Celebrated French poet, born near Vendôme; was for a time attached to the Court; was for three years of the household of James V. of Scotland in connection with it, and afterwards in the service of the Duke of Orleans, but having lost his hearing gave himself up to literature, writing odes and sonnets; he was of the Pléiade school of poets (q. v .), and contributed to introduce important changes in the idiom of the French language, as well as in the rhythm of French poetry (1521-1585).