The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Urbanus Rhegius
The Life of Urbanus Regius, who dyed Anno Christi 1541.
VRbanus Regius was born in Argalonga, His birth.in the Territories of Count Montfort, of honest Parents, who bred him up in Learning, and when his childhood was over, they sent him to Lindau, His education.where was a School famous both for the Masters and store of Scholars; here he profited much in Grammer Learning, so that from thence he was sent to Friburg, where he was a diligent Auditor of sundry men excelling in all kinde of Learning.
Then was he entertained in the house of Zasius, an Excellent Lawyer, who loved him dearly for his diligence and industry; Zasius also allowed him the use of his Library: in which Regius did (as it were) hide himself,His studiousness. diligently reading over all such Authors as were fit for his studies: and therein especially observed such Notes as Zasius in his younger days had written in the Margins of them: which Notes Regius in the night time used to write out: so that when Zasius arose sometimes in the night, because he could not sleep, he still found Regius writing out those Annotations, whereupon he used softly to pull him by the Ear, saying, Thou wilt get all my Art and Learning from me. And when at any time he had found him asleep with his head leaning on the table, he used to lay one or two great Law-books upon his shoulders, and so leave him till he waked. Zasius loved him as his son, both for the sweetness of his nature and carriage, as also for his diligence and industrie in his studies.
When thus at Friburg he had informed his judgement, and stored his minde with Learning, he went to Basil▪ His remove to Basil.that by hearing the Professors of the Arts and Tongues, he might enrich himself with more Polite Learning.
At this time of all the Universities of Germany▪ Ingolstade was the most famous, which was governed by John Eccius, a most learned man in Philosophy: whose fame coming to the Ears of Regius, And th…n to Ingolstade.he left Basil, and went to Ingolst ade. In that place where there was a great confluence of Students, besides the publick Lectures, there were many which read privately: amongst whom Regius also set to reading private Lectures, having many that resorted to hear him: At last divers Noblemen sent their sons to him to be educated, desiring him to furnish their children with books, and all other necessaries, for which they would take care to pay him again quarterly: but when he had run into debt for them,He is ill dealtxs with. they neglected to return their money, which caused him to think of departing, being tired out with the importunity of his Creditors; and having an opportunity,He turns souldier. he listed himself a Souldier under a Captain that went against the Turks, leaving his books and other furniture to be divided amongst the Creditors.
Being now amongst the Souldiers, it happened that John Eccius (who was Governor of the University) coming forth to see the Souldiers, espyed Regius amongst them, and enquiring the cause of his so sudden a change, he told him how those Noble men had served him;He is freed by …cius. whereupon Eccius got him released from his Captain, and by his Authority procured the Debts to be paid by the Parents of those Youths which had been with him; whereupon he returned to his studies again; and growing famous for his wit and learning, Maximilian the Emperour passing through Ingolstade, made him his Laureat-Poet and Orator.
After the departure of Maximilian, he grew so grateful to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria, and Leonard Eccius, a Noble man, that he was made one of the Professors in the University of Ingolstade. He is made a Professor in Ingolstade.And Anno Christi 1516, by the order of his Prince, he dealt effectually with Erasmus Roterodamus to draw him to Ingolstade: And though he could not prevail, yet he had this Testimony given him by Erasmus, Erasmus testimony of him.that he was vir candidus, prudens, facundus, eruditus; in summa omnibus omnium Gratiarum ac Musarum dotibus praeditus. A candid, wise, eloquent and learned man, &c. Then Regius falling to the study of Divinity, preferred that before all other Learning: applying himself wholly to the searching out of the Divine Mysteries therein contained; and a while after the controversie growing hot between Luther and Eccius, Regius favouring Luthers Doctrine, because he would not offend Eccius to whom he was many ways bound,He goes to Auspurg. left Ingolstade, and went to Auspurg, and there at the importunity of the Magistrates and Citizens, he undertook the Government of the Church, and being offended at the gross Idolatry of the Papists, he joyned with Luther, and preached against the same:He joins with Zuinglius. and having written to Zuinglius to know his judgement about the Sacrament and Original Sin, he received such satisfaction, that he joined in opinion with him about the same.
At that time the Anabaptists crept into Auspurg, Anabaptists disturb the peace of the Churchand held private Conventicles to the disturbance of the Publick Peace,He disputes with a she-Anabaptist. for which the Magistrates imprisoned the chiefest of them. Amongst which there was a woman of good quality cast into Prison: who boasted that she could defend her opinion against Regius, if she might but have liberty to confer with him: hereupon she was called before the Senate, where Regius also was appointed to meet with her: There she produced divers Texts of Scripture to confirm her Errors: But Regius did so clearly and fully open the genuine sense of them, that every one which was not wilfully blinde might easily discern the truth: But this wilful woman was so far from submitting to it, that she impudently spake thus unto Regius, Egregia enimvero, Vrbane frater, haec disputandi ratio inter me, & te. Tu …n molli culcitra ad later▪ Consulum adsidens, quasi ex Apollinis …ipode proloqueris: ego misera humi prostrata, …ex duris vinculis causam dic…re cogor. …o this Vrbanus answered, Nec vero in…urin, so…or: ut quae se…el è servitute Diaboli per Christum in libertatem adserta, tua sp…te iterum cervicem turpi jugo submisisti; & isti… te ornamentis …esanus ostentat genius ali… i… exemplum. The Senate perceiving that they labored in vain whilst they sought to reclaim them, by a Decree banished them the City.
Regius Preaching against Purgatory and Indulgences,He is driven away by Papists. the malice and cruelty of the Papists prevailed at length to the driving him out of that City: but after a while, by the earnest prayer of the Citizens,His return. he was called back again to his former Charge,His marriage. where also he marryed a wife▪ by whom he had thirteen children.
About the same time Eccius came thither, and sought by all means to turn him from the Truth; but in vain: He sent also F… ber and Cochlaeus with flatteries and large promises,His constancy. who prevailed as little as the other.
Anno Christi 1530. when the D…et was held at Auspurg, for quieting the controversies about Religion, the Duke of Brunswick coming thither, by importunity prevailed with Regius to go to Luneburg in his Country, to take care of the Church there: In which journey at Coburg he met with Luther, and spent a whole day in familiar conference with him, about matters▪ of great moment, of which himself writes, That he never had a more comfortable day in his life.His comfortable conference with Luther. As these words of his in a Letter to one of his friends in Auspurg do testifie, wherein he writes thus, Cum Saxoniam peterem, Coburgi integrum diem solus cum Luthero, viro Dei, transegeram, quo die nullus mihi in vita fuit jucundior. Talis enim & tantus est Theologus Lutherus, ut nulla secula habuerint similem. Semper mihi magnus fuit Lutherus, at jam mihi Maximus est. Vidi enim praesens, & audivi, quae nullo calamo tradi possunt absentibus.
Ernestus Duke of Brunswick loved him dearly, and esteemed him as his Father, insomuch as when the City of Auspurg, Anno Christi 1535. sent to the Duke, desiring him to return Regius to them again, he answered, That be would as soon part with his Eyes as with him: The Dukes love unfeigned to him.Also at his return from Auspurg, when divers of his Nobles asked him what new and pretious ware, after the example of other Princes, he had brought home with him? He answered that he had brought home incomparable treasure for the good of his whole Dukedom, which he preferred before all his delights: And presently after he made him Bishop and Over-seer of all the Churches in his Country,He is made superintendent. with an ample salary for the same.
Afterwards going with his Prince to a meeting at Haganaw, he had a humor fell into his right Leg, which arising in a Pustle, brake,His sickness. and caused an issue, which the Physitians advised to keep still open: but not long after he stopped the same, whereupon many presaged his death, whereof indeed this was a cause: For when on the Sabbath day, he had been at Church, and received the Sacrament, in the Evening rubbing his Forehead, he complained of some obstructions and pain in his Head: yet was he still cheerful and not troubled at it: and so went to bed with his wife, and slept till almost day, when rising out of his bed, he fell along in the floor, and with the fall awaked his wife, who leaping our of her bed, cryed out, and endeavoured to lift him into his bed again; but all in vain till help came to her: A while after seeing his wife and friends heavy and mourning, he com…orted them, and commended himself wholly unto God, and so about two or three hours after, quietly and comfortably resigned up his soul into the hands of his heavenly Father,His death. Anno Christi 1541. and May the 23.
He often desired God that he might dye a sudden and easie death,He desired a sudden death. wherein God answered his desires. He was of an excellent wit, holy of life, and painful in the work of the Lord.
His son Ernest collected all his works together,His works. and digested them into several Tomes, printed them at Norinberg. Afterwards came forth another Book, called Loci Theologici ex Patribus, & Scholasticis, Neotericis que collecti per V. Regium.