V I T A

Those who were present then remember with what gravity and truth of words the Cardinal received the accusers. With equal constancy, the judge sat in the forums for almost three hours the following day and listened to Christopher Touteus, who defended the parts of the Ramist appeal elegantly and decorously; to Jacobus Fabricius, who contended freely and bravely on behalf of Ramus’s students; to Dionysius Riandus, who attacked the doubtful case—with lack and weakness, yet copiously and vehemently; and to Petrus Seguierius, the royal orator of the Parisian Senate, who spoke wisely and magnificently about the benefit to the Republic. Finally, together with the whole Senate, he decreed: first, that Ramus’s students should be restored to their pristine and whole state; second, regarding the discipline, that philosophy should be lectured upon at the chief hours of ordinary days, and that he should be allowed to illustrate that lecture with examples of poets and orators; and that in the remaining, non-chief hours of the same days, and likewise on all extraordinary and feast days, it should be permitted to lecture on poets and orators, and all eloquent authors, in place of the philosophy that was then being treated. This was the long-standing contention of Ramus regarding the combining of the studies of eloquence and philosophy. He lied most wickedly who imprudently preached the contrary to these things. Therefore, with this judgment most holily established, rest was established for the studies of Ramus, and sincerity and truth were established for philosophy for those devoted to it. And when, on the sixth day before the Kalends of August in the year 1551, in the thirty-sixth year of Ramus’s age, Charles of Lorraine had reported the cause of Ramist discipline to King Henry at Blois, it pleased the King that he should be in the number and order of royal professors, and that he should teach eloquence and philosophy together according to the institute of his discipline. He announced this to Ramus by a letter written in singular and honorific words. This announcement was followed by an act of thanksgiving, which he held before both King Henry and Charles of Lorraine in the preface of his royal profession. Therefore, when he had been appointed royal professor of the liberal arts, he persuaded himself that he had been placed by the King to administer a most excellent part of the Republic, and he thought that he must be vigilant, providing, and striving day and night by all means, lest he succumb to the weight of so great a load and concern.

Dismissal of the ban on Ramus.

Royal act of thanksgiving for Ramus.