Cardoso, Jorge

Cardoso, Jorge, a celebrated Portuguese hagiographer, was born Dec. 31, 1606. He studied at first under the direction of Francisco de Macedo, and, having devoted himself to the ministerial life, he was ordained priest July 4, 1632. Some time after that he obtained a simple benefice, and was thus enabled to devote himself to literature. He travelled though the Peninsula in search of ecclesiastical traditions and local legends, which he embodied in his extensive work on the lives of Portuguese saints, entitled Agiologio, Lusitano dos Santos e Varioes Illustres em Virtude do Reino de Portuigal e Suas Consquistas (Lisboni, 1651-57). The court of Madrid, recogniziing the merit of his undertaking, made him a considerable present while he stayed in Spain; also a canonicate was offered to him, which he would not accept without the consent of the king of Portugal. Cardoso died Oct. 3, 1669. Among his other works there is a MS. entitled Santuarios de Portugal. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s. v,