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_ MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
ALBERTINUS MUSSATUS, 
_N historian » and poet of Padua, 
“flourished at the close of. the 42th, 
andthe coinmencement of the 18th, cen- 
He deserves to be better known 
as one of the earliest who attempted the 
restoration. of classic literature in Ttaly. 
The following particulars of his hfe are 
* deduced from his own writings, at once 
“the best and most satisfactory source. 
Mussato was-born at Padua, in the year 
426%. » Unfavoured by birth or fortune, 
he was early inured to hardships and 
difficultics. The indigence of his parents 
scarcely afforded.him the frst rudiments 
of education; and his father dying while 
he was yet a youth, he had to discharge. 
the paternal office to his brothers and a, 
gister, all younger than himself. Murae. 
tori, in his preface to the Historical Books 
of Mussato; among thé “ Rerum Itali- 
earum Scrigtores,” has given a concise 
sketch of the life.of Mussato, written by. 
Xicco Polentonus, 2 Paduan, who lived: 
not long after him, and who, as he hime, 
self informs us, inhabited the same lrvuse, 
near the Pons Molinus, that Mussato had 
formerly occupied, Polentonus says, that. 
at the age of twenty-one he lost his father ; 
and that he had to support his mother,. 
seven sisters, and two brothers: but 
Mussato himself seems not to confum 
this. In his first elegy he tells us: 
Bina mihi fratrum series adjuncta sorori, 
Ettamen illorum de'grege major eram 5 
His pater, ut major, patris post fata relinquor ; 
Quam fueram pubes, sic pater ante ful. 
In order to procure subsistence for him- 
gelf and the charge thus devolved upon. 
him, he embracec the laborious occupa- 
tions of schoolmaster and scribe. While 
motives thus imperious confined his exer- 
tions within this humble sphere, 2t is. 
not improbable that bis acquaintance 
with classic authors was promoted by his 
transcribing, for hive, various of their 
works. .» Notwithstanding his circum- 
stances, he informs us that he felt a strong 
attachment*to the pursuits of science, 
and especially to the study of medicine 
aud philosophys but when arrived nearly 
at the age of thirty-five, we find him be- 
ginaimg to practise as an advocate in the 
courts of Padua. The popularity he had 
already acquired as a poet anda gram- 
marian, contributed to promote his suc- 
eess in this new profession. The had al- 
ready been distinguished by the appel- 
intion of the Poet. He now appiied 
& 
himself to acquire a perfect knowledge 
of the laws, and became conversant in 
the business of the state. Asan advo- 
cate he acquired both reputation and 
wealth: his merit became conspicuous, 
and he rose rapidly to the highest honours 
of the state. He was advanced to the 
uestrian rank, and a seat in the senate, 
The government of Padua was at that 
time a popular one, and .he was the fa- 
vourite of the people, who were pleased, 
with him both on account of his plebeian: 
origin, and because he took part with: 
them, on all occasions, public and pr 
vate, against the nobility. 
He was sent at different times on the 
raost honourable public missions, both to 
Rome and other states of Italy. Upon 
one of these occasions he obtained from 
the haughty Boniface VIII.* the abbey 
* Mussatus (De Gest. Ital. lib. 4. Rubs 
8d.) calls this Pontiff ‘* Viram nostri tem- 
poris mundo formidabilem.” If his power 
had equalled his ambition, hemight well have, 
been styled formidable. The following cue. 
rious correspondence is given by one of Muse 
sato’s commentators, (borrowed from the 
‘““ Deereta Ecclesiz Gallicane,’) between 
this proud pope and Philip king of France. 
Boniface, servant of the servants of Ged, $a: 
_ Philip, King of the French. 
Fear God, and keep his commandments. 
We will that thou know thyself to be both: 
in- spiritual and temporal matters our vassal. 
The collation to benefices and prebends doth 
in no wise pertain unto thee ; and if thou hast’ 
the keeping of any such that may be vacant, 
thou wilt reserve the profits thereof for the 
successors therein ; and if thou hast collated 
to any such, we decree such collations to be. 
void, and they are hereby wholly annulled... 
Those who hold any other opinion on this 
head, we denounce as heretics. —-Giwen at the 
Lateran, Dec. 4, in the siosth year of cur pon= 
Fippeatee ; 
, SHE ANSWER OF PHILIP. 
Philip, by the grace of God, King of the Frenchs 
to Bonife ‘ace, holding himself forth as the sove= 
reign Pontiff—Health little or none. 
Know thy exalted fatuity, that in tempos 
ral matters we own subjection te mone; that 
the collation to benefices and prebends is of 
our royal prerogative, and that their profits, 
wacatione durante, are our’s ; that the collations 
hitherto made, or hereafter to be made, by US,” 
are declared valid, and shall be by us main- 
tained against all gainsayers, Purthermore, 
those who hold any other opinionen this 
head, w 7 ee denounce as fools and lunatics. — ' 
Gi EF ; 
of 
