A Fit Conjucture of Religion and Learning, Book 4 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
LEo Modena a Learned Jew now living.Imprimis & jam memorandus M S. tractatus Italicas R. Iud… de Modena etiam hodie archisynagogi apud Venetos, De Doctrina, moribus, & Ceremoniis Iudaeorum. Post primam hujus Disp. editionem anno 1637, Videor mihi inaudivisse, tractatum illum R. Iuda Modena typis descriptum nunc prostare. Voe…. Select. Disput. Theol. pars secunda. De Judaismo.
He hath many things (in his Italian History, of the Rites, Customes and manner of Life, of the present Jews, throughout the world) of the Jewish matters, which are not in others.
It is translated into English by Mr Chilmead of Christ-Church in Oxford, but I have heard that Master Selden had a Manuscript of Modenas, which had much more in it then there is in that in English.
Michoel Moestlinus.Academiae Tubingensis Professor mathematum, cujus solida, in rebus Astronomicis cognitio, & veritatis in his inquitendae, illustrandaeque studium eximium, inprimis commendabile mihi censetur. Tych. Brah. Lib. 2. De Cometa anni 1577.
These of his Works are published,
Alterum examen Grego…iani Calendarii.
De dimensionibus orbium juxta Tabulas Prutenicas, ex sent. Nic. Copernici.
Epitome Astronomiae.
Ioannes Molanus.Lovaniensis, & Theologiae in celebri▪ illa Academia professor historiae▪Ecclesiasticae, quam compluribus scriptis illustravit, admodum gnarus. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 4. l. 82.
He hath written divers Works mentioned by Anton. Sanderus. De Scriptoribus Flandriae. l. 2.
Carolus Molinaeus, a Learned Lawyer, and a Protestant.Tam eruditione ac judicio quam probitate conspicuus. Thuan. Hist. Tom 10. l. 6. Vide plura ibid. & Thuan. Hist. Tom. 2. l. 37. & Scaev. Samarth. Gallorum doctrina illust. Elog.
His Life is written by Papirius Massonus.
Petrus Molinaeus.Praeceptor quondam meus in Philosophia peripatetica, à quo & unum me summa liberalium artium laurea in hac Academia decoratum fuisse non sine grati animi memoria recordor. Gerard. Voss. Orat. in obitum Erpen.
Peter du Moulin, a Learned and pious French Divine, yet living.
Idò admire him upon the Eucharist, and on Purgatory, he hath my heart when I reade his Consolations to his Brethren of the Church of France, as also in treating of the love of God. I would willingly learn French to understand him only, and have a long time desired, and still do to get any thing that he hath written. D. Twisse.
Dominicus Molinus.Vi… egregie de me, ac plu…i… mis hominibus eruditis, & meritus & merens: quem verè Palladium musarum ac praesidium, & tutelam omnis d…ctrinae dixeris. Voss. De Histor. Lat.
Cujus benevolentia erga probos omnes & doctos viros (quotquot Sol …spicit & Solum sustinet) Patrio non clauditur Agro, sed latè conspicua pervagatur. Pignor. Symbol. Epist. Ep. 43.
Henricus Mollerus.
He hath written well on Esay, on the Psalms, Hosea and Malachy.
Richard Montague, a very expert Grecian, and a great Antiquary, but an Arminian.Richard… Montacutus eruditissimus vir, qui eruditionis suae specimen in editione aliquot opusculorum Graecorum Nazianzeni luculen▪ …um edidit. Sculiet De curri… ▪ vitae.
There are his
Analecta Ecclesiasticarum exercitationum.
Antidiatribae ad priorem partem diatribarum Jul. Caes. Bulengeri, adversus exercitationes Is. Casaub.
Apparatus ad Origines Ecclesiast.
Diatri…e upon the first part of Mr. Seldens History of Tithes, and other Works.
Arias aBenedictus Arias Montanus … sanctae apprimè peritus ac summè pius, Bibliis Complutensibus elegantiore formâ recudendis à Philippo destinatus, egregiam admodum operam in suorum editione cum Fabritiis Boderianis fratribus Fal…zianis An…u…rpiae …avavit, unde sibi aemulos tanto odio accendit, & in iis Leo…em Castrensem, qui de LXX interpretibus Commentarium scripsit, ut ad Caussam dicendam citatus Romam, vix Veniâ impetratâ pro tantorum laborum praemio secessum in Baetica sua, in quo se bona conscientia fretus sacrorum librorum lectione ac lucubratione solaretur, acceperit. Thu…. Hist. Tom. 5. l. 120.Montanus, a great Linguist.
He was skilled in ten Languages.
De me, ac de meo labore & industria (quant…lacunque ea est) nihil profi…eor. Hoc tamen unum recensebo: me scilicet, continuo immortales Deo gratias agere, quòd deceiu idiomatum cognitionem mihi pro sua clementia & benignitate imperitus sit. Arias Mont. Pr…f…i… Sac. Bib. Quadril. Reg. Edit.
A man that for his sincere dealing about the Kings Bible procured unto himself much hatred and ill will. Insomuch, that he was constrained to write an Apology of set-purpose, for to prove his integrity, wherein is contained a full satisfaction to all his Adversaries Objections, and the whole History of his troubles, the beginning, successe and progresse of that costly Work, written in the Spanish Tongue, never yet printed. The Copy was found at the surprize of Cales. D Iam. his Def. of Bellum Papale.
Vir toto orbe celeberrimus qui Bibliis Regiis Antwerpiae praefuit. Gomarus.
Michael Montanus Michel De Montaign.
His elegant Books of Miscellanies written in French, and modestly styled Essayes, full of various Learning, and in which he freely discovers his own spirit, shew his love to the Muses.
He hath by that Book gotten a great opinion of his Learning and wisdom, and Rome hath chosen and adopted him for one of her Citizens. Vide Scaev. Samarth. Gallorum Elog. & Bibliotheque D' Antoine Du Verdier.
Ant. Montecatinus, an exquisite Aristotelian.
He hath written on Aristotles Politicks, and on some part of his Physicks.
On Plato's Book De Rep. & Legibus.
Olympia Fulvia Morata, a learned and pious woman.Morum …anctimonia, ingenio & eruditione cum quavis prisci aevi com paranda …oemina. Graecè & Latinè scribere eleganter, & versus utraque lingua pangere didicit. T…u…. Hist. Tom. 1. l. 16.
Audivimus eam in aula ita latinè declamantem, Graecè loquentem, Ciceronis paradoxa explicantem, ad quaestiones respondentem, ut cum veterum puellorum quavis, qua quidem ingenii la…de excelluerit, conferri posse videatur. Est literis & disciplini… tum Graecis, tum Latinis, suprà quam quis credere possit, exculta, & scientia Religionis illustrata. Caelii S. Cur. Epist. l. 1. Xy…to Betuleio. Vide plura ibid.
There are Orations, Dialogues, Epistles, Verses both Greek and Latine of hers, with the Testimonies of the Learned concerning her, and their Elogies.
There is an Epistle in the second book of her Epistles written by her husband Andreas Grunthler Doctor of Physick of her pious Death to C…liu… Secundus Curio.
Sir Thomas More, sometimes L. Chancellor of England.
He was esteemed a man both witty and learned, but he was a bitter persecutor ofThomas Morus aequalis …uit Ioannes Fischeri eique amicissimus & nobilis Collega▪ martyrii: Fuit autem vir doctrina va…ia excultu…, & ingenii amaenissimi, quippe Theologu…, Philosophus Orator, Poeta, Historicus, linguae Graecae & Latinae peritus. Bellarm. De Script. Eccles. Cujus opera & alia plurima opuscu…a tam Latina quam vernacula lingua conscripta notiorem reddiderunt eruditionem ejus, quam ut à me opus sit praedicari. De moribus etiam qui severissimè judieavit, dicacitatem solum reprehendant, tanquam ad sales & facetias (ne dicam scommata) promptiorem, quam tanti viri gravitatem deceret, quibus ne in ipsa quidem calamitate, & mortis a…iculo vix aut ne vix abstinuit: Siquidem carceris custodi summum corporis indumentum tanquam ex consuetudine sibi debitum deposcenti, pileum tradidit: Tonsori pro opere navato jam damnatus nihil à se deb…ri contendit, Regis illud esse caput dicens quod raserat: ut sui ju…is esse probaverit, amplissimam mercedem relaturum. Pegina sine locum supplicii conscensurus, manum praecedenti cuiquam por…exit, & ascendentem (inquit) adjuves quaeso, ad descensum quod attinet non sum sollicitus. Corvicem ve…o jamjam caedendam postquam supra stipitem objectam protenderet, barbam (quam prolixam alebat) manu amovit, capitis non item barbae ampu…andae potestatem carnifici factam renidenti vultu professus. Godw. Rer. Angl. Annal. …1. Anglicus ille Socrates. Iul. Scalig Ep. good men, and a wretched enemy against the truth of the Gospel, as by his Book may appear, wherein he writeth most slanderously and contumeliously against Luther, Zuinglius, Tindal, Frith, Barns, Bayfield, Bainham. He stood wilfully in the Popes quarrel against his own Prince, though the Papists reckon him and Fisher among the number of their Martyrs. Foxes Act. and Monum. vol. 2. p. 353. And my L. Herbert of Henry the 8th out of Fox.
He was so given to jesting and scoffing, that he continued it unto his death.
One of the Officers at the Tower demanding his upper garment for his Fee, meaning his Gown, he answered, that he should have it, and gave him his Cap, saying, it was the uppermost garment he had.
Coming to the Tower-gate, a poor woman called unto him, and besought himQui tum alia eruditè scripsit, tum etiam ad imitationem Reipublicae Platonicae composuit de optimo Reipublicae statu, deque nova insula Eutopia librum verè aureum nec minus salutarem quam festivum. Neand. Geog. to declare, that he had certain evidences of hers, in the time that he was in Office (which after he was apprehended he could not come by) and that he would intreat that she might have them again, or else she was undone. He answered, Good woman have patience a little while, for the King is so good to me, that even within this half hour he will discharge me of all businesses, and help thee himself.
Also when he went up the stair of the Scaffold, he desired one of the Sheriffs Officers to give him his hand to help him up, he said, When I come down again, let me shift for my self so well as I can. Also the hang-man kneeled down to him, asking him forgivenesse of his death, as the manner is. To whom he answered, I forgive thee; but I promise thee that thou shalt never have honour of the striking off my head, my neck is so short. Also, even when he should lay down his neck on the block, he having a great gray beard, stroaked out his beard, and said to the hang-man, I pray you let me lay my beard over the block, lea…t you should cut it; others relate it thus, that he said, it never committed treason; thus with a mo…k he ended his life.
His English Works are mentioned by Maunsel in his Catalogue.
Ioh Morinus, a Learned Papist.
There are his
Exercitationes Biblica de Hebraeo Graecoque Text…. Exercit. Ecclesiasticae.
Phil. Mornay, Lord of Plessis.
His Work concerning the truth of Christian Religion, was written in FrenchPhilippus M… … Plesseus, vir insigni facundia, & in explicandis negotiis solertia praeditus. T…u…. Hist. Tomo 4to. l. 95. against Atheists, Epicures, Paynims, Jews, Mahumetists, and other Infidels, began to be translated by Sir Phil. Sidney, and at his request finished by Arthur Golding.
His other Works translated into English are mentioned by Ma…sel.
Thom. Morton, *S…ithaeus Cha…cedon… sis Ep…copus nuncupativus, Theologus sane eruditus, …ur in me vehementius excandesceret, rationem han… reddidi…, quòd Pontificios ex Pontificiorum testimoniis impugnandi rationem, ut ait, primus injerim. Morton. …rae…. ad Refuta…. Con…u…. C. …. &c.Bishop.
He hath written learnedly against the Papists, confuting them from their own Authors. There is his Apologia Catholica, Causa Regia, Catholick Appeal, & other Works.
Thomas Morton.Tho Mortonus noster, acutus sa… accura…que Scriptu. ae sac…ae interpres. Gatakeri …i…u: cap. 6.
He hath written a learned Commentary in Latine upon the first Epistle of P…ul to the Corinthians.
And some English Tracts.
Simeon Muis, an excellent Hebrician.Quem ob exc…ntem rerum Hebrarca…um peritiam, egregia que in originalem divini foedetis literaturam merita praecipuo semper, ut par erat, loco ac numero hab…i. Dall…s.
He hath written well on all the Psalms, and also learnedly asserted the Hebrew truth against Morinus.
Sebastian Munster a Germane, a learned Hebrician and Mathematician. He wasNatione Germanus, vir cum in variis linguis, tum Hebraica praecipuè doctus: & variis scientiis, maxime vero mathematicis praeclare im…utus: ingeniosis ac pils lucubrationibus Germanice, Latine & Hebraice conscriptis, de bonis li…eris omnibus, lin…uis, philosophia, & theologia, optimè merstus est. Ges…. Bibliothec. Doctus sane vir …uit Munste…us, cui mul…um d…ent …terae Hebraicae. Scalig. Elench. Trih…res. Scrar. c. 4. Duo sunt opera quae inter reliqua Munsterum …larum reddiderunt, Hebraica scilicet Biblia cum planè nova ejus translatione, vetustissimis & probatissimis ejus linguae collatis undique scriptoribus, adjectis item adnotationibus ex Rabinorum desumtis Commenta…s: A…rum Cosmographia est Carolo V. consecrata, quae variis postea gentium linguis edita, mundo se suo pa… …, spectandum que dedit. Verbeid. Praestant. aliquot. Theol. qui Rom. Antichrist. praecipuè oppugnarunt … & Elogia. born Anno 1489.
Marcus Antonius Muretus, a very eloquent and diligent Writer.Magnum non solum Galliae nostrae, sed ipsius Romae lumen. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 3. l. 80. Vide etiam ejus Tomum 4tum. l. 82. Suo ipsius ingenio & absque u…a▪p aeceptoris opera eruditus tantas in literis fecit progressus, ut praeter exactam Graecae linguae scientiam, ipsis etiam Italis peculiarem illam Latini sermonis laudem unus eripere…. Neque vero id Muretu… in oratione soluta solùm, sed in versibus etiam assecutus est, in quibus tam erat Catullo similis quàm ipse Catullus sibi. Accedebat ad excellens & divinum illum ingenium incredibilis morum Candor & Urbanitas quae miri…ica sua aetate hominum animos a…iciebat atque attrahebat. Sc…v. Samarth. Gallorum doctrina illust. Elog. Vir, in quo non eruditio solùm varia, sed comitas etiam & lepos multus. Lipsius De Recta pronunciat. Lat. Ling. c. 1.
What Latine Author hath he passed by, either Historian, Oratour or Poet, which he hath not explained, amended and restored to his purity, either with his Commentaries Scholia, or Notes? Terence, Petronius, Tibu…us, Catullus, Properti…s, Tully, Seneca, Salust, Tacitus; and how learned he was, his book of divers readings sheweth.
His excellent Orations shew his great eloquence. Quis humilia subtilius, ampla sublimius, mediocria temperatius, potuit dicere? quibus virtutibus, perfecti oratoris laus continetur. Jani Nicii Erythraei Pinacotheca. Vide plura ibid.
Gesner mentions his Latine works, and Antoine Du Verdier his French.
Musaeus.Musaeus Orphaei …lius, vel aemulus, & Linus circa Trojana tempora floruerunt. Ge…eb. Chronol. lib. 2.
He wrote the loves of Leander and Herûs, he lived (saith Vossius, De Poetis Gr… cis c. 9.) sub Augustis, & quidem post quartum seculum.
Wolfangus Musculus, a judicious and solid Divine Anno 1497.Magni inter suos nominis Theologus, qui Monasticam olim, dein abjecto Cucullo Protestantium doctrinam professus, vitam aliquando opere manuario textrinam exercens toleravit; postea seriò animum ad litteras jam aetate provectior appulit, in quibus improbo labore tantum profecit, ut famam concionibus quaesitam etiam laboriosissimis editis in S. Scripturam Commentariis …uxerit. T…uan. Hist. Tom. 2. l. 34. Mi Pater Muscule, ego omnes viros doct…s & pios observo & colo: sed mihi credas, te, Bulli…gerum, & Martyrem meum, …ingulari & peculiari non dicam tantum observantia, sed amore quodam tenero complector, ut majori etiam fiducia mihi videar posse vobiscum quàm cum aliis uti: In cau…a est vestra singularis non doctrina tantùm & pietas, sed etiam humanitas, spiritus lenitas, & morum suavitas, Zanch. epist. ad Musc.
He hath written Commentaries
In Genes.
In Psalmos. Fol.
In Isaiam. Fol.
In Matthaeum. Fol.
In Iohannem. Fol.
In Ep. ad Rom. & Corinth.
In Epist. ad Gal. & Ephes.
In Ep. ad Phil. Colos. Thess. & ad Tim.
And Loci Communes Theologi.
Ioachimus Mynsingerus, Anno Christ. 1514.
His Commentary upon Iustinians Institutions is well liked.
He hath written other Works mentioned in the Oxford Catalogue.
The End of the fourth Book.