John the Monk

John The Monk (Johannes Monachus), or JOHN OF CRESSY, a French canonist, was born at Cressy, Ponthieu, in the 13th century. He was a Cistercian monk and was created cardinal. He died in 1313. He wrote commentaries on the decretals of Boniface VIII and Benedict IX, and was the first who wrote on the whole Sextus of Boniface VIII. The same work was afterwards done by Guido de Baisio, and still better by Johannes Andreae. The glossaries of Johannes Monachus were annotated and published by Phil. Probus, doctor of the school of Bourges. His MSS., under the title Glossoe in sextum decretalium, are preserved in the public library of Chartres. He is also considered by some as the author of the Defensorium Juris, but this is not proved. See Savigny, Catalogue de la Bibl. de Chartres, 4, 274. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gen. 26, 559. (J.N.P.)