A Fit Conjucture of Religion and Learning, Book 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of the Universities of Spain.
MUnster reckons up these as the principall Learned men in Spain, which are well known and famous elsewhere, Fulgentius, Isidore Archbishop of Sivill, Paulus Orosius, Paulus Burgensis, King Alphonsus, Columella, Higinius, Sedulius the Poet, Ludovicus Vives the Orator, Quintilian the Rhetorician, Seneca the Orator, Pomponius Mela, Raymundus Lullus, Iustin the Historiographer; and among the Jews and Saracens, Aben Esra, David and Moses Kimchi, Avicenna, Averroes, Rasis, Mesalac, Albumazar, and many others.Maximis Hispaniam ingeniis semper abundasse historici produnt. Quantum enim Seneca, Fabius Quintilianus, Justinus historicus, Paulus Orosius, Pomponius Mela, Averrois, Avicenna, Columella, Higinius, Sedulius, Raimundus, Lullus, Rasis, Fulgentius, Sanctus Laurentius, Vincentius, Dominicus, Isidorus, Vives, &c. rem literariam & Religionem promoverint, nemo est qui ignoret. Middendorp. de Academ. lib. 3. Vide Merulae Cosmog. parte ada lib. 2.
Mercator in his Atlas, saith the Academies or Universities in Spain, are about twenty two.
Munster saith there are seven famous Universities in Spain, viz. Salamanca, Complute, Colimbria, Pinciaria, Toledo, Sanguntum, Osten, and Ilerden.
Toledo.
In this City was the University first erected by a certain Bishop of the same Sea, and was afterward confirmed by the priviledges of many Popes and Kings of Spain.
The chief sciences therein professed are the Canon and Civil Law.
The Archbishop of this City is Chancellor of Castile, Metropolitan and chief of all the Ecclesiasticall persons in Spain, the revenews of this Church amounteth to the summe of 200000 Duckats, whereof the Archbishop receiveth 80000.
Siville.
It excelleth all other Cities of Spain in fertility of the soyl, which bringeth forthHispalis Avicenna medicus & Philosophus, & Leander, qui sua eruditione, & industria Hermegildum, & Richardum Gothorum Reges, ab Arriana haeresi ad Catholicam Religionem reduxit. Hinc Isidorus Hispalensis Episcopus. Europaei orbis Academiae. Vide Neand. Geog. parte 1•. all kindes of Grain, and Olives in great abundance, and is environed with green and fruitfull trees.
The Archbishop of Sivill is in degree next unto him of Toledo, he receiveth yearly out of the Church revenews 24000. Duckats.
The University herein is of great antiquity, and hath sent forth into the world many Learned and excellent men, as Pope Sylvester the 2d, Avicen a profound Philosopher, and most excellently Learned Physitian, and Leander, who by their industry and wisdom, reclaimed Hermigild, and Richard, Kings of the Gothes from Arianism to the Catholike faith, herein also flourished Isidorus, a man much renowned for sincerity and profoundness in Learning.
In this University is a rich and most renowned Library, near to the Friars Predicants.
Valentia.
In this City is an University, which in the year of grace 1470. did wonderfully flourish. Herein Dominicke the first Founder of the Friers Predicants, did absolve the courses of Philosophy and Theology.
In this Country are made those Porceline dishes, which for pure temper of the mettall, and exquisite workmanship, are so much desired in forraign Nations.
Granada.
By the great bounty and liberality of the King of Spain in this City, was FoundedAcademia Granatensis. and erected a most sumptuous and magnificent Colledge to the use of the Jesuites, who are authorized therein to profess Philosophy, Divinity, and other inferiour studies.
In this place had that mirrour of Christendom Lewes of Granada his birth and education.
Compostella.
An University and Archbishops See, vulgarly called St Iago, in honour ofCompostella non incelebri à sepulto ibi D. Jacobo, ad cujus monumentum olim longioribus etiam itineribus, & peregrinationibus è multis terris Europae homines accurrere solebant condonationem omnis culpae illic …ccep…uri. Nea…d. Geog. parte 1•. St Iames, whom they pretend to be buried here, and of whom there is an Order of Knights.
The Emperour Charles the great Founded herein a goodly Colledge, now Governed after the rule of Isidore.
Valladolit.
It was wont to be numbred among the seven most ancient Universities ofCalled Pintia in old Authors. Spain.
King Philip late deceased, because he was born there, did restore unto it the ancient Priviledges thereto belonging, and did his uttermost endeavours to raise it to his former dignity. He hath lately erected a Colledge there for the Institution of young English Gentlemen, which have abandoned their Country.
Complute.
Among many great and goodly Cities in Spain, Complute, which of the Spaniard Complutum.is commonly called Alcala de Henores, is not the meanest.
An University was herein erected by an Archbishop of Toledo, named Franciscus Ximenes, who was by profession a Franciscan Frier, in the year 1317.
There is Collegium Complutense Philosophicum: disputations upon Aristotles Logick and naturall Philosophy.
Salamanca.
Some say this University was first founded in the year of Christs incarnationOmnes Hispaniarum Pontifices, omnes proceres nostrorum, qui ubi que sunt, regnorum ad suas opes in hanc Academiam conferendas & in Collegiorum multitudinem magnificentiamque augendam certatim contendisse visi sunt. Biblioth. Hispan. Tom. 1. c. 1. 1404. many Kings and Popes have granted divers priviledges to it.
Pope Clement the 5th in a Councell held at Vienna, made a Decree, that the Hebrew, Arabick and Chaldee tongues should in this Academy be continually taught.
Ignatius Loyola first Founder of the society of the Jesuites, was in this University a Student.
The famous Didacus Covarruvias professed the Canon Law here. Franciscus à Victoria was Professour of Divinity here.
Dominicus à So…o, l. 1. de Iustitia & jure, cals it his University.
Saragossa.
In this ancient City the Kings of Arragon are usually accustomed to beCaesaraugustana sive Saragossa in regno Arragoniae. Est haec primaria civitas ubi reges Arragoniae coronantur. Crowned.
By Pope Iohn the 22d, the priviledges of this University were restored and ratified.
Signenca.
Little is said in Authors concerning the Foundation of this University or donation of priviledges thereto.
Lerida.
In this City flourisheth an Academy of great Antiquity, wherein Pope Calixtus the 3d, before he obtained the Papacy, proceeded Doctor of either Law, who afterward became a publick Professor of the Civil Law in the same place.
Also Vincent a Dominican Frier was there made Doctor of Divinity.
Huesca, Osca or Isca.
It is a goodly City of Arragon, containing an University of great Antiquity, which is said to have been erected before the coming of Christ, as a Nursery for the Institution of Noble mens children.
Lisbone.Ulyssipona.
It is the Metropolis of Portugall.
A most renowned University was by the bounty of their Kings erected in this City, where even untill this day the liberall Sciences are prosessed with great profoundness, to the incredible benefit of Christendom.
Conimbra.
It is a most pleasant and goodly City in Portugall.
An University was therein Founded in these later daies, by Iohn the 2d, King of Portugall.
Iacobus Payva Andradius studied in this University.Vincentius Fabricius enarrabat Homerum, non ut Graeca verteret Latinè, sed quasi ageret in ipsis Athenis, id quod nusquam hactenus videram: & nihilo segnius discipuli praeceptorem imitabantur: fermè in totum usi & ipsi sermone Graecanico. E quibus auspiciis si fas est divinare, florentissima erit Conimbrica linguarum studiis. De Theologia speciem praebuerunt tres monachi, qui cùm paucis mensibus in ea palaestra fuissent versati, de themate proposito disputaverunt argutissimè, & reipsa testati sunt quàm eruditis viris illic darent operam. Clen. Epist. l. 2.
There is Collegium Conimbricense upon a good part of Aristotle, his Logick and Physicks.
Evora.
It is another famous City of Portugall.
An University was herein lately erected by Henry Cardinall of Portugall, who was Bishop of that place. He was a man endued with abundant wealth, and exceedingly affected to the Muses.
Majorica.
In this City is an ancient priviledged and authorized University, where the ArtsAcademia Majorica sive Lulliana, eò quòd ibi Lulli doctrina peculiariter tradatur in urbe metropoli insulae sive regni Majorici. Middendorp. de Acad. l. 3. Ejus viri tanta apud suos cives authoritas & existimatio, ut etiam hodie magno stipendio Lulliana Philosophia ibi doceatur loco Aristotelicae. Alsted. Eucyclop. l. 4. c. 8. generally are publikely with great Learning professed.
Among the Students of this Academy, the memory of Raymundus Lullius is with great admiration retained, because he received therein his birth and education: in so much, that even untill this present time, a Learned man is there with liberall exhibition entertained to maintain and teach the doctrine professed by Lullius in times past.