The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 20
PAVLVS FAGIVS.
The Life and Death of Paulu… Fagius.
IN the yeer of our Lord God 1504. Paulus Fagius, alias Buchlin, was borne in a Town situate in the Palatinate, not farre from Bretta, which in the Germain language, is called Rhein-taberne; his Father was called by the name of Peter Buchlin, being chiefe Schoole-master of that Towne, his Mother by the name of Margaretta Iager, daughter unto Henricus Iazger of Heidelberge: who was much beloved of Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine, by reason of his excellent knowledge in the art of War.
He was first acquainted with the grounds of Leaenrng in the same Towne, and that through the carefulnesse and paines of his Father, which indeed seemed pleasing unto him, because of the sharpenesse of wit and quicknesse of apprehension which he saw in the childe; and therefore for the better perfection of his naturall parts (when he had reached unto the age of eleven yeares) he sent him unto Heidelberge, and committed him unto the tuition of Iohannes Brentius and Martinus Frechtus, two learned men; by whose meanes he was furnished with an excellent insight in humaine Learning.
When he had continued with these learned men for the space of seven yeers, and being now eighteene yeers of age, and longing for a greater perfection of learning; he left Heidelberge and went unto Stratsburge; and because poverty twharted the good will of his Parents, so that they could not afford him …uch maintenance as they were willing, he framed himselfe unto the teaching of Youth, during his abode in that place; by which meanes he defended himselfe from that miserabl… condition which was likely to ensue, and also furnished himselfe with money for the procuring of such Bookes as he had most use of for his Studies.
About this time the study and profession of the tongues began to appeare and to shew it selfe in Germanie, and Wolfangus Capito set forth two Bookes, containing solid instructions for the obtaining of knowledge in the Hebrew language, a thing worthy of admiration in those times; and there were also some Iewes, who wandring up and downe did impart the grounds of that knowledge unto many in Germanie. Fagius laying hold upon this opportunity, gave himselfe wholly unto the study of this tongue, and for that cause he happily insinuated himselfe into the familiarity of Capito Hedio, Bucer, Zellius, and other learned Professours, who were the first planters of the Church of Christ in those places.
Having here indifferently furnished himselfe with learning, and with the knowledge of the tongues, in the yeere 1527. he left Strasburge, and betooke himselfe unto Isna, a towne in Algaria, (being thereunto constrained with his poverty, and also with the small regard that those people had of learned men) where, by the intreaty and furtherance of his friends, he underwent the painfull office again of a Schoolemaster; wherein he used such diligence that he gained the love of all that knew him, but finding within himselfe a naturall inclination unto the Ministery, he left his Schoole and returned againe unto Strasburge, to furnish himselfe with sufficient knowledge, for the discharge of that function: here he continued for the space of two yeeres, spending them altogether in the study of Divinity, at the end whereof, he was called from Ssasburge by the Senate of Isna, to undergoe a Pastorall office in the same towne, which he performed for the space of five yeers, with the great approbation of his Auditors; when he gave himselfe again unto the study of the Holy tongues, wherin in short time he proceeded beyond expectation, so that he was adjudged to be the most absolutest in those dayes; for the attayning unto this perfection he used the helpe of Elias Livita, a most learned Jew.
Petrus Buflerus one of the Senators of Isna having notice of his perfection in the holy tongue, and of his naturall inclination unto the Arts, at his owne cost and charge he erected a Printing house; to the end that Fagius might publish som works for the futur good of that Nation, & for the credit and good fame of himself; but the event not answering their expectation, Fagius came at last, to be deeply indebted unto his friend Petrus; whereby he was dishartned, and kept from proceeding any further; which being perceived by Buflerus he incouraged him againe to goe forward, and for that cause he lovingly forgave him all the debt, which amounted unto the summe of one thousand Crownes and more.
But he finding by experience that Isna was not a place for his purpose, he resolved to remove; and opening the same unto the Inhabitants, they seemed unwilling, yet afterwards they consented: receiving Iohannes Marbachius into his roome. Before his departure, the towne was greatly afflicted with the Pestilence, and he understanding that many of the wealthiest of the Inhabitants intended to forsake the place, without having any respect or care of such as laboured with that disease, and that the houses of such as were infected, were commanded to be shut up by the Magistrate; he openly admonished them, either to continue in the towne, or liberally to bestow their almes before their departure, for the reliefe of such as were sicke: and during the time of the visitation, he himselfe in person would vis… those that were si…ke; he would administer Spirituall comfort unto them, pray for them, and would be present with them day and night, and yet by the providence of God he remayned untouched, and was preserved by the alpowerfull hand of God.
At the same season the Pestilence was hot in Strasburge, and with many others, it tooke away Wolfangus Capito, by reason whereof he was called by the Senate, and designed to be his successour in the same City, where he continued Preaching untill the beginning of the Germain warres; for then Fredecicus Secundus, the Prince Elector Palatnie, intending a reformation in those Churches which were subject to him, he called Fagius from Strasburge unto Heidelberge, being then reputed to be a most eloquent and learned man, and constituted him the publicke Professor in the same place; but the Emperour prevailing against the Elector, & triumphing in Germany, that which was begun in Germany, touching reformation, fell againe to the ground and became extinct: during his residence here, he set forth many books, but more especially such as he adjudged would be most profitable for such as intended to study the Hebrew tongue; which were so approved of by Bucer Martyr, and Hedio, then ordinary professors of Divinity, that he was advanced to the reading of a Divinity Lecture on the week dayes, and designed to discharge their Pastorall functions, in case they were restrained either with sicknesse, or any other serious imployments; and in this course he remained for the space of six yeeres.
At the end of which time, the Church was greatly afflicted in Germany, and banishment was threatned unto such as would not adhaere unto the doctrine of the Church of Rome, and in the beginning of these troubles, it pleased God to stirre up Thomas Cranmer, Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Metrapolitan of England, to call for him out of Germany, who together with Bucer was honorably entertained by the said Arch-bishop and disposed of, &c. vide Bucer.
He died in Cambridge, in the yeere 1550. and was honorably buried in the Church of Saint Michael; his bones together with Bucers in the dayes of Queene Mary, were diged up and burned, because he was condemned of haeri…ie; Amongst many Epitaphs which were set forth in the commending of this man, that of Gulielmus Day deserveth impression, that his worth might be manifested unto future times:
Bucero primas, dedimus tibi Paule secunda,
& damur, Haebreae, gloria prima scholae,
Hoc uno inferior Bucero, Paule, fuisti
Quod prior extremum cernis adesse diem,
Verum illo major Bucero, Paule, fuisti
Quod prior aeterno jussus adesse Deo,
In reliquo similem duxisti tempor vitam
Ambo salutiferi buccina fida, dei
Ambo stilliferi sparfistis semina regni
Semina proventu non caritura suo,
Vnde utrumque Deus mogno dignatus honore
V…rumque ad superi transtulit astra poli
Felices animae superas licet iistis ad oras
A nobis vestrum nomen abrie negint
Eximia semper viretis laude perennes
Quam canit Aoniis nostra Thalia modis.
Our first applauses unto Bucer wee
Ascribe, the second we bequeath to thee,
Whose knowledge in the holy dialect,
A fame eternall will to thee erect.
In that thou first didst bid the world godnight,
Thou seem'st inferior to that burning light,
But being first with heavens glory cround
Thou dost appeare a Saint more worthy found;
In other things both fitly did agree
Both faithfull preachers of his veritie,
Both painfull Sowers of the heavenly graine,
Both blest with good successe, it sprung againe.
Wherefore God blest you both with honor high
And cloath'd you both with immortality.
O happy soules though heaven keepe you there
Your fame shall ever be intombed here.
Your worthy praises all the earth shall know,
Divulged by our Muses here below.
He was of a tall stature, somewhat blacke-visaged; his countenance appeared outwardly severe, extorting reverence; but he was inwardly of an affable and courteous disposition, loving, meeke and lowly: he was an excellent Orator, a great Student, as appeares by his Workes here inserted.
1 A worke called Thysby. 2 Apothegmes of the Fathers. 3 Morall Sentences ef Ben Syra, alphabetically digested. 4 The translation of Tobias the Hebrew. 5 Hebrew Prayers. 6 A literall exposition of the Hebrew sayings on the foure first chapters of Genesis, with a Chalde Paraphrase. 7 Of the truth of Faith. 8 Commentaries on certaine Psalmes by Kirachi. 9 An Hebrew Preface to Elias Levila his Chalde Lexicon. 10 Thargum. 11 An Introduction to the Hebrew tongue.
Reader, behold, here stands before thine eye,
The perfect …mbleme of true gravity:
Turne from his face, then read, and thou shalt finde
The rare endeavours of a serious minde.
He was a man, whose ever-active heart
Was alwayes digging in the Mines of Art;
And (like a Bée) he labour'd every houre
To sucke some Hony from each spreading Flowre.
Twas not the face of poverty could fright
His soule from goodnesse; Heaven was his delight,
And earth his scorne: he study'd how to give
A life to Language, and make Uertue live.
It is not unfit, that he, whose Workes affords
So many Languages, should want for words.