Mouskes, Philippe

Mouskes, Philippe (called also Philippe Mus and Philippe Mussche), a Belgian prelate and historian, was born about 1215 at Ghent, in East Flanders, and, after having taken holy orders, successively became canon (1242) and chancellor of the cathedral of Tournay, and in 1274 bishop of that city. He died at Tournay, December 24, 1281 or 1283. Mouskes is the author of a rhyned chronicle, containing in 31,286 French verses the whole history of France, from the elopement of the fabulous Greek Helen with the Trojan prince Paris (the then usual beginning of such a narrative) up to the year A.D. 1242. There is only one MS. of this poem known, and it is at present preserved in the National Library at Paris, marked as No. 9634, small folio, written on parchment in two columns. It was published at Brussels (1836- 38, 2 volumes, 4to) under the auspices of the baron De Reiffenberg, who enriched the work with an introduction, a commentary, and appendices, all of which show much research and scholarship. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.