Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
ROger Bacon was notable and famous in his time,Insignis ille Mathematicus, & vir, ultra, sane quam seculum suum tulerit, doctus, Rogerus Baconus Oxoniensis & minorita Seld. de Diis Syris Syntag. 1. c. 2. Caput ex aere conflatum ab eruditissimo Rogero Bachone est in ore nostratis vulgi, sed non sine injuria in illius mathesin, quam sommam & à daemonum praestigiis puram monstrant satis illius opera quotquot nos legisse contigit. Id. ibid. Rogerii Bachonis in Magia, adhuc multa extant quae magna infamia Christiani nominis leguntur, & exercentur, deberent enim quam primum aboleri, ut quae nihil aliud contincan… quàm daemonum cultum. Omnibus equidem …aec dico communiter: Sed privatim Anglis nonnullis, à quibus scio asservari: Caetera taceo. Rob. Constant. Nomen Clat. Insig. Script. Primos adolescentiae annos Oxonii in rebus dialecticis ac Philosophicis exegit: unde ingenium per se foelix, quasi accepto à Cote novo acumme, foelicius reddidit. Accessit ei in Mathesi peritia incredibilis, sed absque Necromantia: quamvis ea à multis infametur. Baleus Script. Britan. Cent. 4. Ita diligenter in omnis generis autoribus versatus fuit, ut sui seculi unicum plane miraculum diceretur. Tanta in Mathesiperitia quanta ne nostra quidem tempora quantumcunque aurea & felicia consecuta sunt. Johan. Lelandi Antiquarii Doctissimi Collectanea de viris Illust. MS. in Biblioth. Public. Oxoniens. and in all respects comparable then with the best. He was able to judge of the Latine, Greek and Hebrew Tongues, as appears by his Book De Idiomate Linguarum. B. Jewels Defence of his Apol. part. 4. c. 15. Divis.
He was a famous Mathematician, and most skilfull in other Sciences.
He was also very skilfull in the Hebrew and Greek, as the Greek and Hebrew Volumes yet extant long ago written with his own hand do abudantly witnesse. Twine Apol. Acad. Oxon. l. 3.
He hath a Manuscript, entituled Opus magnum, to shew, that all Sciences conduce to the understanding of the Scripture.
Sir Francis Bacon. He is called by one, the Aristotle of our Nation.His History of Henry the 7th is highly esteemed.
He cals Philosophy some where his darling, as I remember.
His learned writings shew his great parts.
Peireskins often lamented that he went not to him when he was at Paris. Gassend. de vita Peireskii. l. 6.
John Baconthorpe aAverroistarum princeps Baleus. Talis ille erat, in omni bonarum artium genere, qualem nec antè nec post habebat Anglia, ex omni medicantium Monachorum cumulo. Baleus De Script. Brytan. Cent. 5. Praeter hos etiam duos Bacones, alius erat, Johannes, Rogeri frater, princeps ea aetate Theologorum, qui viginti septem libris Testamentum Novum illustravit, quem eundem esse arbitror, cujus alia erudita opera Baconthorpié nomen adsciverunt. Wake Rex Platon.Trithemius and others call him Bacon.
Judocus Badius Ascensius, the most famous Philosopher, Rhetorician and Poet of his time.
Erasmus in his Cicerònian Dialogue compares him with Budaeus the ornament of France. He hath commented upon Tullies Offices and Epistles, and Boethius de Consolat. Philos.
Paul Bain a judicious Divine, as his Exposition on Eph. 1. and other works shew.
Rod. bAnglus, Episcopus Lichfeldensis & Coventrensis, vir melior an doctior non facilè dixerim Hebraicas literas regio stipendio Lutetiae publicè docuit. Caius de Ant. Cantab. Academiae l. 1.Bainus, a Learned Englishman Professour at Paris.
Jo. Bale cAntiquitatum Britannicarum diligentimssimus perscrutator. Godwinus de Conversione Britanniae ad Christianam Religionem. Impotentis linguae & calami plerunque scriptor, sed in multis non rejectitius. Montacut. Appar. 1.Bishop of Ossory in Ireland in King Edward the sixths time, and one of the first English Preachers of Protestantism in time of King Henry.
Dr. Humfrie in his Prophesie of Rome hath these verses,
Plurima Luterus patefecit, Platina multa:
Quaedam Vergerius, cuncta Baleus habet.
He hath written fourteen Centuries of the Englishmen that were famous in Learning and vertue.
An Apology against a rank Papist, and a brief Exposition upon the 30th Chapter of the Book of Numbers. Notes on Bonners Articles, and of Popish Votaries.
Franciscus Balduinus. He was a Lawyer at Genevah, but fell off from the Protestant Religion to Popery.Duarum maximarum scientiarum ut erat memoria propè divina, summos apices complexus est, Juris Civilis & Historiae. Dicere enim solebat & scripto edito, ut posteritas exaudire posset, professus est, Historiam cum Jurisprudentia conjungi oportere, hanc sine illa caecam videri. Auberti Miraei Elog. Belg. Adfuit morienti, quin etiam usus erat familiariter, Joannes Maldonatus Baeticus. Soc. Jesu Theologus praestantissimus. Id. ibid. Vide Selv. Samarth. Elog. Gal. & vitam ejus in Melch. Ad. Calvin and Beza wrote against him, and he against them.
Balduinus nunquam gustavit de brodio juris nisi primoribus labris, unde meritò juris dolor non doctor habebatur. Quinimo multis vicibus appellatus est Doctor necessitatis, hoc est sine legibus: quia necessitas non habet legem. Strigills Papirii Masson.
Paschasius hath this Epitaph of him,
Franciscus jacet ille Balduinus,
Mirum quàm varius, sub hoc sepulehro:
Nam quicquid tibi proferebat aetas,
Quicquid pagina sacra vel profana,
Pulchrè calluit: unus inter omneis
Consultissimus utriusque juris,
Anceps ut patria haesitarit illum
Baldum diceret, anne Balduinum.
He hath published divers books: One De Historiae cum jurisprudentia cognatione. Another De Legibus 12 Tab. Com. ad Leges de famosis libellis & de Calumniatoribus, with others.
Baldus Perusinus, a famous Lawyer; he was the hearer and Scholer of Bartholus, Is generis splendori adjecit doctriná excellentem in Jurisprudentiae studio; & aliis liberalibus disciplinis: auditor enim fuit Bartholi de Saxoferrato: praeceptorique non cessit scientiarum cognitione. In Patria docuit summa cum laude & eruditoru… frequen…ia, qui andique Perusium confluebant ad illum audiendum. Pervenit ad annum aetatis septuagesimum sexrum. Sepeii…i voluit amictus habitu S. Francisci, ratus id plurimum ad animae salutem conducere. Quod etiam à R…dolpho Agricola factitatum tradunt, & ab aliis multis. Bo…ssardi Icones. & Boxhorn. Monum. Illust. Vir. & Elogia. Vide vitam Longohi.and Master to Gregory the 11th before he was Pope.
His brother Angelus Perusinus almost equalled him both in Learning and Writings in the same Faculty.
He flourished in the year of our Lord 1346.
He wrote Commentaries upon the whole body of the Civil Law, and after that he professing the Civil Law for 47 years got a great fame.
Bernardinus Baldus Vrbinas, a great Artist and Linguist.
Vir undecunque doctissimus: cujus utinam omnia lucem vidissent. Gerard. Joan. Vos. Ars Histor. c. 9. Vide Jani Nicii Erythraei Picanothecam.
John Ball a holy and learned Divine, who lived by faith, having but a small maintenance.
He was of Brasen-nose in Oxford.
His Books of Living by Faith, of the Covenant, and those against Cam, and others, shew his great Abilities.
Jo. Ludovicus Gayus Balzacus, celebris ille scilicer, cui nemo non Gallicè modò, sed Latinè etiam scribentium elegantiae palmam non facilè cedat. Gassend. de Vita Peireskii l. 6. Son stile s' accomode tellenient à la capacité de subjects si agreables, que ses maximes politiques peunent estre pour les femmes, & ses lettres d' amour pour les Philosophes. Apologie Pour M. De Balzak. Vir ingenio Compto & Gallicae eloquentiae laude clarus, Balzacus, sed in religione plus quam infans. Molin. praerat. ad Hyperaspist.Balsac, an eloquent Frenchman.
Theodorus Balsamon 1180. juris consultus & Theologus, Antiochenus postmodum Patriarcha (sed nomine tenus, nam Latini adhuc Antiochia potiebantur) multa scripsit.Theodore Balsamon Patriarch of Antioch. He and Zonaras were the chief of the Greek Canonists.
Dominicus *Alicubi ait se in extrema senectute Ebraeam linguam didicisse, ne amplius ab haereticis rideretur. Amama Paeranes. ad Protest. de excitendis linguarum studiis.Bannes, a famous Dominican.
Gulielmus Barelaius, William Barclay: He published these books,
De potestate Papae in Principes Christianos.
Contra Monarchomachos.
Com. in Tit. Pandectarum de rebus creditis & de jure jurando Oeglissemii. Judicium de examine cum Buchanano.
Joannes Barclaius, a Learned French man.
There is his Paraenesis ad Sectarios, and his Pietas.
His Argenis and Euphormie.
Franciscus Barbarus Venetus, Vtraque lingua eruditus: Patriarcha & Archiapiscopus Aquileiensis, & Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis. Boissard. Icon.scripsit de re uxoriae libellum: orationes quoque & Epistolas nonnullas. Volatter. Anthropol. l. 21.
Hermolaus Barbarus, Francisci ex fratre nepos, a Venetian by Nation;Hermolaus ille, omnium scientiarum alumnus idem ac parens. Jul. Scalig. ad …rnoldum Perronum Orat. Anno 1494, obierunt tria literariae reipublicae lumina, Hermolaus Barbarus Patriarcha Aquileiensis, Angelus Politianus vir eloquentissimus, Joan. Picus Mirandulae Comes, summus Philosophus Geneb. Chron. l. 4. Vir in divinis Scripturis studiosus & in secularibus literis eruditissimus Philosophus, rhetor, poeta, astronomus & geometer celeberrimus, Graeci ac Latini sermonis peritissimus ingenio subtilis, eloquio disertus, vita ac conversatione devotus atque praeclatus, talis ac tantus evasit ut secundum non reliquerit. Trithem. de Script. Eccles. Vide Polit. Epist. l. 12. Epist. 10. & Pier. Valer. de Litteratorum in felicitate l. 1. one of the great restorers of Learning. Gloria erat nobilitatis Venetae, & sui saeculi splendor Boissard. Barbariae suo tempore victor, solidam sibi apud erudito gloriam peperit, & victurum omni aevo nomen. Salmas. Praefat. ad Plinian. Exercitat.
Ardeo cupiditate juvandi recta studia. Nullus est tam magnus labor, nullum munus in literis tam sordidum quod defugiam. Polit. Epist. l. 1. Epist. Hermolaus Barbarus Angelo Politiano. Vide Miscel. Cent. 19. c. 10.
Etenim summo loco natus: amplis opibus innutritus: egregiis honoribus perfunctus: & fastigium disciplinarum prope omnium tenes, & professores ac studiosos artium bonarum: quamvis humili fortuna plerun que sumus: ita complecteris & amas: ut aeque cunctis tuae quasi majestatis fasces ac vexilla submittas. Polit. Epist. l. 1. Epist. 12. Politianus Hermolao Barbaro. Homo (ut mihi quidem videtur) unus ex reliquiis aurei seculi, quamvis ipse longè doctior: & non illi sanctiores. Polit. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 8. Vide l. 9. Ep. 4. Vide l. 5. Epist. 1.
Petrus Angelus Bargaeus.Exquisitae doctrinae vir, poeta summus, qui Latinam & Graecam linguam Pisis publico munere maxima sua cum laude profitetur. Manut. Epist. lib. 7. Epist. 21.
There are these of his works published.
Syrias. Com. de obelisco Votinum Carmen in D. Catharinam.
Petrus Baro.
Martinius in his Preface to his Hebrew Grammer makes honourable mention of him. In primis verò haec excipiet Cantabrigiensis Academia, lumen Angliae, cum aliis nominibus mihi chara, tùm quòd Petrum Baronem habet Theologiae professorem, mihi jam inde ab adolescentiae conjunctissimum.
Hadrianus *Solus Barlandus, politioris literaturae armarium, multum decoris Zelandiae suae affert; qui quantum in bonis literis possit florentissima Lovaniensium Academia tecum novit. Noviomagi Epistola de Zelandiae situ. Tersa Latinae linguae dictione historiae, praesertim patriae, scribendae cupidus, praeter Chronologiam ab orbe condito ad annum usque sui seculi XXXII. Brabantiae Ducum, Hollandiaeque Comitum, & ultra jectinensium Praesulum res gestas conscripsit. Sed & litteratos urbis Romae Imperatores, & Venetorum Duces, post Ans. Sabellica, cujus lectione impensius delectatus, aemulum se praebuit, literis consignavit. Auberti Miraei Elog. Belgica.Barlandus, a Learned Dutchman, who hath written severall Works.
Casparus Barlaeus.
Dubium poeta melior, an Philosophus. Vossius de Arte Grammat. l. 1. c. 3.
There are Poems published of his, Athenaeum, Dissertatio de bono Principe.
Caesar Baronius was born in Naples, he was the Popes Confessor.Misit in aevorum perennitatem Annalium
He hath made a long and learned Collection of Ecclesiasticall story, and digested it into a good method, and will be usefull for a distinct comprehension of Ecclesiasticall story.Ecclesiasticorum Tomos 12 spissum opus & operosum cui gloriosè immortuus est, Tom. 12 à decessu ipsius edito. Nomencl. Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalium. Quis inter Pontificios celebrior author Baronio, & magis factus ad Papae natum. Molin Hyperaspist. Adeo Baronius imprimis quo Monarchiae Papeli consuleret, desudavit, ut in hac materia, septuaginta septem erroribus ac maculis Scripturam, Patres, Chronologiam turpissimè faedaret. Vedel. Epist. Dedicat. ad Comment. de Tempore utriusque Episcopatus S. Apost. Petri. Romanenses id agunt, ut pro omnibus Ecclesiasticarum rerum scriptoribus unum imperitis obtrudant Baronium. Casaub. Epist. 205. Cui in historia texenda, iste videtur unicus esse propositu scopus, ut quaecunque fabulae faciunt ad Papismi Commodum, eas suo nomine confirmet. Chamierus.
But he was no Grecian, and is not much to be trusted; for
1. He makes use sometimes of spurious authours, and gives them for faithfull witnesses.
2. He indeavours by all means to advance the Popes Supremacy.
He is the Papists great Champion for Ecclesiasticall history, as Bellarmine is for Controversies; they esteemed him the Father of Church-story.
Alsted cals Baronius his Annals the Tower of Babel, and Bellarmines books of Controversie Goliahs sword.
Illustrissimus Cardinalis Baronius cui intima totius vetustatis penetralia tam erant cognita & familiaria, quam est mihi domus mea. Montacut. Apparat. Vide ejus praefat. ad Apparat.
Annales suos amplius quadraginta annorum studio elucubravit. Rainold. Vide Whear. Meth. Leg. Hist. parte 2da, Sect. 44.
Spondanus hath epitomized that Voluminous work, he follows Baronius too superfluously in asserting the Popes omnipotency, else it is well done.
Justus Baronius.
Calvins name is so odious to the Papists, that he ran from Mentz to Rome to change his native name of Calvinus into the adoptive of Baronius. B. Mort. Epist. Dedicat. to his Appeal.
Robertus Baronius, a Learned Scotchman, as his Works *Philosophia Theologiae ancillans Disputatio Theologica de formali objecto fidei. Apologia pro disputatione de formali objecto fidei. Disputatio Theologica de peccata Mortali & Veniali cui Annexa est Appendix de possibilitate implendi le…m Metaphysicas. Generalis.shew.
Arthur Johnston hath these verses of William Forbes and Robert Baronius, Divines of Aberdene.
Nil, quod Forbesio, Christi dum pascit ovile
Nil, quod Baronio comparet orbis habet.
Eloquio sunt ambo pares, discrimen in uno est,
Quo lubet, hic mentes pellicit, ille rapit.
Gul. Sallustius Bartassius, an excellent French Poet. Ille Poetarum Gallicorum Coryphaeus Sallustius, Perillustre inter hujus saeculi Poetas nomen meruit, proximumque à Ronsardo nostro locum tenere à multis existimatur. Stylum ejus tanquam nimis crebrò figuratum, tumidum & vasconciè ampullatum, Critici quidam reprehendunt. Ego qui hominis Candorem novi, & familiariter cum eo saepius collocutus sum, possum testari nihil simile in ejus moribus deprehendisse. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 5. Vide Scaev. Samar. Gallorum doctrina illust. Elog. p. 109.Barthasii Dominus, Cains poëmata apud exteros etiam in laude sunt. Waseri Comment. ad Mithrid. Gesneri. He is translated into many languages. He may be read in Latine, French, Italian, Dutch, English.
Pasquier Recherches de la France, l. 7. c. 11. shews that the French Poets imitating the Latine, have often equalled, and sometimes exceeded them. He instanceth in the description of the old Chaos by Ovid, and compares with it that of Du Bartas, and in some verses of Virgils and Rousards: Although (saith he) some would blame du Bartas his style as too swelling, yet his work hath been very well liked, not only for the worthy subject which he praiseth, but also for his learning, fine Discourses, pithy strains, and proper deductions which accompany it.
Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque much commends him.
Gasp. Barthius, immortale Germaniae ornamentum, Dilh. Disput. Acad.
He hath written Commentationem de Lat. Linguae Scriptoribus, and Adversariorum Com. l. 60.
Clarissimum illud Germaniae lumen Barthius incomparabili Adversariorum opere. Dilh. Disput. Acad. Tom. 2.
Bartolus de Saxoferrato was born in the year of our Lord 1303. some say 1309.Obiit celebris ille jurisconsultus Bartholus de Saxoferrato, Mathematum & Hebraicarum quoque literarum peritus. Geneb. Chron. Pisis interdum & Perusii magna auditorum frequentia & laude docuit jus civile, ejus autoritas magna erat per toram Italiam propter soliditatem consiliorum quibus res principum adjuvabat. Boxhorn. Monum. Illust. Viror. & Elog.
Being but 21 years of age, he proceeded Doctor of the Civil Law with the applause of all, saith Pasquier Recherch de la France, l 8. c. 14.
In jure primas, comparatus caeteris, Partes habebit Bartolus, Alciate.
He had a Coat of Armour given to him by the Emperour Carolus Quartus, Carolus quartus Leonem illi dedit rubrum, duabus instructum caudis, in campo sive aequore aureo constitutum, quod quidem deinceps ad Bartoli posteros diffundebatur. Frausi. l. 2. De Armis. Vide plura ibid.of whose prime Councels he was, and is the first of Gown-men whom we shall readily finde (as I beleeve) that had honour done unto him in that kinde, which was but in the year of our Lord God, 1347. The Elements of Armories c. 24.
Basilius Magnus, Anno Dom. 370 whose Greek Epistles,Praestantissimus est in libris omnibus. Pura enim dictione significante, propria, & omnino civili ac panegyrica, siquis alius uti novit: sensuque ordine ac puritate primus, & nemini secundus apparet. Photii Biblioth. p. 318. Divus Basilius vir optimo jure dictus Magnus, sed Maximi cognomine dignior. Simulac contigit audire Christianum Demosthenem imò caelestem oratorem sua lingua loquentem, sic animum meum totum percolit, inflammavit que verè flexamima divinitus afflati Praesulis eloquentia ut mihi nihil prius curandum duxerim quam ut inaestimabilis hic thesaurus in utilitatem typis evulgaretur. Eras. Epist. lib. 28. Epist. 7. Jacobo Sadoleto Vide totam Epistolam, & lib. 26. Epist. 33. and very many Greek books are published in one Volume.
Quem nulla unquam aut sententia aut verbo errasse communis Graecorum patrum consensus affirmat. Sixt. Senens. Biblioth. Sanct. l. 4.
He was brother to Gregory Nyssene, and a most familiar friend (saith Sixtus Senensis loco citato) to Gregory Nazianzene, and John Chrysostom.
But he was afore Chrysostom. He was called Basil the great for his admirable wit, as Gregory Nazianzene for his excellent knowledge in the Scriptures was termed the Divine.
His Hexameron is very much esteemed, followed so much by Ambrose. He was honoured by the Ancients with this Elogium foreign.
He was the light of the Greek Church, whom the Hereticks could never shake; yea at whose vertue the hand of the Arian Emperour did shake, when he would have subscribed to his banishment, and that in such sort that he left off his purpose utterly.
Basilius Bishop of Sileucia.
He lived about the year 360,Hic potiùs Basilius, quam Magnus ille Caesareae Episcopus videtur. Beatissimi Chrysostomi amicus ille, & Contubernalis fuisse, ad quem etiam librum de Sacerdotio scriptum miserit. Photii Biblioth. p. 378. saith Pezel. Refutat. Catech. Jesuit. 361. Helv. Chron. 460. B. Vsh. Catal.
Dominicus Baudius, an elegant Poet.
Amicus noster dum viveret, & quando Dordrechtum diverteret hospes suavissimus, Dominicus Baudius, poeta item elegantissimus & disertissimus. Voss. De Analog. l. 1. c. 42.
Bernardus Bauhusius made a book in praise of the Virgin Mary, Protheum Par…heni, cum unius versus librum stellarum numero sive formis 1022. variatum. Swertii Athenae Belgicae. Valeri Andreae Bibliotheca Belgica.by changing one verse a thousand twenty two waies, according to the number of the Starres.
Vnius Libri versus, unius versus Liber is the title of it.
Tot tibi sunt dotes virgo quot sydera caelo.
Some much commend his Theologia Scholastica. Quem unum omnibus Epitomis & introductionibus praeferendum puto ab iis qui solida perspicua & mediocriter compendiosa quaerunt. Vo…t. Biblioth. Studios. Theol. l. 2.Martinus Becanus, a Learned Jesuite.
Christ. *Libri de lingua Latina elegantissimi ac multiplici doctrina refertissimi. Casaub. Epist. ad eum. Excellentissimus vir, Christianus Bookmannus libro suo de Originibus Linguae Latinae eruditissimo. Crines. Discursus de Confus. Ling. c. 9.Beckmannus, a Learned Linguist.