Treatise of Religion and Learning, Book 3 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
He flourished Anno Dom. 730. Beda Venerabilis ob vitae modestiam nuncupatus. Fuit in Gentilium libris tam plenè exercitatus, ut eo seculo vix parem habuerit. Si Augustini, Hieronymi aut Chrysostomi temporibus claruistet, non dubito quin potuisset de puritate cum ipsis contendere quòd inter tot superstitionum praestigias tam castos ediderit faetus. Balaeus descript. Brit. Cent. 2da. Vir moderato sermone suae gentis res gestas conscribens cui sanè ob id plurimum debet posteritas, quod plurima scitu dignissima literarum monumentis tradiderit, quorum memoria (si non retulisset) oblivionis nube tegeretur. Brit. Antiquitates.BEda was an English man, born not farre from Dyrrham: He was the Learnedest man of his time, skillfull in Divine and Secular Learning.
Of his rare learning and knowledge his Writings yet extant are a clear and sufficient testimony. He was so great a follower of St Augustine (the worthiest Pillar of the Church since the Apostles time, as some hold) that his Commentaries upon the Scripture, both of Old and New Testament, are almost word for word out of St Augustine.
He was a continuall Preacher, as his Homilies do testifie.
He was usually called Venerable Bede, but why, the Monks usque ad ineptias certant, as Lilius Gyraldus saith, De Poet. Hist. Dial. 5. Some of the reasons given for that title are ridiculous. One saith, Pietate & eruditione venerabilis cognomen adeptus est. He was called Venerable for his Piety and Learning. Others say he was called Venerable, because that was the title of Presbyter, and his Homilies were read in his life time, and they calling him then not Saint but Venerable, so called him after his death. Vide Trithem. de Script. Eccles.
Sedulius is likewise styled Venerabilis.
Beda's Works were printed in three Tomes at Paris, An. 1545. and in eight Tomes at Basil, Anno Domini 1563. in Folio, containing four great Volumes.
In omni disciplinarum genere, Graecae etiam atque Latinae linguae gnarus excelluit: Poeta, licet mediocris, Rhetor, Historicus, Astronomus, Arithmeticus, Cosmographus, Philosophus, Theologus, ita eo tempore mirabilis, ut in proverbium apud ejus seculi doctores abierît, Hominem in extremo orbis angulo natum, universum orbem suo ingenio perstrinxisse. Possev. Apparat. Sac. Tomo 1o.
Coringius in his 3d Dissertat. de Antiq. Acad. saith it is observable, Sexto septimo atque octavo seculo neminem fere per Italiam, Galliam, Britanniam, Hispaniam (uno verbo) in occidentalis Ecclesiae toto orbe, nomen aliquod scripto libro invenisse, qui non in Monasterio educatus sit atque institutus. Qui inter Britannicos Monachos eminet Beda, idem omnium illius tempestatis per occidentem universum fuit doctissimus. Nos ipsi Germani prima Christianae doctrinae exordia illis caenobitis debemus. Imo debemus illis initia omnis culturae melioris, atque eruditionis: sicut & Angli ipsi ac Scoti à Monachis Romanis eam antehac acceperant.
Vir singulari doctrina, Linguarum item Orientalium Callentissimus V. Cl. G. Bedwellus. Seld. de Dis Sy…is Syntag. 2. c. 4.William Bedwell: He was skilfull in the Orientall Tongues.
He hath put out the Catholick Epistle of John in Arabick with a Preface to it.
William Bedle, a very Learned Bishop of Ireland, but an English man, and Chaplain to Sir Henry Wotton at Venice.Gulielmus Bedellus. See a Commendation of him in Sir Henry Wottons Letters. William Biddulph hath written a book of his own Travels.
He hath put into Latine Tr. de Interdicto Pauli 5ti Ital.
Rob. Bellarmine was born in Politian, Anno Dom. 1542.Natione Italus, scripsit de Controversiis Christianae fidei adversus sui temporis Haereticos. Cardinalis Perronius pluris asserit à se illud fieri, quam ullum opus aliud quod vel ab annis mille sit editum pro Ecclesiae defensione. Cardinalis Baronius censet esse propugnaculum & Turrim David, ex qua mille Clypei pendent, & omnis armatura fortium. In Angliae Academiae Cantabrigiensi primùm mox etiam in Oxoniensi nova praelectio instituta est, ad Controversias Bellarmini, si possent, refellendas Bibliotheca Scriptorum Socie…at. Jesu à Philippo Alegambe edita Vir erat admirandae industriae, doctrinae, lectionis stupendae Bellarminis: quo ut primus, ita solus immanem illam molem & immensum chaos Controversiarum, stupenda ingenii dexteri faelicitate, artificio singulari excoluit, inordinem redegit confusum prius: accurata diligentia & multorum annorum studio eleganter expolivit: praeripuit ille palmam secuturis omnibus & sibi desponsam vel destinatam cuicunque laudem abstulit. Nam ab illo qui tractant hodie Controversias, ut ab Homero Poetae, sua ferè omnia mutuantur. Montac. praefat. ad Apparatum.
He and Tolet, and of late Lugo only were made Cardinals of the Jesuites.
Mutius Vitelliscus perswading Bellarmine to write his own life (as Fuligat reports) at last prevailed with him: He hath this passage there, De virtutibus suis nihil dixit, quia nescit, an ullam verè habeat: De vitiis tacuit, quia non sunt digna quae scribantur, & utinam de libro Dei deleta inveniantur in die Judicii.
Possevine in his Biblioth. Select. tomo 1o l. 7. c. 4. saith of his four Tomes of Controversies, Opus absolutissimum, quòd Controversiarum fermè omnium corpus dici queat.
Gretser in his Preface to his Defence of Bellarmines Controversies also highly magnifies him.
Cardinall D' Ossat in his fifth book of French Letters saith thus of him, Est celuy qui a faict …et oeuure incomparable des Controverses pour la Religion Catholique, contre toutes les heresies qui sont auiourd' huyr & qui ont estè au temps passè; & nostre sainct Pere le faisant Cardinal a voulu honorer tant la vertu, & doctrine, & labeur de ce personnage, que le College des Cardinaux. It is he which hath made this Incomparable work of Controversies for the Catholick Religion, against all the heresies of this day and of times past; and our holy Father in making him Cardinal, would herein honour, both the Vertue, Learning, and Labour of this Person, and the Colledge of Cardinals. Vide vitam Bellarmini à Fuligattio scriptam, l. 2. c. 6.
Robertus Bellarminus è sodali…io Jesuitico, opere de Religionis Controversiis cumprimis clarus, Thuan. Hist. Tom. 5. l. 12.
Robertus Bellarminus Cardinalis summo vir in Controversiis discutiendis acumine praeditus, & tot polemicis scriptis editis Clarus Thuan. Hist. Tom. 5. part. 2. l. 3. Vide Jani. Nicii Eryth. Pinacoth.
Fuligate in the 7th book 3d ch. speaking of his death, saith,Fuit in dictis suis, vel ab infantiâ, tam verax, ut non meminerit sibi excidisse mendacium, aut excusationibus, & ineptiis unquam se veritati latebras obtendisse. Fuligattus in ejus vita. lib. 1. cap. 2. He was called Pater pauperum for his great liberality to the poor. He gave them the third part of his yearly revenew. Ante omnia illud affirmare sit, annui proventus ipsius partem ferè tertiam erogari solitam quotannis in pauperes, Fuligattus in ejus vita. l. 4. c. 3.
He saith thus in his Will, Primum igitur spiritum meum in manus Dei commendatum toto corde exopto, cui ab adolescentiâ servire desideravi: & precor, ut me inter Sanctos & Electos suos non aestimator meriti, sed veniae largitor admittat.
The only Champion that ever Rome had for eluding evident authorities of Scripture. Dr Jackson on the Creed, Vol. 1. l. 2. c. 14.
He sometimes sold some of his goods at home, that he might give almes. Demum quadum die proprium atramentarium argenteolum, ut ditaret inopes, inter pignora obligavit. Fuligattus in ejus vita, l. 7. c. 1.
Bellaii tres Fratres omni virtute Cumulatissimi; Gulielmus natu maximus, tam marti quam Mercurio, historiam de rebus Gallicis ab ipsa imperii origine ad sua usque tempora tum Latinè tum Gallicè gravissimo stylo persecutus est. Martianus frater junior. Joannes edidit Carminum tres libros, in quibus non ingenii solum & doctrinae, sed generosi etiam animi signa non obscura elucent. Scaev. Samarth. Gallorum doctrina illust. Elog. Joachim Bellay is commended by Antoine Du Verdiet for a famous Poet, and his French Works are mentioned by him in his Bibliotheque.William Bellaye. A man of much honour and vertue, and an especiall ornament of the French Nobility, by reason of his notable Learning, Eloquence, Experience, and singular Aptness in all affairs.
Qui cùm omnium optimarum artium doctrina, summaque ingenii laude praestaret, tamen in libello de Galliae & Franciae antiquitatibus, non Franco gallicae historiae, sed Amadisicarum fabularum instituisse tractationem videtur, Hotomani Franco Gallia c. 4.
Francois de Belleforest, a Learned French Historian.
His Works are mentioned by Antoine Du Verdier in his Bibliotheque.
Petrus *Vir magnus & cui multum studiosi omnes debent. Casaub. in Athen.Bellonius.
He hath published Observations, and other Works.
Peter Bembus, Vir sapientissimus, doctissimus, ac eloquentissimus, quod docent tùm Epistolae ejus, Metetanus and Strada have written the Belgick History, Chromerus the History of the Polonians, Petrus Bembus of the Venetians. Illustri dignitate & fama vir fuit: quam tamen Historia sua Veneta apud me non auxit. Jacet in narrationibus vel friget in verbis affectiunculas habet materie aut viro serio parum dignas. Nulla vox nisi ex Tulliano aut Juliano penu: & quae sic dici non possunt (quippe nova vel iis ignota) mito verborum ambitu comprehendit. Ipsa etiam tota scriptio & formulae sic compositae, quasi haec omnia Romae gesta, & republica illustrante. Sunt in quibus indigner, & cum tam curiosè à verbis sibi caverit, reperio alibi, quae non dicam Tulliana non sunt, sed vix Latina. Lips. not. ad 1. Lib. Posit. Stilus est quem reprehendo in Bembi historia, supinus, languidus, & affectata imitatsuncula fractus, Universa scriptio composita & formata ad aevum priscum, & omnia sic de re Veneta quasi de potenti illa re Romana. Lips. Epist. Cent. 2. Epist. 57. Jano Donsae. Emendata locutione cui de mortua quaedam & obsoleta vocabula revocasset & aliqua Italis auribus nova solerier effinxisset, scripsit. Nomenclat. Sanct. Rom. Eccles. Card.tùm caetera scripta erudita. Neand. Geog. parte prima.
Is Ciceronianae eloquentiae sedulus admirator, & imirator extitit, & Historicus suo tempore nulli secundus, antiquis certè conferendus. Boissardi Icon.He hath written a book of Epistles, and twelve books of the Venetian Histories, a book de imitatione sermonis, and Poems.
Beza hath this Epigram upon his history of Venice:
Clara urbi Venetum debes natalia Bembe:
Vrbs eadem clara est munere, Bembe, tuo.
Tu patria foelix, foelix te patria Cive,
Bembe tamen debet patria plura tibi.
Nam mortale fuit patria quod nounus habebat:
At, quam das patriae, vita perennis erit.
He was a Venetian, and a Cardinall: his Life is written by Johannes Casa. His style is disliked by Lipsius and others.
It is no marvell if Lipsius disliked his style, it being nothing like his own, but he was a great Ciceronian, as also was Sadoletus the Cardinall his great friend, and above them both, he who was familiar with them both, Longolius.
Peter Bembus is reported to have said (witnesse George Fabricius and Alexander of Hales in his Commentary upon the 2d of Tim.) Semel legi Biblia. Quod si iterum mihi essent legenda, perderem omnem Latinitatem.
He and Sadoletus were made Cardinals by Pope Paul the 3d. Vide Bembi Epist. Fam. l. 6. Epist. 3.
Boxhorn Monum. Illust. vir. & Elog. in Sadoletus saith these four Cardinals Learned and good men, Pet. Bembus, Jacobus Sadoletus, Cuspar Contarenus, and Campegius properata morte feruntur occubuisse. are reported to had died an untimely death, many are ignorant of the cause, unlesse peradventure (saith he) they were thought to have some familiarity with those which differ from the Roman Religion. The same hath Boissard in his Bibliotheca or Icones.
Vide Sadolet. Epist. l. 2. Pet. Bembo. Petrus Bembus, quem orbis terrarum Cantat: nec injuria: vixit enim, quantus ei vitae Cursus fuit, in virtute totus: is cum alias coluit Philosophiae partes, tum verò poeticam artem amavit more quodam ardentissimo, ejusque studium à prima pueritia amplexus, nunquam ne in extrema quidem senectute dimisit. Scripsit autem versus in omni aetate multos, & scripsit omnium elegantissime, sic ut Apollo dictasse videatur. Manut. Praefat. ad Torquatum Bembum Petri Filium. In Virgilium.
R. Benjamin a famous Jewish Geographer.Benjamin Judaeus, Hebraeus, Hispanus, itinerarium suum Hebraicè descripsit, edi…um superioribus annis à Benedicto Aria Montano Hispalensi, in quo res memorabiles totum ferè terrarum orbem emensus notatis itineribus, quas vel ipse vidit, vel à fide dignis suae aetatis hominibus accepit, breviter atque dilucide, ac sic descripsit, ut appareat neminem unquam ex Graecis aut Latinis Geographis extitisse, qui continuato labore & studio tantum itineris inierit & confecerit, totum fere orbem peregrinando emensus, p…aeter solas recens nunc repertas occiduas Oceani provincias, quas Americam sive novum orbem dicimus. Neand. Geog.
His Hebrew Itinerary is published cum versione & notis Constantini L'Empereur. Vide ejus Epist. Dedicat.
He was a Spaniard, and died in the year a nato Christo 1173, in that very year, wherein he returned from his voyage.
Antonius Benivenius.He is often quoted by Learned Physitians, without any exception.
He hath written de morborum mirandis, &c. a book for the bignesse as full of choise observations, as any I have seen, Dr Casaub. of Enthus. ch. 3.
Paulus Benius, homo Italus, & (quod nemo non miretur) in Gymnasio nostro eloquentiae Interpres, qui Patavii Patavinum (sc. Livium) aggressus est conviciis proscindere, silentibus omnino civibus nostris, & strenuè condonantibus actionem injuriarum, quam illi intendere debuerant. Pign. Symbol. Epist. Ep. 44.
Berengarius a Frenchman. He was Deacon of Aniou, 1050. Tempore Leonis Noni, circa 1049. Berengarius vir pietate & eruditione Clarus Andegavensis Ecclesiae diaconus, quum videret Pontificios doctores quam plurimos ingenti fastu transubstantiationis fundamenta sternere, quòd mentem Augustini & aliorum veterum non intelligerent, sed Sacramentales & hyperbolicas nonnullas locutiones ad novum sensum inducendum detorquerent, veram sententiam ex orthodoxo consensu repetitam his corruptelis opposuit, & verbo Dei testimoniisque veterum Theologorum refellere conatus est, scriptis etiam & evulgatis libris, ut pii in vera doctrina confirmarentur Illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. l. 12.and the first that was counted an heretique for denying of Transubstantiation, and troubled for the same.
When he had professed the truth of the Sacrament, and had stood in the open confession thereof, according to the ancient verity of the Church before, he was so handled with certain malignant and superstitious Monks, that partly by evil intreaty, and partly for fear of death (such is the weak frailty of man) he began to shrink, and afterward did indeed recant the truth. Foxes Act. and Monum. Tom. 2. p. 456, 457, 458. Vide Matth. Paris. Hist. Angl. p. 16, & 17.
Theuet vies des hommes Illustres, l. 3. saith thus: I'ay unfort long temps demeuré douteux, si en ce mien liure des Illustres personnages, ie deuoie faire mention d'vn certain Berengier, le nom, duquel (a mon grand regret.) nest que assez cogneu, pour la nouvelle opinion qu'il tascha de mettre sus contre la realitè du sacrement Eucharistique. D'vne part me retiroit la memoire odieuse d'vn tel homme, & d' antre costé sa publique confession, retractation, & louable penitence, effacans les playes chanerenses de son offence, quil a de cueur et de faict exhibees, me provoquent à u' espargner vn fuellet, pourlu faire place, et ce d' autant plus volontiers, qu' il pourra seruir de mirouer et exemple à plusie urs desuoyez.
Bernard was Abbot of Claravon in the year 1108. of whom sprang the Bernardine Monks.1130. Utinam tales Papistas multos, imo vel unum talem hodie haberemus in toto regno Pontificio, qualem Bernardum, fuisse constat. Ita sanc, ita solide disputat ille de summis fidei Capitibus, de Scripturis, de Ecclesia, de hominis miseria, de gratuita justificatione, de gratia, de nova obedientia, cum Catholica Ecclesia contra Tridentinas fabulas, ut nihil solidius quaeri possit. Num ergo Papista fuerat, qui contra Jesuitas, contra Tridentinos, in maximis fidei articulis Ecclesiam Catholicam & Patrum consensum sequitur? Dicam apertè quod res est. Bernardus Romani Pontificis jurisdictionem longe supra omnes superiores Patres extulit. Atque hinc est, quod Papista vocetur à Bellarmino. Nam Cyprianus, Augustinus, Ambrosius, aliique superiores Romani Pontificis jurisdictionem cohibuerunt. Bernardus autem incidit in fatalia illa tempora, ultra annum millesimum, Satana jam soluto. Itaque quod cohibere non potuit, tulit ut potuit. Nam post annum millesimum multi viri sancti Romani Pontificis jurisdictionem in spiritualibus, quum cohibere non possent, patienter tulerint. Episc. Carlet. Consens. Eccles. Cathol. contra Trident. l. 6.
He continued with the Papists, and tels the Pope his own.
Recentissimus est, vixitque post confirmatam Episcopi Romanui tyrannidem. Cham. de Oecumen. Pontif.
From erring Bernard that frequent Proverb of Writers erring drew its originall. Bernardus non vidit omnia. Neither is it a wonder, when he flourished in the darkest midnight as it were of Popery. Vir dignissimus meliori aevo, qui vel in tantis tenebris veritatis lucem salutarem aspexit, vicesque suas saepe deplorabat. Mortoni causa Regia, c. 3. Sect. 7.
His book de gratia & libero arbitrio is much commended by *Hist. Pelag. l. 1. c. 21.Vossius. Qui praeconio nostro (saith he) non indiget, cum in deliciis esse omnibus soleat, qui Catholicam sententiam sequuntur.
Philippus Beroaldus. Philippus Beroaldus junior longe melior poeta quam Philippus Beroaldus senior, qui & ipse versus scribit, qui & passim leguntur, sed de hoc nihil sanè nisi miram hominis facilitatem pene ingenio & judicio destitutam afferre possum. At junior Beroaldus promptam ac paratam habet ubique facultatem: Sed Lyricis ille magis quam alio scribendi genere delectatur, ex quibus & laudem assequitur tametsi in his interdum & sibi nonnihil indulgere videatur. Lil. Gyrald. De Poet. Nost. Temp. Dial. 1. Vide Paul. Jov. Elog. Doctorum Virorum.He was a Bononian, most skilfull in Latine and Greek, the Prince of the Grammarians and all the Orators of his age.
He hath left many excellent Monuments of his Learning. Vide Bembi l. 4. Epist. Fam. Philippo Beroaldo minori. p. 132.
Two Beroaldi Philippi flourished in Italy, and both lived in the same age, both Learned and Bononians.
Matthaeus Beroaldus, an excellent Hebrician.
Vir doctus, & quod familiam ducit, pius. Jos. Scal. Epist. l. 3. Ep. 229. yet he saith he would not pollute his Library with his Chronology. Diu est, postquam illius Chronologiam legi, qua bibliothecam meam pollui nollem. Scal. Elench. Orat. Chronol. Parei.
Cujus utinam Chronologia tam proba esset, quam vita ejus fuit. Id. Elench. Orat. 1. Chronol. Parei.
Bertramus, so he is commonly called, or Ratrannus, Anno Dom. 876, Helv. Chron. 841. a Learned man of that time,Rathtamnus (qui vulgò Bertramus Doctor) Monachus Corbeiensis, ut paret ex Flodoardo historiae Remensis. c. 15. Extat Bertrami presbyteri liber jussu Caroli Calvi scripta, anno 840. quo autor quaestionem tractat. An corpus Christi ore, an verò sacramentaliter comedatur. Ad quam respondet: Panem & vinum esse figuram corporis & sanguinis Christi, quae sit repraesentatio illius panis de quo Christus in Evangelio: Ego sum panis qui de caelo descendit. Et ubi etiam haec verba extant: Positis sanctarum scripturarum testimoniis, & sanctorum Patrum dictis, evidentissime demonstratum est, quòd panis, qui corpus Christi & calix qui sanguis Christi appellatur, figura sit, quia mysterium. Pezel. Mellefic. Histor. parte 3tia. Vide illyr. Catal. Test. Verit. l 10. Vir in divinis scripturis eruditus, & inter doctores sui temporis famosissimus, ingenio praestans & clarus eloquio, declamator quoque sermonum egregius. Triahem. Catal. Illust Vir. who lived in the Monastery of Corbey, whereof Paschasius Rabertus was Abbot.
He joyned with Rabanus in refuting the errour of the carnall presence, at the first bringing in thereof by Paschasius Rabertus. The book which he wrote de Corpore & Sanguine Christi to Carolus Calvus the Emperour, was forbidden to be read, by order from the Roman Inquisition, confirmed afterward by the Councell of Trent. The Divines of Doway perceiving that the forbidding of that book did not keep men from reading it, but gave them rather occasion to seek more earnestly after it, thought it better policy that Bertram should be permitted to go abroad, but handled in such sort, as other ancient Writers that made against them were wont to be. B. Vsh. Answ. to the Jes. Challenge, p. 18, 19.
He speaks of him also in his Goteschalcus, c. 11. p. 175, 176. and mentions there another book of Bertrams, de Nativitate Christi, in which he defends the same doctrine which he delivered in his book de Corpore & Sanguine Domini.
Bish. Ridley Praefat. ad Coenam Domini hath a great commendation of this Bertram.
Bonaventure Cornelius Bertram, a famous Hebrician, and very skilfull in the Jewish Antiquities, as his Works shew.Limatissimus Scriptor. Dilher. Disput. Acad. Tom. 2. Grammatica Hebraica comparatio Grammaticae Hebraicae atque Aramicae, De Politia Judaica. Lucubrat. Franktallens. Bonaventura Bertramus, vir Judaicarum antiquitatum callentissimus. Rivetus. Solus hic Libellus authoris dotes satis superque exaggerat; uti & lucubrationes Franktall. L' Empereur praefat. ad Librum ejus De Republica Ebraeorum. He had the chiefest part in the French Version of the Bible. He put forth Pagnines Thesaurus of the Hebrew Tongue, with the Observations of Mercer, Rodolphus Cevallerius, and his own. His Works are,
Commentarius de Politia Judaica ex omnibus ejus operibus maximè commendatur. Thuanus Hist. Tom. 5. l. 109. Vide plura ibid.