(Aonius), was a man of the greatest probity, and one of the best writers of the 16th century. He gained the esteem of the men of wit and learning of his time by a noble poem on the immortality of the soul. He was appointed professor of polite literature at Sienna; where his tranquillity was disturbed by contests with an envious colleague, and by the malicious aspersions of his enemies; against which, however, his eloquence proved always a sufficient defense. At last he left Sienna, and accepted the invitation of the magistrates of Lucca, who gave him several marks of their esteem, and settled a considerable stipend upon him. Some years after, he removed to Milan; where he was seized by order of pope Pius V. and carried to Rome. He was convicted of having spoken in favour of the Lutherans, and against the inquisition; and therefore was condemned to be burnt. This sentence was executed in 1566. He wrote several pieces in verse and prose; of which the one above-mentioned is the most esteemed.