A treatise of religion & learning and of religious and learned men consisting of six books, the two first treating of religion & learning, the four last of religious or learned men in an alphabetical order ... / by Edward Leigh ...

CHAP. IV.

[ V]

JOach Vadianus, the chiefest Cosmographer of his time.

* 1.1Qui tam foelix est in describendis regionibus, ut non scribere, sed pingere videatur.

His Works are mentioned by Boissard in his Icones, and many of them in Oxford Catalogue.

* 1.2Matthaeus Vayerius, a learned and eloquent Frenchman, but a patron of Pela∣gianism.

He hath put out a French Book De virtute Ethnicorum.

* 1.3Petrus Valadanus. P. de la Vallada, a learned French Minister.

He hath put out

Apologie pour l' Epistre de messieurs les Ministres du S. Evangile de l' Eglise de Paris.

Greg. de Valentia, a very learned Jesuite.

He hath written

A Commentary in summam Aquin. Tom. 4.

De rebus fidei controversis.

Apol. de Sacrificio.

A Bookseller seeing him passe by one day, said, Hic est ille, qui suis libris, sae∣pius impressis, bibliopolas plures, magnas ad divitias opesque perduxit. Jani Nicii Ery∣thraei Pinacotheca secunda. Vide plura ibid.

Valerius Maximus.

His History is a good Book for Themes.* 1.4

Stephanus Paschasius in his Icones hath these Verses of him,

Et brevitas, & me variè commendat acumen: Haec Emblemata tu vermiculata putes.

Laurentius Valla. Proprietatis Latini sermonis intelligentissimus. Scriv. in Mart. He was a Senator of Rome.* 1.5

The Prince of Grammarians in his Age. Trithemius cals him Theologum praestan∣tissimum, a most excellent Divine.

He preferring Latine eloquence before the Greek, hath composed many things for its ornament, though he was most skilfull both in the Greek and Latine Lan∣guages.

Carpis majores, & te quoque, Valla, minores Carperis, & carpis, sic tua fata ferunt. Voss. De Construct. cap. 16.

De Latini sermonis elegantia scripsit elegantissime. Erasmus De Ratione Studii.

Quintiliani in primis admirator simul & imitator: maledecus alioquin in omnes.

One made this Distick of him being dead,

Ohe ut Valla silet, solitus qui parcere nulli est. S•• quaeris quid agat, nunc quoque mordet humum. Volat. Comment. Urban. lib. 21.

There are two witty Epigrams made of him, the one by way of censure, viz. this,

Nunc postquam manes defunctus Valla petivit, Non audet Pluto verba Latina loqui. Jupiter hunc Coeli dignatus honore fuisset; Censorem linguae sed timet esse suae.

The other by way of Commendation, thus

Fatales post quam soluit Laurentius annos. Extimuit tantum Rhetora Phito nocens.

Jupiter hunc sacro non dedignatus Olympo, Facundo Maiae praeposuit genito.

There is this Elogy also of him,

Laureus Valla jacet, Romanae gloria linguae; Primus enim docuit, qua decet arte loqui.

His Works are mentioned by Boissard in his Icones.

Cyprian de Valera, a Spaniard, who was B. Welch of Irelands Tutor, turned Protestant, and was here in England, and carried over into Spain the Bible tran∣slated into Spanish, and also Calvins Institutions, and went and dispersed them there.

He is called in Oxford Catalogue Cypriane de Valeriola; There is a Book of his there mentioned De la Missa, and others in Spanish.

Lucas Valerius.

For his admirable skill in the Mathematicks, he deserved to be called the Archi∣medes of his age.

He put out a Book De centro gravitatis solidorum.

He taught the Mathematicks long in Rome, especially Geometry.

Henry Valesius.

He hath put out Notes on Ammianus Marcellinus, and on Excerpta de P••∣lybio.

* 1.6Franciscus Vallesius, a most learned Spanish Philosopher.

He was Professor of Physick in Academia Complutensi.

He wrote his ten Books, in which he explains the more difficult controversies of Physick and Philosophy.

Opus ••ruditi judicii, quamvis id Juvenis admodum scripsit, ut testatur, lib. 5. c. 6. nec animo vulgandi. Castellanus De vitis medicorum.

He wrote Commentaries upon Hippocrates his Book, De morbis populari∣bus.

Upon his Aphorisms, and his Book De ratione victus inacutis.

Marcus Varro.

* 1.7He was so esteemed for his excellent Learning, as Tully himself had a reverence to his judgement in all doubts of learning.

If his Books had remained to posterity, as by Gods providence most part of Tullies did, the Latine Tongue might have made good comparison with the Greek. Asch. Schoolmaster part. 2.

His Life was spared in civil dissentions for his incomparable Learning, Vivat Var∣ro doctissimus Romanorum.

He is often styled Doctissimus Togatorum, and Romanorum doctissimus, by Seneca Consolat. ad Helv. and Quintilian. l. 10. c. 1.

His Etymologies are somewhat forced. Sed Varro more suo anxiè Etymologias Comminiscitur. Jos. Scaliger. Conjectan. in Varr. De Lingua Latina.

Nam Varro in Etymologiis Varro non videtur: itaque & à Quintiliano merito ridetur. Manut. Epist. l. 3. Epist. 23.

Gabriel Vasquez, the Papists most expert Schoolman.* 1.8

Franciscus Vatablus.

Regius Professor of the Hebrew Tongue in Paris.* 1.9

His Notes (if they be his) upon the Bible are well liked.

John Vdall a learned and pious Divine.

He hath put out a Translation of Martinius Hebrew Grammer, with a short Dictionary, and a praxis upon certain Psalms, and a Commentary on the La∣mentations.

Divers Sermons of his are mentioned by Maunsell in his Catalogue of English Books.

Nic. Vedelius, a learned Writer, as his Works shew.

Rationale Theologicum.

De Deo Synagogae.

De prudentia veteris Ecclesiae.

De Arcanis Arminianismi.

Panacea Apostasiae bono constantium & lapsorum praescripta.

Andr. Vega * 1.10, one of the learnedst at the Councel of Trent.

He hath put forth a Defence of the Councel of Trent concerning Justification.

Flavius * 1.11 Vegetius.

He hath written De re militari.

Scriverius and Godeschalcus Steuuechius have put forth Animadversions on him.

Marcus Velserus, Illud Margaritum Germaniae suae. Pignor. Symb. Epistol. Epist. 13.* 1.12

He going into Italy published Antiquitates Augustana, Foelix famae su••gentis auspicium & pium. Exinde aliis atque aliis ad unguem factis monumentis obligavit sibi rem literariam. Melch. Ad. in ejus vita.

He mentions there his several Works.

Marce Velsere. Te fortem, pium, beatum, Coelo receptum si lugeamus nefas. At publica damna publicam jacturam, nisi lugeamus quantum nefas? Tibi religio, cui tu patronus, pietas, cui tu vindex, studium boni & aequi, cui tu assertor nuper fueras certatim funus ducunt. Dicunt tuas landes uno ore modestia, candor, ingenuitas. Te Germania sidus suum sibi extinctum, Te Italia alumnum suum sibi ereptum, justissimis fletibus conqueruntur. Subeunt feretrum tuum Fama per te constantior, Honos per te,

illustrior, virtul per te nobilior, Gloria per te solidior. Fuisti enim & tecum una fue∣runt deliciae, lepores, veneres sobriae & castae eruditionis, vis doctrinae, pondus sapien∣tiae, quae tu alio migrans tecum extulisti omnia. Laur. Pign. Miscella Elog. Adela∣mat. &c.

* 1.13Venantius Honorius, Clementianus Fortunatus Italus, Anno Dom. 580.

One cals him Scholasticissimum.

He hath written

Upon the Lords-Prayer, and Apostles Creed.

Divers Poems.

Claud. Verderius, the great Censurer.

* 1.14The Title of his Book is,

In Auctores penè omnes censiones & correctiones.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mathematicis artibus ac Geographiae praecipuè, quam scriptis illustravit, cognitione clarus, tum & ad extremum etiam Theologus non exigui inter suos nominis. Thuan. Hist. vol. 2. l. 8. Saepe pro cer∣vicali volumine Virgilii prae grandi usus; quod in Bibliotheca Sangallensi inter libros Vadiani etiamnum adservatur. Melch. Adam in ejus vita.
• * 1.2

  Maresius orat. De salute Ari∣stotelis quotes it
• * 1.3

  Vide Riveti Apologeticum pro vera pace Eccles. p. 215, 216.

  Natione Hi∣spanus, inter Theologos sui temporis nulli secun∣dus. Clemens Octavus Pontifex Maximus illum Doctorem Doctorum appellavit. Biblioth. Scriptorum Societ. Jesu ab Ale∣gambe Edita.
• * 1.4

  Dictorum fa∣ctorumque me∣morabilium libros 9. reliquit. Scripsit post Sciani caedem, nempe extremis Tiberii temporibus. Stylus tamen vix sapit tam bonum aevum sententias quoque nimium affectat. Voss. De Histor. Lat. lib. 1. cap. 24. In pretio habentur Valerij Maxims, lib. 9. Dictorum factorumque memorabilium, quae ex praestantissimis utriusque linguae auctoribus ad∣miranda industria collegit, & singula ad certa capita virtutum & vitiorum revocavit, gravissimisque sententiis illu∣stravit. Conrad. Ritterbus Epist. ad Cent. 3. Meditat. Hist. Camer.
• * 1.5

  Equidem Val∣lam plurima laude dignum arbitror, homi∣nem rhetori∣cum magis quam theolo∣gum, qui hac diligentia sit usus in sacris literis, ut Graeca cum Latinis contulerit, cum non pauci sunt Theologi, qui nunquam universum Testamentum ordine perlegerint. Eras. Epist. l. 21. Epist. 42. Elegantiarum observantiis nemini aeque fidem ha∣beo, atque Laurentio Vallensi, cui quem alium & ingenii acumine & memoriae tenacitate conferimus non habemus. Id. Epist. l. 30. Epist. 3. Vide l. 3 1. Epist. 17. Patricius Romanus, Grammaticus, Rhetor & Philosophus clarissi∣mus, Theologiae Doctor, Graecae & Latinae linguae peritissimus. Vixit Anno Domini 1420, Sigismundo Im∣peratore. Vixit annos L. Boxhorn. Monum. Illust. Vir. Alphonsi Regis Secretarius de lingus Latina optime meritus Anno Aerae Christi 1465. Calvis. Chron. Laurentius Valla egregiam prae se fert indolem, & verbis cum puris tum etiam propriis utitur: quae ante elegantias scripsit, ut de voluntate, minus sunt accurata, quam quae post eas. Lud. Viv. De Trad. Discip. l. 3. Vir de lingua Latinâ praeclarè meritus, etsi eum vir eruditus Ramirezius de Prado Hispanus, suis in Martialem notis audaciùs paullò audacem Grammaticum; uti & ejus libros inelegantes elegantias ap∣pellet. Omnino enim illis temporibus magnus fuit, & acutus Romani sermonis Cen••••r; qui tamen non rarò à veritatis via deffectat, idque imprimis contradicendi modo, quo vehementer laborabat; ut non temere omnino in cum jam olim dictum sit.
• * 1.6

  Habet in eru∣dito libro de sacra Philoso∣phia multa praeclara, acu∣tè, ingeniosè, nec sine diligentia in Physicis Sacra cum Philosophica conciliatione atque consensu prolata, quae sanè non obscurè ostendunt, virum hunc esse magni ingenii atque industriae, solidé{que} in plurimorum Philosophorum, praesertim Platonis, Aristotelis & Galeni scriptis versatum, ut vel hinc solummodo ipsius eximiam & multiplìcem doctrinam colligere lice∣at. l. 1. c. 8. Tych. Brah De nova Stella. Vide plura ibid.
• * 1.7

  M. Terentius Varro, scriptor inter togatos, sine controver∣sia longè do∣ctissimus. Casaub. De Sa∣tyr. Graec. Poes. & Rom. Sat. l. 2. c. 1. M. Varro omnium Latinorum & Graecorum doctissimus est à Tullio appellatus. Bod. Meth. hist. c. 8. Octogesimum agens annum, scripsit libros De re rustica, & ira scripsit, ut ex his videatur adhuc alacri ani∣mo fuisse, & sensisse studiorum dulcedinem. Eras. Epist. l. 23. Epist. 5. Varro ille Romanus ••••lti formibus emi∣nens disciplinis, & in vetustatis indagatione rimator. Arnob. Adversus gentes l. 5. Terentim Varro viz Romanorum eruditissimus; Plurimos hic libros & doctissimos composuit, peritissimus linguae Latinae, & omnis antiquitati., & rerum Graecarum, nostrarumque: plus tamen scientiae collaturus, quam eloquentiae: Quintil. Instit. Orat. l. 10. c. 1. Varro, quo nemo unquam doctior apud Graecos quidem nedum apud Latínos. Lactant. De falsa Relig. l. 1. Vide illius Elogium apud Aug. De Civit. Dei l. 6. c. 2. & 6. & Criuit. De honesta Discip. l. 10. c. 11. Doctissimus unde∣cunque Varro cum pleraque alia, tum praecipuè Grammaticum hoc argumentum quatuor & viginti libris explica∣verat: sex ad huc ••icet mutilati: attamen ex numero libri superant, unde potest universae commentationis summa perspici. Rami Praefat. Grammar 4. p. 7. Publius Terentius Varro in Provincia Narbonensi natus centesimum quin∣tum annum agens, Graecas literas summo studio didicit. Geneb. Chronol. l. 2.
• * 1.8

  Natione Hi∣spanus, vir magni ingenii, assiduae atque infinitae lectionis, & in pervestigandis atque eruendis Sanctorum Patrum reconditis sententiis summae diligentiae utroque certè ornamento virtutum & literarum ita inclaruit, ut omnium retro seculorum illustrissimis viris debuerit jure optimo annumerari. Biblioth. Script. Societ. Jesu. ab Alegambe edita. Vide plura ibid.
• * 1.9

  Quem Hebraei ipsi Luteriae Hebraicas literas profi∣tentem admirati sunt, Christiani verò maximo cum fructu docentem audiverunt. Ejus notationes in Vetus Testamen∣tum ab auditoribus ex illius praelegentis ore exceptae: nam ipse sine naturali pigritiâ, quod illi exprobratum est, sine morte praeventus, nihil omnino scripsit. Thuan. Hist. Tom. 1. l. 3.
• * 1.10

  Qui in Concilio Tri∣dentino prae∣clarus athleta & actor extitit. Mortoni Antidiat. contra merita cap. 6. Sect. 5. In pulvere Scholastico versatissimus. Montac. Apparat. 1.
• * 1.11

  Quem li∣benter in illis sequimur quae ad militiam attinent. Naudaeus De Studio militari lib. 1. pag. 175.
• * 1.12

  Anno Christi 1558. Reipublicae Augustan•• aeternum de∣cus. Montacut. Antidiat. Vir illustrissi∣mus & propter summam eruditionem merito suo omnibus venerabilis. Meric. Casaub. pietas. Accepi Annales ve∣stros, eruditionis, elegantiae, & optimae frugis plenos. Jos. Scalig. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 143. Dictio (in historia re∣rum Augustanarum) Romanam dignitatem, sine ullis ambagibus sapiens. Nihil in ea turgidum nihil laxum: si qua in re moratur, id ad rem solidè explicandam facit. Possev. Biblioth. Select. Tom. 2. l. 16. c. 48.
• * 1.13

  Claruit sub Ju∣stino juniore. Voss. De Poetis Latinis. Vide illum de Hist. Lat. l 2. c. 22.
• * 1.14

  In multis cen∣sore huic opus est Censori. Voss. De arte Gram. De Analog. l. 2. c. 24. Verderius omnes penè Auctores censoria notat virgula, vento tamen pa••um secun∣do. Dilher. Disput. Acad. Tom. 2.