Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 3 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
ISaac Abarbinel a Jew of great note, both amongst the *Quid Abrabaniel de quo tantopere gloriantur. Constans. L'Empereur. Praefat. ad Benjamin. Itin. Some write his name Abrabaneel, or Abrabaniel, others Abravanel: Calvin, Bacbanel without the A. Circa annum â servatoris nostri nativitate, millesimum & quingentesimum floruit.Jews and Christians. He is the best Expositor of the Jews upon the Text.
His Hebrew Comment upon the Pentateuch and Prophets are much esteemed by those who are so well skilled in the Hebrew, that they are able to make use of them. He hath Commented (say some aIntellexi nuper integrum Abarbinelem in Turcia duobus magnis voluminibus excasum, nactum esse amicum meum, Gualterum Keuchenium. Quod si verum est, est quod sibi gratuletur. Nam liber est summè commendatus. B…xtorfii Biblioth. Rabbin.) upon all the Scripture.
Some Jews of malice study to pervert all Christian Doctrine, as this man Abrabbaneel or Barbanel a Rabbin of great pains and wit, but not of grace, and only to be followed, when he clearly is on our side. H. Broughtons Observat. upon the first ten Fathers.
Robert Abbot, a pious and Learned Bishop.
Tum aliis scriptis suis, tum libro de Antichristo, & altero, de Gratia Dei, & perseverantia Sanctorum, nominis sui memoriam posteritati sempiternam confecravit. Sculter. de Curric. Vitae.His excellent Writings are much esteemed. Some much commend his Book de Antichristo, others his Answer to Bishop, others his Treatise de gratia & perseverantia Sanctorum.
He wrote a most accurate Commentary (in Latine) upon the Epistle to the Romanes, with large Sermons upon every verse, in which he handled, as his Text gave him occasion, all the controverted points of Religion at this day. They who withhold this work from the publick view, as they wrong the Church in generall, so in speciall the City and Cathedrall Church of Worcester, Abel Redivivus.to which he bequeathed it as a kinde of legacy, as the Authours own words in his Dedicatory Epistle to B. Babington printed with his Sermons upon the 110 Psalm import.
Petrus Abelardus, vel ABAELARDVS, a person of great note in his time, contemporary with Bernard.
See Pasquiers Recherch. de la France, l. 6. c. 17.
Two of the verses of his Epitaph are these,
Ille sciens quicquid fuit ulliscibile, vicit
Artifices, artes, absque docente, docens.
Scripsit opera quam plurima in unum volumen edita opera & Studio Francisci Amboesi equitis.
Cosmographus, Ptolomae… ut putatur major & doctior à Postello ex oriente venetias allatus, qui ante annos 300, vixisse & princeps Assyriae, Syriae & Persidis fuisse traditur. Neand. Geog. parte 2da.Abelfoedus a great Cosmographer.
Alphonsus Tostatus, Abulensis Episc. 1430.
Si alio quam suo seculo vivere contigiste…, neque Hipponi Augustinum, neque Scridoni Hieronymum, neque quenquam ex illis proceribus Ecclesiae antiquis nunc invideremus. Episcopus Abulensis ac praeterea Hispaniarum regis Consiliarius, item major referendrius (quae triplex dignitas nec antè, nec postea, unum in hominem collara fuit) praetor vastos illos in Scripturas Commentarios, varia etiam opuscula edidit, interque ea descriptionem terrae Sanctae. Voss. de Historicis Latinis, l. 3. c. 7. Caesareum jus, in Graeca Hebraicaque lingua, in Mathematicis item atque Geographia, sed & in historiis excelluerit: tot ac tanta duo deviginti annorum spatio scripsit, quot ne attentè quidear perlegere aliquis possit. Sacrarum literarum minutissima quaeque: Novum autem Testamentum admirandis Commentatiis explicuit. Possev. Apparat. Sac. Tom. 1.Had he lived in any other age save his own, we should not have needed now to envy either Hippo for Augustine, or Strido for Jerom, nor any other of those ancient noble Worthies of the Church.
Possevine in his Apparatus saith, that at the age of 22 years he attained the knowledge of almost all Arts and Sciences. For besides Philosophy and Divinity, the Canon and Civill Laws, History and the Mathematicks, he was well skilled in Greek and Hebrew.
Hic stupor est mundi, qui scibile discutit omne.
He wrote so many Books and they not ill ones, that the world computed a sheet for every day of his life:Dr. James hic Table of Devinity Books first approved, then censured by Papists part. 4. Tom. 13. Vide Biblioth. Hisp. Tom. 2. Some conceive they meant after he came to the use of reason and the state of a man, others say, he wrote more sheets of paper then he lived daies.
It is related by a very credible Author Fr. Ximenes, Archbishop of Toledo, and Primate of all Spain, that reckoning the daies that he lived, from his first infancy untill his dying day, you shall finde three sheets of paper that he wrote for every day.
He is styled Voluminous Abulensis, or the Voluminous Writer.
Accursius *Florentinus vir magni ingenii & singularis industriae. Primus enim in universum corpus legum, ipsasque singulas leges, Glossus conscripsit. Professus est Bononiae, ubi & sepultus est. Boxhorn. Monum. Illust. vir. & Elog. Tanta est Accursiii Authoritas, ut ex ejus sententia causa judicanda sit, quoties insignis aliquis Interpres ei adhaeret. Dr Duck de Authorit. Jur. Civ. Rom. l. 1. c. 8.: He flourished in the year 1223, or as some say, 1230. He was the first that wrote a Gloss upon all the Civil Law, and as yet the last, saith Genebrard in his Chronology.
Jacobus Acontius, He hath written a book called Stratagemata Satana. Jacobi Acontit nomen è praeclaris ingenii monumentis jampridem orbi notum atque illustre est. Ram. Epist. Iac. Acont. Lectione stratagemum Satanae non solùm, recreatus sum vehementer; sed quibusdam apud nos melioris & notae & licoraturae theologis legendos proposui, qui modestian orationis & disputationis prudentiam mirificè comprobarunt. Id. ib.See Dr Cheinels Triunity.
Adrian the Emperour *Divus Adrianus, cujus nomen non modò latini quidam, sed Graeci quoque nonnulli cum afflatu notant, cum melius ac frequentius sine scribitur, si ab Adriae civitatis nomine deducatur. In antiquitatum elogiis utrunque comperi. Fuisse verò Adrianus ab usque adolescentia Graecarum literarum adeo studiosus traditur, ut vulgò Graeculus appellaretur, ut Aurelius Victor & Spartianus prodidere. Mox rerum summam & imperium adeptus, in Graecia est diutissimè versatus, ut multis in locis ostendit Pausanias. Fuit in pangendis versibus versatus, saepe que non modo cum Philosophis aliisque scriptoribus certavit, sed & carminibus faciendis cum poë is. Ad lacessendum pariter & respondendam, seriis, joco, maledictis acerrimus fuit, & protinus carmen carmini referre, ut prorsus meditatum dictum adversus omnia crederes. Lil. Gyrald. de Poet. Hist. Dial. 5.was a very Learned Prince and Facetious, a great Grecian, he was called by many Graeculus.
Pope Adrian the fourth, an Englishman, he was bred and born at St Albons. Oft times in familiar talk with John of Salisbury his Countryman he used these sentences: To take the Papacy (saith he) is to succeed Romulus in murder,Nicolaus Breckspeare ad culmen Pontificium sub nomine Hadriani 4ti evectus, qui in familiari cum Johanne Sarisburiensi Anglo, amico veteri, colloquio, amice insinuare solebat, Ambire Pontificatum est Romulo succedere in parricidiis, non Petro in pascendis ovibus. Hotting. Hist. Eccles. parte 3tia. cap. 12. and not Peter in sheep-feeding. None is more wretched then the Romish Bishop, neither is any mans condition more miserable then his. Johan. Salisb. de nugis aulicorum, l. 8. His breath was stopt with a fly which entred into his throat.
Pope Adrian the sixth, a poor mans sonne of Vtrecht.
He was a Learned man and Schoolmaster to Charles the 5th, who sent him to Rome to negotiate for him for the Popedom, thinking thereby to sway much if he could get both the Swords; but they chose Adrian, who would not change his name (as the custom is) when he was made Pope. Marcellus Cervinus being elected Pope also retained his name, shewing that his dignity had not changed him. See the Hist. of the Counell of Trent, l. 5. p. 389, 390.
He saith there, that the changing of the Popes names began, because Dutch men were made Popes, to whose names Roman ears were not accustomed, all that followed observed the same use, signifying thereby that they had changed their private affections into publick and divine cares. Platina saith Sergius the 2d was first called Os P…rci, Swines mouth, and because of that filthy name he took the Name of Sergius when he was made Pope, and that that custom continued after, that those which were made Popes changed their names, although this was not observed by them all.
Adrians memorable speech was, Nihil sibi imperio infelicius in vita accidisse, That nothing befell him more unhappy in his life, then his Dominion.
He was severe and purposed to reform corruptions, and said he would begin with the Court, but was thereupon poysoned, as some think.
Vide Sleid. Comment. lib. 3.
Quod bonus & recti custos, quod pacis amator,
Correctorque Aulae luxuriantis eras,
Scilicet hac una ex causa vir sancte peristi,
Vixisses annos Nestoris improbior.
Laurent. Pignor. in Symbii Epistol. Epist. 33. ad Johan. Thuilium.
He wrote as the genius of that age was twelve Quodilibeticall Questions, and Questions on the fourth book of the Master of the Sentences. Is erat illius saecull apud Theologos genius, ut quae in controversiam vocarentur, graves in primis atque difficiles Quaestiones, quòd de re qualibet cuilibet disserere liceret, Qu…dibetica appellarentur. Aub. Mir. Elog. Belg.
Ex illustri Columniensium familia satus. Aegidius Bituricensis fit Episcopus & Aquitaniae primas Anno 1295. Aquinatis discipulus, quam plurima scripsit, & Beatus Doctor cognominatus est. Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. l. 16.Aegidius Romanus Anno Christi 1280.
Aelian. His Books de animalibus and de varia historia are commended, though some prefer the first.Anno aerae Christi 138. Helv. Chron. Aelianus quamvis genere Romanus, non minus eleganter tamen Graecè quàm vel Mediterranei Athenienses locutus est. Philostratus in vita Aeliani. Ejus libri 14 variae historiae, libri item 16 historiae animalium varia doctrina exornati adhuc extant in publico, Graeco Latiné etiam aliquando editi opera & studio Conradi Gesneri Neand. Geog. parte 1a. Liber Aeliam de varia Historia minus elegans est, quam librorum de animalibus. Sed planè mihi persuadeo, non esse extremam operi manum additam ab auctore, eò quòd fato praeveniretur. Voss. de Histor. Graec. l. 2. c. 11.
Magnum is sibi nomen paravit opere inclyto de rebus gestis Francorum: cui annos XXX. impendisse dicitur. Omnino scriptor est elegans, ac disertus. Voss. de Histor. Lat. l. 3. c. 12. Paulus Aemilius unicum eloquentiae Romanae nostro saeculo decus, cujus floribus quantum ad res Gallicas pertinet, Polydorus historiam adornavit suam. Lel. Comment. In Cygneam Cantionem. In Galliis & res quoque Gallicas scripsit, etsi non Gallus. Ludovicus XII. decus hoc Italiae abstulit & vindicavit sibi. Ille ut rom dicam, paene una…inte, novos, veram & veterem Historiae viam vidit, eamque summo pede calcavit. G…nus scribendi ejus doctum, nervo sum, pressum ad subtilitatem & argutias declinans, & relinquens aliquid in animo serii lectores: Rerum ipsarum sed usus scrutator, severus judex, nec legi nostro suo qui magis liber ab affectu. Lips. Not. ad 1. Lib. Polit. Cujus scripta varia, Historica Geographica, Orationes & Epistolae, & caetera ejus in …no Volumine conjuncta habentur. Neand. Geog. parte 1a.Paulus Aemylius of Verona.
He beginning with the first Kings of France, hath written a French History of above a thousand years, yet with laconicall brevity. He is reported to have spent thirty years about this famous work, and by it got himself a great Name.
Gerardus Vossius lib. 3. de Hist. Lat. cap. 12. cals him an elegant and eloquent Writer.
Aeneas Sylvius an Italian, after called Pope Pius the 2d, he lived in the year 1464.
Being seven years old sporting with his playfellows of the same age, he was saluted Pope by them, all of them kissing his feet, as the Papists do the Popes.
Historians report the like of Ambrose, how he was made a Bishop being a boy by his companions.
He was very Learned, an excellent Orator, a great Poet, Philosopher and Cosmographer, he could speak eloquently. Magna quidem in dicendo Pii laus fuit, quòd, cùm saepius iisdem de rebus loqueretur, diversa semper visus est dicere: tanta erat in homine elegantia & copia. Platina de vitis Pontificum Romanorum.
Scientia sane insignis, pari utinam & conscientia. Sed Papalis Cathedrae vis in eo statim enituit. Morn. Myst. Iniq.
He was at the Councell of Basill, wrote every thing, praising the Decrees that were there made exceedingly: But when he was advanced to this high degree of dignity, he changed his opinion, and would have the Counsell subject to the Popes. Sleid. Comment. l. 2. Whence that scoff of him, Quod Aeneas probavit, Pius damnavit.
He is said to be the Author of that famous Dystick,
Boxhorn. Hist. Univers.Non audet Stygius Pluto tentare quod audet.
Effrenis Monachus, plenaque fraudis anus.
Primus ex Evangelicis Sacrosanctae Theologiae Doctor salutatur, Witebergae anno 1530. Boissardi Icones.Joannes Aepinus, a Learned Divine.
His severall Works are mentioned by Boissard in his Icones.
Aeschines the Orator, he was an Athenian, there was a great contest between him and Demosthenes, Lecte sunt Orationes Aeschinis: quarum tres numero sunt, & Epistolae novem. Nam Deliaca non est Aeschinis. In orationibus suavis, purus, distinctus, & Enthymemarum perspicuitate excellens. Phetii Biblioth. p. 1463.Demosthenes caused him to be banished. Plenior Aeschines & magis fusus, & grandiori similis, quo minus strictus est: carnis tamen plus habet, lacertorum minus. Quintil. Instit. l. 10. c. 1.
Aeeschylus an Athenian.Cum calvus esset annos natus octo & quinquaginta, in agro sedens, accidit fortè ut aquila inde volans, testudinem in caput ejus demitteret, rata scilicet calvum Aeschyli caput sa…um esse, quo ales ipsa ejusmodi animalia solet conquassere: qua quidem testudinis ruina, ejus ita cerebrum & caput comminutum est & contritum, ut statim interierit, Historiam praeter alios Aelianus & Valerius Maximus per scribunt. Lil. Gyrald. de Hist. Dial. 6. Aeschylus sublimis, gravis, grandiloquus saepe usque ad vitium sed rudis in plerisque & incompositus. Quint. l. 10. Instit. Orat.
He first published Tragedies, saith Quintilian Institut. Orat. l. 10. c. 1.
When he heard that he should die with a stroak coming from above, he shunned houses and was wont to remain in the open air, but he was killed by a Tortoyse falling from the mouth of an Eagle upon his baldhead. See Plin. l. 10. c. 3.
Agapetus Diaconus, a most Learned and holy man.
These are his Works,
De Officio Regis, Gr. &Lat.
Expositio Capitum Paraeneticorum ad Justinianum Caesarem Gr. & Lat.
Agobardus Bishop of Lions in France, Anno Christi 840.Patria Gallus, Judicio magno praeditus, & divina scientia instructissimus: Lugdunensis Episcopus Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. lib. 9.
Peracris ingenii & doctrinae, Possev. a man very acute and Learned.