Parthenius.
, of Milan, but born at Cremona about the year 1574, when his father
, of Milan, but born at Cremona about
the year 1574, when his father came thereto be appointed
podestat, or governor, was then called Caesar, and did not
assume the name of Paul until he entered in his sixteenth
year among the regular clerks or theatins, after his father’s death. He made such proficiency in his studies that
his theological tutor was obliged to prepare himself with
more than common care to answer the objections and
doubts of his acute pupil, and he became a very celebrated
preacher, although neither his voice nor manner were in
his favour. He afterwards taught theology, philosophy,
and rhetoric, at Rome and Naples. Isabella of Savoy, afterwards duchess of Modena, chose him for her confessor,
and appointed him bishop of Tortona. Here he principally
resided, and passed his days in an exemplary manner, and
employed his leisure in many works, which have been; published, and for a long period uere highly popular. He
died June 13, 1644. His principal Latin works were,
1. “In libros Aristotelis de Generation e et Corruptione,
”
Milan, De Aquæ transmutatione in sacrificio Missæ,
” Tortona, De Cantici
Canticorum sensu, velitatio bina,
” Milan, Velitationes sex in Apocalypsim,
” Milan, Arte di predicar bene,
” Venice,
Impresse sacre con triplicati discorsi illustrate ed arrichite,
” Verona, La Ritroguardia, &c.
” 7. “Delia Tribolazione e suoi rimedii,
” Tortona, Panegirici fatti in diversi occasioni,
”
Milan, 8vo, no date, but the dedication is dated
rchinto, the patron of letters, and his own particular patron. Archinto formed a society of noblemen of Milan, called the Palatine Society, who undertook to defray
, an Italian printer, and one of
the most learned and laborious editors of his time, was
born at Bologna about the end of the year 1685. His family, then one of the most ancient in that city, was originally of Florence. After having begun his studies at
Bologna, he went to Florence, and became acquainted
with many of the literati of that city, particularly the celebrated Magliabechi. From Florence he went to Lucca,
and then to Leghorn, where he meant to embark for France,
but the death of one of his uncles rendered it necessary
for him to return to his own country. He first projected
an edition of the works, already in print, or in manuscript,
of Ulysses Aldrovandi, with additions, notes, and corrections,
and engaged several learned persons to assist him, but death
having removed the greater part of them in a few years,
he was obliged to give up the undertaking. He then published a collection of the poems of Carlantonio Bedori, a
Bolognese gentleman, at Bologna, 1715, 4to. Two years
after, having been elected one of the magistrates of that
city, known by the title of the tribunes of the people,
when he came to resign his office, he made an eloquent
address on the duties of the office, which his successors
ordered to be registered among their acts. His next and
most important undertaking was an edition of that immense
historical collection, entitled “Scriptores Rerum Italicarum.
” The learned Muratori having imparted to him the
design he had conceived of collecting and publishing the
ancient Italian historians, acknowledged at the same time
that he had been obliged to abandon the plan from the
impossibility of finding a press adequate to such an extensive undertaking, the art of printing, once so highly cultivated in Italy, having now greatly degenerated. Argellati being of opinion that Milan was the only place where
a trial might be made with effect, to revive useful printing,
immediately went thither, and communicated Muratori’s
plan to count Charles Archinto, the patron of letters, and
his own particular patron. Archinto formed a society of
noblemen of Milan, called the Palatine Society, who undertook to defray the expence of the edition, sixteen of
the members subscribing four thousand crowns each. Argellati then took every necessary step to establish a printing-office suited to this liberal patronage, and the “Scriptores Rerum Italicarum
” was the first work printed, in
which Argellati bore a considerable part, collecting and
furnishing Muratori with most of the manuscripts, notices,
and dedications of the first volumes. He superintended
at the same time, the printing of other works, particularly
an edition of Sigonius, 1738/6 vols. fol. The emperor
Charles VI. to whom it was dedicated, and who had repaid
him for the dedication of the first volume of the Italian
historians, by the title of imperial secretary, and a pension
of three hundred crowns, now doubled this pension. Argellati continued to publish, with incredible labour and
dispatch, various editions of works of importance, as “Opere
inedite di Ludovico Castelvetro,
” Grazioli,
De antiquis Mediolani aedificiis,
” Thesaurus
novus veterum Inscriptionum,
” by Muratori, Bibliotheca scriptorum Mediolanensium,
” Milan, Biblioteca de' Volgarizzatori Italiani,
” Milan,
5 vols. 4to, 1767, besides which he contributed a great
number of essays and letters to various collections. He
died at Milan Jan. 5, 1755, after having had the misfortune to lose his son, the subject of the following article.
his discovery is displayed, with plates in three colours. The first edition of this curious work is of Milan, 1627 but it was afterwards reprinted at Basle in 1628,
, a physician of Cremona, of the sixteenth century, was the first who discovered the lacteal
veins in the mesentery, while he was dissecting for another
purpose. He published a dissertation “De lacteis venis,
”
wherein his discovery is displayed, with plates in three
colours. The first edition of this curious work is of Milan, 1627 but it was afterwards reprinted at Basle in
1628, 4to, and at Leyden, 1640. The author professed
anatomy at Pavia, about 1620, with great success, and
died there in 1626.
and at Milan, whither he had been sent by the prefect Symmachus. St. Ambrose was at this time bishop of Milan, and Augustin, affected by his sermons, and by the tears
, an eminent father of the church,
was born at'Tagasta, Nov. 13, in the year 354, of his father
Patricius, a citizen of that place, and his mother Monica,
a lady of distinguished piety. He first applied to his
studies in his native place, and afterwards at Madora and
Carthage. In this latter city his morals became corrupted,
and he had a son born to him, named Adeodat, the fruit of
a criminal connexion. He then became a proselyte to the
sect of the Manichaeans, and an able defender of their
opinions. The perusal of some part of Cicero’s philosophy
is said first to have detached him from his immoral conduct; but one thing, Baillet says, gave him uneasiness in
this work, and that was his not finding the name of Jesus,
which had been familiar to him from his infancy in the
writings of the celebrated Roman. He resolved, therefore, to read the holy scriptures, but the pride of his heart,
and his incapacity to taste the simple beauties of these,
made him still give the preference to Cicero. In the
mean time he acquired considerable fame in the schools of
eloquence, and was a professor of it successively at Tagasta, at Carthage, at Rome, and at Milan, whither he had
been sent by the prefect Symmachus. St. Ambrose was at
this time bishop of Milan, and Augustin, affected by his
sermons, and by the tears of his mother Monica, began to
think seriously of forsaking his irregularities and his Manichasism. He was accordingly baptised at Milan in the year
387, in the thirty-second year of his age, and renouncing
his rhetorical pursuits, studied only the gospel. On his
return to Tagasta, he betook himself to fasting and prayer,
gave his property to the poor, and formed a society ainorrg
some of his friends. Some time after, being at Hippo,
Valerius, then bishop of that diocese, ordained him a priest
abaut the commencement of the year 391. Next year we
find him disputing with great success against the Manichees, and in the year 392 he gave so learned an exposition of the symbol of faith, in the council of Hippo, that the
bishops were unanimously of opinion he ought to be chosen
one of their number. In the year 395, another council
appointed him coadjutor to Valerius, in the see of Hippo,
and it was in this situation that the spirit and virtues of
Augustin began to display themselves. He established in
the espiscopal mansion a society of clerks, with whom he
lived, and became more active in his opposition to heresies,
particularly the Manichuean, converting one Felix, a very
celebrated character among them. Nor did he less prove
his judgment and eloquence in a conference between the
Catholic 1 bishops and the Donatists at Carthage in the year
411, where he bent his endeavours to procure unity in the
church. His great work “On the city of God,
” now made
its appearance.
l Peter Beaufort, afterwards pope Gregory XI. He next became professor at Padua, from which the duke of Milan invited him to the same office at Pavia. He died April
, a celebrated lawyer of the fourteenth century, was a native of Perugia, and the son of Francis Ubaldi, a learned physician, who had him educated with great care. After studying philosophy and belles lettres, he became the pupil of Bartolus in law studies, and afterwards was his powerful rival. He taught law himself at Perugia, where he had for his scholar cardinal Peter Beaufort, afterwards pope Gregory XI. He next became professor at Padua, from which the duke of Milan invited him to the same office at Pavia. He died April 28, 1400, aged 76, of the consequences of the bite of a favourite cat, a circumstance thus expressed on his epitaph:
vent of Altomonte in Calabria, in 1506, Bandello passed a considerable part of his time at the court of Milan, where he had the honour of instructing the celebrated
, a celebrated Italian novelist, was born at Castelnuovo in the district of Tortona,
where he remained for some years, under the patronage of
his uncle Vincenzio Bandello, general of the order, of Do^
minicans, with whom he also travelled through various parts
of Italy, France, Spain, and Germany, where it was the
4uty of the general to inspect the convents of his order.
After the death of his uncle, at the convent of Altomonte in
Calabria, in 1506, Bandello passed a considerable part of
his time at the court of Milan, where he had the honour of
instructing the celebrated Lucretia Gonzaga, in whose
praise he wrote an Italian, poem, which still remains, and
where he formed an intimacy with many eminent persons
of the age, as appears from the dedicatory epistles prefixed
to his novels. Having early enrolled himself in the order
of Dominicans, in a fraternity at Milan, he entered deeply
into the ecclesiastical and political affairs of the times, and
after various vicissitudes of fortune, obtained at length, in
1550, the bishopric of Agen in France, conferred on him
by Henry II. but being fond of the poets, ancient and
modern, addicted himself much more to the belles lettres
than to the government of his diocese. He filled the episcopal chair of Agen for several years, and died about 1561,
at the chateau de Bazens, the country seat of the bishops of
Agen. His monument was erected in the church of the
Jacobins du port St. Marie. He had resigned the bishopric
of Agen in 1555, when his successor, Janus Fregosa, son of
the unhappy Cæsar, assassinated by the marquis de Guast,
had attained his twenty-seventh year. Henry II. who had
a regard for the Fregosas, Jiad agreed with the pope, on the
death of the cardinal de Lorraine, bishop of Agen, to give,
by interim, this bishopric to Bandello, till Janus should
arrive at the age required. Bandello consented to this arrangement, and gave up the see according to promise.
The best edition of his novels is that of Lucca, 1554, 3
vols. 4to, to which belongs a fourth volume, printed at
Lyons in 1573, 8vo. This edition is scarce and dear.
Those of Milan, 1560, 3 vols. 8vo, and of Venice, 1566,
3 vols. 4to, are curtailed and little esteemed but that
of London, 1740, 4 vols. 4to, is conformable to the first.
Boaisteau and Belleforest translated a part of them into
French, Lyons, 1616, et seq. 7 vols. 16mo. It is entirely
without reason that some have pretended that these novels
are not by him, but were composed by a certain John Bandello, a Lucchese, since the author declares himself to be
of Lombardy, and even marks Castelnuovo as the place of
his nativity. On the other hand, Joseph Scaliger, his contemporary and his friend, who calls him Bandellus Insuber,.
positively asserts that he composed his novels at Agen.
Fontanini is likewise mistaken in making him the author of
a Latin translation of the history of Hegesippus, which he
confounds with the novel of Boccace entitled Sito e Gisippo, which Bandello did really translate into Latin. We
have by him likewise the collection of poems beforementioned, entitled “Canti xi. composti del Bandello,
ilelle lodi della signora Lucrezia Gonzaga,
” &c. printed
at Agen in
he bravery with which he defended the city of Brescia, when governor, against the forces of the duke of Milan. It was riot less to his credit that he was able to reconcile
, the son of
Candiano Barbaro, was an accomplished soldier and a man
of letters. He was a scholar of the celebrated Chrysoloras,
under whom he studied Greek and Latin. His character
raised him to the highest offices in the republic of Venice,
and he acquired great reputation on account of the bravery
with which he defended the city of Brescia, when governor,
against the forces of the duke of Milan. It was riot less to
his credit that he was able to reconcile the two opposite
factions of the Avogadri and the Martinenghi, and prevailed
on them to support the common cause. He died procurator of St. Mark, in 1454. Rewrote a Latin treatise on
marriage, which was published by Badius Ascensius, in
Paris, 1513, 4to, entitled “F. Barbari patricii Veneti oratorisque clarissimi de Re Uxoria libelli duo.
” It is a work of
pure morality, and contains excellent advice, in a very perspicuous style, and has been often reprinted, and translated
into French. Barbaro also translated the lives of Aristides
and Cato from Plutarch, and his letters were printed at
Brescia, 1743, 4to. Bayle has a long note, by which it
appears somewhat doubtful, whether the defender of Brescia
and the writer of the “De Re Uxoria,
” were the same
person.
enate again interrupted his favourite studies, by appointing him ambassador to Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan, an office which his grandfather and father had both formerly
In June 1484, having again retired to Padua, to avoid the plague then raging at Venice, he undertook, at the earnest request of several of the students, to expound some of the Grecian poets and orators, particularly Theocritus and Demosthenes. He had already borne two important offices in the republic, and was exulted to the dignity of senator in 1484, in the thirtieth year of his age. In the same year he opened, at his own house at Venice, a private school of philosophy, delivering his lectures at an early hour in the morning, and although he meant to admit only a few friends, his audience speedily increased, and he continued this employment until June 1485, when he was appointed on an embassy to congratulate the archduke Maximilian, who had recently been elected king of the Romans. On this occasion, Maximilian, whom he addressed in a complimentary oration, conferred on him order of knighthood. In 1488, the senate again interrupted his favourite studies, by appointing him ambassador to Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan, an office which his grandfather and father had both formerly filled. At Milan, his house became the general resort of the learned, and he contrived, amidst his public labours, to resume his criticisms on Aristotle and Dioscorides. In 1490, he returned to his native city, and about a year after, was appointed ambassador in ordinary to pope Innocent VIII. who conferred the patriarchate upon Hermolaus, and he accepted it, notwithstanding he knew that the republic of Venice had made an express law forbidding all the ministers they sent to Rome to accept of any benefice. Hermolaus excused himself by saying the pope forced him to accept of the prelacy but this availed nothing with the council of ten, who signified to him that he must renounce the patriarchate, and if he refused to comply, that Zachary Barbarus his father should be degraded from all his dignities^ and his estate confiscated. Zachary was a man much advanced in years, and filled one of the chief posts in the commonwealth. He employed all the interest in his power to gain the consent of the republic to his son’s being patriarch but his endeavours proved ineffectual, and Hernaolaus was condemned by the Venetians to perpetual exile.
k into the island of Cyprus. It is said, that he suffered martyrdom, after having founded the church of Milan, and that his body was found in the year 488, with the
, i.e. Son of the Prophet, an apostle, and one of the first preachers of the Gospel in the first century, was born in Cyprus, of the tribe of Levi. It is supposed that he went to Jerusalem, and studied with St. Paul, under Gamaliel. Upon embracing the Christian faith he sold his land, and laid the price of it at the apostles’ feet. He was appointed to be an apostle of the Gentiles with St. Paul, travelled with him, and accompanied St. Mark into the island of Cyprus. It is said, that he suffered martyrdom, after having founded the church of Milan, and that his body was found in the year 488, with the gospel of St. Matthew upon the breast. An epistle, attributed to St. Barnabas, was published 1645, by Dom. Luke d'Acheri, 4to. It is in the library of the fathers, and in the Patres Apostclici of Cotelier; but in all probability it was the production of some Jew, whose mean talents and attachment to Jewish fables point him out as a very different person from the companion of St. Paul. Yet Dupin labours hard to give it a kind of authenticity.
2, he pointed cut several abuses, with their remedies, in the system of coinage adopted in the state of Milan. A short time after, some literary gentlemen of Milan
, a political
writer of considerable note, was born at Milan in 1735,
and died in the same place in 1793 or 1794. In his first
publication, which appeared at Lucca in 1762, he pointed
cut several abuses, with their remedies, in the system of
coinage adopted in the state of Milan. A short time after,
some literary gentlemen of Milan projected a periodical
work, which was to contain essays on various subjects of
philosophy, morals, and politics, calculated to enlighten
the public mind. It was accordingly published in the
years 1764 and 1765, under the title of “The Coffeehouse,
” and when collected, the papers formed 2 vols.
4to, of which the most interesting and original were from
the pen of Beccaria. It was likewise in 1764, that he
published his celebrated treatise on “crimes and punishments,
” “Dei Delitti e delle Pene,
” 12mo, a work to
which some objections may he made, and in which there
are some inconsistencies, yet few works were read with
more avidity, or more directly tended to introduce a humane and wise system in the criminal law. Within eighteen
months of its publication, six editions of the Italian were
eagerly bought up, and it is computed that it has since
gone through above fifty editions and translations. The
English translation published in 1766 contained also a
commentary attributed to Voltaire, but contributing more
to amuse than instruct the reader. Much, however, as
the author was applauded by the enlightened part of the
world, he was likely to have been brought into trouble
by the bigotry of his countrymen, had he not met with
very powerful protection. In 1768 the Austrian government founded a professorship of political economy for him,
and his lectures on that subject were published in 1804,
2 vols. 8vo, under the title of “Elemens d'economie publique.
” In Recherches sur la nature du style,
” Milan, 8vo. There are
some shrewd remarks in this, but he appears to have got
into the paradoxical way of writing, and endeavours to
prove that every individual has an equal degree of genius
for poetry and eloquence.
the year 1536. His Christian name is not known. Orlandi speaks of him by the name only of Bernazzano of Milan. His friend Cscsar de Sesta, the scholar of Leonard da
, a Milanese painter, flourished about
the year 1536. His Christian name is not known. Orlandi speaks of him by the name only of Bernazzano of
Milan. His friend Cscsar de Sesta, the scholar of Leonard
da Vinci, being a good painter of figures, but deficient in
landscape, a branch in which Bernazzano excelled, they
agreed to a partnership in their works. Among their
numerous paintings is a “baptism of our Saviour,
” in which
Bernazzano painted some fruit so naturally that birds came
and pecked at it. Such anecdotes are not uncommon in
the history of painting, but generally to be received with
caution. Lomazzo in his Trattato dell' arte della pittura," Milan, 1584, 4to, does not give the date of Bernazzano’s death.
, and which are yet sought after with avidity. Some of these editions are, that of Venice, 1541,4to; of Milan, 1542, 8vo and Venice, with additions, 1545, 4to which
Berni’s character was in all respects a singular one, but
in few deserving imitation. His morals as well as his writings were of the licentious cast, and as to his manners, indolence seemed to predominate. He had no pleasure in
music, dancing, gaming, or hunting: his sole delight was,
in having nothing to do, and stretching himself at full length
on his bed. His chief exercise was to eat a little, and then
compose himself to sleep, and after sleep to eat again.
He observed neither days nor almanacks and his servants
were ordered to bring him no news whether good or bad.
That he was not, however, so entirely devoted to indolence,
as we might, from the character which he has chosen to
give of himself, be induced to believe, sufficiently appears
from his numerous writings, and particularly from his having reformed and new-modelled the extensive poem of
“Orlando Innamorato
” of the count Bojardo. This work
he is said to have undertaken in competition with the
“Orlando Furioso
” of Ariosto, which has given occasion
to accuse Berni of presumption and of ignorance; but
Berni was too well acquainted with the nature of his own
talents, calculated only for the burlesque and ridiculous,
to suppose that he could rival Ariosto. He has, however,
both in this and in other parts of his writings, shewn that
he could occasionally elevate his style; and the introductory
verses to each canto of the Orlando Innamorato, which are
generally his own composition, are not the least admired
nor the least valuable parts of the work. That the alterations of Berni raised the poem of Bojardo into more general notice, may be conjectured from the various editions
of the reformed work, which issued from the press soon,
after its first appearance, and which are yet sought after
with avidity. Some of these editions are, that of Venice,
1541,4to; of Milan, 1542, 8vo and Venice, with additions, 1545, 4to which last is in great request. There
are two very correct modern editions that of Naples, but
dated Florence, 1725, and that by Molini, Paris, 1768,
4 vols. 12mo. Berni’s other works are, 1. “Rime burlesche,
” often reprinted with those of Casa, Mauro, Molza,
and other poets of the same class. The first edition is that
of Venice, 1538, 8vo. Another valuable edition is that of
Grazzini, called Lasca, in 2 vols. Florence, 1548, and 1555,
8vo. This last volume is the most rare, being printed only
once, and the other twice. 2. “La Catrina, atto scenico
rusticale,
” Florence, Nencia
” of
Barberhio, the “Cecco
” of Varlongo, &c. It “was afterwards printed in a collection of comedies of the sixteenth
century, Naples, 1731, 8vo. 3.
” Carmina,“or Latin
poems, to be found in the
” Carmina quinque Etruscorura
poetarum,“Florence, 1562, 8vo, and in the
” Carmina
illustrium poetarum Italorum," ibid, 1719, 8vo.
y impostor was, in case he could get a sufficient number of followers, to appear in the great square of Milan; there to represent the abuses of the ecclesiastical and
He communicated to his confidants, in this manner, the revelations which he boasted to have received: but after the death of Innocent X. finding that the new pope Alexander XII. renewed the tribunals, he despaired of succeeding, left Rome, and returned to Milan. There too he acted the devotee, and gained credit with several people, whom he caused to perform certain exercises, which carried a wonderful appearance of piety. He engaged the members of his new congregation, to take an oath of secrecy to him; and when he found them confirmed in the belief of his extraordinary mission, he prescribed to them certain vows, one of which was that of poverty; for the performance of which he very ingeniously caused all the money that every one had to be consigned to himself. The design of this crafty impostor was, in case he could get a sufficient number of followers, to appear in the great square of Milan; there to represent the abuses of the ecclesiastical and secular government; to encourage the people to liberty; and then, possessing himself of the city and country of Milan, to pursue his conquests. But his design miscarried, in consequence of the imprisonment of some of his disciples; and as soon as he saw that first step of the inquisition, he fled, on which they proceeded against him for contumacy in 1659 and 1660; and he was condemned as an heretic, and burnt in effigy, with his writings, in the field of Flora at Rome, on the 3d of January 1661. He is reported to have said, that he never was so cold in his life as on the day that he was burnt at Rome: a piece of wit, however, which has been ascribed to several others. He had dictated a treatise on his system to his followers: but took it from them as soon as he perceived the motions of the inquisition, and hid all his papers in a nunnery, from which they fell into the hands of the inquisition, and were found to contain doctrines very absurd and very impious.
le, Pius IV. sent for him to the court of Rome, made him cardinal in 1560, and afterwards archbishop of Milan. Charles was then but 22 years of age, but conducted the
, an eminent Romish saint and
cardinal, was born the 2d of October 1538, of a good family, in the castle of Arona, upon lake Major in the Milanese. He addicted himself at an early period to retirement
and study. His maternal uncle, Pius IV. sent for him to
the court of Rome, made him cardinal in 1560, and afterwards archbishop of Milan. Charles was then but 22
years of age, but conducted the affairs of the church with
disinterested zeal and prudence. The Romans were at
that time ignorant and lazy: he therefore formed an academy composed of ecclesiastics and seculars, whom, by his
example and his liberality, he animated to study and to
virtue. Each of them was to write upon some chosen subject, either in prose or verse, and to communicate to each
other in frequent conferences the fruits of their studies.
The works produced by this society have been published in
many volumes, under the title of “Noctes Vaticanas,
”
their assemblies being held in the Vatican, and at night,
after the business of the day was over. About the same
time he also founded the college at Pavia, which was dedicated to St. Justina.
refoot, and with a rope round his neck. His heroic charity was repaid with ingratitude. The governor of Milan prevailed on the magistrates of that city to prefer complaints
In the mean while, however, the young cardinal, in the
midst of a brilliant court, went along with the torrent, fitted
up grand apartments, furnished them magnificently, and kept
splt-ntiid equipages. His table was sumptuously served; his
house was never empty of nobles and scholars. His uncle,
delighted with this magnificence, gave him ample revenues to support it. In a very short time he was at once
grand penitentiary of Rome, archpriest of St. Mary Major;
protector of several crowns, and of various orders, religious
and military; legate of Bologna, of Romania, and of the
marche of Ancona. It was at that time that the famous
council of Trent was held. Much was said about the reformation of the clergy, and Charles, after having advised
it to others, gave an example of it in his own conduct. He
suddenly discharged no less than eighty livery servants,
left off wearing silk, and imposed on himself a weekly fast
on bread and water. From this beginning he soon proceeded greater lengths. He held councils for confirming
the decrees of that of Trent, terminated partly by his
means. He made his house into a seminary of bishops; he
established schools, colleges, communities; re-modelled
his clergy and the monasteries; made institutions for the
poor and orphans, and for girls exposed to ruin, who were
desirous to return to a regular life. His zeal was the admiration of good men, but was far from acceptable to the
corrupt clergy. The order of the Humiliati, which he
attempted to reform, excited against him a friar, Farina, a
shocking member of that society, who fired a gun at the
good man while he was at evening prayer with his domestics. The bail having only grazed his skin, Charles petitioned for the pardon of his assassin, who was punished with
death, notwithstanding his solicitations, and his order was
suppressed. These contradictions did not abate the ardour
of the good archbishop. He visited the desolate extremities of his province, abolished the excesses of the carnival,
preached to his people, and shewed himself every where as
their pastor and father. During the ravages of a cruel
pestilence, he assisted the poor in their spiritual concerns
by his ecclesiastics and his personal attentions, sold the
furniture of his house to relieve the sick, put up prayers and
made processions, in which he walked barefoot, and with a
rope round his neck. His heroic charity was repaid with
ingratitude. The governor of Milan prevailed on the magistrates of that city to prefer complaints against Charles,
whom they painted in the blackest colours. “They accused him (says Baillet) of having exceeded the limits of
his authority during the time of the plague; of having introduced dangerous innovations; of having abolished the
public games, the stage-plays, and dances; of having
revived the abstinence on the first Sunday in Lent, in violation of the privilege granted to that town of including that
day in the carnival.
” They published an injurious and insulting manifesto against him: but, contented with the testimony of his own conscience, he resigned the care of his
justification to the Almighty. At length, worn out by the
labours of an active piety, he finished his course the 3d of
November 1594, being only in his 47th year. He was canonized in 1610. He wrote a very great number of works
on doctrinal and moral subjects, which were printed 1747
at Milan, in 5 vols. folio, and the library of St. Sepulchre
in that city is in possession of thirty-one vols. of his manuscript letters. The clergy of France reprinted at their expence the Institutions he composed for the use of confessors. Among his works are many homilies and sermons,
as he thought it incumbent on him to preach the word of
God himself to his people, notwithstanding the various business and government of so large a diocese. The edition
of “Ada Ecclesiae Mediolanensis,
” Milan,
, cousin german to the preceding, and also a cardinal and archbishop of Milan, was first educated under St. Charles, who afterwards
, cousin german to the preceding, and also a cardinal and archbishop of Milan, was
first educated under St. Charles, who afterwards placed
him in his newly-founded college at Pavia. Jn 1587, pope
Pius V. made him a cardinal, and in 1595, Clement VIII.
promoted him to the archbishopric of Milan. He died in
1632, leaving various pious works, written in Italian, the
principal of which is “Sacri Ragionamenti,
” Milan, Ragionamenti Spiritual!,
”
ibid. De Piacere della mente Christiana,
”
ibid.
rious plans of public improvement. But in the spring of 1764, he was called by the Austrian governor of Milan, to fill the mathematical chair in the university of Pavia.
At Rome his arrival was welcomed, and he was again consulted on various plans of public improvement. But in the spring of 1764, he was called by the Austrian governor of Milan, to fill the mathematical chair in the university of Pavia. The honours which he received provoked the jealousy of the other professors, who intrigued to undermine his fame. He took tlfe most effectual mode, however, to silence them, by publishing his Dissertations on optics, which exhibit an elegant synthesis and well-devised set of experiments. These essays excited the more attention, as, at this time, the ingenuity of men of science was particularly attracted to the subject, by Dollond’s valuable discovery of achromatic glasses.
d indignation. He complained to prince Kaunitz, but implored his protection in vain. To the governor of Milan he wrote, that he would not return, unless things were
The expulsion of the Jesuits from the dominions of
Spain prevented Boscovich from going to California, to
observe the second transit of Venus, in 1769, and which
expedition the royal society of London had strongly solicited him to undertake. And as his rivals began now to
stir themselves again, he sought to dispel the chagrin, by
a second journey into France and the Netherlands. At
Brussels he met with a peasant, famous for curing the
gout, and from whose singular skill he received most essential benefit. On his return to Italy in 1770, he was
transferred from the university of Pavia to the Palatine
schools at Milan, and resided with those of his order, at
the college of Brera, where he furnished, mostly at his
own expence, an observatory, of which he got the direction. But he was still doomed to experience mortification.
Some young Jesuits, who acted as his assistants, formed a
conspiracy, and, by their artful representations, prevailed
with the government to exclude his favourite pupil and
friend from holding a charge of trust. This intelligence
was communicated to him at the baths of Albano, and filled
him with grief and indignation. He complained to prince
Kaunitz, but implored his protection in vain. To the governor of Milan he wrote, that he would not return, unless things were restored to their former footing. He retired to Venice, where, having staid ten months in fruitless
expectation of obtaining redress, he meditated spending
the remainder of his days in honourable retirement at his
native city of Ragnsa. But while he waited for the opportunity of a vessel to convey him thither, he received the
afflicting news of the suppression of his order in Italy. He
now renounced his scheme, and seemed quite uncertain
what step he should take. Having come into the Tuscan
territory, he listened to the counsels and solicitation of
Fabroni, who held forth the prospect of a handsome appointment in the Lyceum of Pisa. In the mean time he
accepted the invitation of La Bord, chamberlain to Louis
XV. accompanied him to Paris in 1773, and through his
influence obtained the most liberal patronage from the
French monarch; he was naturalized, received two pensions, amounting to 8000 livres, or 333l. and had an office
expressly created for him, with the title of “Director of
optics for the marine.
” “Boscovich might now appear to
have attained the pinnacle of fortune and glory; but Paris
was no longer for him the theatre of applause, and his ardent temper became soured by the malign breath of jealousy and neglect. Such extraordinary favour bestowed
on a foreigner could not fail to excite the envy of the
sgavans, who considered him as rewarded greatly beyond
his true merit The freedom of his language gave offence,
his perpetual egotism became disgusting, and his repetition
of barbarous Latin epigrams was most grating to Parisian
ears. Besides, the name of a priest and a Jesuit did not
now command respect; and the sentiments of austere devotion, which he publicly professed, had grown unfashionable, and were regarded as scarcely befitting the character
of a philosopher
”.
, a native of Milan, and servitor of the order of Malta, lived about the end
, a native of Milan, and servitor of the
order of Malta, lived about the end of the sixteenth century, when he was appointed agent for the religion of
Malta at Rome, and discharged the duties of this office
with fidelity. The knowledge he found it necessary to acquire, appears to have suggested the design of writing a
history of that celebrated order, which was published under
the title “Historia dell' ordine di S. Giovanni Gierosolimitano,
” in three parts or volumes, the first two at
Rome, 1594, and the third in 1602, a work in which he is
said to have been assisted by two monks, and which contains many curious facts, that have been highly serviceable to the subsequent historians of Malta. It happened
that Bosius resided with Petrochini at Rome, and when he
was made cardinal by Sixtus V. Bosius attached himself
to him, in hopes of being promoted to the same honour,
when Petrochini should be pope; but the latter being
overlooked at the next election for the papal chair, Bosius
went home and passed the remainder of his days, how
many we are not told, in exercises of devotion. He appears
to have had much of the superstition of his order, and of the
age in which he lived, as he wrote a history of the sacred
cross on which our Saviour suffered, from its discovery in
the reign of Constantine the great.; and decorated the
church of St. Blaise with this choice morsel of authentic
history. His nephew,
ist Pavia, and afterwards promoted him to the inspectorship of the royal theatre. Theresa Castellini of Milan, the singer who had been called by queen Barbara to Madrid,
The world were not a little surprised at the elevation of Farinello. But to those who looked narrowly into his moral character it was no wonder at all; and they rejoiced at it. He had nothing in. him of what are called the airs of a courtier. He enjoyed the favour of the monarch more in being serviceable to others, than in turning it to his own emolument. When right and equity spoke in behalf of any one, that person might be sure of his interest with the king; but, if the case was reversed, he was immoveable as a rock. One of the great men applied to him once for his recommendation to be appointed viceroy of Peru, and offered him a present of 400,000 piastres by way of inducement. Another sent him a_ casket filled with gold, desiring no other return than his friendship. He generously spurned at the proposals of both. General Montemar had brought with him from Italy a great number of musicians and other artists, who, on the disgrace of that officer, were all left destitute of bread. Farinello took them into his protection, and furnished them with the means of gaining a livelihood. Among them was Jacob Campana Bonavera, whom he placed as assistant to the machinist Pavia, and afterwards promoted him to the inspectorship of the royal theatre. Theresa Castellini of Milan, the singer who had been called by queen Barbara to Madrid, and who at that time had a greater disposition than qualification for the art, he took under his instruction, and completed her for her employment In the dreadful distresses that ensued upon the earthquake at Lisbon, when the vocal performers and dancers implored his assistance, to the collection he made for them from the royal family and his friends, he added two thousand doubloons from his own private purse. Disposed as he was to be liberal in his bounty towards others, he found it no less difficult to ask for any thing that had reference to himself. It was not by his recommendation, but by his own deserts, that his brother Riccardo was promoted to the office of commissary at war for the marine department. This Riccardo died in 1756, in the flower of his age. He had been master of the band in the service of the duke of Wurtemberg; and a musical work printed at London is a proof of his force and skill in composition.
When Castiglione was eighteen years of age, he went into military service, under Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan; but his father dying soon after, and some disastrous
When Castiglione was eighteen years of age, he went
into military service, under Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan;
but his father dying soon after, and some disastrous circumstances overtaking that state, he was obliged to quit
the camp, and return to Mantua. He engaged a second
time in the service of the duke, and distinguished himself
much by his bravery and conduct; but returning soon
after, and being desirous to see other courts, particularly
that of Rome, he went thither at the very time that Julius II. obtained the popedom. His fame was not unknown
to this pontiff; and the high opinion he had of his abilities
and merit, made him write to Guido Ubaldo, duke of Urbino, his cousin, that if he would send him to the court
of Rome, in his own name, with the character of a public
minister, he should take it as a singular obligation. Castiglione was twenty-six years of age; and Guido Ubaldo
sent him ambassador to pope Julius, to transact affairs of
the highest importance. He was sent upon a second embassy to Lewis XII. of France, and upon a third to Henry
VII. of England; whither he went to be invested with the
order of the garter, as proxy for the duke his master. On
his arrival in England he was received with every mark of
honour and esteem, being met at the port where he landed
by the earl of Huntingdon, who was then lord of the bedchamber, accompanied by many other lords, and a king at
arms. After he had dispatched his business here, and was
returned home, to gratify the importunities of Alfonso
Ariosto, his particular friend, he began his celebrated
work, “The Courtier,
” which in a small space of time he
completed at Rome, in March 1516. From this work we
may perceive how intimate he was with the Greek and
Latin authors, having here gleaned together the first flowers
of their wit, and treasured up, as it were, in a single cabinet, the richest jewels of antiquity. The book has been
universally well received, both in Italy, and abroad; often
reprinted, and translated into several languages. It is lull
of moral and political instructions; and, it' we wish to
study the Italian tongue, it is said that it can no where be
found in more purity.
Pavia, and was then made a lieutenant of a company of foot, by Francisco Guinigi, of whom the prince of Milan had solicited succours. The first campaign this new lieutenant
, a celebrated Italian general, was born at Lucca, in Tuscany, in 1284; where,
it is said, he was taken up one morning accidentally in a
vineyard, where he had been laid and covered with leaves;
but others deduce him from an ancient and great family.
The former account, however, goes on to inform us that
he was found by Dianora, a wi.iow lady, and sister of Antonio, a canon ot rft Michael in Lucca, who was descended
from the illustrious family of the Castracani. Antonio be ing
priest, and Dianora having no children, they determined
to bring him up, christened him Castruccio, by the name
of their father, and educated him as carefully as if he had
been their own. Antonio designed him for a priest, and
accordingly trained him to letters; but Castruccio was
scarcely fourteen years old when he began to neglect his
books, and to devote himself to military exercises, to
wrestling, running, and other athletic sports, which very
well suited his great strength of body. At that time the
two great factions, the Guelfs and Ghibilins, shared all
Italy between them, divided the popes and the emperors,
and engaged in their different interests, not only the members of the same town, but even the members of the same
family. Francisco, a considerable man on the side of the
Ghibilins, observing one day in the market-place, the uncommon spirit and qualities of Castruccio, prevailed with
Antonio to let him turn soldier. As nothing could be more
agreeable to the inclination of Castruccio, he presently
became accomplished in every thing which could adorn his
profession. He was eighteen years old when the faction
of the Guelfs drove the Ghibilins out of Pavia, and was
then made a lieutenant of a company of foot, by Francisco
Guinigi, of whom the prince of Milan had solicited succours. The first campaign this new lieutenant made, he
gave such proofs of his courage and conduct, as spread
his fame all over Lombardy; and Guinigi conceived such
an opinion of him, and had so much confidence in him,
that, dying soon after, he committed the care of his son
and the management of his estate to him. So great a trust
and administration made Castruccio more considerable than
before but at the same time created him many enemies,
and lost him some friends for, knowing him to be of an
high and enterprising spirit, many began to fancy his
views were to empire, and to oppress the liberty of his
country. He went on still, however, to distinguish himself by military exploits, and at last raised so much jealousy in his chief commander, that he was imprisoned by
stratagem, with a view of being put to death; but the
people of Lucca soon released him, and in a short time
after, solemnly chose him their sovereign prince, and there
were not then, either in Lombardy or Tuscany, any of the
Ghibilins who did not look upon Castruccio as the true
head of their faction. Those who were banished their
country upon that account fled to him for protection, and
promised unanimously, that if he could restore them to
their estates, they would serve him so effectually, that
the sovereignty of their country should be his reward.
Flattered by these promises, and encouraged by the
strength of his forces, he entertained a design of making
himself master of Tuscany; and to give more reputation
to his affairs, he entered into a league with the prince of
Milan. He kept his army constantly on foot, and employed
it as suited best with his own designs. For the services he
did the pope he was made senator of Rome with more than
ordinary ceremony. The day of his promotion, he came
forth in a habit suitable to his dignity, but enriched with
a delicate embroidery, and with two devices artificially
wrought in, one before, the other behind. The former
was in these words, “He is as it pleases God
” the latter,
“And shall be what God will have him.
” While Castruccio was at Rome, news was brought him which obliged
him to return in all haste to Lucca. The Florentines were
making war upon him, and had already done him some
damage; and conspiracies were forming against him as an
usurper, at Pisa and in several places; but Castruccio
surmounted all these difficulties, and the supreme authority of Tuscany was just falling into his hands, when a
period was put to his progress and his life. An army of
30,000 foot and 10,000 horse appeared against him in
May 1328. Of these he destroyed 22,000, with the loss
of not quite 1600 of his own men, and was returning from
the field of battle; but, happening to halt a little for the
sake of thanking and caressing his soldiers as they passed
fi,red with an action as fatiguing as glorious, and covered
with sweat, a north wind blew upon him, and affected him
so, that he fell immediately into a fit of ague. At first he
neglected it, believing himself sufficiently hardened against
such attacks; but the fit increasing, and with it the fever,
his physicians gave him over, and he died in a few days.
He was in his forty-fourth year; and from the time he
came to appear first in the world, he always, as well in his
good as bad fortune, expressed the same steadiness and
equality of spirit. As he left several monuments of his
good fortune behind him, so he was not ashamed to leave
some memorials of his adversity. Thus, when he was delivered from the imprisonment above-mentioned, he caused
the irons with which he was loaded, to be hung in the most
public room of his palace, where they were to be seen
many years after.
, of an illustrious family of Milan, but originally of Rome, bore arms in the sixteenth century,
, of an illustrious family of Milan, but originally of Rome, bore arms in the sixteenth century, in which he was as much the philosopher as the soldier. He took advantage of the leisure afforded him by the peace, to reduce to order the military and historical memoirs he had collected during the tumult of war. They are very much esteemed in Italy, not less for, their excellence than their rarity. They appeared at Venice in 1565 and 1569, in 2 vols. 4to, commonly bound in one. The former, in six books, treats of the wars of Transilvania, and the other of those of his time in eight books. He wrote also some poems, and treatises on the military art, in Italian and Latin.
is emperor, who was come into Italy, and resided in that city; and while he was here, Galeazzo, duke of Milan, prevailed with him to accept the Greek professorship
, the principal of those learned men who brought the Greek language and literature into the West, was born at Constantinople, as it is supposed, about 1355. He was of considerable rank, and descended from so ancient a family that his ancestors are said to have removed with Constantine from Rome to Byzantium. He was sent ambassador to the sovereigns of Europe by the emperor John Palseologus in 1387, to solicit assistance against the Turks, and was here in England in the reign of Richard II. In an epistle which he wrote at Rome to the emperor, containing a comparison of ancient and modern Rome, he says that he was two years before at London with his retinue. When he had finished this embassy in somewhat more than three years, he returned to Constantinople; but afterwards, whether through fear of the Turks, or for the sake of propagating the Greek learning, left it again, and came back into Italy about 1396, by invitation from the city of Florence, with the promise of a salary, to open a school there for the Greek language. With this he complied, and taught there for three years, and had Leonard Aretin for his scholar. From Florence he went to Milan, at the command of his emperor, who was come into Italy, and resided in that city; and while he was here, Galeazzo, duke of Milan, prevailed with him to accept the Greek professorship in the university of Pavia, which had lately been founded by his father. This he held till the death of Galeazzo, and then removed to Venice on account of the wars which immediately followed. Between 1406 and 1409 he went to Rome upon an invitation from Leonard Aretin, who had formerly been his scholar, but was then secretary to pope Gregory XII. In this city his talents and virtues procured him the honour of being sent, in 1413, into Germany by pope Martin V. as ambassador to the emperor Sigismund, along with cardinal Zarabella, in order to fix upon a place for holding a general council; and Chrysoloras and the cardinal fixed upon Constance. Afterwards he returned to his own emperor at Constantinople, by whom he was sent ambassador with others as representatives of the Greek church, to the council of Constance; but a few days after the opening of the council he died, April 15, 1415. He was buried at Constance and a handsome monument was erected over him, with an inscription upon it by Peter Paul Vergerio. His scholar Poggio also honoured his memory with an elegant epitaph, and a volume of eulogies upon him lately existed in the monastery at Camaldoli, justly due to one who contributed so essentially to revive Grecian literature, which had lain dormant in the West for seven hundred years. Emanuel had a nephew, John Chrysoloras, who likewise taught Greek in Italy, and died in 1425. Emanuel’s. Greek Grammar was published soon after the invention of printing, and there are a great many editions from 1480 to 1550, 4to and 8vo, almost all of which are very scarce.
592, 4to, with plates, as some say, by the author himself, executed with much exactness. The edition of Milan, 1744, 4to, is not so valuable as the former. 2. “Minus
, an eminent botanist, was born at Naples in 1567, the son of Jerome, who
was the natural son of the cardinal Pompeio Colonna. He
devoted himself from his youth to the pursuit of natural
history, and particularly to that of plants, which he studied
in the writings of the ancients; and, by indefatigable application, was enabled to correct the errata with which the
manuscripts of those authors abounded. The languages,
music, mathematics, drawing, painting, optics, the civil
and canon law, filled up the moments which he did not
bestow on botany, and the works he published in this last
science were considered as master-pieces previous to the
appearance of the labours of the latter botanists. He wrote,
1. “Plantarum aliquot ac piscium historia,
” Minus cognitarum rariorumque stirpium descriptio; itemque de aquatilibus,
aliisque nonnullis animalibus libellus,
” Rome, A Dissertation
on the Glossopetrae,
” in Latin, to be found with a work of
Augustine Sciila, on marine substances, Rome, 1647, 4to.
4. He was concerned in the American plants of Hernandez, Rome, 1651, fol. fig. 5. A Dissertation on the Porpura, in Latin; a piece much esteemed, but become
scarce, was reprinted at Kiel, 1675, 4to, with notes by
Daniel Major, a German physician. The first edition is of
1616, 4to.
, born in 1460, of an illustrious family of Milan, was selected by duke Lewis Sforza, surnamed Maurus, for
, born in 1460, of an illustrious
family of Milan, was selected by duke Lewis Sforza, surnamed Maurus, for composing the history of his country;
but the French having got possession of the Milanese, and
the duke his patron being taken prisoner, he died of grief
in 1500. The best edition of his history, “Storia di Milano,
” is that of Milan in Portrait of the city of Milan,
” in which are collected the monuments, ancient and modern, of that unfortunate city.
ven in Italy, reaches from the year 1250 to 1489; that is, from the death of Frederic II. to the war of Milan, under Ferdinand I. Costanzo enlivened by the culture
, lord of Cantalupo, was born
in 1507, at Naples. In his youth he was solicited by Sannazario and Poderico to undertake the task of writing the
history of Naples, “Istoria del Regno di Napoli,
” &c.
published in a folio, printed at Aquila in 1531. On this
he bestowed 53 years of persevering investigation. This
first edition, scarce even in Italy, reaches from the year
1250 to 1489; that is, from the death of Frederic II. to the
war of Milan, under Ferdinand I. Costanzo enlivened by
the culture of Latin poetry the dryness of history, and
succeeded both in one and the other. He is said to have
improved the art of writing sonnets by graces of his own
invention. His Italian poetry was published in 1709, 1723,
1728, &c. He died about 1590, at a very advanced age.
A second edition of his history appeared at Venice, 1710,
4to and a third also in 4to, at Naples, 1735, with a life
of Constanzo by Bernardino Tafuri.
f modelling, architecture, and literature. With such talents he occupied the first rank at the court of Milan, in the direction of the academy, and the vast plans of
, an artist, better known by the
name of Cerano, where he was born in 1557, descended
from a family of painters, studied at Rome and Venice,
and with painting united a knowledge of modelling, architecture, and literature. With such talents he occupied
the first rank at the court of Milan, in the direction of the
academy, and the vast plans of cardinal Federigo: he
painted a number of pictures, whose beauties are not seldom balanced by blemishes of equal magnitude, free,
spirited, harmonious, but often mannered from affectation
of grace or grandeur. The singular talent he possessed of
painting birds and quadrupeds in cabinet pictures, is mentioned by Soprani. One of his best pictures is the “Madonna del Rosario,
” in the church of St. Lazzaro at Milan.
He died in 1633.
ost classical productions. About this time appeared his tragi-comedy of “The Bondman,” and “The Duke of Milan,” altered neither of which has been printed.
Mr. Cumberland afterwards resided at Tetworth in Bedfordshire, in the vicinity of the house of his honoured
friend lady Frances Burgoyne, sister of lord Halifax. Here
he passed his summer recesses; and in one of them wrote
his opera of “Calypso,
” which was brought out at Covent
Garden; but did not meet with very great success. In the
following season Cumberland wrote “The Widow of Delphi, or the descent of the Deities,
” which has never been
printed, but received frequent revisions and corrections
in the ms. and its author considered it in this improved
s-tate as one of his most classical productions. About this
time appeared his tragi-comedy of “The Bondman,
” and
“The Duke of Milan,
” altered neither of which has been
printed.
ithstanding these precautions, found means to escape during the night. He fled to Salo, in the duchy of Milan, and from thence to Pavia; whence, three years afterwards,
, of Piemont, was born at
San Chirico, in 1503, of a noble family, and cultivated
philosophy, and made several journies in Germany and
Italy. Having abjured the religion of Rome to embrace
the doctrines of Luther, he was thrown into prison, and
confined for several months, but without this making any
impression on his sentiments; and he was no sooner released than he played a very bold trick. Having access to
the relics of the monastery of St. Benigno, he executed
the plan of carrying away the holy shrine, and leaving in
its place what to him was more holy and estimable, the
Bible, inscribed with these words, “Haec est area foederis, ex qua vera sciscitari oracula liceat, et in qua veroe
sunt sanctorum reliquiae.
” As, however, he was aware
the fury of the populace would not permit him to escape
with his life, if he were suspected, he thought it prudent to
retire, and we find him afterwards at Milan, where he
married in 1530, and began to preach. Having-fixed his
abode near Casal, he one day heard a Dominican declaiming loudly against Luther, and charging him with
criminal acts and heretical notions, of which he was not
guilty; he asked permission to give an answer to the outrageous preacher. This being granted: “My father,
”
said he to the monk, “you have attributed to Luther a
number of terrible declarations; but where does he say
them? Can you point me out the book where he has delivered such a doctrine?
” — The monk replied that he could
not immediately shew him the passage; but that, if he
would go with him to Turin, he would point it out to
him. “And I,
” said Curio, “will shew you this moment
that what you advance cannot be true.
” Then pulling out
of his pocket Luther’s Commentary on the epistle to the
Galatians, he refuted the Dominican with so much strength
of argument, that the crowd fell upon him, and it was
with great difficulty that he escaped out of their hands.
The inquisition and the bishop of Turin being informed of
this quarrel, Curio was arrested; but the bishop, perceiving
that he was supported by a considerable party, went to
Rome, to receive advice from the pope in what manner he
should proceed. In the mean time, Curio was carried in
irons to a private prison, and kept under a constant guard;
but, notwithstanding these precautions, found means to
escape during the night. He fled to Salo, in the duchy
of Milan, and from thence to Pavia; whence, three years
afterwards, he was obliged to take refuge at Venice, because the pope had threatened to excommunicate the senate of Pavia, if they did not put him under an arrest.
From Venice Curio went successively to Ferrara, to Lucca,
to Lausanne, in Switzerland, where he was made principal
of the college, and lastly to Bale, in 1547. Here he became professor of eloquence and the belles-lettres, which
situation he held until his death, which happened in 1569,
at the age of sixty-seven. There is a singular work by
him, entitled “De amplitudine bead regni Dei,
” Bale,
Opuscula,
” Bale, Letters,
” Bale, Calvinus Judaisans,
” 1544, 2 parts in 1 vol. 8vo.
What has led the critics to think him the editor of this
collection, is, that he is indeed the author of the two editions of
” Pasquillus extaticus,“8vo, the one without
date, the other of Geneva, 1544. The second was reprinted with
” Pasquillus theologaster,“Geneva, 1667,
12mo. These are satires, which petulance on one side,
and the desire of suppressing them on the other, have occasioned to be sought after. The book-collectors add to
these, two volumes, the works of a certain German, named
” Pasquillus merus.“This makes a third volume, which
has scarcely any relation to the former, nor is either of
much value. 5. A Latin translation of Guicciardini’s history, 1566, 2 vols. fol. 6.
” De Bello Melitense, anno
8vo, inserted in Muratori. 7.
” Vita et doctrina
Davidis Georgii haeresiarchse,“Bale, 1599, 4to. 8.
” Forum Romanum,“a Latin dictionary, Bale, 1576, 3 vols.
fol. 9.
” Historia Francisci Spirae,“8vo, &c. Of a very
scarce work of his,
” Paraphrasis in principium Evangelii
S. Johannis,“but which, if we mistake not, was originally
published among his
” Opuscula,“an extract may be seen
in the
” New Memoirs of Literature," vol. XIII.
o be known. The two principal are the lives of Philip-Maria Visconti, and Francis Sforza, both dukes of Milan. Muratori has inserted them in his Script. Rer. Ital.
, a name of great celebrity in the literary history of the fifteenth century, was born at Pavia in 1399. In his youth he was appointed secretary to Philip-Maria Visconti, and after the death of his master, while struggling for the liberties of the Milanese, Decembrio defended the same cause with ardour, while there was any prospect of success; and when all failed, he quitted Milan for Rome, where pope Nicholas V. made him apostolical secretary. He returned to Milan about twenty years afterwards, and died there in 1477. According to the inscription on his monument, he composed one hundred and twenty-seven works, but few of these appear to be known. The two principal are the lives of Philip-Maria Visconti, and Francis Sforza, both dukes of Milan. Muratori has inserted them in his Script. Rer. Ital. vol. XX. In the first he has imitated the style and manner of Suetonius with considerable success. The second is in hexameter verse, but his facts are more interesting than his poetry. His other printed works are treatises on different subjects; Latin and Italian poems, several translations, particularly of Appian and Quintus Curtius into Italian, &c. It is much to be regretted that his Letters, which are in several of the Italian libraries, have not been published, as they might throw great light on the literary and political history of his age.
their death, was born in 1453 at Milan, and is said to have been the natural son of one of the dukes of Milan, but this seems doubtful. He studied law at Pavia under
, a jurist, who, according to
Tiraboschi, attained greater fame during his life than abler
men after their death, was born in 1453 at Milan, and is
said to have been the natural son of one of the dukes of Milan, but this seems doubtful. He studied law at Pavia under
his brother Lancelot, who was professor in that university,
and on his removal to Pisa, Philip accompanied him, and
continued his studies under Barth, Socinus, Philip Corneus, and others. In 1476 he received his doctor’s degree>
and soon after was appointed one of the university profc ssors, in which he distinguished himself by his art in disputing, which he appears to have practised with so little respect for his seniors as to create him many enemies, and
render his life a life of contest with his brethren. In the
mean time his popularity was augmented by the respect
paid to him by kings and popes, of all which he was in full
enjoyment, when he died at Sienna in 1536. Of his works,
none of which appear to have perpetuated his fame, the
most considerable are his “Consilia,
” Venice, De regulis juris,
” ibid. fol.
verdure; its temple of marble, 4000 feet in length, &c. The first Latin edition of Diodorus is that of Milan, 1472, folio. The first of the text was that of Henry
The contents of this whole work are thus explained in
the preface by Diodorus himself; “Our six first books,
”
says he, “comprehend all that happened before the war
of Troy, together with many fabulous matters here and
there interspersed. Of these, the three former relate the
antiquities of the barbarians, and the three latter those of
the Greeks. The eleven next include all remarkable
events in the world, from the destruction of Troy to the
death of Alexander the Great. And lastly, the other twentythree extend to the conquest of Julius Caesar over the Gauls,
when he made the British ocean the northern bounds of the
Roman empire.
” Since Diodorus speaks of Julius Caesar,
as he does in more places than one, and always according
to the pagan custom, with an attribute of some divinity,
he cannot be more ancient than he. When Eusebius writes
in his Chronicon, that Diodorus lived under this emperor,
he seems to limit the life of the former by the reign of the
latter; yet Suidas prolongs his days even to Augustus;
and Scaliger observes in his “Animadversions upon Eusebius,
” that Diodorus must needs have lived to a very great
age; and that he was alive at least half the reign of Augustus, since he mentions on the subject of the olympiads,
the Roman bissextile year: now this name was not used
before the fasti and calendar were corrected; which was
done by Augustus, to make the work of his predecessor
more perfect.
Diodorus has met with a different reception from the
learned. Pliny affirms him to have been the first of the
Greeks who wrote seriously, and avoided trifles: “primus
apud Graccos desiit nugari,
” are his words. Bishop Montague, in his preface to his “Apparatus,
” gives him the
praise of being an excellent author; who, with great fidelity, immense labour, and uncommon ingenuity, has collected an “Historical Library,
” in which he has exhibited
his own and the studies of other men. This history, without which we should have been ignorant of the antiquities
and many other particulars of the little town of Agyrium,
or even of Sicily, presents us occasionally with sensible
and judicious reflections. Diodorus takes particular care
to refer the successes of war and of other enterprises, not
to chance or to a blind fortune, with the generality of historians; but to a wise and kind providence, which presides
over all events. Yet he exhibits proofs of extraordinary
credulity, as in his description of the Isle of Panchaia,
with its walks beyond the reach of sight of odoriferous
trees; its fountains, which form an infinite number of
canals bordered with flowers; its birds, unknown in any
other part of the world, which warble their enchanting
notes in groves of uninterrupted verdure; its temple of
marble, 4000 feet in length, &c. The first Latin edition
of Diodorus is that of Milan, 1472, folio. The first of the
text was that of Henry Stephens, in Greek, 1559, finely
printed: Wesseling’s, Amsterdam, Gr. and Lat. with the
remarks of different authors, various lections, and all the
fragments of this historian, 1745, 2 vols, folio, was long
accounted the best, but is not so correct as was supposed.
Poggius translated it into Latin, the abbe Terasson into
French, and Booth into English, 1700, fol. Count Caylus
has an ingenious essay on this historian in vol. XXVIL of
the “Hist. de l'academie des Belles Lettres,
” and professor Heyne has a still more learned and elaborate memoir in
“The Transactions of the Royal Society of Gottingen,
”
vol. V. on the sources of information from which Diodorus
composed his history. This was afterwards inserted among
the valuable prolegomena to Heyne’s edition of Diodorus,
1798, &c. 10 vols. 8vo, which is now reckoned the best.
, a leader of a religious sect, was a native of Novara, in the duchy of Milan. The sect sometimes denominated Dulcinists, and sometimes
, a leader of a religious sect, was a native
of Novara, in the duchy of Milan. The sect sometimes
denominated Dulcinists, and sometimes the “sect of the
apostles,
” was founded by Gerard Sagarelli, who was burnt
alive for his opinions, at Parma, in 1300. According to
Mosheim, the Dulcinists aimed at introducing among
Christians the simplicity of the primitive time:-;, especially
the manner of life that was observed by the apostles, as
nearly as could be collected from their writings. On the
death of the founder, Dulcinus boldly headed the st:t,
and avowed his faith in the predictions of Sagarelli, viz.
that the church of Rome would speedily be destroyed, and
that a pure system of religion would be built on its ruins,
and that these predictions might be fulfilled, the Dulcinists
for two years, by force of arms, maintained their ground
against the supporters of the papal interests; which terminated, however, in the capture and death of their
leader.
he emperor Constantius, he was sent into exile. At his return he opposed Auxentius, the Arian bishop of Milan. He died about the year 370. A Latin version of the four
, bishop of Verceli, in the fourth century, was a warm defender of 8t. Athanasius, whose firmness on that occasion offending the emperor Constantius, he was sent into exile. At his return he opposed Auxentius, the Arian bishop of Milan. He died about the year 370. A Latin version of the four Evangelists is attributed to him, which was published at Milan by John Andrew Trici, 1748, 4to; and whether this version was really by St. Eusebius or not, it is said to be very valuable. Two of his letters are in the library of the fathers.
st knowledge of books, and abilities in all kinds of learning, induced Frederic Borromeo, archbishop of Milan, to appoint him to travel into divers parts of Europe,
, of the same family with the former, was born at Milan about 1577. Heapplied with great success to philosophy and divinity, as well as to the Latin, Greek, Spanish, and French languages, and was admitted a doctor of the Ambrosian college. His vast knowledge of books, and abilities in all kinds of learning, induced Frederic Borromeo, archbishop of Milan, to appoint him to travel into divers parts of Europe, in order to purchase the best books and manuscripts, to form a library at Milan. Ferrari accordingly went over part of Italy and Spain, and collected a great number of books, which laid the foundation of the celebrated Ambrosian library. About 1638, he was appointed director of the college of the nobles, lately erected at Padua; which office he discharged two years, and then, on account of indisposition, returned to Milan. He died in 1669, aged 92.
ducats was at last raised to two thousand. Afer the death of Ripamonte, historiographer of the city of Milan, Ferrari was appointed to write the history of tat city;
, of the same family with the famer, was born at Milan in 1607. He went through Is
studies in the Ambrosian college, and after he had conpleted a course of philosophy and divinity, applied himself
entirely to polite literature, in which he made so grat
progress, that cardinal Frederic Borromeo procured hn
a professorship of rhetoric in that college, when he vis
but one and twenty years old. Six years after, the ipublic of Venice invited him to Padua, to teach eloquene,
politics, and the Greek ianguage, in that university, whih
was then extremely in its decline; but Ferrari restoredit
to its former flourishing state. The republic rewarded hn
by enlarging his pension every six years, which from fre
hundred ducats was at last raised to two thousand. Afer
the death of Ripamonte, historiographer of the city of
Milan, Ferrari was appointed to write the history of tat
city; and a pension of two hundred crowns was settledm
htm for that purpose. He began, and composed eilit
books; but finding he could not have access to the necssary materials in the archives of Milan, he desisted, id
left what he had done to his heir, on condition thathe
should not publish it. His reputation procured him f esents and pensions from foreign princes. Christimof
Sweden, in whose honour he had made a public disccrse
upon her mounting the throne, presented him withagden
chain, and honoured him with her letters; and Louis IV.
of France gave him a pension of five hundred crown for
seven years. He died in 1682, aged seventy-five. He
was remarkable for the sweetness, sincerity, and affability
of his temper; and had so happy a way of mitigating persons exasperated against each other, that he acquire the
title of “the Reconciler, or Pacificator.
”
, a very learned lady, of a family originally of Milan, is supposed to have been born about 1465. She was early
, a very learned lady, of a family
originally of Milan, is supposed to have been born about
1465. She was early instructed in the Greek and Latin
languages, elocution, and the Aristotelian philosophy, to
which she was partial, and maintained a correspondence
with many of the literati of her age. She is said to have
been of unblemished morals, great frankness of disposition,
and occasional gaiety. Politian considered her as no less>
a prodigy among her sex than Picus was among his, and
was so struck with her character, that he visited Venice
almost solely with a view to converse with her; and persons
of all ranks vied in their respect for her, while crowned
heads invited her by large offers to visit and settle in their
courts. In 1487, Cassandra delivered a public oration
before the university of Padua, “pro Alberto Lamberto Canonico Concordiensi,
” a philosophical relation of hers, which
is still extant. Some suppose her to have been in the practice of delivering public lectures in that university, but this
is doubted by her biographer. She had once the honour
of addressing a complimentary oration to Bona Fortia,
queen of Sarmatia, when visiting Venice, which was delivered in the Bucentauro, sent out with a suitable train to
meet and escort her into the Venetian port; on which occasion the queen presented her with a magnificent gold
chain; but Cassandra, with that philosophic indifference
which she had always evinced for this precious metal, gave
it next day into the hands of the doge.
and born at Cognac, September 12, 1494. Immediately after his coronation he took the title of cluke of Milan, and put himself at the head of a powerful army to assert
king of France, surnamed “the Great, and
the restorer of learning,
” succeeded his father-in-law
Louis XII. who died without a son in 1515. Francis I. was
the only son of Charles duke of Orleans, constable of
AngoulSroe, and born at Cognac, September 12, 1494.
Immediately after his coronation he took the title of
cluke of Milan, and put himself at the head of a powerful
army to assert his right to that duchy. The Swiss, who
defended it, opposed his enterprize, and attacked him.
near Marignana; but they were cut to pieces in a sanguinary contest, and about 15,000 left dead on the field.
The famous Trivulce, who had been engaged in eighteen
battles, called this “The battle of the Giants,
” and the
others “Children’s play.
” It was on this occasion that the
king desired to be knighted by the famous Bayard. That
rank was originally the highest that could be aspired to:
princes of the blood were not called monseigneur, nor
their wives madaine, till they had been knighted; nor
might any one claim that honour, unless he could trace
his nobility at least three generations back, both on his
father’s and mother’s side, and also bore an unblemished
character, especially for military courage and valour. The
creation of a knight was attended with few ceremonies,
except at some festivals, inwhich case a great number
were observed. This institution, which may be traced up
to the first race, contributed not a little to polish the minds
of the French, by restraining them within the bounds of a
benevolent morality. They swore to spare neither life or
fortune in defence of religion, in fighting against the infidels, and in protecting the widow, the orphan, and all
who were defenceless. By this victory at Marignana,
Francis I. became master of the Milanese, which was ceded
to him by Maximilian Sforza, who then retired into France.
Pope Leo X. alarmed by these conquests, held a conference with the king at Bologna, obtained from him the
abolition of the Pragmatic Sanction, and settled the Concordate, which was confirmed the year following in the
Latcran council. From that time the kings of France appointed to all consistorial benefices, and the pope received
one year’s income upon every change. The treaty of
N.oyon was concluded the same year between Charles V.
and Francis I. one principal article or' which was the restoration of Navarre. Charles V. on the death of Maximilian I. being elected emperor, 1519, in opposition to
Francis, the jealousy which subsisted between those two
princes broke out immediately, and kindled a long war,
which proved fatal to all Europe. The French, commanded by Andrew de Foix, conquered Navarre in 1520,
and lost it again almost directly; they drove the English
and Imperialists from Picardy; took Hesdin, Fontarabia,
and several other places; but lost Milan and Tournay in
1521. The following year, Odet de Foix, viscount of
Lautrec, was defeated at the bloody battle of Bicoque,
which was followed by the loss of Cremona, Genoa, and a
great part of Italy. Nor did their misfortunes end here.
The constable of Bourbon, persecuted by the duchess of
Angouleme, joined the emperor 1523, and, being appointed commander of his forces in 1524, defeated admiral
Bonevet’s rear at the retreat of Rebec, and retook all the
Milanese. He afterwards entered Provence with a powerful army, but was obliged to raise the siege of Marseilles,
and retired with loss. Francis I. however, went into Italy,
retook Milan, and was going to besiege Pavia; but, having
imprudently detached part of his troops to send them to
Nappies, he was defeated by the constable de Bpurbon in
a bloody battle before Pavia, February 24, 1525, after,
having two horses killed under him, and displaying prodigious valour. His greatness of mind never appeared
more conspicuously than after this unfortunate engagement. In a letter to his mother he says, “Every thing is
lost but honour.
” He was conducted as a prisoner to
Madrid, and returned the following year, after the treaty
which was concluded in that city, January 14, 1526. This
treaty, extorted by force, was not fulfilled; the emperor
had insisted on the duchy of Burgundy being ceded to
him but, when Lannoi went to demand it in his master’s
name, he was introduced to anaudience given to the deputies of Burgundy, who declared to the king, that he
had no power to give up any province of his kingdom.
Upon this the war re-commenced immediately. Francis
I. sent forces into Italy, under the command of Lautrec,
who rescued Clement VII. and at first gained great adVantages, but perished afterwards, with his army, by
sickness. The king, who had been some years a widower,
concluded the treaty of Cambray in 1529, by which he
engaged to marry Eleanor of Austria, the emperor’s sister;
and his two sons, who had been given as hostages, were
Ransomed at the king’s return for two millions in gold.
The ambition of possessing Milan, caused peace again to
be broken. Francis took Savoy in 1535, drove the emperor from Provence in 153G, entered into an alliance with
8olyman II. emperor of the Turks; took Hesdin, and seyeral other places, in 1537, and made a truce of ten years
with Charles V. at Nice, 1538, which did not, however,
Jast long. The emperor, going to punish the people of
Ghent, who had rebelled, obtained a passage through
France, by promising Francis the investiture of the duchy
of Milan for which of his children he pleased; but. after
being received in France with the highest honours in 1539,
he was no sooner arrived in Flanders than he refused to
keep his promise. This broke the truce; the war was
renewed, and carried on with various success on both sides.
The king’s troops entered Italy, Roussillorr, and Luxemburg. Francis of Bourbon, comte d‘Enguien, won the
battle of Cerizoles in 154*, and took Montferrat. Francis
I. gained over to his side Barbarossa, and Gustavus Vasa,
Icing of Sweden; while, on the other hand, Henry VIII.
of England espoused the interests of Charles V. and took
Bologna, ’1544. A peace was at last concluded with he
emperor at Cressy, September 18, 1544, and with Henry
VIII. June 7, 154fi; but Francis did not long enjoy the
tranquillity which this peace procured him; he died at the
castle of Rambouillet the last day of March, 1547, aged
fifty-three. This prince possessed the most shining qualities: he was witty, mild, magnanimous, generous, and
benevolent. The revival of polite literature in Europe
was chiefly owing to his care; he patronized the learned,
founded the royal college at Paris, furnished a library at
Fountainbleau at a great expence, and built several palaces,
which he ornamented with pictures, statues, and costly
furniture. When dying, he particularly requested his son
to dimiuish the taxes which he had been obliged to levy
for defraying the expences of the war; and put it in his
power to do so, for he left 400,000 crowns of gold in his
coffers, with a quarter of his revenues which was then
due. It was this sovereign who ordered all public acts to
"be written in French. Upon the whole he appears to
have been one of the greatest ornaments of the French
throne.
at Lionel duke of Clarence, son of the king of England, espoused Joland, daughter of Galeas II. duke of Milan. Froissart, who probably was in his suite, was present
He was in France, at Melun sur Seine, about April 20, 1366; perhaps private reasons might have induced him to take that road to Bourdeaux, where he was on All Saints’ day of that year, when the princess of Wales was brought to bed of a son, who was afterwards Richard II. The prince of Wales setting out a few days afterwards for the war in Spain, Froissart accompanied him to Dax, where the prince resided some time. He had expected to have attended him during the continuance of this grand expedition; but the prince would not permit him to go farther; and shortly after his arrival, sent him back to the queen his mother. Froissart could not have made any long stay in England, since in the following year, 1368," he was at different Italian courts. It was this same year, that Lionel duke of Clarence, son of the king of England, espoused Joland, daughter of Galeas II. duke of Milan. Froissart, who probably was in his suite, was present at the magnificent reeeption which Amadeus count of Savoy, surnamed the count Verd, gave him on his return: he describes the feasts on this occasion, which lasted three days; and does not forget to tell us that they danced a virelay of his composition. From the court of Savoy he returned to Milan, where the same count Amadeus gave him a good cotardie, a sort of coat, with twenty florins of gold; and from thence to Bologna and Ferrara, where he Feceived f forty ducats from the king of Cyprus, and then to Rome. Instead of the modest equipage he travelled with into Scotland, he was now like a man of importance, travelling on a handsome horse attended by a hackney.
fered great encouragement at Bergamo, if he would settle there; but the war being over, and the duke of Milan, his old patron, restored, he preferred the residence
, an eminent musical writer,
a native of Lodi, born Jan. 14, 1451, of obscure parents,
was first intended for priest’s orders, but after studying
music for two years under John Goodenach, a carmelite,
he manifested so much genius for that science, that it was
thought expedient to make it his profession. After learning the rudiments of music at Lodi, he went to Mantua,
where he was patronized by the marquis Lodovico Gonzago; and where, during two years, he pursued his studies
with unwearied assiduity night and day, and acquired
great reputation, both in the speculative and practical
part of his profession. From this city he went to Verona,
where he read public lectures on music for two years more,
and published several works; after which he removed to
Genoa, whither he was invited by the doge Prospero;
there he entered into priest’s orders. From Genoa he
was invited to Milan by the duke and duchess Galeazzo,
but they being soon after expelled that city, he returned
to Naples, where Philip of Bologna, professor- royal, received him as his colleague; and he became so eminent
in the theory of music, that he was thought superior to
many celebrated and learned musicians, his contemporaries, with whom he now conversed and disputed. He
there published his profound <“Treatise on the Theory
of Harmony,
” Theoricum Opus Harmonicae Disciplinse,
” mentioned
above, Neapolis,
Deftnitiones Term. Musicae,
” of John Tinctor. 2. “Practica
Musicse utriusque Cantus,
” Milan, Angelicum ac Divinum
Opus Musicae Materna Lingua Scrip.
” Milan, De Harmonica Musicor. Instrumentorum,
” Milan,
, of Milan, a learned ecclesiastical antiquary, and apostolical notary,
, of Milan, a
learned ecclesiastical antiquary, and apostolical notary,
flourished in the sixteenth century, under the pontificate
of Gregory XIII. and Sixtus V. He was an able scholar
in the ancient languages, and had devoted much of his
time to researches in ecclesiastical history. He endeavoured to correct and illustrate the “Roman Martyrology,
”
by new-modelling it, and adding a number of new facts
respecting the saints. This he dedicated to pope Gregory XIII. and published it at Milan in 1577, but it never
was approved by the Roman censors, who thought it too
long to be recited in the canonical office; and others have
accused him of many inaccuracies. He wrote also the
“Lives of the Saints of Milan,
” printed there in Commentary on the Pentateuch,
” ib. Theatrum Pontificate;
” “S. Didaci Complutensis Canonizatio,
” Rome, II perfetto Dittionario,
” Latin
and Italian, Venice, 1659, and 1684. We have no further particulars of his life, except that he died about
the year 1590.
rn to Milan, but without any loss of the king’s respect and friendship for him. Here the duke Philip of Milan gave him the title of his vicar-general. With this he
His Latin works, consisting of treatises on grammar and
rhetoric, orations, letters, &c. do not form the only title
he has to be considered among the revivers of learning and
elegant Latinity. He merited this honour also, like
Aurispa and Guarino, for his ability in explaining the ancient classics, and in decyphering the manuscript copies
which at that time engaged the curious researches of the
learned world. His “Epistles
” form an epoch in the history of French printing. When two doctors of the Sorbonne, William Fichet, and John de la Pierre, had engaged from Germany three printers, Gering, Crantz, and
Friburger, to come to Paris, in 1459, a printing-press
was set up in the house of the Sorbonne, and Gasparino’s
“Epistles
” were the first typographical production in
France. The title was “Gasp. Pergamensis (Bergomensis)
Epistolre,
” 4to, without date, but printed in
agreeing with his constitution, he accepted the professorship of rhetoric at Pavia which the senate of Milan, hearing of his being about to remove, and apprized of
, an Italian poet, of the same family with the preceding, was born at Ferrara in 1504. His father, being a man of letters, took great care of his education; and placed him under Cselio Calcagnini, to study the languages and philosophy. He made an uncommon progress, and then applied himself to the study of physic; in which faculty he was afterwards a doctor. At 21 years of age, he was employed to read public lectures at Ferrara upon physic and polite literature. In 1542, the duke of Ferrara made him his secretary; which office he held till the death of that prince in 1558. He was continued in it by his successor: but envy having done him some ill offices with his master, he was obliged to quit the court. He left the city at the same time, and removed with his family to Mondovi in Piedmont; where he taught the belles lettres publicly for three years. He then went to Turin but the air there not agreeing with his constitution, he accepted the professorship of rhetoric at Pavia which the senate of Milan, hearing of his being about to remove, and apprized of his great merit, freely offered him. This post he filled with great repute; and afterwards obtained a place in the academy of that town. It was here he got the name of Cintio, which he retained ever after, and put in the title-page of his books. The gout, which was hereditary in his family, beginning to attacR him severely, he returned to Ferrara; thinking that his native air might afford him relief. But he was hardly settled there, when he grew extremely ill; and, after languishing about three months, died in 1573.
ions, in verse, on the 19th and 20th chapters of Judges, and a tragedy called “Lodowick Sforza, duke of Milan,” 1632, 12mo. "Both were reprinted with a few occasional
, a divine and poet of the seventeenth century, was born at London in 1600, whence, he
was sent by his father in 1614 to Christ church, Oxford,
where, soon after his being entered, he was elected a student on the royal foundation. At about seven years standing, he here took his degrees of bachelor and master of
arts, and before he left the university, which was in 1627,
he had the degree of bachelor of divinity conferred on him.
Being now in orders, he distinguished himself as a, preacher
at the university. For some time, during the plague at
Oxford, he resided at Flower in Northamptonshire, and was
afterwards vicar of Thorncornbe in Devonshire, where it is
probable that he resided till his death, which was in 1646.
He was accounted a good preacher, and printed a volume
of “Sermons,
” Lond. Levite’s
Revenge,
” being meditations, in verse, on the 19th and
20th chapters of Judges, and a tragedy called “Lodowick
Sforza, duke of Milan,
”
venteenth year was taken into the service of Ferdinand Gonzaga, then viceroy of Sicily, and governor of Milan, to which city he accompanied that nobleman in 1546, and
, an Italian poet and miscellaneous
writer, was born at Rome in 1525, where he pursued his
studies in the house of the cardinal de Santa Fiora, but in
his seventeenth year was taken into the service of Ferdinand Gonzaga, then viceroy of Sicily, and governor of
Milan, to which city he accompanied that nobleman in
1546, and became his secretary. He was afterwards taken
to the court of Spain, where he obtained the esteem and
favour of Philip II. Under the duke of Albuquerque he
was imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy against the life
of John Baptist Monti, but vindicated his own cause, and
was not only released, but admitted to public employment
under the succeeding governors of Milan. He died Feb.
12, 1587, leaving behind him several works, that obtained
for him high reputation; of these the principal are, “The
Life of Ferdinand Gonzaga,
” Three Conspiracies,
” &c. Rime,
” or a collection of
poems, several times reprinted. “Discourses.
” “Letters,
” &c. and he translated into Italian a French work
entitled “A true account of things that have happened
in the Netherlands, since the arrival of Don Juan of
Austria.
”
hy in the university of Bologna, and was also made prior and provincial of his order, and inquisitor of Milan. In 1728, pope Benedict XIII. created him a cardinal,
, a learned cardinal, was born
at Bologna Sept. 5, 1664. He was the son of James Gotti,
a doctor of laws, and professor in the university of Bologna.
In 1680 he became of the Dominican order, and having
completed his course of philosophy at Bologna, was sent to
study theology for four years at Salamanca in Spain. Upon his return in 1688, he was appointed professor of philosophy in the university of Bologna, and was also made
prior and provincial of his order, and inquisitor of Milan.
In 1728, pope Benedict XIII. created him a cardinal, and
three years afterwards appointed him member of the congregation for examining bishops; and such was his reputation, that in the last conclave, held during his time, a considerable number of the cardinals were for his being raised
to the papal throne. Soon after this he died at Rome in
1742. His works are much valued by the catholics in
Italy, and display considerable erudition. Of these the
principal are, 1. “De vera Christi Ecclesia,
” Rome, Theologia Scholastico-dogmatica, juxta mentem divi
Thornse Aquinatis, &c.
” 6 vols. 4to. 3. “Colloquia Theologica-polemica, in tres classes distributa, &c.
” Bologna,
4to. 4. “De Eligenda inter Dissidentes Christianos Sententia,
” written in answer to a piece with the same title,
by Le Clerc; and an elaborate work in defence of the truth
of the Christian religion against atheists, idolaters, Mahometans, Jews, &c. 1735 1740, in 12 vols. He was employed at the time of his death in writing “A Commentary
on the Book of Genesis.
” A long life of him, “De vita et
studiis, &c.
” 4to, was published at Rome in
y, to settle some private affairs. He was there when the emperor made a new regulation for the state of Milan, which was very grievous to it; and having political talents,
In 1709, he took a journey to his own country, to settle some private affairs. He was there when the emperor made a new regulation for the state of Milan, which was very grievous to it; and having political talents, was employed to represent to prince Eugene of Savoy the inconveniences and burden of this regulation, prince Eugene being then governor of the country, and deputed by the emperor to manage the affair. For this purpose Guidi drew up a memorial, which was thought so just and argumentative, that the new regulation was immediately revoked. The service he did his country, in this respect, procured him a mark of distinction from the council Pavia; who, in 1710, enrolled him in the list of and decurions of the town. He was now solely intent upon returning to Rome; but made his will first, as if he had foreseen what was shortly to happen to him. Upon his arrival there, he applied himself to a versification of six homilies of the Pope, which he caused to be magnificently printed, and would have presented it to the pontiff, who was then at Castel-Gandolfe. With this view he set out from Rome in June 17 12, and arrived at Frescati, where he was seized with an apoplectic fit, of which he died in a few hours, aged almost sixty-two. His body was carried back to Rome, and interred in the church of St. Onuphrius, near Tasso.
them be ever so delicate. In 1798 he was arrested by the Frencb in Italy, and confined in the castle of Milan; was plundered by the republicans of a valuable and well-chosen
In 1779, on the death of his elder brother, he became
earl of Bristol, with a noble estate, the produce of which
he expended in acts of munificence and liberality. One
of his first donations, after this accession of fortune, was
1000l. towards an augmentation of an endowment for the
widows and clergy of his diocese. He became, however,
about this time, rather eccentric in his political conduct,
and was among the leaders of the Irish patriots, as they
were called, during the A'merican war, and a member of
the famous convention of delegates from the volunteers,
held in Dublin in 1782; on which occasion he was escorted
from Derry to Dublin by a regiment of volunteer cavalry,
and received military honours in every town through which
he passed in that long journey. As an amateur, connoissieur, and indefatigable protector of the fine arts, he was
generally surrounded by artists, whose talents his
judgment directed, and whose wants his liberality relieved.
His love of the sciences was only surpassed by his Jove to
his country, and by his generosity to the unfortunate of
every country; neither rank nor power escaped his resentment when any illiberal opinion was thrown out against
England. At a dinner with the late king of Prussia and
the prince royal of Denmark, at Pynnont, in 1797, he
boldly said, after the conversation about the active ambition of England had been changed into inquiries about
the delicacy of a roasted capon, that he did not like neutral animals, let them be ever so delicate. In 1798 he was
arrested by the Frencb in Italy, and confined in the castle
of Milan; was plundered by the republicans of a valuable
and well-chosen collection of antiquities, which he had
purchased with a view of transmitting to his native country; and was betrayed and cheated by many Italians, whose
benefactor he had been. But neither the injustice nor
the ingratitude of mankind changed his liberal disposition,
he no sooner recovered his liberty, than new benefactions
forced even the ungrateful to repent, and the unjust to
acknowledge his elevated mind. The earl of Bristol was
one of the greatest English travellers (a capacity in which his merits have been duly appreciated by the celebrated Martin Sherlock); and there is not a country in Europe
where the distressed have not obtained his succour, and
the oppressed his protection. He may truly be said to
have clothed the naked, and fed the hungry; and, as ostentation never constituted real charity, his left hand did
not know what, his right hand distributed. The tears and
lamentations of widows and orphans discovered his philanthropy when he was no more; and letters from Swiss
patriots and French emigrants, from Kalian catholics and
German protestants, proved the noble use his lordship made
of his fortune, indiscriminately, to the poor, destitute, and
unprotected of all countries, of all parties, and of all religions. But, as no man is without his enemies, and envy
is most busy about the most deserving, some of his lordship’s singularities have been the object of calumny and
ridicule. He certainly did retain that peculiarity of character for which his family were formerly distinguished,
and which induced the mother of the late marquis Townsbend, a woman of uncommon wit and humour, to say that
there were three sorts of people in the world, “men,
women, and /fewys.
”His lordship died at Aibano, near
Rome, July 8, 1803, and his remains, being brought to
England, were interred in the family vault at Ickworth,
near Bury, where, at the time of his death, he was building a magnificent viila on the Italian model. His lordship
married, in early life, Elizabeth, daughter of sir Jenny n
Davers, bart. by whom he had several children. He was
succeeded in titles and estate by Frederic-William, his
second son, now fifth earl of Bristol.
th of queen Jane, his third wife, sent him into Flanders, to draw the picture of the duchess dowager of Milan, widowto Francis Sforza, whom the emperor Charles V. had
After almost begging his way to England, as Patin tells
us, he found an easy admittance to the lord-chancellor,
sir Thomas More, having brought with him Erasmus’s
picture, and letters recommendatory from him to that great
man. Sir Thomas received him with all the joy imaginable, and kept him in his house between two and three
years; during which time he drew sir Thomas’s picture,
and those of many of his friends and relations. One clay
Holbein happening to mention the nobleman who had some
years ago invited him to England, sir Thomas was very
solicitous to know who he was. Holbein replied, that he
had indeed forgot his title, but remembered his face so
well, that he thought he could draw his likeness; and this
he did so very strongly, that the nobleman, it is said, was
immediately known by it. This nobleman some think was
the earl of Arundel, others the earl of Surrey. The chancellor, having now sufficiently enriched his apartments
with Holbein’s productions, adopted the following method
to introduce him to Henry VIII. He invited the king to
an entertainment, and hung up all Holbein’s pieces, disposed in the best order, and in the best light, in the great
hall of his house. The king, upon his first entrance, was
so charmed with the sight of them, that he asked, “Whether such an artist were now alive, and to be had for money?
” on which sir Thomas presented Holbein to the king,
who immediately took him into his service, with a salary of
200 florins, and brought him into great esteem with the
nobility of the kingdom. The king from time to time manifested the greac value he had for him, and upon the death
of queen Jane, his third wife, sent him into Flanders, to
draw the picture of the duchess dowager of Milan, widowto Francis Sforza, whom the emperor Charles V. had recommended to him for a fourth wife; but the king’s defection from the see of Rome happening about that time,
he rather chose to match with a protestant princess.
Cromwell, then his prime minister (for sir Thomas More had been removed, and beheaded), proposed Anne of
Cleves to him; but the king was not inclined to the match,
till her picture, which Holbein had also drawn, was presented to him. There, as lord Herbert of Cherbnry says, she was
represented so very charming, that the king immediately resolved to marry her; and thus Holbein was unwittingly the
cause of the ruin of his patron Cromwell, whom the king
never forgave for introducing him to Anne of Cleves.
published in 1524, fol. and reprinted in 1527, 8vo; the lives of the twelve Visconti lords and dukes of Milan; a description of the island of Great Britain, of Muscovy,
His other writings are a small tract, “De Piscibus Romanis,
” published in
a bolder eye on nature, and by equal vigour of conception and execution, proved to the first artists of Milan, that, like Ferrari, he was born for grand subjects such
, an historical painter, was a native of Vercelli) a pupil of Gaudenzio Ferrari, and imitated the style of that master in his first works to a degree of illusion. As he advanced in practice he cast a bolder eye on nature, and by equal vigour of conception and execution, proved to the first artists of Milan, that, like Ferrari, he was born for grand subjects such is that of S. Catarina, near S. Celso the face and attitude of the heroine anticipate the graces of Guido the colour of the whole approaches the tones of Titian, the glory of the angels rivals Gaudenzio; a less neglected style of drapery would have left little to wish for. Among his copious works at Milan, and in its districts, the dome of Novara claims distinguished notice. There he painted those Sybils, and that semblance of an Eternal Father, so much admired by Lomazzo; and near them certain subjects from the life of Mary, which even now, in a ruined state of colour, enchant by spirit and evidence of design. His versatile talent indulged sometimes in imitations of Lionardo da Vinci; and at the Basilica of St. Ambrogio, the figure of Christ between two Angels, in form, expression, and effect, fully proves with what felicity he penetrated the principles of that genius.
by the Turks in 1454, and went to Italy, where he was most amicably received by duke Francis Sforza of Milan, who placed his own daughter, a child of ten years of
, a learned Greek, descended from the imperial family of that name, was born at Constantinople, but became a refugee when it was taken, by
the Turks in 1454, and went to Italy, where he was most
amicably received by duke Francis Sforza of Milan, who
placed his own daughter, a child of ten years of age, under
the cure of Lascaris for instruction in the Greek language,
and it is said to have been for her use he composed his
Greek grammar. From Milan he went to Rome, about
1463, or perhaps later, and from, thence, at the invitation
of king Ferdinand, to Naples, where he opened a public
school for Greek and rhetoric. Having spent some years
in this employment, he was desirous of repose, and embarked with the intention of settling at a town of Greece;
but having touched at Messina, he was urged by such advantageous oilers to make it his residence, that he complied, and passed there the remainder of his days. Here
he received the honour of citizenship, which he merited
by his virtues as well as his learning, and by the influx of
scholars which his reputation drew thither. He lived to a
very advanced age, and is supposed to have died about the
end of the fifteenth century. He bequeathed his library
to the city of Messina. His Greek grammar was printed
at Milan in 1476, reprinted in 1480, and was, according
to Zeno, “prima Graeco-Latina praelorum foetura,
” the first
Greek and Latin book that issued from the Italian press.
A better edition of it was given in 1495, by Aldus, from a
copy corrected by the author, and with which the printer
was furnished by Bembo and Gabrielli. This was the first
essay of the Aldine press. Bembo and Gabrielli had been
the scholars of Lascaris, although in his old age, as they did
not set out for Messina until 1493. A copy of this Greek
grammar of the first edition is now of immense value.
Erasmus considered it as the best Greek grammar then
extant, excepting that of Theodore Gaza. Lascaris was
author likewise of two tracts on the Sicilian and Calabrian
Greek writers, and some other pieces, which remain in
manuscript.
avia, and was appointed rhetoric- professor in the university of Brera, in Milan. In 1733 the senate of Milan appointed him professor of mathematics at Pavia, and afterwards
, a learned Italian mathe.
matician, was born at Milan, Nov. 17, 1702. He was
educated among the Jesuits, and entered into their order in
1718. He afterwards taught the belles-lettres at Vercelli
and Pavia, and was appointed rhetoric- professor in the university of Brera, in Milan. In 1733 the senate of Milan
appointed him professor of mathematics at Pavia, and afterwards removed him to the same office at Milan, the duties of which he executed with reputation for twenty years.
In F75J) his fame procured him an invitation to Vienna
from the empress Maria Teresa, who honoured him with
her esteem, and appointed him mathematician to the court,
with a pension of 500 florins. What rendered him most
celebrated, was the skill he displayed as superintendant
and chief director of the processes for measuring the bed
of the Reno and other less considerable rivers belonging
to Bologna, Ferrara, and Ravenna. On this he was employed for six years, under Clement XIII.; and Clement
XIV. ordered that these experiments should be continued
upon Leccln’s plans. He died August 24, 1776, aged
seventy-three years. Fabroni, who has given an excellent
personal character of Lecchi, and celebrates his skill in
hydraulics, has, contrary to his usual practice, mentioned
his works only in a general way; and for the following list
we have therefore been obliged to have recourse to a less
accurate authority: 1. “Theoria lucis,
” Milan, Arithmetica universalis Jsaaci Newton, sive de compositione, et resolutione arithmetica perpetuis commentariis
illustrata et aucta,
” Milan, Elementa geometrise theoricx et practices,
” ibid. Elementa Trigonometric,
” &c. ibid. De sectionibus conicis,
” ibid. Idrostatica
csaaiinata,
” &c. ibid. Relazione della
visita alle terre dannegiate dalle acque di Bologna, Ferrara, e Ravenna,
” &c. Rome, 17G7, 4to. 8. “Memorie
idrostatico-storiche delle operazioni esequite nella inalveazione del Reno di Bologna, e degli altri minori torrenti
per la linea di primaro al mare dalP anno 1765 al 1772,
”
Modena, Trattato de' canali navigabili,
” Milan,
, so named from a village in the territory of Milan, where he was born in 1514, applied himself to the study
, so named from a village in the territory of Milan, where he was born in 1514,
applied himself to the study of belles lettres, and afterwards
taught them at Milan, with very great reputation. He
introduced into the schools of that place the mode of
writing declamations which had been practised by the ancients, and was found to be an useful method of exercising the genius of young men. His success attracted
much envy, and his enemies are said to have instituted a
law-suit against him for taking the name of Marcus Antonius Majoriauus, instead of Antonius Maria, which was his
proper name. He founded his defence on the more classical sound of the name, and his plea was considered as
valid. He died in 1555, at the early age of forty-one.
Of his works are extant, 1. “Commentaries on the Rhetoric of Aristotle, on the Oratory of Cicero, and on Virgil,
” all in folio. 2. Several Tracts, and among others,
“De senatu Romano,
” in 4to. “De risu Oratorio et
urbano.
” “De nominibus propriis veterum Rotnanorum.
”
3. “A Collection of Latin Speeches,
” Leipsic,
, an Italian of very uncommon talents and learning, was born at Alexandria, in the duchy of Milan, about 1420. His family name was Merlani, which he exchanged
, an Italian of very uncommon talents and learning, was born at Alexandria, in the duchy
of Milan, about 1420. His family name was Merlani,
which he exchanged for Merula. He was the disciple of
Philephus, and taught polite literature at Venice and at
Milan for forty years, and laboured with great success in
restoring and correcting ancient authors. Jovius calls him
“Grammaticorum exactissimus,
” the most exact of grammarians and Erasmus, in his “Ciceronianus,
” represents
him as a man, who translated the Greek authors with a
dignity and elegance sufficient to rank him with many of
the ancients. He died at Milan in 1494. His original
works are of the historical kind, the most distinguished of
which is his “Antiquitates Vicecomiturn, lib. X.
” fol. without place or date, but printed at Milan about the beginning of the sixteenth century. This only extends to the
death of Matthew, whom the Italians are accustomed to call
*' the Great.“The style is pure, but he has adopted too
many of the fabulous reports of the old chronicles, and is
in other respects incorrect as to dates and facts. It is not,
however, to this, or his other historical pieces that he owes
his reputation, which was more substantially built on the
aid he gave in the restoration of classical learning, as one
of the first editors of ancient authors. It is to him we are
indebted for the first edition, collectively, of the
” Scriptores de re Rustica,“Gato, Varro, Columella, and Palladius, which he published at Venice, 1472, fol. with notes.
He also published the first edition of Plautus, at Venice,
1472, fol. and assisted in the publication of the early
editions of Juvenal, Martial, and Ausonius, and translated
several of the Greek authors. His Juvenal is entitled
” Enarrationes Satyrarum Juvenalis, per GeorgiumMerulam
Alexandrinum," Tarvisii (Trevigny) 1478, fol.
, a native of Milan, who flourished in the fifteenth century, obtained considerable
, a native of Milan, who flourished in the fifteenth century, obtained considerable reputation for some Latin poems, particularly one on “The Passion,
” but his most celebrated
work was a collection of the “Lives of the Saints,
” not a
confused and credulous compilation, but which exceeded
all preceding works of the kind, by the pains he took to
distinguish truth from fable. This he was enabled to do
by a judicious examination of all the existing authorities,
and by availing himself of many Mss. which he discovered
in public libraries, and carefully collated. In some instances he has admitted supposed for real facts, but in
such a vast collection, a few mistakes of this kind are pardonable, especially as he brought to light much information not before made public. This work, which is of uncommon rarity and great price, is entitled “Sanctuarium,
sive vitje Sanctorum,
” 2 vols. fol. without date or place,
but supposed to have been printed at Milan about 1479.
Some copies want the last leaf of signature Nnnn, but even
with that defect bear a very high price.
4to. Our author likewise drew up the plan of a particular treatise upon the succession to the duchy of Milan: the impression of which waited only for the publication
Although, by the rights of his praetorship, every thing
done in the senate must necessarily pass through his hands,
yet he was so expeditious, and so good a manager of time,
that there was some left for his studies, which served to
him. as a relaxation from public business. During these
intervals. he published an edition of “Dictys Cretensis,
”
with notes, in Quintilian,
” by the help of an
excellent manuscript which he had recovered. He finished
it, and had prepared the notes for the press, which were
afterwards added to BurmanrTs valuable edition of 1720, 2
vols. 4to. In 1698, Obrecht was deputed to the court of
France, to manage the interests of the city of Strasburg,
and the king appointed him in 1700 his commissary and
envoy to Francfort, upon affairs relating to the succession
of the duchess of Orleans. Here also he undertook a most
arduous task, respecting the eventual succession of the
duke of Anjou to the crown of Spain; and made it his
business to collect all the pieces that had been written,
either by civilians or historians, upon the subject of establishing or regulating the rights of succession to that vast
monarchy: all with a design to prove that the pretensions
of the house of Austria were not well founded. The title
of his work was “Excerptorum historicorum et juridicorum
dre natura successionis in Monarchiam Hispaniae, mense
Dec. 1700,
” in 4to. Our author likewise drew up the
plan of a particular treatise upon the succession to the
duchy of Milan: the impression of which waited only for
the publication of the emperor’s manifesto. His last publication was “A Translation of the life of Pythagoras,
”
from the Greek of Jamblichus. The multiplicity of these
labours at length impaired his health, and after he had
passed sentence upon the rights of the duchess of Orleans,
he ordered himself to be conveyed to Strasburgh, where
he died Aug. 6, 1701.
abelais, Fenelon on Learning, Vertot’s “Revolutions of Rome,” Nicole’s “Logic,” The Life of Veronica of Milan,“besides some parts of Rapin, Boileau, &c. &c. The only
, a writer, to whose industry, if not to
his genius, the world was at one time thought indebted,
received the first rudiments of his education from Mr. Shaw,
an excellent grammarian, and master of the free-school at
Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire. He afterwards completed his grammatical studies under the rev. Mr. Mountford, of Christ’s Hospital, where, having attained considerable knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, it was the
intention of his friends to have sent him to the university
of Cambridge, with a view to his being admitted into holy
orders. But Mr. Ozell, averse to the confinement of a
college-life, and perhaps disinclined to the clerical profession, and desirous of being sooner settled in the world than
the regular course of academical gradations would permit,
solicited and obtained an employment in a public office of
accounts; with a view to which, he had taken previous care
to qualify himself, by a most perfect knowledge of arithmetic in all its branches, and a greater degree of excellence in writing all the necessary hands. Notwithstanding,
however, this grave attention to business, he still retained
an inclination for, and an attention to, even polite literature, that could scarcely have been expected; and, by
entering into much conversation with foreigners abroad,
and a close application to reading at home, he made himself master of most of the living languages, especially the
French, Italian, and Spanish, from all which, as well as
from the Latin and Greek, he has favoured the world with
many translations. Among these are Don Quixote, Rabelais, Fenelon on Learning, Vertot’s “Revolutions of Rome,
”
Nicole’s “Logic,
” The Life of Veronica of Milan,“besides some parts of Rapin, Boileau, &c. &c. The only
one which seems rather useful is his
” Common Prayer,
and Common Sense, in several places of the Portuguese,
Spanish, Italian, French, Latin, and Greek Translations of
the English Liturgy. Being a specimen of the manifold
omissions, &c. in all, or most of the said translations, some
of which were printed at Oxford, and the rest at Cambridge,“Lond. 1722, 8vo. For this he tells us, in his
foolish advertisement hereafter mentioned, the bench of
bishops gave him a purse of guineas. Ozell’s plays,
though all translations, are very numerous, there being included in them a complete English version of the dramatic pieces of that justly celebrated French writer Moliere besides some others from Corneille, Racine, &c.
the titles of which are to be found in the
” Biographia
Dramatica."
s embassy was to engage the emperor Maximilian to dispossess the French king Francis 1. of the duchy of Milan, his royal master being alarmed at the progress of the
On his return to. England, he was sent for to court, probably in consequence of the character given of him by his deceased patron, cardinal Bambridge; and became such a favourite with Henry VIII. that he appointed him, as some say, secretary of state, which Mr. Lodge doubts; but it seems certain, that he either held that, or the office of private secretary, or some confidential situation, under Henry, who employed him in affairs of high political importance. In 1515, he was sent to the court of Vienna, where the object of his embassy was to engage the emperor Maximilian to dispossess the French king Francis 1. of the duchy of Milan, his royal master being alarmed at the progress of the French arms in Italy. Pace succeeded in his negociation, so far as to persuade the emperor to undertake this expedition; and he also engaged some of the Swiss cantons to furnish him with troops; but the scheme was ultimately so unsuccessful that Maximilian was obliged to make peace with France. Pace, however, profited so much by his acquaintance with this emperor, as to acquire a/very useful knowledge of his character; and when he afterwards offered to resign his crown in favour of Henry VIII. he was enabled to give his sovereign the best advice, and to assure him, that Maximilian had no other design, by this apparently liberal offer, than to obtain another subsidy, and that, in other respects, very little credit was due to his word. In this opinion cardinal Wolsey, at home, seems to have concurred.
cca, before he obtained the offer of several immunities, and a handsome stipend from the magistrates of Milan, where he hoped that he was now settled in peace for life,
Although he had here a handsome gratuity, and was
only to attend his scholars one hour in the twenty-four,
yet it was entirely owing to the expences of his family that
he engaged in this employment, which was otherwise irksome to him. He passed, however, some years at Lucca,
before he obtained the offer of several immunities, and a
handsome stipend from the magistrates of Milan, where he
hoped that he was now settled in peace for life, but the event
proved otherwise. Paul V. who had been a Dominican
monk, coming to the pontificate in 1566, determined to
show his bigotry against every thing that had the appearance of heresy, and therefore ordered the cause of Palearius to be re-heard. On which Palearius was suddenly
arrested at Milan, and carried to Rome, where they found
it not difficult to convict him of having said “That the
German doctors who followed Luther were to be commended in respect to some points; and that the court of
the inquisition was erected for the destruction of men of
learning.
” He was then condemned to be burnt, which
sentence was executed the same year, 1566. He was
greatly respected by the most eminent scholars of his time,
such as Bembusj Sadoletus, Sfondratus, Philonardus, cardinals; Benedictus Lampridius, Anthony Flaminius, and
Andreas Alciatus; besides others, whose names may be
seen in the catalogue to the last edition of his “Letters,
”
containing the names of his literary correspondents.
or which in the year 345 he was condemned by the council of Antioch; in the year 374, by the council of Milan. However, he still maintained his see till he was deposed
, a famous heretic of the fourth century, known in church history as the chief of a sect called Photinians, was a native of Ancyra, the capital of Galatia, and bishop of Sirmium, or Sirmich, the chief city of Illyricum. He had been the disciple of Marcellus, bishop of Ancyra. He spoke with ease, and his eloquence gained him great power over his people after he was consecrated bishop; but his life was corrupted, and his doctrine soon became so too. He espoused the same opinions with Paul of Samosata, and wrote with great obstinacy against the divinity of Jesus Christ, for which in the year 345 he was condemned by the council of Antioch; in the year 374, by the council of Milan. However, he still maintained his see till he was deposed by the council of Sirmich, A. D. 251, and by the emperor sent into banishment, where he spent the remainder of his life, during which time he composed a piece against all heresies in general, with an intent to establish his own. He wrote in Greek and Latin. The emperor Julian sent him a letter, commending him for denying the divinity of Jesus Christ. Photinus died A. D. 375 (377, Cave), in Galatia, whither he had been banished. This heresy was, amongst many others, anathematized in the council of Constantinople, A. D. 381. It afterwards was revived by Socinus.
rificed to grace, as in the mutual smile of the Virgin and the angel in his Nunziata, at St. Antonio of Milan; grimaces both, unworthy of the moment and of the mystery.
, an eminent artist, was the son of Ercole Procaccini of Bologna, a painter of considerable note. He was born in 1548, a-nd was at first educated as a sculptor, which he relinquished, and frequented the academy of the Caracci, but the principal object of his studies were the works of Corregio, and in the opinion of many, none ever approached nearer the grandeur of that style, particularly in easel pictures, and works of confined composition, though his grace be often meretricious, and his colour less vigorous. A Madonna of his at St. Luigi de Fraiicesi, has been engraved as the work of Allegri and some still better imitations may be seen in the palace of St. Vitali at Parma, in that of Caregaat Genoa, and elsewhere. Of his various altar-pieces, the most resembling the manner of Corregio is perhaps that of St. Afra in Brescia: it represents Maria with the infant, amid an ogling and smiling group of angels and saints, where dignity seems as much sacrificed to grace, as in the mutual smile of the Virgin and the angel in his Nunziata, at St. Antonio of Milan; grimaces both, unworthy of the moment and of the mystery.
o Milan. It was also his learning, which made him tenderly beloved by the count de Fuentes, governor of Milan and afterwards by the archduke Albert, who, having promoted
Still he was allowed to have accumulated a great fund of
learning. Bullart says, “It was the great learning of Puteanus, which, having won the heart of Urban VIII. deter*
mined that great pope to send him his portrait in a gold
medal, very heavy, with some copies of his works. It was
that same learning, which engaged cardinal Frederic Borromeo to receive him into his palace, when he returned to
Milan. It was also his learning, which made him tenderly
beloved by the count de Fuentes, governor of Milan and
afterwards by the archduke Albert, who, having promoted
him to Justus Lipsius’s chair, admitted him also most honourably into the number of his counsellors. Lastly, it
was his learning; which made him so much esteemed in the
chief courts of Europe, and occasioned almost all the
princes, the learned men, the ambassadors of kings, and
the generals of armies, to give him proofs of their regard
in the letters they wrote to him; of which above sixteen
thousand were found in his library, all placed in a regular
order. He had the glory to save the king of Poland’s life,
by explaining an enigmatical writing drawn up in unknown
characters, which no man could read or understand, and
which contained the scheme of a conspiracy against that
prince.
” He was also, in his private character, a man of
piety, of an obliging disposition, andremarkable not only
for his kindness to his scholars, but for many good offices
to his countrymen in every case of need. The archduke
Albert, as Bullart notices, nominated him one of his
counsellors, and entrusted him with the government of the
castle of Louvain. He died at Louvain Sept. 17, 1646, in
the seventy-second year of his age. Nicolas Vernulaeus
pronounced his funeral oration, and his life was published
by Milser with an engraved portrait.
ntly attached. The only honour which he accepted was the appointment of chief physician to the state of Milan, which Philip IV. conferred upon him in 1627, as a reward
, an Italian physician of celebrity, was born at Milan, in February 1552.
He evinced great talents from his early childhood, and at
the age of sixteen defended some theses on the subject of
natural philosophy with much acuteness. His inclination
leading him to the medical profession,* he repaired to Pavia,
for the study of it, and obtained the degree of doctor in
his twenty-first year, and was even appointed to a chair in
this celebrated university two years after. At the end of
four more years he resigned his professorship to devote
himself entirely to practice at Milan, and while here Philip III. king of Spain, selected him for his historiographer;
but neither this, nor many other honours, that were offered
to him, could induce him to quit his native city, to which
he was ardently attached. The only honour which he accepted was the appointment of chief physician to the state
of Milan, which Philip IV. conferred upon him in 1627, as
a reward for his virtues and talents. In 1628, during the
plague at Milan, Septalius, while attending the infected,
was himself seized with the disease, and although he recovered, he had afterwards a paralytic attack, which greatly
impaired his health. He died in September 1633, at the
age of eighty-one. Septalius was a man of acute powers,
and solid judgment, and was reputed extremely successful
in his practice. He was warmly attached to the doctrines
of Hippocrates, whose work? he never ceased to study.
He was author of various works, among which are <k In
Lihrum Hippocratis Coi, de Aeribus, Aquis, et Locis,
Commentarii quinquc,“1590;
” In Aristotelis Problemata
Commentaria Latina,“torn. I. 1602, II. 1607;
” Animadversionum et Cautionum Meriicarmn Libri duo, septem aliis
additi,“1629; the result of 40 years of practice, and equal
to any of its contemporaries of the seventeenth century.
” De Margaritis Judicium,“1618;
” De Peste et Pestiferis Affectibus Libri V.“1622
” Analyticarum et Animasticarum Dissertationum Libri II." 1626, &c. &c.
no date, but probably was printed between 1503 and 1513, is very rare and valuable. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, wrote against Symmachus; and so did the Christian poet
, a citizen and senator of ancient Rome, and consul in the year 391, has left us ten books of epistles; from which, as well as from other things, we collect, that he was a warm opposer of the Christian religion. This he shews particularly in the sixty-first epistle of the tenth book, addressed to the emperor Valentinian, whom he petitioned in favour of paganism. He was very unfortunate, after having enjoyed a high degree of favour at court. The emperor Theodosius thought proper to desire that he would pronounce his panegyric before him; but when he heard that Symmachus had been equally liberal in his praises of the tyrant Maximus, who reigned before him, and to whom Theodosius himself had submitted from political motives, he banished Symmachus, and persecuted him so even in his exile, that with all his prejudices in favour of paganism, he was obliged to take refuge in a Christian church to save his life. Ammianus Marcellinus speaks of him as a man of great learning and modesty; and his epistles shew him to have been a man of acute parts, and of eloquence, such as eloquence was in his time, that is, verbose and florid. Scioppius, Pareus, and other learned men, have written notes upon the epistles of Symmachus: 'but we know of no later edition of them than that of Leyden, 1653, 12mo. The first edition, which has no date, but probably was printed between 1503 and 1513, is very rare and valuable. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, wrote against Symmachus; and so did the Christian poet Prudentius.
ch were first published in JLatin only, at Basil, 1554. This Latin version, made by Annibal Cruceius of Milan, was republished by Commelinus, with the Greek, at Heidelberg,
, an ancient Greek writer of Alexandria, is supposed to have lived in the third century, but
this is uncertain. According to Suidas, who calls him
Statius, he embraced Christianity in the latter part of his
life, and became a bishop. He wrote a book “Upon the
Sphere,
” which seems to have been nothing more than a
commentary upon Aratus. Part of it is extant, and has
been translated into Latin by father Petavius, under the
title of “Isagoge in phænomena Arati.
” He wrote also a
romance, probably from its licentiousness when he was a
heathen, entitled, “Of the Loves of Clitophon and Leucippe,
” in eight books, which were first published in
JLatin only, at Basil, 1554. This Latin version, made by
Annibal Cruceius of Milan, was republished by Commelinus, with the Greek, at Heidelberg, 1608, 8 vo, with Longus and Parthenius, writers of the same class: after which,
a more correct edition of the Greek was given by Salmaaius at Leyden, 1640, in 12mo, with Cruceius’ s version.
The best edition is that of Boden, Gr. and Lat. Leipsic,
1776, 8vo.
dia, in which the articles are generally short, but many of them curious. Valla exasperated the duke of Milan so much by his too impetuous zeal for the Trivulcian faction,
, an Italian physician and professor
of the belles lettres at Venice, was born at Picenza, and was
a contemporary of Laurentius Valla. He was well skilled
in the Latin and Greek tongues, and wrote a considerable
number of books both in physic and literature. One of
his books in the former has a title, which gives us no less an
opinion of his honesty than of his skill in his profession:
it is “De tuenda sanitate per victum;
” but it is doubtful
whether he practised physic. He wrote “Commentaries
on some books of Cicero, Horace’s Art of Poetry, Juvenal, &c.
” and “A Comment upon the second book of
Pliny’s Natural History,
” printed at Venice De expetendis et
fugiendis rebus,
” Venice,
y. It was the production of his youth, and is entitled “Paulus.” Sassi, in his typographical history of Milan, has printed the prologue.
He wrote a history of the princes of Carrara, which is inserted in Muratori’s collection, vol. XVI. published at
Milan 173iQ, who did not know that it had appeared eight
years before in the “Thesaur. Antiq. Ital.
” vol. VI. part
III. published at Leyden. He wrote also alife of Petrarch,
which may be seen in Tomasijii’s “Petrarcha Redivivus;
”
an elogium on St. Jerorn; a treatise de “Republica Veneta,
” published at Rome in Deingenuis moribus,
” composed for the use of the prince of Carrara’s
children. This, which was so popular as to become a
school-book, aod as such Paul Jovius mentions its being
put into his hands when a youth, was first published, with
other treatises of the same kind, at Milan in 1474, 4to,
and reprinted in 1477. Brunet, however, mentions an
edition prior to either of these, which he supposes printed
about 1472, with the title “Ad Ubertinum Carariensem
de ingenuis moribus opus e Magno Basileo, et e Xenophonti de tirannide Leonardi Aretini traductio.
” Brunet
also mentions, that the editions of de
docendi studendique modo,
” &c. Vergerius translated
into Latin Arrian’s history of the expedition of Alexander
the Great, and it is said purposely avoided any particular
elegance of style, lest his royal reader should stand in need
of the assistance of an interpreter. If this be true it cannot be a matter of much regret that such a translation was
not printed. Vergerius is likewise said to have written
poetry, and even a Latin comedy, which is preserved in manuscript in the Ambrosian library. It was the production
of his youth, and is entitled “Paulus.
” Sassi, in his typographical history of Milan, has printed the prologue.
nt architect and writer on the subject, was the son of Clement Barozzio, of one of the best families of Milan, but who being ruined by the civil wars, retired to Vignola,
, an eminent architect and writer on the subject, was the son of Clement Barozzio, of one of the best families of Milan, but who being ruined by the civil wars, retired to Vignola, a small town in the marquisate of that name, situated in the territory of Bologna. It was there that his son, the subject of this article, was born, Oct. 1, 1507, and became afterwards generally known by the name of his native place. His father dying when he was almost in his infancy, and leaving him little provision, he wished to have recourse to painting; and having some knowledge of the first principles of the art, he went to Bologna to be farther instructed, but soon changed his mind, and determined to confine himself to architecture and perspective. He was no sooner known in this profession, than several persons applied to him for designs for buildings, and he executed some for the governor of Bologna, which were very much admired. On such occasions, in order to see the effect of what he laid down, he had models made in wood by Damien de Bergamo, a Dominican, who excelled in that species of ingenuity, and used to express, by means of coloured woods, every kind of material to be used in the building.
His reputation soon spread itself all over Italy, and Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan, invited him to his court, and prevailed with him to be
His reputation soon spread itself all over Italy, and Lewis Sforza, duke of Milan, invited him to his court, and prevailed with him to be a director of the academy for architecture he had just established, where Lionardo restored the simplicity and purity of the Greek and Roman models. About this time, the duke having formed a design of supplying the city of Milan with water by a new canal, the execution of the project was deputed to Lionardo. In order to accomplish this vast design, he spent much time in the study of philosophy and mathematics; applying with double ardour to those parts which might give him light into the work he had undertaken. To these he joined antiquity and history; and observed, as he went along, hoiy the Ptolemies had conducted the waters of the Nile through the several parts of Egypt; and how Trajan had opened a commerce with Nicomedia, by rendering navigable the lakes and rivers lying between that city and the sea. At length, he happily achieved what some thought next to impossible, by rendering hills and valleys navigable with security. The canal goes by the name of Mortesana, being above 200 miles in length; and passes through the Valteline and the valley of Chiavenna, conducting the waters of the river Adda to the very walls of Milan.
After Lionardo had been labouring some years for the service of Milan, in quality of architect and engineer, he was requested
After Lionardo had been labouring some years for the
service of Milan, in quality of architect and engineer, he
was requested by the duke to adorn it by his paintings;
and be painted, among other things, his celebrated “Last
Supper.
”. Francis I. was so charmed with this, that, finding it impracticable to have it removed into France, he
ordered a copy to be taken, which was placed at St. Germains; while the original, being painted in oil, and upon
a wall not sufficiently secured from moisture, has been
defaced long ago. The wars of Italy began how to interrupt
him; and his friend and patron duke Lewis being defeated
and carried prisoner to France, the academy was destroyed,
the professors dispersed, and the arts effectually banished
out of Milan. In 14^9, the year before duke Lewis’s defeat, Lionardo, be'ing at Milan, was desired, by the priucipals of the place, to contrive some new device for the
entertainment of Lewis XII. of France, who was just then
ready to make his entrance into that city. Lionardo consented; and accordingly made a very curious automaton
of the figure of a lion, whose inside was so well furnished
with machinery, that it marched out to meet the king;
made a stand when it came before him; reared up its hinder legs; and, opening his breast, presented a scutcheon,
with fleurs-de-lis quartered upon it.
s own; and by the king of Spain, who granted him a pension of three thousand livres, while the duchy of Milan bestowed on him a yearly grant often thousand ducats.
In the mean time, there was no intermission in his preferments. His influence was courted by the pope, who had
made him a cardinal, and, in 1516, his legate in England,
with powers not inferior to his own; and by the king of
Spain, who granted him a pension of three thousand livres,
while the duchy of Milan bestowed on him a yearly grant
often thousand ducats. On the resignation of archbishop
Warham, he was appointed lord high chancellor. “If this
new accumulation of dignity,
” says Hume, “increased his
enemies, it also served to exalt his personal character and
prove the extent of his capacity. A strict administration
of justice took place during his enjoyment of this high
office; and no chancellor ever discovered greater impartiality in his decisions, deeper penetration of judgment, or
more enlarged knowledge of law or equity.
”
In 1519 a Franciscan of Milan, being sent from Leo X. as general visitor of his order,
In 1519 a Franciscan of Milan, being sent from Leo X.
as general visitor of his order, came to publish indulgences
at Zurich, and preached according to the usual manner;
namely, “That the pope had granted an absolute pardon of
sins to those who. purchased such indulgences with money,
and that men might by this means deliver souls infallibly
from purgatory.
” Zuinglius declaimed powerfully not
only against the preacher, but even against the indulgences,
or at least the use that was made of them. Hugh, bishop
of Constance, supposing that he was displeased only with
th.e abuse of them, exhorted him to go on, aad promised
him his patronage; but Zuinglius went farther, and solicited the bishop, and the pope’s legate in Switzerland, to
favour the doctrine he was about to establish, and which
he called evangelical truth. The bishop and the legate refusing to hearken to his proposals, he told them, that he
would oppose the errors of the court of Rome, and propagate his own doctrines, in defiance of them; and thus continued to preach, from 1519 to 1523, not only against indulgences, but other articles of the catholic church.