Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 4 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
JOhn Gerson, Anno Salutis 1410.1363. saith Thenet.
Johannes de Gerson natione Gallus, Cancellarius Parisiensis, Petri de Aliaco Cardinalis Cameracensis …lim discipulus, vir in divini… scripturis eruditissimus, & seculatis Philosophiae non ignarus, ingenio subtilis, sermone Scholasticus, sententia certus & stabilis consilio cautus & dubiorum clarissimus interpres, vita & conversatione insignis, Theologorum sui temporis longè princeps. Trithem. de Script. Eccles. Johannes Gerson Cancellarius Parisiensis quòd in Consilio Constantiensi emendationem Ecclesiae Romanae plurimis rationibus proposuerat, dissoluto Concilio, domo, patria, dignitatibus, &c. spoliarus, & à Pontifice pulsus Lugduni consenuit, ibique mortuus est. Anno Aera Christi 1429. Calvis. Chronol. Vir doctus & pius. Bellarm. de Scripti Eccles. Joannes Gerson Cancellarius Parisiensis & …amosissimus sua aetate Theologus. Is Caroli septimi temporibus regius ad Constantiense Consilium Orator auctoritate sua & doctrinae opinione pernicerat, ut multa in eo salutaria & memorabilia insererentur, indeque re bene ad Dei gloriam & decus regni gesta reversus, doctoris Christianissimi non solum apud nos, sed inter exteras nationes summo consensu nomen meruerat. Thuan. Hist. Tomo quinto parte secunda, l. 137. Le plus grand theologien que nous cusmes iamais en France, fut maistre Jean Gerson qui florit sous le regne de Charles sixiesme. Pasquier de Recherch. de la France, lib. 3. pag. 44. Vide Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. l. 15.A Divine of Paris right famous, he was present at the Councell of Constance, and in books written he commendeth highly the Decree whereby it is agreed that the Bishop of Rome should be subject to the Counsell. And saith the thing is worthy to be written in all Churches and publick places, for a perpetuall memory. For he saith they are pestilent flatterers which bring this Tyranny into the Church, as though the Bishop of Rome ought neither to obey the Counsell, nor be judged by the same, as though the Counsell should take all its force and authority from him, as though it could not be called but at his pleasure, as though he were bound to the observation of no Laws, nor no accompt might be taken of his doings. These monstrous sayings must be utterly rejected, which are against all Laws equity and reason. For all the authority of the Church dependeth on the generall Counsell, and it is lawfull to appeal from the Pope unto it: and those which inquire whether the Bishop of Rome or the Church be greater, make as wise a question as if they should ask whether the part be more, or the whole, for it appertaineth to the Counsell, to constitute, to judge, and to depose the Bishop of Rome, as lately it was declared at Constance. Sleid. Comment. l. 1.
The greatest Learned man of his time, and the only Doctor and leader of the Councell of Constance. B. Jewels Pref. to his Defence of his Apol.
He was counted a subtill Disputer and profound School-Doctor, and for his Wisdom and Learning was thought worthy to be the Director of all the Bishops in the Councell of Constance, that is, all the Bishops of the world. Jewels Def. of his Apol. part. 4. c. 15.
The Learned and devout Chancellor of Paris. B. Bedell Waddesw. lett. p. 107.
He wrote a Book de auferibilitate Papa ab Ecclesia, intimating that it is in the power of a Generall Councell to cast the Pope out of his place, and to choose another.
He was singularly acquainted with temptations, and wrote a Book De variis Diaboli tentationibus. He was sirnamed Doctor Christianissimus.
Stephanus Paschasius in his Icones hath these verses of him,
Quid potuit Sorbona; doces meritissimè Gerso;
Magni Gerso luxque, decusque chori?
His Works are Printed in four Volumes, his French Works are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque.
Conradus Gesnerus. He was born at Zurick the chief Town of the Helvetians, Anno Christi 1516.Tigurinorum decus immortale. Casaub. in Athen. l. 7. c. 18. Germaniae nostrae Plinius Conradus Gesuerus. Alsted. Encyclopaed. l. 32. c. 5. Vir longissima vitâ dignissimus, & quam exegiste videbitur iis, qui aetatem ejus ex librorum, quos plutimos ac utilissimos confecit, industriâ suâ illustravit & editit, non ex annorum, quos vixit, numero metientur. His accessit praeter doctrinam, quae in co …timia fuit, incredibile juvandae reipublicae litterariae studium, quo usque ad ultimum vitae spiritum flagravit. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 2. l. 36.
He was scarce 49 years old when he died. He died Anno Christi 1565.
Neander in the first part of his Geography highly commends him, especially for those three Works, his Historia Annimalium, and Stirpium, and Bibliotheca.
Verè sanctissimus, doctissimus, omnibusque numeris absolutissimus, & totius Europae ornamentum. Zanch. Epist. l. 2. Bulling.
Nobilis ejus fama, quam praeclaris scriptis suis sibi peperit, jampridem in omnes Orbis provincias emanarit. Waseri ad Mithridatem Gesneri Commentarius.
Caius in his Book de Libris propriis, commends him highly, and much bewails his death.
He practised Physick in Zurick and taught Philosophy for a publick stipend 25 years.
Vir pius & omni genere virtutum ornatissimus, omnia naturae arcana perscrutatus, in omni literarum genere, praesertim verò in medicina & Philosophia naturali atque Philologia clarissimas lucubrationes edidit, lumen Germaniae & decus Helvetiae. Boissardi Icones. He mentions his Works.
William Gibieuf Doctor of Sorbonne.
He hath written two Books *Cujus liber Lutetiae prodiit ante triennium Pontifici Romano dicatus, & novem variorum autorum & ordinum approbationibus munitus. Beverov. De Vitae Termino. p. 220. Gilbertus noster artis tam Magneticae quam Medicae scientissimus. Full. Miscel. Sac. l. 4. c. 19. Consulendi sunt qui de Magnete scripserunt, praesertim Gulielmus Gilbertus Glocestrensis Philosophus & medicus Londinensis, qui ante triennium tres amplissimos Commentarios de ea re edidit, quibus magis mihi probavit doctrinam suam quam Magnetis naturam Nam incertior sum, quam dudum. Jos. Scalig. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 200. Quidam Anglus ante triennium libro de Magnete edito, nihil dignum expectatione ea, quam excitarat, protulit. Scalig. Epist. Casaub.De libertate Dei & Creaturae, which are often cited by Bishop Davenant and others.
Obertus Gifanius.
Vir eruditissimus, mihique obraras excellentissimi ingenii dotes carissimus. Jos. Scal. Com. in Copam.
He hath published
Observationes in Linguam Latinam.
Gulielmus Gilbertus, an English man.
He hath written a painfull and an experimentall Work, touching the Loadstone. Bac. Advancem. of Learning, l. 2. c. 13.
That admirable searcher of the nature of the Loadstone, Dr Gilbert, by means of whom, and of Dr Harvey, our Nation may claim, even in this later age, as deserved a Crown for solid Philosophical Learning, as for many ages together it hath done formerly, for acute and subtill speculations in Divinity. Sir Ken. Digb. Treat. of Bodies, c. 20.
Learned Peireskius was wont to lament, that when he was in England, he was not acquainted with this William Gilbert the Author of the Book de Magnete, nor Thomas Lydiat the famous Mathematician. Gassend. de Vita Peiresk. l. 2.
Gassendus l. 4. de vita Peiresk. makes honourable mention of his Book de Magnete p. 378.
We had not any certain or satisfactory knowledge of Magneticall properties, untill such time as it pleased God to raise up one of our Countrymen, Dr Gilbert, who to his evelasting praise hath troden out a new path to Philosophy, and on the Loadstone erected a large Trophy to commend him to posterity. Carpent. Geog. first Book, chap. 3. See more there.
Pet. Gillius, a most Learned man, Aquitanus.
Duo magna hujus saeculi lumina, Petrus Gillius & Gulielmus Philander. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 4. l. 82. Vide Thuan. Hist. Tom. 1. l. 16.
Sylvester Giraldus, a man elegantly Learned for those times.
Sylvester Giraldus Cambrensis, a Britain by birth,Sylvester Giraldus, vir suo seculo inter literatos non parvi precii; scripsit topographiam totius Hiberniae. Lel. Comment. In cygneam Cantionem. though by descent rather an Englishman or a Norman, as he makes himself, but a very Learned man for those times.
There is published of his Itinerarium Cambriae cum Annotat. Descriptio ejusdem, & De rebus Hybernicis.
Victor Giselinus.
Besides divers Poems, he wrote Learned Notes upon Prudentius the Christian Poet, Notes and a Chronology upon the Works of Sulpitius Severus.
Vir Nobilissimi generis, & in utroque jure eruditus. Balem De Script. Britan. Cent. 3.Ranulphus Glanvile de Glanvilla, Chief Justice in the reign of King Henry the 2d, wrote Learnedly and profoundly of part of the Laws of England.
He wrote a Book De Legibus & consuetudinibus Regni Anglia.
Henricus Glareanus, an excellent Mathematician.
He hath written well of Musick, upon Livy, Salust, and divers other Works.
Salomon Glassius, a Learned Lutheran, and the great ornament of Germany for sacred Philology.Theologus longè meritissimus, & Interpres Scripturae felicissimus. Dilher. Disput. Acad. Tom. 2.
His Christologia Mosaica. Philologia Sacra, and other Works are very Usefull.
Rodolphus *Ut…iusque literaturae peritissimus, stilo cum primis felici, sive ipsam orationem tractet, sinc metri legibus astrictam, Philosophicae rei non vulgariter doctus, moribus incorruptis, spectataeque integritatis. Erasm. Epist. l. 12. Epist. 30. Vide etiam l. 17. Epist. 7. & 12. ejus elogium.Goclenius.
He hath written Learnedly of divers subjects in Humanity. Many of his Works are mentioned in the Oxford Catalogue.
Conradus Goclenius.
He was first Professor of the Latine tongue at Lovain.
Annos ipsos XX. quibus publicè professus est, auditoribus suis adeo gratus fuit, ut eos nec assiduitate, satiarit unquam, nec diuturnitate lassarit. Aub. Mir. Elog. Belg.
Fr. Godwin, Bishop of Landaff.
His Rerum Anglicarum Annales: and his Tract De Praesulibus Angliae shew his Learning.
Thomas Godwin. His Roman and Jewish Antiquities are very usefull.
Damianus A Goes Lusitanus.
Lusitanus, non Belga fuit, ut ait Cornelius Callidius Batavus Biblioth. Hispan. secunda Classis Lusitanorum, Tom. 3.It happened to him as to Homer heretofore for the excellency of his wit, severall Cities strove for his birth, as those of Paris would have Christophorus Longolius to be theirs, the Romans challenged him for theirs, those of the Low-Countries for theirs, because of his great Eloquence.
Clarissimus vir Dominus Golius Arabicae linguae & Mathematum Professor in Academia Leydensi excellentissimus. Specimen Arab. Johann. Fabric.Jacobus Golius, well skilled in the Orientall Tongues.
Admirabilis ille Arabizantium Phoenix. Hotting. Analect. Histor. Theol.
Cl. V. Jacobus Golius in praestantissimo illo linguae Arab. Thesauro. Pocock. Not. Miscel. in Portam Mosis c. 7.
Vir summus in linguis orientalibus & Mathesi Jacobus Golius Salmas. de Annie Climactericis.
Whom the States of Holland for his excellent skill in the Arabick and Mathematicks, have substituted to two famous Professors of the University, Thomas Erpenius, and Willebrord Snellius.
He travelled into the East, and observed the condition and state of the Eastern people, and got thereby knowledge of the Orientall Languages and affairs, and brought divers Orientall Books thence, which are now at Leyden.
He hath put out lately an excellent Arabick Lexicon.
Cui antiquitas Graeca at Romana secundum O. Panvinum, Antonium Augustinum, Fulvium Ursinum debet plurimum, & qui arte caelandi ac scriptis propriis ad utramque multum contulit. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 3••o l. 79.Hubertus Golthzius, a great Antiquary. Dilher cals his Book De re Antiquaria libellum Aureolum.
Franciscus Gomarus, a Learned and Judicious Divine.
All his Works Exegeticall and Polemicall are published together in one Volume in Folio.
Christopher Goodman *Non vulgare solatium est, quod Knoxus te adjutorem fidissimum & apprime idoneum nactus est. Calvinus Christophoro Goodmanno., a Learned Scotch Divine, and according to his name good and holy.
Abraham *Vir fuit ret antiquariae, ac praesertim nummariae, quâ prisci Romani Graecique Usi, inprimis amans & gnarus; ejusque domus cimelioriorum generis omnis, omnisque adeò antiquitatis fuit quoddam velut receptaculum. Valerii Andrea Bibliotheca Belgica.Gorlay.
He had more then four thousand exquisite Medals of Gold, more then ten thousand of Silver, and more then fifteen thousand of Brasse, all choice ones, Jos. Scal. Lettre au Sieur De Bagar.
There is a Book of his styled Dactyliotheca published.
Jo. Goropius Becanus.
A Physitian, Philosopher and Historian. He obtained an exact knowledge of the Hebrew, Greek and Latine. Divino planè vir ingenio, qualem vix singulae aetates ferant, seu Philosophiam, seu Philologiam (in utraque enim ad miraculumusque excelluit) tractaret; ut seculi sui Varro nominari meritò potuerit. Auberti Miraei Elogia Belgica. Castellani Vitae Medic. Illust.
Dionysius Gothofredus, an excellent Lawyer.Secull hujus Papinianus Dionysius Gothofredus. Cujus eruditissimè Docti viri notas in Jus Civile universum, amaenitatibus Philologicis perspersas, tota suspicit Respublica litteraria. Dilh. Disputat. Acad. Tom. 2.
He hath written short Notes upon all the Civil Law, and all Tullies Works.
He hath written also upon Seneca, and Notes ad Varronem Festum & Nonnium.
Jacobus Gothofredus his sonne.
He wrote first de Ecclesiis Suburbicariis.
He set out some Orations of Libanius with Notes, and his Oration de Juliano.
William Gouge Doctor of Divinity, a Learned and Pious Divine.
He was counted (whilst he lived) the Father of the London Ministers. A good Text-man, as his Whole Armour, Exposition of the Hebr. Exposition of the Lords Prayer, and other Learned Works shew him to be; and he is often Honourably mentioned by Voetius, Streso, and other outlandish Divines.
He was eminent for three graces, his Humility, Patience and Faith.
He would begin his prayer very audibly and distinctly, which was the more commendable, because of his great Congregation at Blackefriers.
Sim. Goulartius, a Learned and godly French Minister.
There is his Morum Philosophia Historica, Annos LXXXV. vixit. LX. totos foreign ministerio sacro functus est fidelissimè & constantissimè. Laboris erat indefessi, candoris incomparabilis, sanctissimae in acerbissimis, qua publicis, qua primatis dolocibus ferendis patientiae exemplum. Walaei Epist. Walaeo Turretinus.and Histoires admirables de nostre temps, and other Tracts, mentioned in the Appendix of Oxford Catalogue.
Joannes Goverus, sive Gouerus *Ita ille in doctis studiis florentes adolescentiae suae annos exegit, ut inter nobiles Anglos, literatos quidem illos, suae aetatis facilè antesignanus fuerit. Ante ejus aetatem, Anglica lingua inculta & ferè tota rudis jacebat. Nec erat qui opus aliquod vernaculo idiomate elegante lectore dignum, scriberer. Patrio multa scripsit sermone, non solùm rhythmis, verùm etiam soluta oratione, quae vel hoc nostro florentissimo tempore à doctis studiose leguatur. Balaus De Script. Britan. Cent. 7., a Learned English Knight, and Poet Laureate.
Hic nomen suum extulit partim iis quae & Gallicè & eleganter Anglicè elaboravit. Sane is & Gualterus Chaucerus primi Anglicam linguam expolire caeperunt. Vossius de Histor. Lat. l. 3. c. 3.
Jo. Grammaticus.
Insignis Orator, qui ut Leonardus Aretius dictitabat, primus in Italia studium eloquentiae caepit reparare, jam tum unà cum Imperii Romani majestate prorsus fere deperditum. Albert. Descript. Ital. in Romanula.He hath written upon divers books of Aristotle, and de Differentiis Linguarum; and other Works.
Saxo Grammaticus.
Historiam scripsit libris XVI. in qua non pauea sunt fabulosa. Tanta ejus dictionis elegantia, ut aetatis illius captum planè excedat: imò cum antiquorum, & nostri seculi plurimis certer. Vossius De Histor. Lat. l. 2. c. 54.He was called Grammaticus for his elegancy in the Latine Tongue.
He hath written the History of the Danes in very elegant Latine for those times.
Lud. Granatensis.
His Works are in three Tomes.
He hath written
De ratione Concionandi.
De frequenti Communione.
Sylva locorum Communium.
Dux peccatorum.
De Officio Pastorali.
Catechismus, sive Introductionis ad Symbolum Fidei libri quatuor: and other Works.
Dr Edward Grant.
He was one of the Learned Schoolmasters of Westminster.
Camden was his Usher.
He hath put out a Greek Grammer, styled Gracae Linguae spicilegium, which Camden hath contracted.
He hath also published Aschams Epistles and Poems, with his Life and Death.
Conradus Graserus.
He went some miles to the Jews to understand some Hebrew words. Vide ejus ultima verba, p. 31. in Praef.
Exquisitissimus ille ac divinitus aetate nostra excitatus antichristo-mastix juxta & doctrinae Christianae propugnator Conradus Graserus Francus. Iud. Croc. in Ficin. De Relig. Christ. c. 27.
Aurei Commentarii eruditissimi Graseri in Apocalypsin & Danielem. Id. ibid.
Franc. Gratianus. 1170.
Gratianus Decreta. Pontificum Romanorum in unum volumen primus congeslerat circa annum Domini 1040. Mirum quod Decretorum opus ad usum forensem, ac quaestiones & lites illo saeculo vexatas praesertim ac commodatum, causam & argumentum praebuit, ut Pontifices Romani deinceps quaedam alia decreta conderent, quae & ipsa posteà à Gregorio nono Pontifice Romano circa annum Domini 1230. in unum quoque corpus ac volumen pluribus libris distinctum sunt Collecta & Decretalia nominata. Pezel. Mellif. Hist. Circa. annum MCLVII. sub Eugenio tertio Gratianus Monachus Bononiensis, Juris Valde peritus, composuit librum Decreti praesertim ex Canonibus Conciliorū, Scriptis Patrum Latinorum Graecorum que & Constitutionibus Pontificum, quas vel soli vel cum consilio Cardinaliū edebant, quibus & aliquas Leges Caesareas adjiciebat; & praeter haec ipse Rubricas addidit, multa que dicta sua interseruit, Horum omnium Authoritas adhuc Controversa est, cum Gratianus saepe errare deprehendatur, in recitandis canonibus Conciliorum, dictis Patrum, & Pontificum Constitutionibus, aliterque se habere plurima reperiuntur in ipsis fontibus è quibus Gratianus haec desumpsit; de Rubricarum verò fide & dictorum Grariati omnes derogant, quod Gratianus homo privarus Logis fetendae potestatem habere non potuit. Dr Duck De Author. Jur. Civ. Roman. l. 1. c. 7. Vide Illyr. Catul. Tom. Verit. l. 15.A Monk of Bononia, he compiled the book called The Popes Decrees, or The Canon Law.
Also his brother Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris, which is called The Master of the Sentences, compiled his 4 Books of the Sentences. These two brethren were the greatest doers in finding out and establishing the blinde opinion of the Sacrament, that the only similitude of Bread and Wine remained, but not the substance of them, and this they call the Spirituall understanding of the Mystery.
Guilhelmus Gratarolus, an excellent Philosopher and Physitian.
Et verè pius, & bene doctus peritusque medicus. In Patria ea & sua honoratus erat & dives, solá pietas illum reddidit pauperem. Zanch. Epist. lib. 2. Justo Vulteio.
There are severall of his Works published, mentioned by Boissard.
One de Conservanda Valetudine Literatorum.
Gratius the Faliscian.Gratius poeta Augusti aevo floruit, deque venatione scripsit. Voss. l. 1. de Analog. c. 34.
An antient Latine Poet, contemporary with Virgill and Ovid, who bore an high esteem in that pure age, when the greatest Wits flourished, and Poetry underwent the severest Judges.
His style is every where concise, chast, and florid.
His Book De Venatione is now Englished by Mr Wase.
Ovid speaks of him, Aptaque venanti Gratius arma daret.
Johannes Gravius, a Learned Oxonian.
Elementa Linguae Persicae.
Anonymus Persa de Siglis. Arabum & Persarum Astronomicis.
Epochae Arabum Celebriores, and his other Works shew his Abilities.
The Lady Jane Gray.
She was both Learned and Religious.
Ascham in his Epist. and Schoolmaster, and divers others commend her for her Learning.
He saith when he came to her once, whilst others were hunting and following their pleasures, he found her reading Platos Phaedon, and that she understood it so,Sic loquitur & scribit Graecè, ut vera referenti vix sides adhiberi possit. Asch. Ep. l. 1. Sturmio, that he admired her.
No marvell if she were well skilled in the Greek.
Miraris Janam Graio sermone valere?
Quo primum natae est tempore, Graia suit.
Ingenium, Graiis dedit ere rotundo
Musa loqui.— Horat.
Richard Greenham, an eminent and experienced Divine.See Perkins.
His Works are in one Volume.