The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 95
ANDREAS GERARDVS HYPERIVS
The Life and Death of Andraeas Gerardus.
IN the yeare of our Lord 1511. this Andraeus Gerardus was born at Hyperi…, a strong and populous Town situate within the Province of Flanders: his Father was a man of great estimation amongst the inhabitants of the same town by reason of his singular knowledge in the Law; his Mother was discended from one of the Noblest families of that Province; both of them being carefull of the education of th…s Gerardus, they sent him unto Iacobus Papa (a famous and excellent Poet) to be instructed in the knowledge of the tongues, which he attained unto in short time, partly by the care of this Iacobus, and partly by the help of Iohannes Sepanus, being an assistant unto Iacobus Papa, a man excellently learned, and very skilfull both in the Greek and in the Hebrew tongue, where he continued untill he came unto the age of 13. years, at which time he desired to be acquainted with the French tongue, and for that cause he became an Auditor unto Iohannes Lactaeus, a man learned and eloquent who publickly taught the French tongue in those parts; here he remained for the space of one year, and afterwards by the advice of his father he was sent unto Tovrney, where a publick School was newly erected for the information of youth in the Latine, Greek & Hebrew tongus; but the discipline of that School being not pleasing unto his father he took him from thence againe intending to have him instructed in manners aswell as in learning, wherefore he intended to send his unto Lavan an Academy in Brabant, but hearing that too much liberty was there given and granted unto youth, whereby they came to be corrupted with many vices, he altered his purpose, and bethought himselfe of sending him unto Paris, where he himselfe in his youth had studyed; but that determination was also hindred by the continued warres betwixt Charles the fift Emperour of Germany, and Francis King of France: wherefore he resolved to keepe him at home for a space untill he could dispose of him according to his minde, employing him in the writing of such thinks as pertaine to the office of a Lawyers Clarke, in which action he continued so long that he had almost forgotten whatsoever he had learned before: now in the yeare 1525. it pleased God to call for his fath…r out of this vale of misery, who on his death bed streightly charged and commanded his Mother to send Gerardus unto Paris, that so he might goe forward in his studyes; as soone as the War… were quieted in France betwixt the Emperour and the King, which fell out in the year 1528. then went Gerardus unto Pari…, being furnished with Commendatory letters unto Antonius Helhucius, then Senator of the P…rliament, …nd unto Iohannes Campis Licenciate in Divinity, who were also intreated to furnish him with things necessary for his study…s, if hi… mother were hindred by the continuation of the Wars, from the performance of the …ame; this Iohannes de Campi… seeing the hopefulnesse of the youth, kept him in his owne house the space of one year, where he attained unto great perf…ction in Logick, the year following he w…nt unto Paris, where he acquainted himselfe with I…imus Bingelbi…gu… … B…aban…er, a man excellently qualified, from whom Gerard…s received good instructions touching a methodicall manner of proceeding in his studies; after that h… had continued here for the space of three years, for the better retayning of t…at learning which he had gotten, he priv…tly read both Logick and Rhetorick unto others, himselfe remaining still an Auditor unto the publick explanation of Aristotles Phisicks in the Schools.
In the year following he desired to see Flanders, and to visit his friends, and to know how much of that Portion was remaining which his Father had left him for the prosecution of his studyes: which being done, and finding a sufficient competency to remaine, which would keep him … long time at the University, he returned unto Paris againe, with and an intent to addict himselfe unto studyes of greater moment, and so he forthwith entred upon the study of Divinity, for which Paris at that time was famous and taking a great delight therein, he daily frequented the Divinity Schooles, so as he came to be of a singular judgement in matters of Controversies, and at vacant times he would be take himselfe unto the Physick Lectures, unto which h… had a naturall inclination, he would also be familias with Cleonard, S…urmius, Latomus, then publick professors of the Tongues in the same University.
Having now well furnished himselfe with knowledge, he desired to take a view of other Countries and Provinces, lying within the Kinodome of France, and that for two causes, first that he might prrfect himselfe in the French Tongue, and secondly that he might have a fuller understanding of the custome and disposition of that Nation, and so leaving of the University, he traveled through most parts of France, where having given satisfaction unto himselfe, he shaped his c…urse towards Italie, taking a full view of that part which lyeth betweene the Alpes and Bononia: being now about the age of twenty four years, he returned out of Italie into Flanders in the year 1535. From whence he went unto Lovan, because he had sent his library from Paris unto the same place, and having safely disposed of the same, he betook himselfe againe to tra…ell, viewing almost all Lower Germany (viz) Gilderland, Brabant, Cleveland, Vtrecht, Freezland, Holland and Zealand, and from hence in the year of our Lord 1537. and in the twenty six year of his age he went into upper Germany, to take view of such … mous & learned men as were to be found in those parts, in which peregrination he saw Colen, Marpurge, E…ford, Lipsie…, and Wittenberge: and then returned againe into Flanders, where he was set upon by some of his friends, who advised him to betake himselfe unto some staid course of life, seeing that his patrimony was all spent, the grates… part in the University, the remainder in his travels: unto which just demand and desire of his friends, he was soone perswaded to subscribe and consent, and forthwith began seriously to consider with himselfe, how he might obtaine a place, wherein he might exercise his gifts for the generall good of the Country; whilst he was busie about that matter, his friends had obtained by letters pattens from the Pope that a larg stipend should be yearly given unto him, out of t…e revenews of an adjacent Abby for his maintenance, upon condition that Iohannes Charondiletus (then Chanc…llor unto the Emperour, and Arthbishop of Panorma) would give his free assent thereunto: but (the Providence of God so disposing) he was not onelyonly denied the same by the said Archbishop, but he was also threatned with the losse of his life, because is was declared unto him, that G…rardus had of late been in higher G…rmany, unto which place it was not lawfull for any student to goe least he should be infected with the purity of the doctrine taught in the reformed Churches.
This expectation of himself and also of his friends being now made void… and having no hopes of getting preferment thereabouts, because the Archbishop appeared his professed enemy; by the advice of some godly and learned men, and also because he would not be burdensome unto his friends… he was resolved to travell againe, and so determined to view that other part of Italie, which he had not seene, but here he was againe hindred by the violence of those Wars which at that time raged betwixt the Emperor and the King of France; wherefore he being by this occasion deprived of the sight of Italie, he shipped himselfe for England (intending not to visit France or Germany any more) because he might easily understand in that place by letters continually sent from his friends, how all things went in Flanders, and whether there were any hopes of obtaining preferment in those parts: after his arrivall in England, as he used in other forraine parts, so he here also enqured after such as were esteemed the leanedest Scholars, by which meanes he addressed himselfe unto Charles Mon…joy the Son of William Montjoy Knight Baron, a man much commended and approved of by Erasmus Roterdamus in his writings, and of great learning in those dayes, who conferring after a friendly manner with Gerardus concerning many matters, and thereby perceiving his more then ordinary parts, received him into his house, and withall conferred an annuall stipend on him, and that after a bountifull manner; which wa… so well pleasing unto Gerardus, that he continued four ye…r… with thi… Montjoy, in which time he profited much in the knowledg… of humane and divine learning.
In the yeare 1540. with the consent of Charles Montjoy, h… went to take view of the University of Cambridge, about which time there were great troubles in the Church of England: the Lord Cromwell was beheaded, others were burned for their zealous profession of the truth, many also were put to death for denying the King to be supreame head of the Church under Christ. Proclamations were every where set up against exotics, and those full of perill and danger; which caused Gerardus to enter into a consideration of returning againe into Germany, yet before his departure from England, he resolved to recreate himselfe with the fight of that other fountaine of learning (viz.) Oxford, from whence he returned to London, where (after that he had prepared and fitted himselfe with things necessary for his journy) he not without great sorrow tooke his leave of his liberall and loving Master, who earnehly intreated him to continue longer with him, but by no meanes he could be enduced and perswaded thereunto, but forthwith he directed his course towards An…werp, a famous City in Brabant, from whence he went againe into Flanders, and for a season he there continued amongst his friends: during his aboad in that place he heard of the fame of Bucer, and of the flourishing Schoole at Stra…burge, both which but especially the fame of Buc…r allured him to take view of that part of high Germany; wherefore without any delay he sets forward toward Strasburge, taking Marpurge in his way, that he might take order for the conveying of his books and trunks unto Frank…furt, and secondly because he knew that he could maintaine himselfe at a cheaper rate during his aboad there then in any other place situate on the banks of Rhine, and thirdly because he hoped that he should easily obtaine comm…ndatory letters unto the learned Professors at S…rsburge in that place, and especially by the means of Gerardus Noviomagus, a man of good estemation, who also had formerly knowne this Gerardus, and had lived also himselfe sometimes at Strasburge.
Maviomagus h…ving notice of the comming of Andraeas Gerardus unto M…rpurge, he kindely invited him unto his lodging, where they met with mutuall embrac…ng…, being exceeding joyfull of the presence of each other; not long after Gerardus discovering unto Naviomagus the causes of his comming unto that place, together with his intent for Strasburge, he was de…ired …o remaine at Marpurge, and withall he was promised faithfully by Naviomagus that he would procure him not onelyonly employment, but also a sufficient stipend for the performance of the same; Gerardus well perceiving the entire love and sincere affection of his old friend consented and remained, expecting preferment in the same place; whereupon assooue as Iohannes Ficinus their Chancellor was returned home from an assembly appointed at Reinspurge, Naviomagus entered into discourse with him concerning Gerardus, and withall declared that by reason of his sicknesse he was not able to performe that place whereunto he was called, desired that Gerardus might be approved and allowed to be an assistant unto him in the performance of the place: the motion was well liked of Ficinus, who forthwith called Gerardus unto him, and wished him to remaine at Marpurge, and to make triall of his gifts in that place, which if they were approved of, he promised him a sufficient pension for his labours; but Gerardus was so well approved in that place by his Auditors, that after the death of Naviomagus, he was chosen and appointed to be his successour in the performance of a pastorall office, which he faithfully discharged with so great labour and zeale, for the Propacating of the truth the space of twenty two years, that besides his appointed times and seasons, he would make use of vacant houres for the performance of the same.
Here he commanded the publick exercise of Preaching in the School…, appointed texts unto the young Divines to treat of, he would view and correct their Sermons before they were delivered in the Pulpit, nay he would cause them to deliver them privately in his study, before he would permit them to deliver them unto the publick Congregation; that if there were any defect in voyce or gesture it might happily be amended.
He much praised those who performed their actions well, contrariwise he severely rebuked those which were negligent & sloathfull, and as it were forceably compelled and constrained them unto a greater diligence; he would daily examine them in points of Divinity, desire their opinions concerning difficult questions, explaine and open unto them hard texts of Scriptures; insomuch, that in short time he was the Author of much good unto the young Students: these this he performed without the expectation of any reward.
He entred also into a serious meditation of the reformation of Religion in the Churches; he desired to conforme the Citizens of Hassia, unto the example of the Primitive Church; he desired to remove many reliques of superstition out of the Church; he desired to establish that Ecclesiasticall discipline which was ready to fall, unto the great detriment of the Church.
In the midst of these heavenly cogitations, it pleased the Lord to send his messenger for him, which he well perceiving by the continuall increasing of his paines; he desired to have the Communion administred unto him, afterwards he told his wife what he would have done after his death; after that he had instructed his children how they should carry themselves towards God, and how towards their mother, and how toward… men: and his yongest son standing amongst them, h… laid his hand on his head uttering these Words, discemi fili mandata domini, & ipse ena…riet te: Keepe the commandaments of the Lord, my son, and he will provide for thee: then …urning himselfe to those who were present, he declare… unto them that he dyed in that faith which he had constantly professed so many yeares in that City; which words being spoken, he fell asleepe, and was buried at Marpurge in the year our Lord 1564. and in the 53. year of his life.
All things which are to be required in a Teacher, are to be found in this Gerardus; first he was learned, and his learning was also joyned with experience, secondly, he had an excellent faculty and method of teaching; thirdly, he was laborious in his function; fourthly, he was grav…; fiftly, of an unspotted life and conversation… he was modest patient and constant, all which sufficiently declare that he was set apart by the Lord for the converting of many souls unto Christ. His Works which he left unto the world as a rich legacy are here set downe.
1 A Commentary on the twentieth Psalme. 2 On the twelft Psalme. 3 A method for a Preacher. 4 On the Romans. 5 Of reading and meditating the Scriptures. 6. Method of Theologie. 7 Theologicall Topicks. 8 Catechisme.
Other Works in two Tomes.
First, 1 Of the study of the Scripture. 2 Of the institution of Colledges. 3 A triall of students. 4 Of Catechising. 5 Of justification by faith. 6 Of Benificence to the poor. 7 Of Feasts.
Tome 2.
1 Of the duty of hearers. 2 Of Providence. 3 Of Selfe-examination. 4 Of the marriage of Ministers. 5 Of the Sacraments. 6 Notes upon Aristotles Ethicks. 7 Physicks. 8 Logicke. 9 Rhetoricke. 10 Arithmaticke. 11 Gromaticke. 12 Cosmographik. 13 Optics. 14 Astronomy.
Set forth after his death.
1 Annotations of Isaiah. 2 Commentaries on the Galathians. 3 Ephesians. 4 Philippians. 5 Colossians. 6 Thessalonians. 7 Timothy. 8 Titus. 9 Philemon. 10 Iude. 11 Hebrewes.
You that desire to lead a life
Free from th'incumbrances of strife
Draw neare, and with a carefull …row,
Let brave Gerardu… teach you how.
Reader, observe and thou shalt finde,
By trauell he inrtch'd his minde:
His active heart was alwayes free
To Propagate true piety.
He alwayes studied to displace
Errours from the Churches face:
He gain'd no envy, but from those
That were Religions chiefest fo….
He would perswade, intreat, advise
His Fellow-preachers to dispise,
Those fruits of Idlenesse which he defy'd.
Thus liv'd Gerardu…, thus Gerardus dy'd.