Henri van Laun

“ AMMONIO, ANDREA (1477–1517) , Latin secretary to Henry VIII, was born at Lucca in Italy, and lived during his early years in Rome, where he acquired a great reputation as a classical student. He was sent to England as apostolic notary and collector for the pope, and became the friend of the eminent English scholars, John Colet and William Grocyn, and of Erasmus, then residing in this country. For some time he lodged with the celebrated Sir Thomas More, and suffered great misery, as he says in one of his letters to Erasmus (Erasm. Epist. 125) , where he expresses his regret at having left Rome. ”

“ The same year he accompanied the king during his campaign in France, and is said to have celebrated the Battle of the Spurs, the taking of Tournay and Terouenne, as well as the victory obtained in Scotland over James IV, in a Latin poem called Panegyricus, which seems never to have been printed, but was highly extolled by Erasmus. ”

“ BARRÉ, WILLIAM VINCENT (1760?–1829) , author, was born in Germany about the year 1760 of French protestant parents, who had left their native country on account of their religious opinions. He served first in the Russian navy, returned to France when the first revolution broke out, went as a volunteer in the army during the Italian campaign of 1796, and was raised to the rank of captain for the bravery he displayed on the field of battle. ”