He was so careful and studious to understand the truth, that the ambiguity & vexation of questions & vain sophistry (which pull many pregnant & natural good wits, from the cast of holy scripture) could not discourage him to leave his purpose. After he had red Thomas of Aquine, he gave him self to Richard above all the scholastical writers. He read diligently Gerson, because he seemed more apt to nourish the fear & reverence of God. He made none account of Scotus, all be it he was subtle: he stayed not as one musing, on every subtle question as his companions did, but hastened ⟨image 63⟩to attain to the some of this profession. And this while he conferred with certain the fruits of his study, and1 contemned evermore the public disputation of such as in common places would contend, esteeming the same to be a mean to corrupt & mar the toward wits & good natures of young men, with pride, arrogancy, noise and brawls. He more desired to learn, then to win Fame by knowledge, which was repugnant to the nature of his tender years, & the institution of his Masters. You would have said he• had been the sucking Infant of sacred Verity, & not the Scholar of doltish Schoolmasters. He attempted diligently, as his capacity served, to understand plainly all the secretes & mysteries of learned truth which was the cause that honest people commen dead him singularly, both for learning and virtue. Yea, Philippe Palatine2 most illustre Prince and Elector of y• empire, encouraged with his renown, made him Instructor of his Children, which was the ready way to grow to great wealth, if he had delighted to savour of the pomp & bravery of the world, ⟨image 64⟩but the virtue of his mind borne to embrace godliness, drew him an other way. Wherefore with all celerity he abandoned the Court, and returned to prosecute his godly studies again. Finally, for that his Parents, people very devout, were fully resolved to employ their wealth on Gods service, and this their only Son, having no further care, nor hope of any issue, & considering he was of a weak complexion, and apt to prove a notable Preacher, they founded in the Town where they were borne, by the advise and consent of their said son, a Benefice, having the charge of Preacher annexed, and employed thereon the principal part of their revenue.
He was so careful and studious to vnderstand the truth, that the ambiguity & ve•acion of questions & vayne sophistry (which pull many pregnaunt & natural good wyts, from the cast of holy scripture) coulde not discourage hym to leaue hys purpose. After he had red Thomas of Aquine, he gaue hym selfe to Richard aboue al the scolastical writers. He redde diligentlye Gerson, because he semed more apt to nourish the feare & reuerence of God. He made none accompt of Scotus, al beit he was subtile: he stayed not as one musyng, on euery subtile questiō as hys companions dyd, but hastened ⟨image 63⟩to attain to the somme of thys profession. And this while he cōferred with certayne the fruites of hys study, and1 contemned euermore the publick disputacion of suche as in cōmon places would contend, esteming the same to be a meane to corrupt & marre the toward wyts & good natures of younge men, with pride, arogancy, noise and braw•es. He more desyred to learne, then to wynne Fame by knowledge, which was repugnant to the nature of hys tender yeres, & the institucion of his Maisters. You would haue said he• had bene the suckyng Infant of sacred Verity, & not the Scholer of doltysh Schoolemaisters. He attempted diligently, as hys capacity serued, to vnderstand playnly all the secretes & misteries of learned truth which was the cause that honest people commen ded hym singularly, both for learning and vertue. Yea, Philippe Palatine2 most illustre Prince and Elector of y• empire, encouraged wt his renowme, made him Instructor of hys Childre, which was the ready way to grow to great welth, if he had delited to sauor of the pompe & brauery of the world, ⟨image 64⟩but the vertue of hys mynde borne to embrace godlines, drew him an other way. Wherfore with al celerity he abandoned the Court, and returned to prosecute hys godlye studies agayne. Finally, for that hys Parentes, people very deuout, were fullye resolued to employ theyr wealth on Gods seruice, and this their onely Sonne, hauing no further care, nor hope of any issue, & cōsideryng he was of a weake complexion, and apt to proue a notable Preacher, they founded in the Towne where they were borne, by the aduise and consent of theyr sayde sonne, a Benefice, hauyng the charge of Preacher annexed, and employed theron the principall part of theyr reuenue.
- 1Ecolampadius hated ambition.Ecolampadius hated ambicion.
- 2The carle Palatine sent for EcolampadiusThe carle Palatine sent for Ecolāpadius
