The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 91 – Biography 93
The Life and Death of Joseph Scaliger, who dyed Anno Christi 1609.
JOseph Scaliger the son of Iulius Caesar Scaliger was borne a… Aginum Anno Christi 1540. and at nine years old was sent by his father to School at Burdeaux, but after three yeares stay there, the Plague breaking forth, he returned to his father againe, who set him every day to make an Oration, whereby he attained to such an exactnesse in the Latine tongue, that not long after he composed that excellent Tragedy of Oedipus, which caused his friends to admire such ripenesse of wit in such tender years: At nineteen years old (his father being dead) he went to Paris to learne the Gre…k tongue; wh…re for two months space, he applyed himselfe to the Lectures of that learned man Adrian Turneby, bu… wanting other helps, he lost most of that time: which caused him to shut himselfe up in his study, and there by extraordinary diligence joyned with his naturall aptnesse, he began to suck in the first rudiments of the Greek tongue: and before he had well learned all the co…jugatio… he gat him an Homer, and in twenty one day…s learned it all over, framed for himselfe a Greek Grammer, and never us…d the help of any other: he learned th… other Greek P…ts in four months more: Hav…ng thus bestowed two year… …n the study of the Greeke: he grew very desirous to adde the knowledge of the Hebrew to it: and though he knew not one letter of it, yet he fell to the study of it without any other help.
He wrote much in verse both those languages, but to avoid the repute of ambition, would not suffer them to be Printed: He read over many Greek and Hebrew Authors, and spent much time in interpreting, and clearing of them from errors: Anno Christi 1563. he began to travell into diverse Countries, and made little stay any where till he was called to the University of Leiden Anno Christi 1593. to be Professor there, in which place he spent sixteen yeares, making the place famous both by his Lec…ures and Writings, and at last dyed of a Dropsie Anno Christi 1609. and of his age sixty nine: The afor…mentioned Turneby, who was an excellently learned man himselfe, called this Sc…liger Portentosi ingenii juvenem: a young man of a stupendious wit.
How can the worthy name and memory
Of Scaliger in black oblivion dye:
Who by his pregnant wit and studious braines.
And indefatigable care and paines:
In Greek and Hebrew grew so excellent
That being sent for, he to Leid…n went,
Where he was made Professour, and became
A man of high renown and spreading fame:
And gracing much that University
For fifteen years, he there at last did dye.
The Life and Death of Amandus Polanus, who dyed Anno Christi 1610.
AMandus Polanus was borne in Silesia Anno Christi 1561. when his Parents had bred him up at School, they sent him to Vratislavia, where he spent six years, and from thence he went to T…bing, where differing from Doctor Andreas abou… predestination, he went thence to Basil Anno Christi 1583. in which place he wholly set himselfe to the study of Divinity, and being made Tutor to some young Noblemen, went to Geneva, Heidleberge and to some other places with them: he was mad… Doctor in Divinity by Grynaeus, Anno 1590. and having afterwards at Geneva publickly expounded the Prophesie of Malachie, he returned to Basil, where he was chosen the Professor of Divinity, which place he faithfully discharged for fourteen years space, expounded Daniel, Ezekiel, and a good part of the Psalmes: afterwards falling sick of a Feaver, he wholly resigned up him himselfe to the will of God, comforted himselfe with diverse pregnant Texts of Scriptures, and so departed quietly in the Lord Anno 1610. and of his age 51.
How justly may Polanus have a part
Of honour, 'mongst these men of high desert:
A learned Doctor of Divinity,
And was of Basils University:
Chosen Professour, where, with love and fame,
For fourteen years he managed the same:
Then falling sick, he of a feaver dy'd,
Whose soul doth in celestiall joyes reside.
The Life and Death of Thomas Holland, who dyed Anno Christi 1612.
THomas Holland, was born in Shropshire Anno Christi 1538. and brought up in Exceter Colledge in Oxford, where he tooke his degrees with much applause: afterwards he Commenced Doctor in Divinity, was chosen Master of the Colledge, and for his learning, was preferred to be …he Regius Professor, or Doctor of the Chair, wherein he succeeded Doctor Humphred: and so deported himselfe in the same, that he gat the approbation, and admiration both of that Univ…rsity, and of Forreign Universities also: Hee was like Apollos, a man mighty in the Scriptures, and as one saith of him, Adeb cum Patribus familiaris, ac si ipse Pater, & cum Scholasticis, ac si Seraphicus Doctor: i. e. he was so familiarly acquainted wi…h the Fathers, as if himselfe had been one of them: and so verst in the Schoolmen, as if he were the Seraphick Doctor: He was also a faithfull Preacher of the truth, and one that adorned it by his holy life and conversation. A zealous defender of the true Religion, and a great hater of superstition and Idolatry: iusomuch that when he went any journy, calling the fellows of the Colledge together, he used to say to them, Commendo vos dilectioni Dei, & odio Papatus, & superstitionis: I commend you to the love of God, and to the hatred of Popery and superstition: He continued Doctor of the Chair twenty yeares, and was every way as famous for his Religion and holinesse of life, as he was for his learning: when in his old age he grew weak and sickly, he spent all his time in fervent Prayes, and heavenly Meditations: aud when his end approached, he often sighed out Come, O Come Lord Iesus, thou morning star: Come Lord Iesus I desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee, and so he q…ietly departed in the Lord A…no Christi 1612. and of his age 73.
And worthily doth Doctor Holland merit
His predecessours praises to inherit:
Who for's great learning and his parts most rare
Was Regius Professour, Doct'r oth' Chair:
Of Exeter Colledge with approbation
Of all that knew him even to admiration:
I th'Schoolmen, a…d the Fathers so well seen
As if he had Seraphick Doctor been.
A pious and most painefull Preacher known
A faithfull zealous fr…end to Tr…th: and One
That heartily did hate idolatry,
Who as he liv'd, a precious Saint did dye.