The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Andreas Gerardus Hyperius
The Life of Hyperius, who died Ano Christi 1564.
ANdreas Gerardus Hyperius was born at Ipres in Flanders An Christi 1511.His Birth and Education. His Father was a Counsellor famous in that City. His Mother was Katherine Coets, of a noble Family. These set their son to School be-ti…es, and being reasonable well grounded in Grammer, at eleven years old they placed him with James Pap, a good Poet, to be trained up by him. When he was thirteen years old he …rave…d through the Islands of Flanders. Then was under the t…ition of John Lacteus, where he learned the French Tongue. His Fathers desire was that he should not only be brought up in learning, but also in good manners and vertue. But whereas, by reason of the Wars between Charls the fifth, and the King of France, he could not send him to Paris, he kept him at home to write amongst his Clerks.
An. Chri. 1525,His Fathers death. his Father fell sick, and dyed, charging his wife, that as soon as ever the Wars were ended, she should send his sonne Andre… to be brought up in learning at Paris; And Anno Christi 1528, peace being made between the Emperour and King, Hyperius was accordingly sent to Paris, and commended to the tuition of Anthony Helhuctus (who was a Senator of the Parliament at this time) and of John de Campis, He goes to Paris.a Licentiat in Divinity. The former was to supply him with necessaries▪ and the latter to forward him in his studies. Hyperius sojourned long in the house of de Camp…, and heard also the Logick Lecture in the Colledge of Calviac. In that Colledge one of the Lecturers was Joachim Ringleberg, a very learned man, with whom Hyperius had contracted a very strict bond of friendship: And by his help, besides Logick, he learned Rhetorick and Physick. At the end of three years he returned into his own country to visit his friends,He returns into his country. and to see whether any of his Patrimony remained; and finding that there was yet enough to maintain him, Anno Christi 1532.And back to Paris. he returned to Paris, purposing now to betake himself to the study of Divinity: and accordingly he frequented the Divinity-Schooles: Sometimes also he heard the Physick Lectures, which naturally he was much affected with. He frequented likewise the Lectures of the Professors of the Tongues, as Cleonard, Sturmius, and Latomus. Then he had an earnest desire to travell thorough France His travels through France.both to learn the language more perfectly, and the better to acquaint himself with their manners. Whereupon every year in January, February, and March, when the Lectures ceased, taking some of his fellow Students along with him, he went into sundry Provinces, and visited the most famous Universities: So that at the times forementioned, in three yeares space he had travelled through the greatest part of France, and Italy.
Anno Christi 1535 he returned into his own country,His return into his Country. and presently went to Lovane, where having remained a while, he travelled through the Low-countries, as Gelderland, Friesland, Holland, Zealand, &c. And Anno 1537, and of his age 26, he travelled into upper Germany to visit the Universities, and acquaint himself with the famous men therein.He travels into Germany. For which end he went to Colen, Marpurg, Erford, Lipsich, and Wittenberg, and so returning into his country he was earnestly importuned by his friends to take some cure upon him,And his return. that having now spent his patrimony, hee might live the more quietly amongst his friends; and unknown to him, they had procured from the Pope a patent, whereby he was enabled to receive large revenues out of certaine Monasteries: only they wanted a confirmation from the Emperors Chancellor, the Archbishop of Palermo: But it fell out by Gods Providence,Gods providence. that the Archb. denied his consent, being informed by Hyperius his competitors, that Hyperius had been in upper Germany, which then was accounted a great crime. Hereupon Hyperius, not willing to be a burden to his friends, by the advice of some learned and godly men, resolved again to travell; first intending for Italy; but being hindred by reason of the wars,He goes into England. he sailed into England, where hee might easily hear from his friends if any preferment fell in his own country. In England his care was to acquaint himself with such men as were most famous for learning. Upon which occasion he fell into the company of Charles Montjoy, Son to William Lord Montjoy, whom Erasmus had made famous by his writings.His imployment there. He used Hyperius very courteously, and conferred with him about many things, and finding his excellent wit, he invited him to his house, proffering him a large stipend. This offer he embraced, and lived most sweetly with him four years, imploying himself in his studies all that while.
Anno Christi 1540, at the charges of Montjoy, he visited the University of Cambridge, about which time the Lord Cromwell was beheaded, and also Doctor Barnes was burned for Religion, with some others; and on the other side some others suffered death for adhering to the Pope, and denying the Kings supremacy. There was also published a dangerous Edict against Strangers.
Hereupon Hyperius resolved to returne into Germany; but before he went,He goes into his own country. he visited the University of Oxford, and from thence went to London, where he bade farewel to Montjoy, who would have kept him longer, and sailed to Antwerp; from which going into his own Country, he remained a while quietly with his friends: But hearing the fame of the University of Strasborough, and of Bucer in particular, he was very desirous to goe into those part… and so taking leave of his friends, he went to Marpurg, intending to get Letters of commendation from Gerard Noviomag (to whomThence into Germany. he was formerly known) to the learned men at Strasborough. This was Anno Christi 1541, and of his age 30.
His coming was very acceptable to Noviomag who presently sollicited him earnestly to stay at Marpurg, His entertainment at Marpurg.assuring him of a Professors place, and a liberall stipend. And shortly after he dealt with John Ficinus, the Princes Chancellor, to substitute Hyperius in his own room, pleading his age, and infirmities, which made him unfit to undergoe the burden of his place. …icinus disliked not the motion, and therefore sending for Hyperius to him, he requested him to stay at Marpurg, and to give them some taste of his Learning, telling him, that if he was liked,His employment. he might have a good stipend setled on him: And shortly after Noviomag dying, Hyperius was chosen into his Professors place, and so read upon Paul's Epistles, where Noviomag had left. And thus continuing unmarried years, he at last purposed to marry, and accordingly, Anno Christi 1544,His marriage. he married Katharine Orthea, a vertuous Widdow of good parentage, who had two children. Her he alwayes loved dearly, and had by her six sons, and four daughthers. In that place he lived two and twenty years, performing the duty of his place with admirable fidelity, diligence, and zeal,His great labours. to promote Religion, and Learning: And besides his daily task, he took somtimes other opportunities to teach the people. He set up an order of preaching in the Schools with much labour and trouble; himself appointing what subjects should be handled: Looking over the young Students Sermons, and hearing them in private, before they preached them in publick, correcting what was amiss either in their voice or gesture: Such as did well, he commended, such as did ill, he blamed, and endeavoured to reform. He instituted also once in two yeares an examination of the Students in Divinity; as also a dissertation, wherein some question being proposed, every one was to give in his judgement upon the same. These exercises he set up, and diligently promoted them, though he had no reward for his pains.
In his private studies he was very indefatigable, alwaies writing,His care to Reform the Church. reading, or meditating, whereby he much impaired his health. He much desired to call back the Hassians to the example of the Primitive Churches, and abolishing the Popish fooleries out of the service of God, to establish a holy Scripturall, Ecclesiasticall Discipline. And in these employments, having worne out himself, he fell into a great Catarrh, and Cough,His sicknesse. complaining also of the pains of his head, breast, and sides, which often were so great, as made him sweat, as if he had been seised upon with a Feaver.
In his sicknesse he conferred much with Divines that came to visit him, especially with Wigand Orthius, about the University, the study of Divinity, and Reforming the Church.
January the thirtieth, being the Lordsday, when the Sacrament was administred, he desired it to be brought to him also, receiving it with the rest of his family. The day after feeling himself worse,He exhorts his wife and children. he directed his wife what to do after his death; as also his children, whom he exhorted to feare God, honour their Mother, and to carry themselves justly, and honestly towards all men. When many came to visit him, he made before them a confession of his Faith, professing his constancy in that Doctrine which he had taught them,His death. and so taking his leave of them, he quietly slept in the Lord, anno Christi, 1564. and of his age 53.
He was very learned in the Tongues, better in the Liberall Arts, and Philosophy, best of all in Divinity, and the Ecclesiasticall Histories. He had an excellent faculty both in teaching, and disputing. His labours were such as tended to the shortning of his life. In life and manners he was very exemplary; in food and apparel alwayes temperate; in feasts Modest.His Character. In his conference and conversation just, and courteous. And how dear he was to all, both in City and University appeared by those many tears which were shed at his funerall.
His workes were these: De ratione studii; Dialectica, Rhetorica, Arithmetica,His works. Geometrica, Cosmographica, Optica, Astronomica, Physica,: in Ethica Aristotelis Scholia, De studiosorum vita, & moribus: de Ratione studii Theologi…i: De formandis concionibus: De Theologo: De quotidiana Lectione, & meditatione sac. literarum: De Catechesi: De publica in paupere… beneficentia De Schol…s Ecclesiasticis: De coni…gio Ministrorum: De Providentia Dei, &c. which are particularly set downe by Ve…heiden.