(John Baptist), an eminent Italian writer, was born of mean parents at Florence, in the year 1498. He was bred a taylor; but had such an extraordinary genius, that he acquired several languages, and made an uncommon progress in the belles lettres; and though he continued always to work at his trade, became acquainted with all the wits and learned men at Florence, and his merit was universally known. He was chosen a member of the academy there, and the city made him a burgess. He acquired the highest reputation by his works, which are, 1. I. Capricci del Bottario, quarto; which contains ten dialogues. 2. La Circe, octavo. This, which also contains ten dialogues, and treats of human nature, has been translated into Latin, French, and English. 3. Dissertations in Italian on the poems of Dante and Petrarch. 4. The comedies of La Sparta and La Errone; and other works. He died in 1563.