AMML R AT 0 scmetu, surnamed the Elder, a cele brated historian, was born at Lecca, in the of Naples, on the 27th September 1531, of a noble family. At the age of l6, he was sent to Naples to study law, for the profession of which his father had destined him ; hut Ammirato, instead of fulfilling these intentions, de voted all his time to poetry and the belles lett•es, and spent the greater part or his money in regaling those juvenile friends who discovered a taste congenial to his own. Being compelled by bad health to return home, he soon betrayed to his father how much his legal studies had been disregarded, and was sent back to Naples, with the severest threats, unless his future ap plication should atone for his past negligence. Ile be came, however, more and more enamoured of his fa vourite pursuits, in which he attained such distinguished eminence, as to gain many admirers, and not a few ene mies. The latter having industriously circulated, though it would appear falsely, a report of his being the au thor of a poem, in which some considerable noblemen were severely satirized, Ammirato judged it prudent to conceal himself from their revenge, which, in these rude times, would probably have been fatal. Ilis father re fused him all supplies, and he was finally compelled to take orders as an ecclesiastic, chiefly through the advice of Alartelli, bishop of Lecca, who also procured for him a canonry in that diocese. After being engaged in various employments, lie contracted an intimacy with Alexander Contarini, who received him into his house at Venice, where nothing seemed wanting to his hap piness; but the jealousy of the husband, and the impru dent civility of his wife to Ammirato, for it does not appear that she had been really criminal, forced him from this asylum.
He entered soon after into the service of Pope Pius IV. who appeared strongly disposed to befriend him ; but, in a short time, Ammirato quarrelled with Catharine, the younger sister of that pontiff, and was under the necessity of returning to his father, who received him with the bitterest reproaches. He now attempted to reconcile himself to an ecclesiastical life, and entered upon the zealous discharge of the duties of his canonry.
His tranquillity lasted tour years ; during which he founded the academy of Transf((rmati, among whom he was distinguished by the name of Proteus ; a name, perhaps, was accurau ly descriptive of his real character. lie appears, at last, to have tired of thi, v, ay of life ; as ne find hint afterwards studying the Lew at Naples with great assiduity ; hut it be tc:hous to follow him through all the changes of his lortuLe. ills irritable and discontented mind never permitted hint to remain long in any situation, however advantageous. In 1570, lie was invited to Florence, the grand asylum of learned men in that period. Ile was employ eo by Cosmo I. to write the Florentine history ; had apart ments assigned him in the palace ; in 1595 he was made a canon in the cathedral of Florence, and experienced many other proofs of the liberality of that illuu( ions prince. We find him, however, in his letters, indulg ing in the bitterest complaints of poverty and neglect. That these complaints were in a great measure without foundation, may be reasonably presumed, front his con tinuing at Florence for the remaining 30 years or his life, in spite of many pressing solicitations to return to his native country. He died in 1601, after making a will, in which he appointed Christopher del Bianco, the assistant of his studies, his heir, on condition of his assuming the name of Scipio Ammirato the Younger ; and under this name he is known as the author of some considerable works.
The principal works of Ammirato the elder, arc, 1. .irgaments in Verse to the Cantos of Orlando Furioso ; 2. Discourses on Tacitus ; 3. Orations to several Princes respecting flu ir fin parations against Turkey ; 4. Genea logical and Historical .1ccounts of many of the principal Farrah, s rf ,l'ap/c.T and R/orence ; 5. Florentine History ; the first part of which, consisting or twenty hooks, was published in 1600; the second part, consisting of fifteen books, was published by the younger Ammirato, in 1641. It contains the history of Florence, from its foun dation to the year 1574, and is yaltrable for its accuracy and learning, as well as admired for its elegance ; 6. Several poetical works, which are now neglected. (0)