Peter (Pierre), prior of St. John of Sens, was bom in the latter part of the 11th century. In 1111, Stephen, provost of the church of Sens, having resolved to restore the ancient monastery of Saint-Jean, called to it some regular canons, and confided the government of this house to our Peter. The authors of the Gallia Chris- tiana give the highest praise to the knowledge and pi- ety of this prior. He died after 1144. We have several of his Letters, published by Du Saussay in his Annates de VEglise ^Orleans, and by Severt, in his Chronigve des Archeveques de Lyon. Peter is, besides, considered the author of several letters of kings, princes, and bish- ops, who had required, in delicate affairs, the aid of his experienced pen. See Gallia Christ, xii, col. 195; Hist. Litt. de la France, xii, 230. — Hoefer. None. Biog. Cine- rale, xl, 188.
Peter the Sicilian, an Italian prelate, was born in Sicily near the beginning of the 9th century. In order to escape the persecution of the Saracens, who rtded in Sicily, he went to Byzantium in 830, and there spent a large part of his life. He gained the friendship of the emperor Basil, and the princes Constantine and Leo, his sons, who provided him with ecclesiastical benefices. He was sent by the emperor to Tabrica. in the district or on the frontier of Melitene, near the Euphrates, to negotiate an exchange of Christian prisoners, apparently with the chiefs of the Paulicians, a purpose which, after a residence of nine months, he effected. We have of his works, Petri Siculi, humillimi Argivorum Episcopi, Fu- nebris Oratio in B. Athunasinm, Methanes Episcopum. It is given in the Latin version of the Jesuit Franciscus Blanditius, in the Acta Sanctorum of the Bollandists (January), ii, 1125, etc.: — Petri Siculi Hist or ia di vana et stolida Manichasorum Hceresi tanquam Archiepiscopo Bulgarorum nuncupata. This account of the Paulicians was translated into Latin, and published by Matthaeus Raderus (Ingoldstadt, 1604, 4to), and has been reprinted ill various editions of the Bibliotheca Palrum.
There was another bishop of Argos of the name of Peter, author of Eulogium Cosmce et Damiana SS. Au- argyrorum in Asia s. Oratio in sanctos et gloriosos An- argyros et Thaumaturgos Cosmum et Damianum, which has never been printed. — Smith, Diet, of Gr. and Rom. Bioq. and Mythol. iii, 222; Hoefer, Nouv. Bit rale, xl, 183.
Peter the Singer (Pierre le Chanteui), a French
PETER
36
PETER-PENCE
theologian, was born in Beauvoisia near the beginning of the 12th century. The place of his birth is Btrongly controverted, and certain authors assert that he was born in Paris or Rheims. Ii is probable that, educated by the care of Henry of France, brother of the king Louis le Jeune, and bishop of Beaurais in II 19, he fol- lowed him to Rheims when he was raised to that seat in 1 Hii'. Peter went afterwards to Paris, where he taughl theology, and became grand chorister of the cathedral, a dignity which gained him the surname under which he was known (1184). Elected in 1191 bishop of Tour- nay, be saw his election broken for want of form, and was in 1196 called to the episcopal seal of Paris, bul without being more fortunate this time. He was sup- planted by Eudea de Sully. The pope charged him to preach the crusade in France; but Peter, weakened by disease, confided ibis care to Foulques, cure of Neuilly- sur-Marne, his disciple, and died in the garb of a monk at Longpont, Sept. 22, 1197, when he had jusl been elected dean of Rheims. Of bis numerous writings a single 'me has been published under the title of Vi rbum abbreviatum, because it commences with these words (Mons, 1039, 4 to). See Hist Litt. xv. 283-303; Mul- drac. Hist. dt /'. 1 56. de Longpont ; I tupin, .1 uU urs Eccles. ■ treizii me Steele. Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gen. xl, 192.
Peter nil'. Stammerer. See Peter Mongi s.
Peter (St.) of Tarentaise, a French prelate, was l> Tii in 1 102 at Saint-Maurier de I'Exile, diocese ol Vi- enne. He was one of the first monks of the abbey founded in 1117 at Bonnevaux by <lui de Bourgogne, archbishop of Vienne. The abbe .lean, his superior, sent him in 1 132 to found in Savoy the abbey of Tamie, which he governed lor ten years, at the end of which he was called, by the advice of St. Bernard, to the bish- opric of Tarentaise, now Moutiers (1 1 12). After having worked thirteen years to repress grave disorders in this diocese, Peter went in 1 155 to conceal himself in a mon- astery of bis order in Germany, where he hoped to live unknown; but he was soon discovered, and constrained to return to his Church. He employed himself fortu- nately in extinguishing lire war which bad arisen be- tween Humbert HI, count of Savoy, and Alphonse Tail- lefer, son of Alphonse Jourdain, count of Toulouse; and. although a vassal "t the emperor Frederick, lie sustained the part of pope Alexander II 1 without quarrelling with that prince. This pope brought him to Italy, where be acquired great influence, and employed him to nego- tiate peace between the young Henry, crowned king of England, and king Henry his father. Peter died May •"», 1171. at Belleveaux, diocese of Besancon. The Church b rs hi- memory May 8, Celestin III having canon- ized him in 1 191. See Fontenay, Hist. dt I'Eglist Gallic. vol. ix; Acta Sanctorum, May; Baillet, Vies des Saints, •s Mai; Lenain, Hist, de Citeaux, ii, 83. Hoefer, Nouv. Hi"!/. Gem rale, xl, 139.