AMMON (Andreas), an excellent Latin poet, born at Lucca in Italy, was sent by Pope Leo X. to England, in the character of prothonotary of the Apostolic See, and collector-general of this kingdom. Being a man of singular genius and learning, he soon became acquainted with the principal literati of those times; particularly with Erasmus, Colet, Grocin, and others, for the sake of whose company he resided some time at Oxford. Ammon was Latin secretary to Henry VIII. but at what time he was appointed does not appear. In 1512, he was made canon and prebendary of the collegiate chapel of St Stephen, in the palace of Westminster. He was likewise prebendary of Wells; and in 1514, was presented to the rectory of Dychial in that diocese. About the same time, by the king's special recommendation, he was also made prebendary of Salisbury. He died in the year 1517, and was buried in St Stephen's chapel in the palace of Westminster. He was esteemed an elegant Latin writer, and an admirable poet. The epistles of Erasmus to Ammon abound with encomiums on his genius and learning.—His works are, 1. Epistole ad Erasmus, lib. i.
2. Scotici consuetus historia, lib. i. 3. Bucolica vel eclogæ, lib. i. Basil 1546, 8vo. 4. De rebus nihil, lib. i. 5. Panegyricus quidam, lib. i. 6. Varii generis epigrammata, lib. i. 7. Poemata diversa, lib. i.