v. 95. Albert of Cologne.] Albertus Magnus was born at Laugingen, in
Thuringia, in 1193, and studied at Paris and at Padua, at the latter of
which places he entered into the Dominican order. He then taught
theology in various parts of Germany, and particularly at Cologne.
Thomas Aquinas was his favourite pupil. In 1260, he reluctantly
accepted the bishopric of Ratisbon, and in two years after resigned it,
and returned to his cell in Cologne, where the remainder of his life
was passed in superintending the school, and in composing his
voluminous works on divinity and natural science. He died in 1280. The
absurd imputation of his having dealt in the magical art is well known;
and his biographers take some pains to clear him of it. Scriptores
Ordinis Praedicatorum, by Quetif and Echard, Lut. Par. 1719. fol. t. 1.
p. 162.
v. 96. Of Aquinum, Thomas.] Thomas Aquinas, of whom Bucer is reported
to have said, “Take but Thomas away, and I will overturn the church of
Rome,” and whom Hooker terms “the greatest among the school divines,”
(Eccl. Pol. b. 3. 9), was born of noble parents, who anxiously, but
vainly, endeavoured to divert him from a life of celibacy and study;
and died in 1274, at the age of fourty-seven. Echard and Quetif, ibid.
p. 271. See also Purgatory Canto XX. v. 67.
v. 101. Gratian.] “Gratian, a Benedictine monk belonging to the convent
of St. Felix and Nabor, at Bologna, and by birth a Tuscan, composed,
about the year 1130, for the use of the schools, an abridgment or
epitome of canon law, drawn from the letters of the pontiffs, the
decrees of councils, and the writings of the ancient doctors.”
Maclaine’s Mosheim, v. iii. cent. 12. part 2. c. i. 6.
v. 101. To either forum.] “By reconciling,” as Venturi explains it “the
civil with the canon law.”
v. 104. Peter.] “Pietro Lombardo was of obscure origin, nor is the
place of his birth in Lombardy ascertained. With a recommendation from
the bishop of Lucca to St. Bernard, he went into France to continue his
studies, and for that purpose remained some time at Rheims, whence he
afterwards proceeded to Paris. Here his reputation was so great that
Philip, brother of Louis VII., being chosen bishop of Paris, resigned
that dignity to Pietro, whose pupil he had been. He held his bishopric
only one year, and died in 1160. His Liber Sententiarum is highly
esteemed. It contains a system of scholastic theology, so much more
complete than any which had been yet seen, that it may be deemed an
original work.” Tiraboschi, Storia della Lett. Ital. t. iii. 1. 4. c.
2.
v. 104. Who with the widow gave.] This alludes to the beginning of the
Liber Sententiarum, where Peter says: “Cupiens aliquid de penuria ac
tenuitate nostra cum paupercula in gazophylacium domini mittere,” v.
105. The fifth light.] Solomon.