Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 2 · Chapter 9

Treatise of Religion and Learning · Book 2 · Chapter 9

p. 75CHAP. IX. Of the Vniversities of Italy.

ITaly is the most noble Region of Europe, and is commonly called,Singulari Dei beneficio evenit, ut Turcis Graeciam opprimentibus, viri artium & utriusque linguae cognitione praestantes, in Italiam exulatum, venirent, ibique turum sibi & musis receptum quaeterent. Quibus Florentiae, Venetiae, Roma, Ticinum & Mediolanum, hospitium & commodum docendi locum praebuere. Primúsque omnium fuit Emmanuel Chrysoloras, Byzantius. Cui successere Georgius Trapezuntius, Theodorus Gaza, Thessalonicensis, Johannes Argyropylus Byzantinus, Demetrius Chalcocondyles, & Johannes Lascares Athenientes, & Maurus Musurus Cretensis. Horum beneficio Musae Graecae primùm in Italiam sunt deductae: et paulò post eriam Alpes in Galliam & Germaniam transvolarunt. Gregorius etiam Typhernas, è Chrysolorae Schola profectus, omnium primus Lutetiae Graecas literas publitè docuit eique Hieronymus Spartia…a Graecus successit: cujus auditores Johannes Capnio Suevus, & Erasmus Roterodamus Belga culturam istarum primi ad Germanos transtulerunt, studióque & opera sua in Germania superiore late sparserunt. Làurent Rhodoman. Orat. De Lingua Graeca. its beautifull Garden.

The Italians do maintain, cherish, and honour Scholars, and are good Maecenasses to them. Hence there are so many Universities in Italy, as Rome, Venice, Padua, Bononia, Ferrara, Millan, Pavia, Turim, Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Medena, Naples, Salern.

Here flourished the famous Oratours, Cicero, Hortensius and Antonius; the renowned Historians Livie, Tacitus and Salust; the memorable Poets, Virgil, Ovid, Catullus, Tibullus and Propertius; Plautus and Terence the Comedians; the Satyrists, Horace, Juvenal and Persius, Aeneas Silvius afterwards Pope Pius the 2^d, Marsilius Patavinus, Petrarch, Angelus Politianus, Rodolphus Volaterranus, Picus Mirandula, Guido Bonatus, Ariosto and Tasso, Sixtus Senensis, Bellarmine, Baronius, were Italians.

Rome.

It was so named from Romulus who layed thereof the first foundation.De Romanae urbis amplitudine consulito Geogium Fabritium in sua Roma & Onuphrium Panuinium l. 1. Commentariorum Reipublicae Romanae Constantin. L' Emp. Not. in Benjaminem.

Nauclerus writeth, that Vrbane the 4^th of that name, being Pope, was much grieved to see the course of Studies in the Roman Academy intermitted, and all good discipline neglected: wherefore immediately he caused to be sent for that famous and most learned Clerk Thomas of Aquine, to direct and govern it, who setting aside all care and respect of worldly promotion, applied his minde wholly to reform, restore and adorn the fame: during which time, at the Popes intreaty he did write many excellent Commentaries upon divine and humane Philosophy. Pope Innocent the 4^th ratified this University. Pope Clement the 5^th in a Councel held at Vienna, ordained, That at Rome, or wheresoever the Pope in person should be p. 76resident, the Hebrew, Chaldee and Arabick tongues should publickly be taught. Pope Eugenius the 4^th much adorned this Academy.

Aelian, Gregory the great, Aulus Gellius, Laurentius Valla, Aldus Manutius, and his sonne, Antonius Sabellicus were Romans. There is a Book of Andrew Schots De viris illustribus urbis Romae. Porphyrius apostata è Tyro huc venit ad Plotinum infignem professorem. Severus Imperator bonorum studiorum gratia ex Aphrica Romam quoque venit. Swertii Athenae Belgicae. Aurelius Augustinus Carthagine professionis causa Romam venit, & Alypius ut jus Civile ibi addisceret. Divus quoque Hieronmus hic docuit, & Damasi Pontificis jussu Psalterium correxit. Id. ibid.Pope Nicholas the 5^th, being himself a learned Prelate, highly favouring all learned men, did more labour in repairing and beautifying this glorious Academy then any of his Predecessours.

Pope Leo the 10^th exhibited liberal pensions to several learned men, which by their pains and industry upheld the glory of this renowned Academy. He sent into Turky for John Lascaris, who robbing all the Heathen Universities of their best and worthiest Authors, did therewith plentifully furnish and adorn the Roman Libraries.

Sixtus the 4^th builded in the Vaticane that famous and renowned Library, called Palatina.

Venice.

Italy is the face of Europe, Venice the eye of Italy.

Urbs extructa in mari Adriatico, complexa in circuitu ecto miliatia Italica, potentissima, & multis nominibus per totum terrarum orbem famigeratissima. Neand. Geog. part. 1. Mitto miraculum urbis, omnium urbium quae unquam fuerint pulcherrimae, sed urbis velut insularis, omnibus tamen viis ac regionibus subternavigabilis, Classemque, Xerxis verius, quam fixam aedificiis urbem referentis. Veneti Opifices, quamvis Graecarum Latinarumque literarum rudes & imperiti tantum Arithmeticae, tantum Geometriae usum habent, ut libres de Arithmetica deque Geometria subtilissimos conscribant. Itaque Veneti professores Eloquentiae, Philosophiae, Medicinae, Jurisprudentiae Patavinam Academiam jampridem celeberrimam fecerunt. Rami. Schol. Mathem. lib. 3.Georgìus Fabricius in itinere suo Romano, hath these verses of it.

Vrbs Venetum foecunda viris veneranda Senata,

Pro portis illi est Nereus, pro moenibus aequor.

Vnum collectum mundum miramur in urbem,

Quicquid habet tellus, aequora quicquid habent.

Many men excellently learned in Rhetorick, Philosophy and Theology, have there flourished and professed.

Johannes Rovennas taught in Venice, from whom issued many excellent wits, which restored Schools and Discipline.

After the Latine Tongue was again restored, Emmanuel Chrysoloras began to teach the Greek.

Many other singular Scholars have taught and lived in this City, as Hermolaus **Hermolaus Barbarus non minus rerum publicarum usu, quam eruditione praeditu…. Insignem ejus doctrinam cum in Latinis, tum Graecis literis monumenta scriptorum quae reliquit abundè testantur: Patriae nomen profectò mirifice illustravit. Leand Albert. Descrip. tot. Ital. in Venet. Aloysius Lippomanus antistes Veronensium, literis & virtutibus insignis homo qui Catenam auream in Vetus Testamentum elegantissimam composuit. Id. ibid. Genuerunt Venetiae Casparem Contarenum virum optimum ac doctissimum, qui à Paulo III. Pont. max. Cardinalium ordini allectus est, & legationem Bononiensem gessit, ubi supremum vitae explevit diem anno post C. N. M D X L II. Doctissimus & ipse erat, & doctorum alter Maecenas. Ita Petrum Bembum quem Paulus quoque III. Pont. in Cardinalium Collegium ob insignem virtutem adoptavit, de cujus ornatu ac elegantia tam in sermonibus quam scriptis, neque solum Latinis & Graecis, verum etiam vernaculis, quae jam Europa tota legit & admiratur, multa profectò dicere possemus, sed in alium locum quicquid ejus est rejicere cogimur. Mortem obiit Romae summo cum dolore litteratorum anno post C. N. M D X L V I I. Leand. Albert. ibid. Vide plura ibid. pag. 807, 808, 809.Barbarus, Guarinus Varonensis, Leonardus Justinianus, Anthonius Mancinellus, John Baptista Egnatius, Calius Secundus Curio, Peter Bembus, Gaspar Contarenus, Aldus Manutius, and Paulus his son.

Bessarion Cardinal of Rome and Patriark of Constantinople, bestowed 30000 Crowns on a Library, which he caused to be erected in Venice, which afterward the Dukes thereof exceedingly augmented and adorned.

p. 77Petrus de Assasio, Master Bartholus the famous Civil Lawyer builded in this Academy Collegium pietatis, for the education of poor mens children, and such Orphanes, as should happen in the street at any time to be taken up.

Padua.

This City is famous for Livie a most eloquent and wise writer, who hath written the History of the people of Rome in fourteen Decads. The City it self,Patavium

—Doctiloquis sedes aptissima Musis,Nathan. bytraeus in itinere Veneto.

Magna loco, spaciosa foro, placidissima coeli

Temperie, muróque triplex latissima fossis,

Et magnis celebrata viris.

The University was established anno 1220. It is famous for Physicians, who have here a Garden of Simples.Orti hinc inclyti viri quam plurimi, quorum è numeto veteris memoriae gloria T. Livius historicorum Peinceps fuit, Scripsit Historiae Romanae 140. libros arte & elegantia tanta, prorsus ut nec aetas superior, neque tota posteritas non modo potiorem, sed ne parem quidem ullum habuerit scriptorem. Franciscus Zabarella summus Jurisconsultus, uti litterarum monumenta ejus testantur. Leand. Albert. Descript. Ital. Vide plura ibid.

Leander writeth, that in Padua is a free and publick Academy, wherein all Studies and Sciences universally are professed: erected by Frederick the 2^d in contempt of the Bononian Students.

There is no City in Italy, which for beauty and statelinesse of Edifices, may with this place worthily be paragomed.

Patavinus a minorite Frier, who wrote so learnedly in behalf of the Emperour against the Pope, and Francis Zaborella the Civilian, Maginus the Geographer, and divers others lived here.

Bononia.

It is the chief University of Italy, and the retiring place of the Popes.

This University was first founded (say some) when Theodosius swayed the Scepter of the Roman Empire, though others doubt of it.Gymnasium totius Europae antiquissimum atque celebratissimum. Melch. Ad. Bononiae vel ipsum nomen praecipuum laeritiae gratulationisque fructum nobis artulit. Rami. Epist. Senat. in Bonon. Praedicabile in primis illud, & gloriandum videbatur, universae Italiae consensu singularis doctrinae gloriam vestrae civitati concessam esse. Nam velut in aliquo laudum certamine principes Italiae civitates inter se contendissent, ita suam cuique quatenus vicerat palmam contigisse: indeque Romam sanctam, Venetias opulentas, Florentiam lepidam, Mediolanum celebre, Bononiam doctam appellari. Id. ibid. Bononiam equidem unicè amo coloque non solùm quia me professorem optaverit, sed multo maxime, quia una inter doctissimas Italiae Academias: Consensu omnium omnis doctrinae laude princeps habeatur. Ergo Bononia doctis professoribus semper excelluit semperque floruit: hinc praesentia ornamenta Bononiensis Academiae, Sigonius Orator, Cardanus Medicus, Papius Jureconsultorum, Crassus Scaevolaque. Rami Scholae Mathem. lib. 3. Ubi Latinae linguae atque eloquentiae professor fuit Carolus sigonius Mutinensis, doctrinae vir singularis atque mirabilis, qui praeter plurima alia in fastos & triumphos Romanorum, id est in universam historiam Romanam scripsit valde eruditos commentarios. De Repub. l. 4. & plurima ali…. Leander in sua Rom… scribit Bononiae in Templo Divi Dominici asservari Biblia in albo corio ipsa manu Esdrae scripta. Neand. Geog. part. 1.

Pope Gregory the 9^th, Pope Boniface the 8^th, and Pope John the 23. writing sundry learned Treatises, did dedicate them all to this University.

Pope Clement the 5^th in a Councel held at Vienna, decreed, That besides the study of all the liberal Arts, the Hebrew, Arabick and Chaldean Languages should be there publickly taught.

The Civil Law is much studied here, insomuch that from hence proceeded the famous Civilians.

Johannes Andreas professed in this Academy the Law with great fame and estimation.

Az… that bright shining lamp of Learning was here also a publique Professour of the Civil Law.

Jo. Antonius Maginus was publick Professour of the Mathematicks.

Here also taught Bartholus and Accursius.

Of the learned Divines, Philosophers, Lawyers, both of the Civil and Canon-Law, Orators and Poets, the learned Physicians, Historians, Musicians, Arithmeticians p. 78of Bononia, See Leand. Albert. Descript. Ital. in Roma, pag. 514, 515, 516.

Ferrara.

Antonius Becarius Scodraus Episcopus ordinis Praedicatorum Monachus, vir apprimè doctus, uti scriptorum ejus monumenta testantur Felinus quoque Sandaeus Episcopus, qui multa de Pontificio jure pereruditè scripta reliquit, Ferrariae genitus est, item que Hieronymus Savenarola praedicatorum ordinis Monachus, eximia vir doctrina nec minoris vitae sanctitate, integritatéque, sicut opera posteritati relicta probant. Floruit circa 1497. Christo nato annum. Ludovicus Ariostus Ferratiensis mirabilem planè ingenii facultatem in Orlan…o Furioso demonstravit, plurimorum excellentium Poetarum inventionibus, praecipuéque Virgilii tam commodè ac luculenter ad institutum adhibitis, ut non fabulae confictae, sed vetae rerum narrationes & historiae videantur. In eodem illorum Catalogo qui Ferrariam illustrarunt, Caelius Calcagnimus fuit, in patria Canonicus, ingenii splendote summo, & Latinis Graecisque litteris apprimè eruditus, Orator juxta ac Poëta elegantissimus, ut litterarum monumentis est testatus. Nunc adhuc urbem hanc Lilius Gregorius Gyraldus nobilitat. assiduus scriptor, & Graecae linguae interprès, ingenii acerrimi. Paucissimos aetate nostra cum eo comparari Graecarum Latinarumque litterarum scientia posse equidem absque adulatione censemus: memoriaque praeterea tam est tenaci, ut quod semel legerit, ejus eum perpetuò recordari posse arbitter. Ornat jam quoque Ferrariam Latinis Poëmatis Ludovicus Bigus, item elegantissimis orationibus editis Alexander Guarinus, praeterea Gaspar Sardus eximius historicus. Leand. Alb. Descript. tot. Ital. in Romanula.Volateranus writeth that Salicet was in the year of Christs Nativity 1316. sent for by Albertus Duke of Ferrara, to institute a common School in this City, which was afterward confirmed and priviledged by Pope Boniface the eighth, and exceedingly augmented by the bounty and liberality of the succeeding Princes of Este.

Sundry learned Writers have proceeded from this Academy, as Felinus Sammaeus, the Interpreter of the Canon-Law, Andraeas Alciatus, Theodorus Gaza, Alexander Guarinus, Caelus Calcanimus, to whom Rhodiginus dedicated his book of four and twenty ancient readings, Baptista Gnavinus, and Nocholaus Leonicenus, Peter Bembus his master, Johannes Manardus, Lilius Gyraldus, Alexander Sardus, Angelus Aretinus the famous Lawyer.

Millan.

This City is one of the greatest of Europe, it is seven miles in circuit.

It hath by long and ancient custom enjoyed a free and publick University.

It was very famous in Virgils time, who studied there, as some write.

Demetrius Cydonius born in Thessalonica, forsaking his native Countrey, came to Millan, Virgilius Maro ibi litteris operam dedit. Hermolaus, Barbarus, Georgius▪ Merula, Caelius Rhodiginus, Erycius Puteanus, omnes praestantissimi viri in hac Academia floruerunt. Swertii Athena Belgicae. Vide Leand. Albert. Descriptor Ital. in Lombardia. Transpadanae urbs Mediolanum clara Ambrosio Episcopo, cujus opera Theologica varia & ferè descripta ac conversa de veterum: Graecorum Theologorum libris & Commentariis, quod planum sit & perspicuum conferenti ex emendatione & recognitione Erasmi in Tomos quatuor distincta, Basilca excusa sunt. Neand. Geog. parte 1^a.where he studied first the Latine Tongue, and afterward Divinity, during which time he translated the books of Thomas of Aquine into Greek.

The great ornaments of Millan were Ambrose, Hermolaus Barbarus, Caelius Rhodiginus, and Hierom Cardane, that great Mathematician and learned Doctor of Physick, and Alciate.

Pavia, or Papia.

Paplensis sive Ticinensis Academia an. 1561.It is so called from its great affection to the Popes, seated on the River Ticinus. It was anciently called Ticinum.

The University there is thought to have been erected by Charles the Great, not long after Paris: for this Emperour zealously affecting the propagation of Christian Religion, sent unto this City one of those Priests, which came to him into France out of England, from venerable Bede, crying out in all places, that they carried about them wisdom to sell, at which time began first the Institution of this Academy.

In this place did Baldus reade his latest Lectures, for he died, and was buried in the Covent of the Friers minorites.

p. 79Turin a City of P…ont.

A goodly University was here erected by the Dukes of Savoy, Taurinum.which excelled all other Italian Academies, for their perfection in Typography, or the Art of Printing. Erasmus Roterodamus did in this University proceed Doctor of Divinity, where he after became a publick Professour of the same.

Florence in Hetruria, or Tuscia flos urbium Italicarum.

It exceeds all the Italian Cities in beauty.

Cosmo de Medices erected here an University.Vide Rami Praef. Mathem. tertia. Florentini fuere Leo Albertus, Dantes Algerius cum Francisco Petrarcha. Doctrinam uttiusque summam eorum scripta satis indicant. Matthaeus Palmerius qui supplementum. Temporum Eusebio edidit, librosque de vita Civili 4^or conscripsit, Facius Vbertus insignis Geographus & Poeta laureatus. Joannes Carolus Ex sodalitate praedicatorum, qui multas illustrium hominum sui ordinis vitas candido jucundoque stylo condidit. Marsilius Ficinus merito dictus Platonicus ob opera Platonis è Graeco in Latinum versa. Petrus Crinitus, qui libros de honesta voluptate cum erudite, tum eleganter scripsit. Leand. Albert. Descript. totius Italiae in Thuscia. Academiam habet Florentia apud omnes Europae populos celebratissimam. Fundamenta ejus jecit Cosmus Medices, Pater Patriae appellatus. Coeptam magno studio auxit praeclaris Avi sui vestigiis insistens, Laurentius Magnus, Princeps Florentinus: quo duce Homerum in Italiam venisse scribit Epistola ad ipsum Marcilius Ficinus: ab eodem cum Joanne Argyropylo, Demetrio Chalcondila, Pico, Angelo Politiuno, aliisque doctissimis viris, Florentiam evocatis. Merula. Cosmog. part. 2. l. 4. He caused to be sent for into Florence Argyrophilus a Grecian born, and at that time in the studies of Rhetorick and Philosophy singularly learned, to the end that the youth of Florence might by him be instructed in the Greek Tongue, and the Liberal Sciences. He entertained also in his house Marcilius Ficinus a Platonick Philosopher, him he entirely loved.

This Academy was afterward by Lawrance De Medices his sons sonne, finished and brought to a full, absolute and flourishing perfection. This Laurence was a great lover of good Letters, he held Marsilius Ficinus (whom his grandfather had caused to come to Florence) in great esteem. He nourished in his house that excellent Scholar Angelus Politianus, who in his youth did first make the Grecian Poet Homer speak in the Latine Tongue.

He entertained with liberal pensions and exhibitions, Demetrius Chalcondylas, Florentinus etiam fuit Franciscus Guiccardinus eruditissimus, ac facundissimus scriptor, qui tum alia scripsit, tam etiam sui temporis historiam elucubravit libris trigima. Neand. Geog. part. 1.Picus Mirandula, and sundry others, much renowned for their singular learning. Pope Paulus the third, although he daily heard in the Roman Academy, Pomponius Laetus, a man excellently learned, yet was he exceedingly desirous to study in the Florentine University, because the Greek and Latine Tongues, together with the other Arts, were there professed with greatest sincerity and profoundnesse. This Prince much augmented, and with great cost adorned the Library which his Grandfather Cosmus had erected near the Temple of S^t Mark: from whence of late time have been brought to light many excellent books, which long have lain obscured, and were to be found in no other place of Christendom, as Eusebius Caesariensis, Hierocles, and the works of Clemens Alexandrinus, and others.

Another Library was in this City erected at S^t Laurence his Church, by Pope Clement the seventh.

Pifa.

A University was erected here about the year 1339.

Not long after it began exceedingly to flourish, as appeareth by the many grave and reverend Doctors, which therein received their instruction and education, viz. Pope Eugenius the 3^d. Also Raimerus and Bartholomeus, two deep and profound Scholars of the Order of the Friers Predicants, whereof the one did write that egregious work of Pantheology: the other set forth The Summe of Cases of Conscience.

There have been learned Professours in this University, Felinus Sandaeus, Franciscus Aretinus, who was held to be the most judicious Civil Lawyer of his time.

Bartholus after be had proceeded in Bononia, did in the Pisan Academy (as himself p. 80confesseth) publickly professe the Civil-Law, Cosmo de Medices restored again this Academy, which in … was exceedingly decayed.

After him Laurence his Nephew so much adorned and augmented the same, that Volaterranus and Machiavel name him as the first Founder and Erector thereof.

Sienna.

Academia Senensis. Habet Sena Academiam per celebrem, id est, generale studium, unde & complures magni in re litteraria nominis hactenus prodierunt, & cultiores indies prodeunt. Quod illi civitati cum multis Italiae urbibus commune est, in quibus litterarum studia maximè florent Siquidem ad caeteras foelicitates illa vel praecipua Italiae accedit, quod omnium honarum artium domicilium, non secus ac illa quondam Graecia, jure potest appellari. Biblioth. Hi…p. Sena vulgò Siena claret illustri Academiâ, a…que ob puritatem linguae Tuscanae sive Hetruscae, reliquis omnibus Italiae civitatibus antefertur; qua de causa Nationes etiam exterae, quae studiorum & linguae purioris Italicae addiscendae gratiâ in Italia peregrinantur, hunc locum, p…ae caeteris, ubi aliquandiu commorentur, eligunt, mori quoque fortassis aptima victus ratione, & salubra aeris temporie quâ gaudet. Hentzueri Itinerarium.There is a fair Church here of Marble, in which are the pictures of all the Popes from Peter, and also of Pope Joan, till Baronius caused it to be pulled down.

An University was here long since erected, as appeareth by the authentick testimony of sundry learned Historiographers.

Petrus Ancoranus confesseth, that himself being sent for by the Councell of Sienna, in the year 1357. did in this University three years publickly professe the Civil-Law.

In the time of Pope John the second all manner of studies exceedingly flourished there.

Panormitanus, Paulus Castrensis, Bartholomeus, Socinus, Philippus Decius, Hugo Senensis, and many others of great learning, did adorn this renowned Academy.

In this City was born Aeneas Silvius, who afterward was Pope Pius the 2^d, by whose bounty and benevolence this Academy was adorned with many priviledges. Francis Picolominy, after Pope Pius the 3^d, and Sixtus hence sirnamed Senensis the greatest Scholar of the three, if not of all the age he lived in.

There is a Colledge in it called Domus Sapientiae.

Modena.

When this City was erected, or by whom the University was priviledged, Authors mention not.

Naples.

It is a magnificent and neat City. Philip King of Spain was born there, Virgil the Prince of Poets lived there,Neapolitani fuerunt Alexander ab Alexandro, cujus genialium dierum l. 6. extant varia & erudita doctrina referti, Joannes item Baptista Porta, cujus libri 4 Magiae naturalis, sive de rerum naturalium miraculis in studiosorum manibus reperiuntur. Neand. Geog. part. 1. Livie, Horace, Claudian, Francis Petrarch, Panormitane, Laurentius Valla, Blondus, Bartholomaeus Facius, Nicolaus Saguntinus, all most excellent men, many of them Divines and Philosophers. Here Lucilius the Poet, and Thomas Aquinas flourished.

Salern.

This flourished heretofore in the studies of Physick, being consulted by Richard the first King of England when he went to the Holy Warre, they wrote a good book of preserving health,

Anglorum Regiscribit Schola tota Salerni:

Si vis incolumem, si vis te reddere sanum,

Curas tolle graves, irasci erede profanum

Parce mero, coenato parum, non sit tibi vanum,

Surgere post epulas somnum fuge meridianum.

p. 81Nec mictum retine, nec comprime fortiter annum.

Haec bene si serves, tu longo tempore vives.

By degrees also other Arts were here taught, although now by the injury of time, and by the splendour of other near Academies it be almost obscured.