PAUL, was born at Beziers in 1624, and after studying with success the Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and Italian languages, he applied himself to law at Castres, and subsequently to general literature at Paris. In 1652 he purchased the post of secretary to the king; and five years afterwards became first deputy to M. Fouquet. He suffered by the disgrace of that minister; and in 1661 was confined in the Bastille, whence he was not discharged till four years afterwards. During his confinement he applied himself to the study of religious controversy; and in 1670 he abjured the Protestant religion. Louis XIV. bestowed upon him an annual pension of two thousand crowns, besides bestowing on him numerous marks of royal favour. Having taken orders, he, in 1676, received the abbey of Gimeux, and some years afterwards the priory of St Orens in Auch. He died in 1693.

The best remembered work of this once popular writer is a diffuse Histoire de l'Academie Francaise, Paris, 1663. The best edition is Olivet's, Paris, 1724. He also wrote a courteuse Histoire de Louis XI. et Charles VII., 3 vols., 1749; a paragryph entitled Abrégé de la Vie d'Anne d'Autriche, 1665; a Histoire de la Conquete de la France Comte, in 1688, given in the seventh vol. of the Memoires de Father Desmaules; Lettres Historiques et Oeuvres Diverses, Paris, 3 vols., 1749; Recueil des Pieces Galantes, 5 vols., 1695; Réflexions sur les Différends de la Religion, 4 vols., 1687, in which the author attempts a reply to Jurien and Leibnitz on religious toleration; also an unfinished Traité de l'Eucharistie. Other issues of his works are Oeuvres Diverses de Pellisson, 3 vols., Paris, 1739; and Oeuvres Choisies de Pellisson, 2 vols., 1803. (See Bayle's Dict.; also De Feller's Dict. Historique.)