Wainsflet Bishop of Winchester builded Magdalen Colledge hee builded also a great parte of Eaton Colledge before begunne by king Henry the sixt William Smith Bishop of Lincolne during the raigne of king Henry the seauenth layed the foundation of Brasen nose in the yeare 1513. the which hath beene lately by that reuerende olde man Alexander Nowel Deane of S. Paules Church in London much helped increased During the raigne of the saide king Henry the seauenth Richarde Foxe Bishop of Winchester founded Corpus Christi Colledge himselfe hauing before beene a fellow of Pembrooke hall in Cambridge the which colledge of his in the yeare 1516. hee endowed with forty pound eight shillinges two pence yearely rent for euer In the time of king Henry the eight Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Rome Archbishoppe of Yorke and Lorde high Chancelor of England beganne in sumptuous manner to lay the foundation of a most ample and spatious Colledge but falling into the kinges heauie displeasure before the same could bee brought to perfection the king after his decease enriched the same with many goodly reuenewes annexing thereunto Canterburie colledge which had beene before erected in the time of Edward the 3. by Simon Islep Archbishop of Canterburie This worthy King of famous memory the more to grace adorne the citie erected therein a Bishops sea and out of his treasurie appointed yearely to be paid certaine annuities for the perpetuall maintenance of publique readers in each seuerall schoole In the raigne of Queene Mary Sir Thomas Pope reedified Duresme Colledge which was in former ages erected by Thomas of Hatfield Bishop of Duresme and now by continuance of time exceedingly decayed by which knight the name therof being altered it is now called Trinitie Colledge Not long since Hugh Prise Doctor of the ciuill law hath founded a new colledge which in honour of our Sauiour is knowne by the name of Iesu colledge Many other rare and excellent ornamentes there are wherewith this famous and farre renowned Academie exceedingly is beautified as churches libraries publique schooles and many sumptuous priuate edifices the which to auoid prolixitie I will omit imagining that such triuiall things must of necessitie bee famialiarly knowne to euery learned reader wherefore with this assertion I will finally conclude that more pietie in religion more profoundnesse in learning more strictnes in discipline more integritie in life is not to be found in any one vniuersitie in whatsoeuer part or region of the world Cambridge COncerning the first originall and foundation of the cittie and vniuersitie of Cambridge among the learned searchers of antique lustories two seuerall and discrepant opinions strongly are maintained Iohn Caius in his booke of the antiquity of Cambridge with many arguments laboureth to proue the foundation thereof to haue beene laide and the name deriued from one Cantabar a Prince of Spaine brother to Partholinus King of Ireland and sonne in law to Gurguntius king of Britaine in the yeare 4317. after the worlds first creation which was 539. yeares before our Sauiours natiuitie For proofe of which opinion hee alleadgeth the authoritie of Iohn Lidgat Monke of Berriâ— and scholler to that famous Poet and onely Homer of our English nation Geffrey Chaucer whose verses in old English as I found them written I haue here vnderneath set downe By true record of the Doctor Bede That sometime wrote so mickle with his hand And specially remembring as I reade In his Chronicles made of England Among other things as we shall vnderstand Whom for mine author I dare alleadge Sith the translation and building of Cambridge With him according Aâ—fred the chronicler Seriously who list his bookes for to see Made in the time when he was Thresurer Of Beuerley an old famous cittie Affirme and saine the vniuersitie Of Cambridge and studie first began By their writing as I report can He rehearsing first for commendation By their writing how that old cittie Was strongly walled with towers many one Built and finished with great libertie Notable and famous of great authoritie As their authors according saine the same Of Cantabar taking first his name Like as I find report I can none other This Cantaber time of his liuing To Partholine he was Germane brother Duke in those daies in Ireland a great king Chiefe and principall cause of that building The wall about and towers as they stood Was set and built vpon a large floud Named Cantebro a large broad riuer And after Cante called Cantebro This famous citie this write the Chronicler Was called Cambridge rehearsing eke also In their booke these authors both two Touching the date as I rehearse can Fro thilke time that the world began Foure thousand complete by account cleare And three hundred by computation Ioyned thereto eight and fortie yeare When Cantebro gaue the foundation Of this Cittie and this famous towne And of this noble vniuersitie Set on this riuer which is called Cante And fro the great transmigration Of Kings reckoned in the Bible old Fro Ierusalem to Babilon Two hundred winter thirtie yeares told Thus to write mine author maketh me bold Then Cantebro as it well knoweth At Athens schooled in his youth All wits greatly did apply To haue acquaintance by great affection With folke expert in Philosophie From Athens he brought with him downe Philosophers most soueraigne of renowne Vnto Cambridge plainely this is the cause Anaximander and Anaxagoras With many other mine authors doth fare To Cambridge fast can him speed With Philosophers and let for no cost spare In the schooles to studie and to reede Of whose teaching great profit that gan spread And great increase rose of his doctine Thus of Cambridge the name gan first shine As chiefe schoole and Vniuersitie Vnto this time fro the day it began By cleare report in many a far countrey Vnto the raigne of Cassibelan A worthy prince and full knightly man As saine chronicles who with mighty hand Let Iulius Caesar to arriue in this land Fiue hundreth yeare ful thirty yere twenty Fro Babilons transmigration That Cassibelan raigned in Britaine Which by his notable royall discreation To encrease that studie of great affection I meane of Cambridge the Vniuersitie Franchised with many a libertie By meane of his royall fauor From countries about many a one Diuers schollers by diligent labour Made their resort of great affection To that studie great plentie there came downe To gather fruites of wisedome and science And sundrie flowers of sugred eloquence And as it is put eke in memorie How Iulius Caesar entring this region One Cassibelan after his victorie Tooke with him Clearkes of famous renowne FroÌ„ Cambridge led them â—â— Rome towne Thus by processe remembred heretoforne Cambridge was founded long ere Christ was borne Fiue hundred yere thirty eke nine In this matter ye get no more of me Rehearse I will no more at this time These remembrances haue great authority To be preferd of long antiquitie
at no lesse a rate then shee at first demanded for the whole and forthwith commanded that they should be reposed in the Capitoll in which place they were reserued as most religious sacred thinges vntil Cornelius Sylla his time when together with the Capitoll they were consumed with fire Iulius Caesar afterward as Suetonius writeth vsed great care and diligence in erecting of libraries the charge whereof he committed to Marcus Varro Marlianus in his sixt book and second Chapter maketh mention of two goodly libraries erected by Paulus AEmelius and Octauia the sister of Augustus and wife of Anthony Blondus writeth how that famous library of Apelico wherein were found the bookes of Aristotle and Theophrastus was by Lucius Sylla when he subdued Athens from thence remoued vnto Rome But all those learned workes of so many excellent wits with painefull and laborious trauaile acquired in forraine nations by Romes victorious captaines and there layed vp for monumentes consecrated vnto euerliuing sempiternity were by the impious and detestable fact of Nero when he set the citty of Rome on fire to the inestimable losse and detriment of Europe vtterly consumed which pernitious deede of his is the onely cause why we at this day want so many antique histories of forepassed times neither had there now beene left vnto vs any memory of sondry commonweales many hundred yeeres ago with greatest policy and wisedome gouerned had not the succeeding magistrates and Emperours of Rome with industrious and carefull diligence and incredible expence of treasure caused the dispersed reliques of defaced histories to be searched out and againe compiled by sondry wise and learned men Suetonius writeth that Vespatian vndertaking againe to restore the Capitoll disdayned not among the meanest Labourers with his owne shoulders to exporte such ordure and filth as long had lyen therein and that by searching out obscure fragments of olde exemplars he againe recouered 3000. brasen tables wherein were contayned the seuerall actes of sondry Roman magistrates the decrees of their Senate and priueledges of their Cittizens Domitian also carefully repayred such libraries as by fire in former times had beene consumed and caused to be sent for from Alexandria skilfull pen men which might againe write ouer and amend such olde blotted copies of sondry authors as he had with long search recouered Great care and diligence was concerning this matter vsed by sondry other Emperours as Traian Adrian Valens Valentinian and Gratian c. yet neuer did the Roman libraries attaine vnto any perfection vntil the high Bishops had gotten the principality and dominion of the citty Pope Hilary the first left behind two goodly libraries of his own erection Pope Zacharie the first restored Saint Peters librarie Pope Nicholaus the fift sent sondry excellently learned schollers into all quarters of Europe to search and seeke out the workes of antient authors and by edicte did make promise of 5000. Duccats to any man that could bring vnto Rome the Gospel of S. Mathew written in the Hebrew tongue Leo the tenth sent into Turky Iohn Lascarus who robbing all the heathen Vniuersities of their best and worthiest authors did therewith plentifully furnish adorne the Roman libraries Sixtus the fourth builded in Vaticano that famous and renowned librarie called Palatina then which the world hath not at this day a place of greater worth and admiration hee with maruailous expence of his treasure made search and inquiry throughout all Realmes of Christendome for bookes of greatest esteeme and rarity all which he placed in this pretious librarie whereunto hee appointed sondrie keepers and Gardians allowing monthly greate summes of money for the perpetuall maintenance thereof Much was this goodly Library defaced and endamaged when Rome was by the Duke of Burbon Charles the fifte possessing the Emperiall Diademe conquered and ransacked But by the carefull prouision of succeeding Popes it hath againe recouered in full proportion the beauty and celebrity which it before enioyed Raphaell Volaterranus in his sixt book of Geography sayeth that there were in his time 24. Libraries in Rome the principall whereof were Vlpia which was that founded by Traian and Palatina which is this in Vaticano Venice WEe reade that king Attila at such time as hee besiedged Aquilegia the inhabitantes of that towne hauing long defended themselues and dispayring fledde with their goodes to the rockes within the pointe of the Adriaticall sea The Paduans seeing the fire at hand and fearing that Aquilegia being wonne the barbarous enemie would not so desist but prosecute his warres on them carried all their moueables of greatest value neare the same sea into a place called riuo alto whither they also sent their wiues children and aged men leauing the youth to defend the Cittie walles Aquilegia being taken Attila defaced Padua Vincenza and Verona the Paduans therefore and the chiefe of the other Citties to auoide the hostile and furious pursute of their enemies seated themselues about riuo alto Likewise all the people of that prouince which was anciently called Venetia being driuen out by the same misfortune did flie thither for reliefe and beganne there to builde as well strong and inuincible fortresses for defence as beautifull and sumptuous Pallaces for pleasure which in short time growing to a well ordered Cittie was by them named after their forsaken territorie Venetia Thus constrayned by necessitie they abandoned fayre and fertile countries to enhabite these sterill and paludious places voide of all commodity and yet because great numbers of people were at one instant come thether they made that place not onely habitable but also pleasant ordayning among themselues lawes and orders which amiddest so great ruines of Italy they obserued and within short space so much increased in force and reputation that in the time of Pipin king of France when at the Popes request hee came to driue the Lumbardes out of Italy it was agreede in capitulations betwixt him and the Emperour of Greece that the Duke of Beneuento and the Venetians should be subiect neither to the one nor to the other but among themselus enioy liberty in continuance of time they grew to such greatnes that their name by sea became terrible vpon the firm land of Italy vene rable so that at this day their citie is become the most rich and renowned Empory of Christendome and they are admired of all other commonweales for their opulency and manner of gouernment They vse not as in other places the ciuill law but liue and are gouerned by their own lawes and peculiar course of iustice which liberty was as Blondus writeth first granted thē by Charles the great the high Bishop of Rome thereto giuing his assent When the Vniuersity therein was priuiledged I do not reade onely this I find that many men excellently learned in Rhetorique Philosophy and Theology haue there florished and professed Volaterranus writeth that Iohannes Rauennas who liued about that time when the memory of letters
as haue attained to any perfection in the Artes. Bononia ALthough all the learned writers of antique histories do with one consenting opinion agree that the Vniuersitie of Bononia is of long continuance and was first founded when Theodosius swayed the scepter of the Romaine Empire yet in what yeare of our Sauiours natiuitie or the said Emperours raigne it should bee instituted they are of discrepant and sundry opinions The originall of this controuersie seemeth to proceede from hence because there haue beene two Theodosii possessed of the imperiall Diadem For from the selfe same cause haue many profound and iudiciall antiquaries fallen into more pernicious and daungerous errours Baldus the learned pillar of the law affirmeth that this Academie was in most flourishing estate 1000. yeares before his time Others write that it was first priuiledged by Theodosius the yonger which as in those Chronicles which containe the greatest likelihood of verity we may reade was elected Emperor about the yeare of our Lord 420. and raigned 27. yeares For testimony whereof they alleadge this publike Charter of his Whereas the manners of men health and warre such like are all gouerned and preserued by the best disciplines least all good artes and principles of learning should decay we Theodosius by the grace of God Emperour of the Romaines euer Augustus moued with the commodiousnesse and fertilitie of the place hauing 25. Monthes taken sounde and deliberate aduise thereon sitting in our seate of Maiestie a generall Councell of Christians being assembled in the presence of Coelestine high Bishoppe of Rome twelue Cardinalles Archbishoppes and Bishops innumerable and sundrie other Dukes and Princes of diuers degrees and callinges Baldwin Earle of Flaunders and Gualter Earle of Poictiers Embassadors the one representing the person of the King of Fraunce the other of the King of England sitting the whole Colledge of an hundred Senators doe by this inuiolable Acte ordaine and decree that Bononia shall for euer hereafter be a place of exercise for all learned sciences and a perpetuall seate and habitation for the Muses Moreouer wee will that all determinate and finitiue sentences pronounced by such Iudges as haue not beene students in this vniuersitie the space of at least fiue yeares shall be voide and of none effect Also if any shall proceed Maister of Artes and receiue the booke of any other then the Archdeacon of Bononia although the most learned Artistes shall doe and approue the same yet by our royall authoritie wee depriue him of all degree and dignitie If any man bee so bold or hardie iniuriously to offend any student going or comming from this Vniuersitie he shall be punished with death which if the President shall neglect to execute our will is that hee incurre the same penaltie This Copie of our sacred ordinance constitution signed with our imperiall seale and written with the hand of Cicero our Notarie we grant deliuer to the perpetual memorie thereof to Petronius Bishop of Bononia descended from the Constantinopolitane Emperors at his earnest entreatie and request to bee kept and executed to the vttermost of his power Giuen at Rome in the Capitoll in the yeare of our Lord 423. the 11. day of May. How great authoritie this Academie enioyed in former ages we may imagine when Pope Gregorie the ninth Pope Boniface the 8. Pope Iohn the 23. writing sundrie learned treaties did dedicate them all to this vniuersitie Petrus Anchoranus calleth Bononia the mother of sciences Pope Clement the 5. in a Councell held at Vienna decreed that beside the studies of all the liberall Arts the Hebrew Arabicke and Chaldean languages should be there publikely deliuered We reade that the Emperour Fredericke the 2. did much damnifie this vniuersitie because it tooke parte against him with the sea Apostolique when he held his warres in Italie The students of this place at what time Pope Martin too seuerely persecuted the Bononians departed from the vniuersity some to one place and some vnto another so that in short time it became a solitarie desarte vntill afterwarde it was by the Popes Eugenius the 4. Nicholaus the 5. and Leo the 11. againe restored Bessarion Patriach of Constantinople when this Academie was by negligence and Ciuill contentions almost vtterly ouerthrowne by sundry meanes endeuoured to repaire the same both by encreasing the yearely pensions and stipendes allowed for the publique Readers and professors and also by building costly and sumptuous edifices for the maintenance reliefe of such schollers as for meere pouertie were constrained to giue ouer their vndertaken course of studies Hierome Osorius that famous Portugall and onely Cicero of this our latter age writeth in his first booke de Gloria that the more to enrich himselfe with learning he was especially moued to seeke out this cittie because in all Italie there was no place for the glory and renowne of letters comparable to Bononia For there saith he doe flourish men in the Greeke and Latine tongues exquisitely learned many there are which excell in all kind of Philosophie many famous for eloquence and Oratorie and many which haue in all the liberall sciences with great admiration long beene conuerâ—ant What shall I speake of the studies of the Canon and Ciuill lawes When such as in Bononia haue professed them haue obtained the supreme principalitie ouer all other that euer haue beene students in that learned facultie c. The excellencie of this Vniuersitie may easily bee gathered out of the learned treaties commentaries written by sundry famous Clearkes whereof some were in this place schollers some professors of learned sciences Iohannes Andreae which of ciuill Lawyers is commonly called the decyder and expounder of doubtfull questions professed in this Academy the law with great fame and estimation and there at length dyed of the pestilence Azo that mirror and bright shining lampe of learning was here also a publique professor of the ciuill law Pope Innocent not disdayning to be his Auditor at what time he wrote that worke of our age so much admired called Summaiuris Herein also taught Bartholus who being but one and twentie yeares of age proceeded Doctor of the ciuill law Accursius that famous and renowned Clearke being forty yeares of age beganne first in this Vniuersity to apply his minde to studie wherein hee so much profited that his name was knowne throughout all the Italian Academies and whereas before there had been alwaies two sects and heresies among the Lawyers they were by him reconciled and brought into one vniforme opinion Socinus likewise was in this place for his great learning so highly esteemed that hee was called the Monarch of the Law and his Schollers often would complayne of nature saying she was too auaritious to hide a witte so excellent and admirable in a body so small deformed and vnfashionable To recite all those renowned wittes that haue in this famous nursery receyued their education and institution were a labour
are sondry opinions Lelandus imagineth that it first was called Ouseforde from the riuer Ouse in Latine Isis but the most true and probable coniecture is that it was named of the Saxons Oxenford in the same sense that the Grecians named their Bosphoros and the Germans Ochensfurt a cittie standing at this day on the banke of the riuer Odor from a fourde or shallownes of the riuer in that place through the which cattell might safelie passe for which cause it is at this day of the auncient Brittaines called in their language Rhyddichen We find written in our chronicles that this cittie was in the time of the Brittaines the first inhabitantes of this Iland consecrated vnto the Muses whose names and memorie were afterwarde during the furie of the Saxon warres therein vtterly extinguished and the cittie much obscured knowne onelie for certaine Reliques of S. Frideswid a religious Votaresse therein reserued and with much deuotion often visited But in succession of time 873. yeares after our Sauiours incarnation Alfred a holy and religious Saxon king restored againe the Muses to their former dignity which had beene thence so long exiled who the better to encourage their abode therein caused three colledges to bee erected one for Grammarians another for Philosophers and a thirde for professors of Diuinity but this felicity not long endured for the Danes in the time of Ethelred consuming all with fire and sworde burned a great parte of the cittie and not long after Harald Lightfoote exercised in the same such immane and batbarous cruelties that the students flying from their colledges and habitations left the Vniuersity desolate and forsaken in which estate it remayned vntill William the Norman by his conquering arme obtayned the regal Diadem after which prince his entrance Robert de Oilgi a Gentleman of Normandie in guerdon of his valour trauell and expence receyuing of the Conquerour a grant of certaine landes neare the wals of this citty erected at the west end thereof a strong well fortified castell which after was by king Stephen during the warres betweene him and Maude the Empresse long in vaine besidged hee also as some thinke enuironed Oxford with a wall which now by long continuance is decayed Robert his brothers sonne in the yeare 1130. founded neare vnto this cittie a spatious and goodly Priorie which from the riuer before mentioned enuironing the same hee called Ousney the ruines of whose walles remain onely at this day to be seene in these times the cittie being againe with many fayre and goodly aedifices adorned newly beganne to flourish and great multitudes of students from euery parte and corner of the realme for their better encrease in learning beganne to repayr thether and now the fountaines of the Muses which had long seemed to be drie or stopped vp were againe all obstructions of Barbarisme being taken away opened and reuiued for the which much doth this noble Vniuersity remaine indebted to the worthy memorie of Robert Polenius a learned man by whose onely laborius and painefull industry it hath recouered the place and dignity which at this day it holdeth among other Academies in our Christian world vnto so happie effect did sorte the labours of this worthy man that in the raigue of king Iohn three thousand studentes were numbred in this Vniuersity All which in short time after departed some to Reading and some to Cambridge for certaine iniutious wronges offered vnto them by the Cittizens which dissention being not long after againe appeased they all returned others affirme the cause of this secession to haue beene because the king caused three students to be apprehended in their colledges presently hanged for the murther of a certaine woman of which fact they all were innocent and guiltlesse Not long after I mean in the times of the next succeeding princes sondrie vertuous and well disposed persons beganne to lay the foundations of diuers goodly Colledges intending therby to leaue some monument of their name and worthinesse to all posterities by whose example since many famous princes and reuerent Prelates haue beene excited to doe the like so that it comprehendeth at this daye sixteene fayre and goodly Colledges all endued with large tenements possessions and eight Hals Merton Colledge was in the time of Henry the thirde or as others write in the beginning of Edward the first founded by Walter Merton sometime Canon of Salisbury and after Bishop of Rochester Not long after or as some think before during the raigne of William the Conquerour was the auncient foundatiō of holy Alfred renued by one William Archdeacon or as other say Bishop of Durisme and called Vniuersity Colledge In the yeare of our Sauiours incarnation 1263 during the raigne of Edwarde the first was founded Balioll Colledge by Iohn Balioll king of Scots or rather as others imagine his parents Iohn and Deruorguidis about this time as writeth Armachanus were numbred in Oxford 30000 students In the yeare from our Sauiours Natiuity 1126. in the time of Edward the second Walter Stapleton Bishop of Excester layed the foundation of Excester Colledge and Hart hall which Colledge lately hath beene much augmented in the days of our Soueraign Lady Queen Elizabeth by Sir William Peter knight King Edward the second desirous to imitate the worthy example of this reuerend Praelate erected Oriall Colledge so called because it was indeede a worke which most worthily might beseeme a king thereto he added S. Mary hall Lady Philip wife vnto king Edwarde the thirde layed the foundation of a goodly Colledge which shee named the Queenes Colledge about the year of our Lord 1340. William Wicham a famous and worthy Prelate for his singular wisedome highly esteemed of king Edwarde the third and by his meanes made Bishoppe of Winchester in the yeare 1358. layed in Oxford the foundation of a magnificent and sumptuous colledge now called New Colledge into the which yearely are sent many rare and excellent wits from the Colledge neare Winchester a most sertile Seminarie of good letters founded by that thrice worthy Bishoppe and by him committed to the tutele and protection of the blessed Virgin Mary Richard Fleming Bishoppe of Lincolne in the dayes of Henry the fift about the yeare of our Lorde one thousand foure hundred and thirty founded Lincolne Colledge which was afterward in Richarde the thirdes time in the yeare of our Lord 1479. by Thomas Rotheram Bishoppe of the same sea much augmented and encreased Henry Chichley Archbishoppe of Canterburie in the yeare 1439. layed in Oxforde the foundation of two goodly Colledges the one dedicated to the memory of all soules the other to S. Bernard which being afterwarde suppressed by king Henry the eight was of late in the raigne of Queene Mary restored and reedified by Sir Thomas White Lord Maior of London and by him named S. Iohns Colledge Durin the raigne of Henry the sixt about the yeare of our Lord 145◠William
I haue seene or reade of from whence also it proceedeth that the dyet or great assembly of the German princes is most vsually held in Regensburge another cittie of Bauaria one dayes iorney distant from Ingolestate wherein I my selfe liued eight weekes in the yeare of our Lorde 1594. when the Emperour with all his traine and the most parte of the greatest princes of Germany remayned in the towne many of them with three thousand and foure thousand horse apeece yet was there neuer found any want or scarsitie of victuals therein nor the price of corne or any other prouision in the market any one iot enhaunced wine onely excepted of which the country yeeldeth no great aboundance but that want is by the Rheine and Mecchar supplyed for the possession of this city was that calamitous and bloudy warre raysed remembred yet by the name of bellum Bauaricum which so much troubled all the prouinces of Germany in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and foure Erforde ERforde called of ancient writers Erphelfurt is the metropolis of Thuring an old and memorable citty abounding with wine corne and other necessaries In the middest of this cittie ariseth a little mountain called S. Peters hill wherein in times passed stood a goodly castell in the place whereof Dagobertus king of France founded a cloyster for Fryers of the order of S. Benedict which was consecrated to S. Peter after him Boniface Archbishop of Ments layed the foundation of our Ladies Church on the same hil and erected there a Bishopricke euen in the infancie of the Gospell among the Germans as plainly appeareth in an Epistle of his which he wrote to Zachary high Bishop of Rome Scias sayeth hee per gratiam Dei Germaniae populum adviam veritatis reductum ordinauimusque apud eos tres episcopos vnum locauimus in Castellum Wirtzburge alterum in Buraburge tertium in Euphesfurt In this church is a bell of most huge and incredible circumference which the Citizens shewe to all straungers repayring thether as the thinges most remarkable in their Cittie about the yeare 1066. was this Cittie first enuyroned with a Wall and fortified with Towers and beautified with manie rich and sumptuous aedifices both diuine and prophane at which time it was made the metropolis of Thuringe because it lyeth in the middest thereof An Vniuersity was therein instituted in the yeare 1391. which with many priuiledges confirmed authorized by Pope Boniface the 9. Pius the 2. In this Academy haue liued many sage men much renowned for their singular learning among the which are numbred Nicholaus de Bibera Henricus de Erfordia Conradus de monte puellarum and many others When the German professors oppressed by the multitude of Hussites departed from Prage many of them retyred themselues to Erforde There is no citty in Europe hath so often made experience of the calamities and irreparable damages which fire vsually bringeth with it as Erforde hauing many times therewithall beene vtterly wasted and consumed The last fire therein happened in the year 1392. on the festiuall day of S. Geruasius whereby the third part of the cittie perished which incredible losse it is not yet recouered of for at my being there some 5â— yeares since it was scarsely with low and slender buildinges of wood reedified Out of this Vniuersity issued Martin Luther Leiptzige Liptzige is a citty as some say in Ostland others would haue it to lye in Misina both territories now gouerned by the noble and puislant Family of Saxony thogh of no great circuite yet for pride and statelines of building and excessiue traffique of Merchants scarce inferior to the best adorned citty of Germany three times euery year are therein held certaine famous Martes or Fayres whereof one writeth saying Mercibus augetur ter Lipsia magna quotannis The houses of this citty are re ared al of free stone within richly paued and without curiously paynted with great artifice and maiestie the streetes are builded in excellent proportion and vniformitie The Senate hereof consisteth not as in other cities of mechanicall and vnlearned citizens but of men skilfull and well seene in the artes who haue full power and authority to heare decide and determine of all lites causes and controuersies depending in Meissen Thuringe and the nether Sazonie About the yeare 1480. when the Hussites began to domineere tirannize in Prage then was the vniuersitie from thence remoued hither and the yeare following confirmed by Pope Pius the 2. and Alexander the 5. It was afterward much augmented and repaired by the worthy Prince George Duke of Sazonie in the yeare 1554. This Vniuersitie at this day most exceedingly flourisheth through the innumerable multitudes of Germaine students which dayly repaire thither because they liue therein with lesse charge and expence then in any other citie by reason of the admirable fertilitie of the soyle whereof one saith Gratus immenso lucro concredita terrae Semina reddit ager The inhabitants of this Citie haue one innated vncorrigible vice which custome hath drawen into a nature amongst them that is they almost continually wallow in immoderate drunkennesse in so much that he which can euacuate the greatest number of pottes and can in receiuing his drinke hold out longest without any swimming or perturbation in his braine is accounted a personage among them of greatest qualitie and worth Enaeas Siluius writeth that when one Leonardus a noble gentleman came to visite a certaine kinsman of his that was then a student in Leipzig enquiring among students how hee had profited in learning he was answered by one of the yong mans companions that he had profited himselfe exceedingly for quoth he among 1500. good swallowers that are in this Vniuersitie he hath deserued the name and title of the best and most noble drinker Not farre distant from this place is Dresden where the Dukes of Saxonie electors of the Empire do most commonly reside Wittenberge WIttenberge is a conspicuous well knowne Citie in the vpper Saxonie the seate and court of the Dukes Electors situated on the banke of the Elbe a riuer which springing among the mountaines of Bohemia passeth through Germany receiuing into it selfe or as it were drinking vp by the way many other riuers as the Muldaue the Sall the Spre c. and at last being growne to an immeasurable greatnesse and nauigable for ships of the greatest burthen disgorgeth it selfe into the Germaine Ocean not farre from Stoad where late was a Staple of English Marchants This city receiued his name as some imagine from Wittikind Duke of Angria Saxonie which was baptized in the yeare 785. being compelled thereunto by Charles the great who first caused the Saxons to embrace the Christian religion Duke Fredericke the son of Ernestus Elector erected in this citie an Vniuersity about the yeare 1502. which since in this latter age is growen famous by reason of the controuersies and
and throughly furnished with all things necessary To these publike buildings wee may adde his priuate houses wherof one is within the Cittie meete for so great a personage foure other without at Cariaggi at Fiesole at Caffagiuolo at Trebio all pallaces fitter for princes then priuate persons and because his magnificent houses in Italie did not in his opinion make him famous enough he builded in Ierusalem a goodly Hospitall to receiue the poore and diseased pilgrims And albeit these buildinges and euery other his actions were princely and that in Florence he liued like a Prince yet hee so well demeaned and gouerned himselfe by wisedome as hee neuer exceeded the boundes of ciuill modestie Now hauing in this manner adorned the citie with costly buildings he thought he could adde thereto no greater ornament then to erect therein an vniuersitie and licence publike profession of the artes to the end that as well the citizens of Florence as inhabitantes of Hetruria by good discipline and literature might become more ciuill and lesse barbarous Wherefore he caused to be sent for vnto Florence Argyrophilus a Grecian borne and at that time in the studies of Rhetorike Philophie singularly learned to the end that the youth of Florence might by him bee instructed in the Greeke tongue and the liberall sciences He entertained also in his house Marsilius Ficinus a second father of Platonian Philosophie him he entirely loued and to the end hee might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning and more aptly vse his helpe therein he bestowed on him a certaine plotte of grounde neere to his house at Carregi This Academie being by Cosmio begunne was afterward by Laurence de Medices his sonnes sonne finished and brought to a full absolute and flourishing perfection This Laurence was a great louer of good letters highly fauouring learned men He held Marsilius Ficinus whom as we said before his grandfather had caused to come to Florence in great esteeme He nourished in his house that excellent scholler Angelus Politianus who in his youth did first make the Grecian Poet Homer speake in the Latine tongue He entertained with liberall pensions and exhibitions Demetrius Chalcondilas Picus Mirandula and sundry other admired and much renowned for their singular learning Pope Paulus the third although he dayly heard in the Romaine Academie Pomponius Laetus a man excellently learned yet was he exceedingly desirous to studie in the Florentine Vniuersitie because the Greeke and Latine tongues together with the other Artes were there professed with greatest sinceritie and profoundnesse This Prince much augmented and with great cost adorned the librarie which his grandfather Cosmio had erected neere the Temple of S. Marke from whence of late time haue beene brought to light many excellent bookes which long haue line obscured and were in no other place of Christendome to bee found as Eusebius Caesariensis againe Hierocles and the workes of Clemens Alexandrinus and others Another librarie was in this Citie erected at S. Laurence his Church by Pope Clement the seuenth This noble Mecaenas and Patrone of the Muses Laurence de Medices so famous for his singular wisedome and whose losse was long lamented of his countrey being troubled with intolerable paines of the stomack dyed in April in the yeare of our Lord 1492. in the 43. yeare of his age Pisa. PIsa is a great and goodly citie of much antiquitie in Hetruria enuironed about with high and mightie walles of marble stone which although now through the manifold iniuries of time and miserable calamities which hath beene thereon inflicted by the oppression and tyranicall vsurpation of sundrie Kinges and Princes it remaineth in the Florentines iurisdiction yet hath it in former age beene a place much renowned for warlike discipline and most feared of her neighbouring prouinces as appeareth by sundry seuerall conquestes the Pisans atchieued when by force of armes they endeuoured to enlarge propagate the bounds of their dominion In the yeare 1020. they brought Sardinia vnder their subiection hauing thrice expulsed the Sarracens from thence Likewise in the yeare 1108. they inuaded the Isles of Maiorica and Minorica from whence hauing slaine the king thereof a man wholly adicted to the law of Mahomet they returned conquerours bringing captiues home the Queene and her infant sonne which childe being by them instructed from his infancie in the principles of christian religion they afterward did reinuest with his fathers Diademe Such happie and fortunate successes in all affaires did Pisa long enioy vntill the time of Rudolphus the Emperour by whose tirannicall oppression they seemed from height of all prosperity to be deiected to an humble and inseparable estate In the yeare 1369. it was sold by Charles the Emperour to Peter Gambacurta for twelue thousande crownes Afterwardes comming from the hands of one man vnto another it was sold to Iohn Galeace Vicount of Millan Galeace solde it to the Florentines to whose proud and tirannizing gouernment the Pisans not brooking to bee subiected by a seditious rebellious attempt expulsed them recouered their pristine libertie which they not long enioyed for in short time after the Florentines againe did conquere them and made them slauishly subiect to their imperie and commaund This base and seruile condition the noblest sorte of the Pisan cittizens much repining at chose rather to bee diuorced from their natiue soyle and to liue in voluntarie exile then to bee at home commanded by those whose auncestors in times past their forefathers were accustomed to commaunde Vppon which occasion the Cittie grew to bee in manner of a voide and solitarie desart the better sorte of inhabitantes hauing all forsaken it and so continued vntill the first erection therein of the Vniuersitie the onely cause why it was againe frequented which was as Leander writeth erected about the yeare 1339. Not long after it excedingly beganne to flourish as appeareth by the many graue and reuerend Doctors which therein receiued their instruction education namely Pope Eugenius the third a religious and learned father Also Raimerus and Bartholomeus two deepe and profound schollers of the order of Fryers Predicantes whereof the one did write that egregious worke of Pantheologie the other set forth the summe of cases of conscience Learned professors in this Vniuersitie haue beene Helinus Sandaeus Franciscus Aretinus who was held to be the best read and most iudiciall ciuill Lawyer of his time Bartholus after that hee had in Bononia proceeded did in the Pisan Academie as himself confesseth publikely professe the ciuil Law Cosmio de Medices restored againe this Academy which in his time exceedingly was decayed After him Laurence his Nephewe so much adorned and augmented the same that Volaterranus in his fift booke of Geographie and Machiauell in his last booke of the Florentine historie name him as the first founder and erector thereof In this Cittie is a most magnificent and sumptuous temple with