Pins, Jean De

Pins, Jean de a French prelate noted for his diplomatic career, was born at Toulouse towards 1470. He was the third son of Gaillard de Pins, and studied under the guidance of his eldest brother at Toulouse, Poitiers, Paris, and in Italy, where he became proficient in Greek and Latin letters through the lessons of Philippo Bersaldo the elder. In 1497 he embraced the clerical profession; returned to Italy, where he spent five years, and was in 1511 appointed clerk-counselor at the parliament of his native city. Antoine Duprat, with whom he was closely acquainted, took him to Italy, and had him appointed counselor at the parliament founded by Francis I at Milan. He there managed some very intricate matters with so much prudence and dexterity that the king sent him on an embassy to Venice in 1516, and to Rome in 1520. On both occasions he showed extraordinary aptitude for political negotiations, and displayed great zeal for the interests of religion and the glory of his country. A pontifical brief of Dec. 27, 1520; shows that Jean de Pins was made bishop of Pamiers. But he never governed that bishopric, and was in 1523 appointed bishop of Rieux. In-1527 he founded and endowed the chapter of Saint Ybars. The most learned men of his time spoke in praise of his erudition; and cardinal Sadolet submitted to him his own works before giving them to the printer. In 1673 his bust was placed in the Salle des Toulousains Illustres, at the capitol of Toulouse. Jean de Pins wrote in most elegant Latin, and deserved the following eulogy at the hands of Erasmus, who was such a competent judge in the matter: "Potest inter Tullianae dictionis competitores numerari Johannes Pinus." We have of him, Vita Philippi Bersaldi majoris (Bologne, 1505, 4to): — Vita Sanctae Catharinae Senzeinsis (ibid. 1505, 4to): — Divi Rochi Narbonensis Vita (Ven. and Par. 1516, 8vo): — Allobrogicae narrationis libellus (ibid. 1516, 4to); this is a kind of novel composed for the instruction of the children of the chancellor Antoine Duprat: — De vita aulica (Toulouse, 4to); this work is held in great esteem: — De claris faeminis (Par. 1521, fol.); remarkable for the elegance of the composition. Pins died at Toulouse Nov. 1, 1537. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, 40, 277.