A09907:28
A discourse writtenA discourse wrytten
A discourse written by M. Theodore de Beza, conteyning in brief the history of the life and death of Master John Calvin with the testament and last will of the said Calvin, and the catalogue of his books that he hath made. Turned out of French into English, by I.S. In the year of our Lord. M.D.LXIIII. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens Majesties injunctions.A discourse wrytten by M. Theodore de Beza, conteyning in briefe the historie of the life and death of Maister Iohn Caluin with the testament and laste will of the saide Caluin, and the catalogue of his bookes that he hath made. Turned out of Frenche into Englishe, by I.S. In the yeare of our Lorde. M.D.LXIIII. Seene and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by Henry Denham for Lucas Harrison, 1564
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.
To be short, what difference was there ever between him and us, but that he did excel us all in all humility among other virtues, and also in that he took more pain than all we did? was there any man more simply apparelled or more modest in all respects? was there any house considering the estate of the man, I do not ⟨image 20⟩say less sumptuous, but more slenderly furnished with moveables? And if men will not believe me and ten thousand witnesses with me, at the least let them believe the slender wealth of his brother & only heir, and also the inventory of all his goods, and it shall be found that all that ever he left behind him (accounting also his books which were dearly sold because of his precious memory, to all men that were learned) doth not exceed the value of two hundred crowns. These may also answer these shameless evil reporters who have talked so largely, that the one sort said he was a Usurer, the other that he was a very banker: a matter so worthy of scorn and so falsely raised, that any man that ever did know him, will never require answer to such an untruth. He was so covetous that having in the whole six hundred Florins for his stipend, which doth not all amount to three hundred livres tournois, yea he sought to have less, & the accounts of this Seigniory can witness it. He hath been so covetous of this worldly goods, that being in favour, yea & honoured both of Kings, Princes & Lords of many nations, and having dedicated his works to them, ⟨image 21⟩I know not (and I think I should have known it if it had been otherwise) that ever he received of them to his use the value of .xx. Crowns. Also he had the sacred word of God in such reverence, that he had rather to dye than to use it as a bait to Ambition or avarice. He did dedicate his books to private persons, acknowledging some benefit or friendship, as he did a very learned & singular Commentary upon the book of Seneca concerning the virtue of Clemency & gentleness, which he wrote in Paris, being of the age of .24. years, & did dedicate it to one of the Lords of Monmor, with whom he had been brought up, not at their charges notwithstanding. The like he did with his Commentaries upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans, being dedicated to Simon Grinee: upon the first to the Corinthians, to the Lord Marquess Caraciol:
To be short, what difference was there euer betweene him and vs, but that he did excell vs all in all humilitie among other vertues, and also in that hee tooke more paine than all we did? was there any man more simplye apparelled or more modest in al respectes? was there any house considering the estate of the man, I doe not