Guillaume Pellissier

(PELLICIER)

Born at Melgueil in Languedoc, about 1490; died at the castle of Montferraud, 1568. He made a brilliant course in law and theology and travelled in France and Italy. In 1527 his uncle, Bishop of Maguelonne, appointed him canon and shortly afterwards his coadjutor. He became the next bishop in 1529. Francis I entrusted him with several important missions; in 1529 he accompanied Louise de Savoie to Cambrai and concluded peace with Charles V. In 1533 at Marseilles he arranged with Clement VII for the marriage of the Duc d'Orléans (Henri II) and Catherine de' Medici. He obtained permission for the translation of his episcopal see from Maguelonne to Montpellier from Paul III in 1536. Four years later he was sent as ambassador to Venice, and brought back a large number of Greek, Syriac, and Hebrew Manuscripts. An ardent Humanist, he was arrested on suspicion of heresy by order of the Parliament of Toulouse, and imprisoned in the castle of Beaucaire, though he easily freed himself from the charge and passed the remainder of his days combatting the Protestant heresy. He was obliged more than once to quit Montpellier, for Aigues-Mortes, and Maguelonne. In 1567 the Protestants destroyed his cathedral. His correspondence was published at Paris (1900); his commentaries on Tacitus are unpublished.