A08486:23
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers…A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers…
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martin Luther, John Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaration of Martin Luther's faith before the Emperor Charles the fifth, and the illustre estates of the empire of Germany, with an oration of his death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melanchthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martine Luther, Iohn Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaracion of Martin Luthers faythe before the Emperoure Charles the fyft, and the illustre estates of the empyre of Germanye, with an oration of hys death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melancthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.
London: printed by John Awdely, 1561London: printed by Iohn Awdely, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And for that the excellency of his wit embracing good literature required many, & those selected things: he privately red divers works of the ancient latin Authors, as Cicero, Titus Livius, Virgil, & others. He studied not these as the young scholars are wont, collecting only the Phrases, but as a doctrine or representation of humane life. And therefore intentively ⟨image 8⟩applied him self, to under stand the sense & sentence of the Authors. And having a natural good memory, he had as it were before his eyes prest, all that he had learned, or heard. He so excelled in his young years, that the whole University had his wit in great admiration.
And for that the excellencye of hys wyt embracing good litterature required many, & those selected things: he priuately red diuers workes of the auncient latine Authors, as Cicero, Titus Liuius, Virgil, & others. He studied not these as the yong scholers are wont, collecting onely the Phrases, but as a doctrine or representacion of humayne lyfe. And therfore intentiuely ⟨image 8⟩applyed hym selfe, to vnder stande the sence & sentence of the Authors. And hauyng a naturall good memory, he had as it were before hys eyes prest, all that he had learned, or hearde. He so excelled in hys younge yeres, that the whole Vniuersity had hys wyt in great admiracion.
Being twenty years old, he was1 graded Master of Art, and then he gave him self to the study of the Civil law, by the advise of his familiar and nighest friends, in so much that they judged this marvellous pregnancy of wit and eloquence, ought not to lurk in obscure place: but be made notorious, hereafter to serve and be a necessary instrument of the public weal. And the next year, which was the .xxi. of his age, he suddenly, & besides the expectation of his Parents2