Bellarmine · De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis · On the Ecclesiastical Writers
Chapter 35: The Fourteenth Century: Joannes Andreae, Suso, Cabasilas, FitzRalph, Petrarch, Tauler, Ruysbroeck, Baldus
Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. XII, De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, of the New Testament, fourteenth century. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).
Joannes Andreae. 1330
Joannes Andreae of Bologna, a most learned Jurist, flourished in the time of Pope John XXII, but died in the year 1348. He wrote on the five books of the decretals, which work he called the Novels. He wrote also glosses on the Sext and the Clementines; he added too to the mirror of William Durand.
Bartholomew of Pisa. 1335
Bartholomew of Pisa, of the Order of Preachers, published a summa which is called the Pisanella, which Angelo of Chivasso imitated.
Joannes Calderinus. 1340
Joannes Calderinus of Bologna, the adopted son of Joannes Andreae, wrote on the books of the Decretals; likewise counsels and decisions.
John Baconthorpe. 1340
John of Baconthorpe, an Englishman, of the Carmelite Order, Prior Provincial, a most learned Theologian and Philosopher, flourished in the time of the Pontiff Clement VI, and is said to have died in the year 1346. He wrote commentaries on the four [books] of the Master of the sentences, a compendium of the law of Christ, and quodlibets, which are extant printed. He is said to have written very much else, which I have not seen.
Albericus. 1341
Albericus de Rosate of Bergamo wrote on the Sext of the decretals.
Simon of Cascia. 1340
Simon of Cascia, a Hernican by nation [of Umbria], a religious of the Order of St. Augustine, very pious, lived at the same time as John of Baconthorpe, and died at Florence in the year of the Lord 1348. He wrote fifteen books on the deeds of the Lord Saviour. He wrote also a book On the mirror of the Cross; a book of letters to various persons. He wrote too in the Italian tongue two books On the Christian life, and an exposition of the Apostles' creed.
Henry Suso
Henry Suso, a German by nation, of the Order of St. Dominic, was a most pious and most devout man. He wrote the Clock of wisdom; the book On the nine rocks; Meditations on the Lord's Passion, and other things. He was living in the year 1340.
Robert Holcot. 1349
Robert Holcot, an Englishman by nation, a Dominican by profession, wrote 213 lectures on the book of Wisdom; likewise a lecture on the Canticle of Canticles and on the first seven chapters of Ecclesiasticus. He wrote also commentaries on the four books of the Master of the sentences, and certain other things. He flourished about the year of the Lord 1349.
Thomas of Strasbourg. 1350
Thomas of Strasbourg, a German by nation, Prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, lived in the time of Clement VI, and died at Vienna in the year 1357. He wrote commentaries on the books of the Master of the Sentences. He wrote also solutions of questions from the sacred Scriptures; Sermons and Letters, and a book of meditations.
Nicholas Cabasilas. 1350
Nicholas Cabasilas, a Greek, lived in the time of the emperor, or rather tyrant, John Cantacuzenus. He was a very learned man, and Archbishop of Thessalonica [as printed], but a schismatic. He wrote six volumes On the life in Christ, which were printed in Latin at Ingolstadt. There are extant also books On three Sacraments, Baptism, Unction and the Eucharist, printed at the same place. There is extant the explanation of the Liturgy in Bigné's Library of the Fathers, volume 6, second edition, from which chapters 29 and 30 should be struck out altogether, or read most cautiously. Lastly, besides much else, he wrote on the procession of the Holy Spirit against the Latins, where he openly shows himself an enemy of the Church. But I have not seen this book printed.
Gregory of Rimini. 1350
Gregory of Rimini was a contemporary of Thomas of Strasbourg, and Prior general of the same Order of St. Augustine. He wrote a Commentary on the first and second book of the Master of the sentences. He wrote also on the Letters of St. Paul and on the letter of St. James.
Richard of Armagh. 1350
Richard FitzRalph, Archbishop of Armagh, lived in the time of the Pontiff Innocent VI, and died in the year 1360 [“1559” printed]. He wrote nineteen books against the errors of the Armenians.
Note. This author is to be read very cautiously, especially book 10 against the Armenians, chapter 4, and chapters 23 and 24, and book 11, chapter 4, and the first and fourth sermon; in which places he has many errors about the power of Presbyters, the poverty of Christ, and the state of the Mendicant religious. Let the reader consult Thomas of Walden, who diligently refutes the errors of Armachanus and of John Wyclif, who took some things from Armachanus; let him consult also, if he pleases, what we wrote in the book On Monks, chapters 45 and 46.
Francis Petrarch. 1350
Francis Petrarch, a Florentine by birth [of Arezzo, of Florentine parents], Archdeacon of Parma and Canon of Padua, once played in most elegant Italian verses with his loves for Laura, whether true or feigned, to have matter for exercising his Muse; but, led by penance, he wept for the time spent in those little songs, and, placed in solitude, led a life worthy of a Christian and pious man, and wrote many weighty and useful works, and at last died piously and holily in the year of the Lord 1374, in the 70th year of his age. His works are contained in four volumes.
In the first volume are: On the remedies of both fortunes, 2 books; On the solitary life, 2; On the leisure of Religious, 2; On true wisdom, dialogues, 2; On contempt of the world, dialogues, 3; seven penitential psalms in imitation of David; On governing the commonwealth best, 1 book; On the office and virtues of the emperor, 1 book; Of memorable things, 4 books; an Epitome of the lives of illustrious men; the Exhortation on pacifying Italy; the Oration to the old defenders of the Roman commonwealth; the hortatory Oration on seizing liberty, to Cola di Rienzo; On obedience and wifely faith; On avoiding avarice; the Syrian Itinerary. In the second volume are: Familiar letters, 8 books; Letters to certain famous men of old, 1; Letters without title, 1; Letters of old age, 16; Various letters, 1; On his own and many others' ignorance, 1; the invective of an anonymous Gaul against Petrarch; Petrarch's Apology against the Gaul; Invectives against a certain physician, 4 books. In the third volume are: eight letters On taking the Laurel; the Privilege of the Laurel received; twelve Eclogues; the Africa, or poems on the Punic war, 9 books; Letters written in verse, 3; the Testament of Petrarch. In the fourth volume are the Italian poems.
Nicholas of Gorran. 1350
Nicholas of Gorran, a Gaul by nation, of the Order of Preachers, was living in the year of the Lord 1350 [as printed]. He wrote commentaries on the Pentateuch; on the Psalms; on the Canticles; on Ecclesiastes; on Ecclesiasticus; likewise on Jeremias; on the Gospels; on the Letters of St. Paul; on the Canonical Letters; on the Apocalypse; lastly also on the books of the sentences of the Master.
Alfonso Vargas. 1359
Alfonso Vargas, a Spaniard, Archbishop of Seville, died in the year 1359 [1366]. He wrote on the first of the Sentences and on the books On the soul, which were printed at Venice in the year 1566.
John Tauler. 1350
John Tauler, a German by nation, of the Order of St. Dominic, a notable and most pious preacher, wrote: Sermons on the perfection of the inner life; a Treatise on the virtues; Letters to various persons; spiritual Canticles; On the nine degrees of Christian perfection; the Mirror and pattern of our Lord Jesus Christ; Exercises on the life and Passion of Christ. He lived about the years of the Lord 1350. Further, John Eck despised this man as suspect in faith; but Louis de Blois defended him excellently.
Manuel Calecas. 1375
Manuel Calecas, a Greek, a learned man, wrote a book against the errors of the Greeks, for the Latins, which Ambrose of Camaldoli [Traversari] turned into the Latin tongue by order of the Pontiff Martin the fifth, and divided into four books. This author seems to have lived after the schism of Urban VI and Clement VII and before the schism of Eugene IV and Felix V; for in book 4 of his work he writes that the Roman Church in his time was governed by two Pontiffs, where he seems to speak of that long schism of Urban VI and Clement VII; since in the same book he mentions the Council of Lyons under Gregory X, and from the time of that Council there was no famous schism except the schism of Urban and Clement; for that which the emperor Louis stirred up between John XXII [“XXI” printed] and Nicholas V was very short. So it is false, what some say, that Calecas was present at the Council under Gregory X.
Henry of Hesse. 1380
Henry of Hesse, a Carthusian, wrote: on the Master of the Sentences; on Genesis; on Exodus; on the Proverbs of Solomon; on the Apocalypse of St. John; a Dialogue between a Bishop and a Presbyter; various Sermons; Rules for discerning mortal from venial sin. Of his death writers vary; some will have it that he died in the year 1317 [as printed], others 1397, others 1428.
John Ruysbroeck. 1380
John Ruysbroeck, a Belgian by nation, Prior of the Monastery of Groenendael, a man most given to divine contemplation, wrote in his native tongue various works which, turned into the Latin tongue, were published at Cologne in the year of the Lord 1552. They are these: the Summa of the whole spiritual life; the Mirror of eternal salvation; Commentaries on the tabernacle of Moses; a Treatise on the chief virtues; a book On faith and judgement; On the four temptations; On the seven guards; On the seven degrees of love; On the spiritual espousals, 3 books. This author was living in the year of the Lord 1300 [1350?]. John Gerson too carped at this Doctor, and Denis the Carthusian defended him. For this is wont to happen to those who write on mystical theology, that their sayings are blamed by some and praised by others, because they are not taken in the same way by all.
Baldus. 1390
Baldus de Ubaldis, an Italian by nation, of Perugia by birth, a most famous Jurist, and once a hearer of Bartolus, wrote, besides what belongs to civil law, Commentaries on the books of the decretals. He died in the year of the Lord 1400 [“1420” printed].
Show the Latin (Vives edition, OCR)
De Joanne Andrea. 1330. Joannes Andreas Bononiensis Jureconsul¬ tus doctissimus floruit tempore Joannis XXII. Papae, sed obiit anno 1348. Scripsit in quinque libros decretalium, quod opus No¬ vellas appellavit. Scripsit etiam glossas in sextum, et Clementinas, addidit quoque ad speculum Gulielmi Durantis. Le Bartholomxo Pisano. 1335. Bartholomaeus Pisanus ordinis Praedica¬ torum edidit summam, quae dicitur Pisanel- la, quam imitatus est Angelus de Clavasio. De Joanne Calderino 1340. Joannes Calderinus Bononiensis filius adoptivus Joannis Andraee, scripsit in libros Decretalium. Item consilia, et decisiones. De Joanne de Baccone. 1340. Joannes de Baccone Anglus, et Ordinis Carmelitarura, Prior Provincialis, Theolo¬ gus, et Philosophus doctissimus, floruit tem¬ pore Clementis VI. Pontificis, et obiisse di¬ citur anno 1346. Scripsit commentaria in quatuor Magistri sententiarum; compendi¬ um legis Christi; et quodlibeta, quae typis excusa exstant. Alia permulta scripsisse di¬ citur, quae non vidi. De Alberico. 1341. Albericus Roxiatus Bergomensis, scripsit in sextum decretalium. De Simone de Cassia. 1340. Simon de Cassia, natione Hernicus, reli¬ giosus Ordinis sancti Augustini, admodum pius, vixit ecdem tempore quo Joannes de Baccone et obiit Florentiae anno Domini 1348. Scripsit libros quindecim de rebus gestis Domini salvatoris. Scripsit etiam librum de speculo Crucis. Librum epistolarum ad diversos. Scripsit quoque lingua Italica libros duos de vita Christiana, et expositionem symboli Apostolici. De Henrico Susone. Henricus Suso natione Germanus, ordinis Sancti Dominici, vir luit piissimus, et devo¬ tissimus. Scripsit horologium sapientiae. Librum de novem rupibus. Meditationes de Passione Domini, et alia. Vivebat anno 1340. De Roberto Holkoth. 1349. Robertus Holkoth, natione Anglus, pro¬ fessione Dominicanus, scripsit in librum Sa¬ pientiae lectiones 213. Item lecturam in Cantica canticorum : et in septem priora capita Ecclesiastici. Scripsit etiam commentaria in quatuor li¬ bros Magistri sententiarum, et alia quaedam. Floruit circa annum Dom. 1349. De Thoma Argentinensi. 1350. Thomas deArgentina, natione Germanus, ordinis Sancti Augustini Prior generalis, vi¬ xit tempore Clementis VI. et obiit Viennae an¬ no 1357. Scripsit commentaria in Magistri Senten¬ tiarum libros. Scripsit etiam quaestionum e sacris Scri¬ pturis solutiones. AB ANNG DOM. 1300. AD 1400. 489 Sermones, et Epistolas, et librum medi¬ tationum. r De Nicolao Cabasila. 1350. Nicolaus Cabasilas Grsecus, vixit tempore J. Cantacuzeni imperatoris, vel potius tyran¬ ni. Fuit vir valde doctus, et Archiepiscopus Thessalonicensis, sed schismaticus. Scripsit tomos sex de vita in Christo, qui Latine im¬ pressi sunt Ingostadii. Exstant etiam libri de tribus Sacramentis, Baptismo, Unctione, et Eucharistia, impressi ibidem. Exstat ex¬ plicatio Liturgise apud Bignaeum in Biblio¬ theca Patrum tomo vi. edit. 2. ex qua ca¬ put. 29 et 30. omnino expungenda essent, vel cautissime legenda. Denique praeter alia multa, scripsit de processione Spiritus san¬ cti contra Latinos, ubi se hostem Ecclesiae aperte demonstrat. Sed hunc librum impres¬ sum non vidi. De Gregorio Ariminensi. 1350. Gregorius Ariminensis, aequalis, fuit Tho- mae Argentinensis, et ejusdem Ordinis S. Augustini Prior generalis. Scripsit Commentarium in primum et se¬ cundum librum Magistri sententiarum. Scripsit etiam in Epistolas S. Pauli, et in epistolam S. Jacobi. De Richardo Armachano. 1350. Richardus Radulphus , Archiepiscopus Armachanus, vixit tempore Innocentii VI Pontificis, et obiit anno 1559. Scripsit libros novem decem adversus er¬ rores Armenorum. Observatio. Hic auctor, caute valde legendus est, praesertim libro x. contra Armenos cap. 4. et cap. 23. et 24. et lib. xi. cap. 4. et ser¬ mone primo, et 4. in quibus locis multos errores habet de potestate Presbyterorum, de paupertate Christi, et de statu religioso¬ rum Mendicantium : consulat lector Tho- mam Valdensem, qui errores Armachani, et Jo. Wiclefi, qui ab Armachano aliqua accepit, diligenter' refutat : consulat etiam, si placet, quae nos scripsimus lib. de Mona¬ chis cap. 45 et '46. De Francisco Petrarcha. 1350. Franciscus Petrarcha, patria Florentinus, Archidiaconus Parmensis , et Canonicus Pa¬ tavinus, lusit aliquando elegantissimus versi¬ bus Italicis, amores suos erga Lauram, seu veros, seu confictos, ut haberet materiam exercendae Musae ; sed poenitentia ductus, et tempus in cantiunculis illis consumptum de¬ flevit, et in solitudine positus vitam Christia¬ no et pio homine dignam egit, et multa ope¬ ra gravia atque utilia scripsit, ac tandem pie sancteque obiit anno Dom. 1374. aetatis suae 70. Ejus opera quatuor tomis continentur. In primo tomo haec habentur : De remediis utriusque fortunae, lib. 2 De vita solitaria, 2 De otio Religiosorum, 2 De vera sapientia, dialogi 2 De contemptu mundi, dialogi 3 Septem psalmi poenitentiales ad imita¬ tionem Davidis. De rep. optime administranda. ‘lib. 1 De officio et virtutibus imperatoris, lib. 1 Rerum memorabilium, lib. 4 Epitome vitarum virorum illustrium. De pacificanda Italia exhortatio. Ad veteres Rom. reip. defensores oratio De libertate capessenda hortatoria oratio ad Nicolaum Laurentium. De obedientia, et fide uxoria. De avaritia vitanda. Itinerarium Syriacum. In tomo secundo haec sunt : Epistolarum familiarium, lib. 8 Epistolarum ad quosdam ex veteribus illustriores, 1 Epistolarum sine titulo, 1 Epistolarum de rebus senilibus, 16 Epistolarum variarum, 1 De sui ipsius, et multorum ignorantia, 1 Galli anonymi in Petrarcham invectiva. Apologia Petrarchae contra Gallum. In medicum quemdam invectivarum, lib. 4 In tertio tomo sunt : Epistolae octo de Laurea sumenda. Privilegium Receptae Laureae. 460 DE SCRIPTORIBUS ECCLESIASTICIS Eclogae duodecim. Africae, sive de bello Punico carmi¬ num, lib. 9 Epistolarum carmine scriptarum, 3 Testamentum Petrarchae. In quarto tomo sunt carmina Italica. De Nicolao Gorram. 1350. Nicolaus de Gorram, natione Gallus, Or¬ dinis Praedicatorum, vivebat anno Dom. 1350. Scripsit commentaria in Pentateuchum, In Psalmos, In Cantica, In Ecclesiastem, In Ecclesiasticum, Item in Hieremiam, In Evangelia, In Epistolas S. Pauli, In Epistolas Canonicas, In Apocalypsim. Denique etiam in libros sententiarum Ma¬ gistri. De Alphonso Vargas. 1359. Alphonsus Yargas Hispanus , Archiepi- scopus Hispalensis, obiit anno 1359. Scripsit in primum Sententiarum, et in libros de anima : quae impressa sunt Yenetiis anno 1566. De Joanne Taulero. 1350. Joannes Taulerus natione Germanus, or¬ dinis sancti Dominici, concionator insignis, et piissimus, scripsit : Sermones de perfectione vitae interioris : Tractatus de virtutibus. Epistolas ad diversos. Cantica spiritualia. De novem gradibus Christianae perfectio¬ nis. Speculum et exemplar Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Exercitia de vita et Passione Christi. Vixit circa annos Domini 1350. Porro hunc virum, ut suspectum circa fi¬ dem, contempsit Joannes Eckius; sed egre¬ gie eum defendit Ludovicus Blosius. De Manuele Caleca. 1375. ManuelCaleca, Graecus, vir doctus, scripsit librum contra errores Graecorum pro latinis, quem vertit in Latinum idioma Ambrosius Camaldulensis, jussu Martini quinti Pontifi¬ cis : et eum in libros quatuor partitus est. Vixisse videtur hic auctor post schisma Ur¬ bani YI et Clementis YI1 et ante schisma Eugenii IV et Felicis V nam libro iv. sui ope¬ ris scribit, Romanam Ecclesiam suo tempore gubernatam fuisse a duobus Pontificibus, ubi videtur loqui de schismate illo diuturno Urbani VI et Clementis VII, siqui dem in eo¬ dem libro meminit Concilii Lugdunensis sub Gregorio X a tempore autem illius Concilii non fuit chisma celebre, nisi schisma Urbani et Clementis : quod enim excitavit Ludovi¬ cus imper. inter Joannem XXI et Nicolaum V brevissimum fuit. Itaque falsum est quod quidam dicunt, interfuisse Calecam in Con¬ cilio sub Gregorio X. De Henrico de Hassia 1380. Henricus de Hassia Carthusianus scripsit : In Magistrum Sententiarum. In Genesim. In Exodum. In Proverbia Salomonis. In Apocalypsim S. Joannis. Dialogum inter Episcopum, et Presbyte¬ rum. Sermones varios. Regulas ad discernendum peccatum le- thale a veniali. De obitu ejus variant scriptores. Alii vo¬ lunt obiisse anno 1317., alii 1397., alii 1428. De Joanne Rusbrochio 1380. Joannes Rusbrochius, natione Belga, Prior Monasterii Vallis Viridis, vir divinae contem¬ plationi addictissimus, scripsit lingua sua patria, varia opera, quae in Latinam lin¬ guam conversa, edita sunt Coloniae anno Dom. 1552. Sunt autem haec : Summa totius vitae spiritualis. Speculum salutis aeternae. Commentaria in tabernaculum Mosis, Tractatus de praecipiis virtutibus. Liber de fide, et judicio. De quatuor tentationibus. De septem custodiis. De septem gradibus amoris, AB ANNO DOM. 1400. AD 1500. 4*31 De nuptiis spiritualibus libri 3. Vivebat hic auctor anno Domini 1300. Hunc etiam Doctorem carpsit Jo. Gerson, et defendit Dionysius Carthusianus. Id enim accidere solet iis qui scribunt de mystica theologia, ut eorum dicta ab aliis reprehen¬ duntur, ab aliis laudentur, quia non eodem modo ab omnibus accipiuntur. De Baldo. 1390. Baldus Ubaleus, natione Italus, patria Pe¬ rusinus celeberrimus Jureconsultus, ac Bar- toli quodam auditor. Scripsit praeter ea quae ad jus civile pertinent, Commentaria in libros decretalium. Obiit anno Domini 1420.