The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Petrus Ramus – Matthew Parker
P. RAMVS
The Life of Peter Ramus, who died Ano Christi 1572.
PEter Ramus was born in France Anno Christi 1515. His Grandfather was a Nobleman,His Parentage. who (having his estate plundered by Charls Duke of Burgundy, Generall under the Emperor Charls the fifth) was forced to leave his Country, and to betake himselfe to the poor and painfull life of an husbandman: And his father being left very poor by him,His pain. was fain to live by making of Charcoal.
Ramus being from his childhood of an excellent wit, of an industrious nature, and much addicted to learning,His poverty. was compelled for his subsistence to live as a servant with one of his Unkles; but finding (that by reason of his many imployments) he had no time to follow his book there, he thought it better to betake himselfe to the service of some learned man. So going to Paris, He goes to Paris.and being admitted into the Colledg of Navar, His industry.he laboured hard all day for his Masters, and spent a great part of the night in study, so that in a short time he was made Master of Arts, and Laureat Poet. And the Professors in that Colledge every one taking much delight in his diligence, each strove to forward him in Learning, and lent him such books as he needed. Then he betook himselfe to instructing others, and to exercise himselfe in private Lectures, till thereby he had fitted himselfe for more publick imployments;His diligence. Which when he had done, he was appointed publickly to read Logick, and when he was twenty one years old,His imployments. he published his Logick, with some Animadversions upon Aristotle. This procured him much love, every one admiring such ripe parts in so young a man; and envy being the usuall Concomitant of vertue, he had also many that envied,He is envied. and aspersed him; especially the S…rbone Doctors, who accused him of Heresie in Philosophie; for that he being but a Novice, durst take upon him to correct Aristotle, the Prince of Philosophers; and by their authority they so far prevailed,He is forbidden Philosophy. that Ramus was forbidden to read, or write any more of Philosophy. This being very grievous to him, it pleased God to stir up the heart of the Governour of another Colledge to send for him to assist him in restoring of that Colledge, which was now empty; the Students being all fled by reason of the infection of the Plague:He is called to another Colledge. And it came to pass that in a short time (Ramus being so famous a man) the Colledge was better stored with students then ever it had been before.
The S…rbonists much raged at this, and laboured to sow division between the Governour of the Colledge and him; Yet Ramus carried himself with so much candor and ingenuity that they lived together with much concord. At last that Governour dying, Ramus succeeded him, & by the Cardinall of Lorrains means (who was a great favourer of learning) he was made the Regius Professor of Rhetorick and Philosophy Anno Christi 1551,He is preferred in the University. and of his age 36.
His fame spreading into all the Universities of Christendome,He is sought for by other Princes. there were may Princes that strove to get him out of France, profering him large stipends if hee would come to them; but he being now famous in France, preferred his own Country before all others; and therefore rejected all their offers.Is …ade Dean of the University. In Paris he had so great esteem, that (though his enemies strongly opposed it) yet he was made Dean of the whole University: And so having obtained a more quiet kind of life, hee betooke himselfe to the studie of the Mathematicks, wherein he grew very exquisite. But when the Civill Warrs brake forth in France for Religion, and that none could safely enjoy themselves, or any thing that they had, whilst under pretence of Religion, every one revenged his own private quarrels upon others, Ramus, to free himself from this tempest, left Paris, Flight in persecution.and went to Fountanblew, where the Kings Library was, yet neither there could he be in safety; so that at last hee was compelled to betake himselfe to the Camp of the Prince of Conde: He goes to the camp of Conde▪But when he saw that France was no fit place for him for the present to reside in, hee resolved to travell into Germany, till God should restore peace to his Country again: And accordingly he went to Strasborough, Basil, He travels into Germany.Lausanna, Zurick, Heidleberg, Norenberg, and Augsburg, and was entertained in all these Universities with great applause, and with much joy by all Learned men.
When the Civill War was ended in France, he returned to Paris again.His returne to Paris. Where he remained in his former imployment, as the Kings Professor in Logick, till that horrible Massacre happened on St. Bartholmews day,Popish cruelty▪ wherein so many thousands perished by the cruel hands of bloody Papists. At which time he was in the Colledge of Priests, and the Colledge gates being fast shut, he locked himselfe up in his owne house till those furious Papists brake open his doores, and finding him,He is murthered. ranne him thorow, and being half dead, threw him out of his window,And basely abused. so that his bowels issued out on the stones; and not being satisfied therewith, they cut off his head, dragged his body about the streets in the channels, and some young Scholars were set on by their Popish Tutors to whip it in a most contemptuous manner, and at last it was thrown into the River of Sein, Anno Christi 1572, and of his Age 57. After which also they seized upon his Goods, Library, and Writings▪ whereby many excellent Commentaries, and other Works (not fully compleat) perished, to the great loss of Learned men.
He wrote a Grammer,His Works. Rhetorick, Logick, of Mathematicks, and divers other excellent Works.
The Life of Matthew Parker, who died Anno Christi 1574.
MAtthew Parker was born in the City of Norwich, Anno Christi 1502,His birth and education. and having spent some years at School, went to Cambridge, where he was admitted into Corpns Christi [Bennet] Colledge, in which place he profited so much, that he was chosen Fellow, and grew so famous, that Queen An… Bullen (Mother to Queen Elizabeth) made him her Chaplain,He is made Chaplain to the Queen. whereupon he Commenced Doctor in Divinity: And after her death King Henry the eighth,And to two Kings. and after his death, King Edward the sixth, made him their Chaplains,And Master of Bennet Colledge. and preferred him to be Master of Bennet Colledge: Besides other Ecclesiasticall dignities which they advanced him to: But in Queen Maries daies he was dispoyled of all,…is sufferings in Queen Maries time. and was compelled to live a poor and private life.He is made Archbishop of Canterbury. But so soon as Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown, shee made choice of this Dr. Parker, for his admirable learning and piety, to be the Archbishop of Canterbury, Anno Christi 1559. For Decemb. 17, the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Canterbury having received their Congedelier from the Queen, and proceeding in their election according to the ancient and laudible custome of the aforesaid Church, chose Dr. Parker for their Archbishop, whereof they made a returne to the Queens Majesty for her confirmation; whereupon the Queen sent her Letters Patents to seven Bishops (six whereof were lately returned from their voluntary exile) for his consecration The Bishops were Anthony Bishop of Landaffe, The Bishops that consecrate… him.William Barlow Bishop of Bath and Wells, John Scory Bishop of H…reford, Miles Coverdale late Bishop of Exet…r, John Suffragan of Bedford, John Suffragan of Thetford, and John Bale Bishop of Os…ry in Ireland, and accordingly he was consecrated by them, and lived in that place with great commendation for above fifteene years.His Charity. His works of Charity were very eminent. He gave to the Corporation of Norwich, where he was born, a Bason and Ewr double gilt weighing 173 ounces; as also fifty shillings a yeare for ever to be distributed amongst the poore of that City: And six anniversarie Sermons in several places of Norfolk: To Bennet Colledge he gave thirty Scholarships, built them a Library, and bestowed many excellent bookes, and ancient Manuscripts upon it, besides 300 ounces of silver and gilt-plate; and the perpetual Patronage of St. Mary-Abchurch, London. Hee carefully collected, and caused to be printed divers ancient Histories of England, which probably had otherwise been lost.His … ▪ He died in peace Anno Christi 1574, and of his Age 72.