Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 3 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
DJonysius Areopagita. Dionysius falsly called the Areopagite,Atheniensis Philosophus insignis, per beatum Paulum Apostolum conversus ad fidem, vir eximiae sanctitatis & incomparabilis doctrinae. Trithē, de Script. Eccles. Dionysius Alexandrinus Origenis discipulus, Scholia in opera Dionisii Areopagitae, quae extant, scripsit. Genebr. Chron. l. 3. Hujus scriptoris fides parvi merito, in fidei dogmatis, aestimandus. Nec enim idem est Dionysius ille Areopagita, cujus Acta Apostolorum c. 17.34. meminerunt, sed multò recentior auctor & à puritate ac simplicitate Apostolica remotissimus: quemadmodum accurate & perspicuè è multis demonstratum est: & quatuor insignes rationes initio Bibliothecae Photii referuntur. Gomari Anticosterus l. 2. c 5. whom neither Eusebius, nor Hieronymus, nor Gennadius, gatherers of all Ecclesiasticall Writers, before their time did know. Fulke Answ. to Sand. Cavils on the L. Supper.
One of that name was born at Athens the most famous City of all Greece, the mother of all Arts and Sciences. He and his wife Damaris were converted by St Paul to the true faith, Act. 17.34.
There are his Greek Works cum Scholiis Maximi & Paraphrasi Gregorii Paychymeri, and his Latine Works per Joach. Perionium cum Scholiis.
His Epistles and Greek Liturgy, and other things go under his name, but our Divines generally hold them to be supposititions, and so some of the Learned Papists hold.
Vtrum libri qui ejus nomine circumferuntur genuini sint, controvertitur. Nam quam vis illorum Author pro Dionysio Areopagita haberi velit, nihilominus ex Adversariis ipsis viri quidam Doctissimi id incertum esse aiunt, Rhodiginus, Rhenanus, Roffensis, Cajetanus: alii simpliciter nobiscum negant, Faventius, Gaza, Valla, Erasmus & apud Erasmum Grocinus, Cassander, & novissimè Hubertus, ac licet non ex professio satis, apertè tamen Sirmondus ac Launaeus, & denique Petavius, Reliqui minus in Graecis versati vehementer affirmant, Baronius, Possevinus, Perronius, Bellarminus, qui tamen vacillat, Delrio, Alloix, & alii nonnulli. Albertinus de Sacramento Eucharistiae, l. 2. c. 1.
He proves further there in that Chapter, and Chap. 2. by severall Arguments that it is a Pseudonysius. Vide Gerhard. Patrologiam & Dilher. Disput. Acad. Tom. 2. De Areopago p. 310.
Dionysius Halycarnasseus, a famous Historian.Homo Graecus, de Romanis multo veriùs ac melius scripsit, quam Fabius, Salustius, aut Cato, qui in sua Republica opibus & honoribus floruerunt. Ejus major fides est in historia, quam Livii, Tranquilli, Taciti, Arriani: quippe de aliena non de sua Republica scripsit, & omnium Commentatios, ac Civitatis arcana, ex Actis publicis collegit, propter moderatum dicendi genus & Atticam puritatem, antiquitates Romanorum ab ipsius origine urbis tanta diligentia conscripsit, ut Graecos omnes ac Latinos superasse videatur. Possev. Biblioth. Select. Tomo 2do l. 16. c. 13. Vir quidem doctissimus & rhetor ac Criticus excellentissimus: sed profecto politicus interdum parum bonus, & censor alienorum scriptorum alicubi morosus, ne dicam putidus. Casaub. Coment. in Polyb. Vide Voss. De Histor. Graec. l. 2. c. 3. Dionysius Halicarnasseius scriptor diligentissimus, qui omnia quaecunque à scriptorum legibus & institutis Romanorum legibus constituta aut moribus recepta erant, studiorè observavit. Herald. Animadvers. In Salmas. Observat. Ad Jus. Attic. & Rom. l. 4. c. 4.
Scalig. de Emendat. Temp. l. 5. cals him a most sweet and diligent Writer. Sigonius Diligentem antiquitatum investigatorem. Gravis sanè anctor, & cui non minimum debet Historia Romana, Pignor. Symbol. Epistol. Ep. 44. Vide plura ibid.
Dioscorides, an ancient Herbalist. His Works are mentioned in Oxford Catalogue.
Rembertus *Nascitur anno Incarnationis Dei M.D. XVIII. Nomen ejus nunquam moriturum, ob maximam medicae & Herbariae cognitionem. Duobus maximis Imperatoribus commendatus Maximiliano ejusque filio Rudolpho secundo. Swertii Athena Belgica. Vide Thuan. Hist. Tom. 4. l. 82.Dodonaeus.
His Herball is commonly known. Editis in lucem plantarum historiis magnum sibi nomen comparavit. Castellani vitae Illust Med.
He hath written also other Physick Treatises.
Steven Dolet, a Learned Frenchman.
Esti enne Dolet d Orleans homme bien versè es bonnes lettres, & ez langue Greque & Latine, a estè des premiers qui ont illustré nostre langue Francoise. Antoine Da Verdier.He hath written Commentaries of the Latine Tongue, as Budaeus hath of the Greek. In quibus utique ordo est aliquis & talis, qui arguat ingenium magnum in istis viris. Methodi tamen ordo non est. Bibliand. de Rat. Com. omnium Ling.
His French and Latine Works are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque.
Anno gratiae 3…3. Donatus, Artis Grammaticae scriptor & institutor Romae iliustris habetur. Matth. Westm.Aelius Donatus, a great Grammarian.
He hath Commented excellently on Terence.
Marcellus Donatus.
Vir caetera doctissimus & medicus exceliens. Meibomii Mecenas c. 23.
He hath published In Tacitum dilucidationes, in Livium, Suetonium, & alios, and severall Physicall Treatises.
Hieronymus Donatus.
Vir nescio utrum gravior, an doctior, an etiam humanior, certe omni lepore affluens, omni vetustate, cujus tamen ob id vereor, ne levior cuiquam censura videatur, quoniam me pulcherrimo carmine: & Epistola una atque altera mirè laudavit. Polit. Miscel. Cent. 1. c. 90.He was a Poet, Orator, Philosopher, Divine, Mathematician, yet was so troubled about his houshold affairs, and his inferiours so disobedient to his commands, that unless he had eased his cares with study, he had been a most miserable man. Pier. Valet. de Litteratorum infelicitate.
Hugo Donellus, a great Lawyer.
Vera pietate atque eruditione Clarus. Zanch. Epist.
His Works are mentioned by Boissard.
He taught the Civil Law some years in Heidelberg the chief University of all Germany, and was Rector of that University.
Tanta sane laude Jus Civile explanavit, ut veterum Jurisconsultorum aliquis Paulus, Vlpianus, aut Papinianus revixisse, illorumque animam, ex Pythagorae sententia, recepisse videretur. Lud. Jacob. Declar. Scrip. Cabclon. l. 1.
Janus Douza *Multiplex erat in viro lectio: incredibilis penè memoria: Graecarum ac Latinarum literarum; historiae veteris ac novae nihil, de quo rogatus non ex tempore responderet. Unus Bataviae Varro, & Academiae commune oraculam. Melch. Ad. in ejus vita. Vide plura ibid., Anno Christi 1545.
He was famous for Warlick Valour and Learning both.
He was one of great reading, incredible memory, skil'd both in Greek and Latine, History Ancient and Modern. He would answer well to any questions ex tempore. He was employed in many Embassies for his Country, Nec ullius ore saepiùs locuta est Batavia, quam Donsico. Melch. Adam.
His Works are mentioned by Melchior Adam in his life.
His son Janus Douza was also an eminent Scholar, and died in his prime. Vide Woweri Epist. Cent. 1. Epist. 11.Hic acceptam à parente nominis claritatem ingenii sui luce illustravit. Trium linguarum exquisita cognitio, Antiquitatis, legumque Romanarum intelligentia, & Mathematicae totius, to…iusque Philosophiae notitia. Meurs Athen. Batav. Jannus Duza & literarum & fortitudinis in Lugdunensi Obsidione olim probatae nomine clari filius, juvenis admirabili ingenio, excellenti doctrina cum rara morum suavitate conjuncta praeditus, cum ex peregrinatione longinqua rediisset, quasi in portu naufragium fecisser, anno aetatis XXIV. ereptus. Thuan. Hist. Tomo 5to l. 117.
George Downeham,
A Learned and godly Bishop.
He hath written excellently upon Ramus his Logick, and de Antichristo; and many usefull English Treatises, of Justification, the Covenant, and other Subjects.
Andrew Downes, the Regius Professour of Greek in Cambridge. He hath published some notes on Chrysostome, Praecipua laus in hac, ut in caeteris Epistolis, Doctissimi Dounaei eruditissimis notis habetur. Savil. in Hom. Chrysost. In Epist. ad Galat.which are in the 8th Volume put out by Sir Henry Savill. He hath also put out Praelectiones in Philippicam primam Demosthenis.
Sir Francis Drake.
He first of all men sailed about the whole world.Martinus Forbisserius Anglus anno 1577.26 Maii ad quae. tendas novas terras in Septentrione incredibili & inaudito hactenus ausu, sumptibus Reginae suae navigationem instituit, atque supetatis multis immensis difficultatibus navigationis, reperit tandem in Septentrione mense Augusto auri tantam copiam, ut eo repleverit 200 dolia sine tonnas auri, quibus oneratis navibus in Angliam 17 Septembris incolumis reversus est. Neand. Geog. Oceani Iusulae.
Franciscus Dracus famosissineus, ut Hispani vocant pyrata, sive ut citra odium dicatur, celeberrimus universi orbis lustrator. Thuan. Hist. Tome quinto, parte prima, l. 114.
Hier. Drexelius, a Learned Jesuite.Natione Germanus, patria Augustanus totis XXII annis Serenissimi Bavariae Electoris Maximiliani Concionatorem egit. In scribendo eam adhibuit styli suavitatem cum modesta gravitate, religiosâque circumspectione conjunctam, ut passim ab Acatholicis ejus scripta legantur. & commendentur. Tanti cum Maximinianus Elector fecit, ut cum suo medico falutem ejus commendaret, diceret, Pluris interesse Reipublicae bono vivere Drexelium, quam Maximilianum. Biblioth. Scriptorum Societ. Jesu A Philippo Alegambe edita.
Joannes Driedo.
Aubertus Miraeus in his Elogia Belgica commends him for a Learned man.
His Works are published in 4 Tomes.
Jo. Drusius.
He was a great Hebrician and well versed in the Rabbins,Vivere desiit 1616. Natus Aldenardae oppi…o Flandriae. In Anglīa linguam Hebraicam didicit, & quatuor anno… Oxoniae docuit. Lugdoni Batavorum annos septem. Hinc postea Franckeram Frisiorum ad Academiam tunc primum ibi nascentem, vocatus, eandem ibidem professus est. Swertii Athenae Belgicae. and hath given great light to a large part of the Scripture, by his notes upon a great part of it, and his Observations, Paralells, Miscellanies, Questions, Tract. De quaesitis per Epistolam, De tribus sectis Judaeorum, and other Philologicall Treatises.
Fr. Duarenus, a Learned Lawyer.Vide Thuan. Hist. Tom. 1. lib. 23.
His Works are in one Volume.
Fronto *Natione Gallus, patria Burdegalensis, parentem habuit ea in urbe Senatorem. Vir fuit eruditione, & morum suavitate carus etiam iis, qui iniquiore animo in Societatem erant; ut vulgò passim à maledictis in nostrum ordinem vibratis exceptum eum esse vellent. Antiquitatis totius cognitione maxime nobilis fuit; quem non alii duntaxat Scriptores, verum etiam Cardinalis Baronius tomo 9. Annalium honorificè memorat, virum insignis doctrinae ac pietatis. Post eloquentiae & Sacrarum Literarum explicationem, aggressus est Sanctorum Patrum opera recensere, notis illustrare, Graecè Latineque recudere. Bibliothec. Scriptorum Societ. Jesu A Philippo Alegambe edita.Ducaeus, a Learned and candid Jesuite.
Vir doctissimus, & cui Chrysostomus noster plurimum debet. Savil. not. in Psalm. Chrysost.
Guil. Durandus, a most famous Bishop.
Pasquier Recherch. de la France, Anno aerae Christi 1273. Helv. Chron. Gulielmus Buraudis omnis divini humanique juris consultissimus, natione Vasco, Gallus Episcopus Mimateasis floruit circa 1300 Domini annum. Scripsit Speculum Juris, unde speculator est dictus. Multa profecto utilia author monuit, & praecipuè de reformatione Papae & Cleri. Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. l. 16.l. 9. c. 35. saith there were these remarkable excellencies in him; he was a great Poet, a great Divine, a great Lawyer.
He put out a Book entitled Speculum Juris, divided into three great Tomes. As Lombard among Divines is not quoted by his own name, but by that of Master of the Sentences, so among the Lawyers he is not quoted by the name of William Durand, but he is styled Speculator.
He delivered this sentence about the Sacrament: Verbum audimus, modum sentimus, modum nescimus, praesentiam credimus.
Durandus *Inter Doctores Scholasticos non contemnendus vixit circa annum 1320. post Thomae Aquinatis seculum Durandus de sancto Portiano Dominicanus & postea Episcopus Anicensis ut refert Trithemius, Scripta Thomae primum propugnavit quae postea oppugnavit acerrimè. Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. lib. 16.à S. Portian…, a Schoolman.
He hath written upon the Sentences. Of him those verses were written,
Durus Durandus jacet hic sub marmore duro,
An sit salvandus ego nescio nec ego curo.
He hath explain ed 1 Thess. 5.19. in three most eloquēt Sermōs.Samuel Durant, a holy man when he lived, and an eloquent Preacher at Paris. Tantae eloquentiae, ut cum Pericle, non tam loqui quam fulgurare & fulminare videretur. Vit. Profes. Grovingae. Sam. Mares.
Joannes Stephanus *Celebris illa de ritibus Ecclesiae lucubratio, quam ut Catholicis partibus apprimè utilem Sixtus ipse Pontifex Maximus tanta excepit cum admiratione, ut & eam Romae suis impensis excudi jusserit, & ejus auctorem Durantum incredibili favore benevolentiaque sit amplexus. Scaev. Samarth. Gallorum doctrina illustrium Elogia.Durantus, President Senatus Tholosani.
He hath written a learned Book de Ritibus Ecclesiae, of Ecclesiasticall Rites, his tumultuating Citizens killed him.
Quin nec magni illius. Viri Dureti, qui juri institaeque hic praesidet, nomen indictum relinquendum. Mirantur virum hunc, qui linguarum thesaurum deque earum originibus scripta ab eo edita legerunt. Jodoc. Sincer. Itinerar. Gall.Claudius Duret, a great French Lawyer.
He hath written Thresor de l' histoire des langues, a Treasure of Languages and their Originals.
Ludovicus Duretus, a most Learned Physitian, and as Heurnius was wont often to say, In medicorum ordine tertius.
Caroli noni & Henrici tertii Galliarum & Poloniae regum perpetuus cubicularius medicus fuit. Melch. Ad. vit. Germ. Medic. in vita Heurnius.Prisca quod Hippocrati venerando debuit atas,
Dureto cur non debeat Hippocrates?
Ille suâ morbos immaneis arte fugavit
Hic à morte sui vendicat Hippocratem.
Stephanus Paschasius.
Heurnius heard him diligently three whole years, so that he would not miss a Lecture. And when Duretus saw him once coming in late, he let fall this passage more then once, Mi adolescens, doleo jam quadam dicta quorum nones particeps, a great token of his affection toward Heurnius.