MASSON, PAPIRIUS, a French writer, was the son of a rich merchant, and born in the territory of Forez, May 1544. After studying the belles lettres and philosophy, and travelling to different places, he came to Paris, where he was made librarian to the chancellor of the duke of Anjou, in which place he continued ten years. In 1576, he was made an advocate of parliament; yet never pleaded but one cause, which, however, he gained with universal applause.— When the troubles of France were at an end, he married the sister of a counsellor in parliament, with whom he lived thirty-four years, but had no issue by her.— The infirmities of age attacked him some time before his death, which happened Jan. 9. 1611. He wrote four books of French annals in Latin, first printed at Paris 1577, and afterwards in 1598, 4to. The second edition, more enlarged than the first, deduces things from Pharamond to Henry II. Masson considered this as his principal performance; yet he is now chiefly known by his Elogia virorum clarissimorum, although he published several other works.