Broughton, Hugh
, a divine of great eminence for
his extensive knowledge in Hebrew and rabbinical learning,
was descended from an ancient family, and born in 1549,
at Oldbury, in the county of Salop. Dr. Lightfoot says,
that it is uncertain in what school he was instructed in
grammar, but, according to the writers of the life of Bernard Gilpin, he was brought up in the school founded by
that excellent man at Houghton, and by him sent to Cambridge. Gilpin is said to have become acquainted with him
by accident, when he was a poor boy travelling on the Oxford road, and finding him a good scholar, took the charge
of his farther education. The biographer of Gilpin adds,
apparently upon slender foundation, that Broughton acted
with ingratitude to Gilpin, when the latter was old and
infirm, and persuaded the bishop of Durham to give him a
living intended for Gilpin.
At Cambridge, Broughton became one of the fellows of
Christ’s college, and there laid the first foundation of his
Hebrew studies, under a Frenchman, who read upon that
tongue in the university. His parts and learning soon
rendered him very conspicuous at Cambridge, and also
attracted the notice of the earl of Huntingdon, who became a liberal patron to him, and greatly encouraged him
in his studies. From the university he repaired to London,
where he distinguished himself as a preacher, and increased the number of his friends, some of whom were of
high rank. He still, however, continued to prosecute his
studies with the most unremitting assiduity; so that he is
said frequently to have spent sixteen hours out of the fourand-twenty at his books.*
In 1588, he published a piece, entitled “The Consent
of Scriptures.” This was a work in which he was employed several years; and which, therefore, he used to
call his “little book of grest pains.” It is a kind of scripture chronology, and scripture genealogies, and appears
to have been compiled with great labour. It was dedicated
to queen Elizabeth, to whom it was presented by himself,
on her inauguration day, Nov. 17, 1589.†
He appears
|
to have had some assistance in it from Speed, who overlooked the press, and compiled those genealogies which
are prefixed to the old Bibles; but
Broughton certainly
directed and digested them. Speed is said to have owed
many obligations to
Broughton, and had a vast number of his
manuscripts, which, for whatever reason, he burnt. But,
to return to the “
Consent of Scripture;” it excited much
attention at its first publication, but was strongly opposed
by Dr. Reynolds at
Oxford. This gave great offc-nce to
Mr.
Broughton, who had a very earnest and absurd desire
to have the dispute between him and Dr. Reynolds, concerning the scripture chronology, settled by public authority. He addressed on this subject queen
Elizabeth,
Dr. Whitgift, archbishop of
Canterbury, and Dr. Aylmer,
bishop of
London. His work was opposed, not only at
Oxford, but at
Cambridge, where Mr. Lively, a professor,
read publicly against it. He was, therefore, induced to
read lectures in defence of his performance, which he did
first in St.
Paul’s, at the east end of the church, and afterwards in a large room in Cheapside, and in Mark-lane
*.
He continued several years in London, where he procured many friends. One of these was Mr. William
Cotton, whose son Rowland, who was afterwards knighted,
he instructed in the Hebrew tongue. In 1589 Mr. Broughton went over into Germany, accompanied by Mr. Alexander Top, a young gentleman who had put himself
under his care, and travelled with him, that he might
continually receive the benefit of his instructions. He was
some time at Frankfort, where he had a long dispute in
the Jewish synagogue, with rabbi Elias, on the truth of
the Christian religion. He appears to have been very solicitous for the conversion of the Jews, and his taste for
| rabbinical and
Hebrew studies naturally led him to take
pleasure in the conversation of those learned
Jews whom he
occasionally met with. In the course of his travels, he
had also disputes with the papists; but in hig contests both
with them and with the
Jews, he was not very attentive to
the rules either of prudence or politeness. It appears,
that in 1590 he was at
Worms; but in what other places is
not mentioned. In 1591 he returned again to
England,
and met at
London with his antagonist Dr. Reynolds; and
they referred the -decision of the controversy between
them, occasioned by his “
Consent of Scripture,” to Dr.
Whitgift, archbishop of
Canterbury, and Dr. Aylmer,
bishop of
London. Another piece which he published,
entitled “
An Explication of the article of Christ’s Descent
to Hell,” was a source of much controversy, though his
opinion on this subject is now generally received. Two
of his opponents in this controversy were archbishop Whitgift and bishop Bilson. He addressed on this subject
“
An Oration to the Geneveans,” which was first published
in
Greek, at Mentz, by
Albinus. In this piece he treats
the celebrated Beza with much severity. In 1592 he was
in
Germany again, and published a piece called “
The
Sinai Sight,” which he dedicated to the earl of
Essex, and
had the odd whim of having it engraved on brass, at a considerable expence. About the year 1596, rabbi
Abraham
Reuben wrote an epistle from
Constantinople to Mr.
Broughton, which was directed to him in
London; but
he was then in
Germany. He appears to have continued
abroad till the death of queen
Elizabeth; and during his
residence in foreign countries, cultivated an acquaintance
with Scaliger, Raphelengius,
Junius, Pistorius, Serrarius,
and other eminent and learned men. He was treated with
particular favour by the archbishop of Mentz, to whom he
dedicated his translation of the
Prophets into
Greek. He
was also offered a cardinal’s hat, if he wo<;ld have embraced the Romish religion. But that offer he retused to
accept, and returned again to
England, soon after the accession of king
James I. In 1603 he preached before
prince Henry, at Oatlands, upon the Lord!s Prayer. In
1607 the new translation of the
Bible was begun; and Mr.
Broughton’s friends expressed much surprize that he was
not employed in that work. It might probably be disgust
on this account, which again occasioned him to go abroad;
and during his stay there, he was for some time puncher
| to the English at Middleburgh. But finding his health
decline, ‘having a consumptive disorder, which he found
to increase, he returned again to
England in
November,
1611. He lodged in
London, during the winter, at a
friend’s house in Cannon-street; but in the spring he was
removed, for the benefit of the air, to the house of another
friend, at Tottenham High-cross, where he died of a pulmonary consumption on the 4th of
August, 1612, in the
sixty-third year of his age. During his illness he made
such occasional discourses and exhortations to his friends,
as his strength would enable him; and he appears to have
had many friends and admirers’ even to the last. His
corpse was brought to
London, attended by great numbers
of people, many of whom had put themselves in mourning
for him; and interred in St. Amholin’s church, where his
funeral sermon was preached by the rev.
James Speght,
B.
D. afterwards
D.
D. minister of the church in Milkstreet,
London. Lightfoot mentions it as a report, that
the bishops would not suffer this sermon to be published;
but it was afterwards printed at the end of his works.
His person was comely and graceful, and his countenance expressive of studiousness and gravity. His indefatigable attention to his studies, gave him an air of austerity;
and, at times, there appears to have been no inconsiderable degree of moroseness in his deportment: notwithstanding which, he is represented as behaving in a very
kind and affable manner to his friends, and as being very
pleasant in conversation with them, especially at his meals.
He would also be free and communicative to any persons
who desired to learn of him, but very angry with scholars,
if they did not readily comprehend his meaning. Open
impiety and profaneness were always opposed by him with
great zeal and courage. He was much dissatisfied, as
appears from several passages in his works, that his great
learning had not procured him more encouragement, and
he evidently thought that he had a just claim to some
considerable preferment. He was unquestionably a man
of very uncommon erudition, but -extremely deficient in
taste and judgment. He was also of a testy and choleric
temper, had a high opinion of his own learning and abilities, was extremely dogmatical, and treated those who
differed from him in opinion with much rudeness and scurrility; though some allowance must be made for the age in
which he lived, in which that mode of writing was much
| more common among divines and scholars than it is at present. From the general tenor of his life and of his works,
and the opinion formed of him by those who were the best
acquainted with him, it seems equitable to conclude, that,
with all his failings, he meant well; nor do we apprehend
that there is any sufficient ground for the extreme severity
with which the late Mr. Gilpin has treated him in his “Lite
of Bernard Gilpin.” He translated the Prophetical writings into Greek, and the Apocalypse into Hebrew. He
was desirous of translating the whole New Testament
into Hebrew, which he thought would have contributed
much to the conversion of the Jews, if he had met with
proper encouragement. And he relates, that a learned
Jew with whom he conversed, once said to him, “O that
you would set over all your New Testament into such Hebrew as you speak to me, you should turn all our nation.”
Most of his works were collected together, and printed at
London in 1662, under the following title: “The Works
of the great Albionean divine, renowned in many nations
for rare skill in Salems and Athens tongues, and familiar
acquaintance with all Rabbinical learning, Mr. Hugh
Broughton.” This edition o’f his works, though bound in
one large volume, folio, is divided into four tomes. Dr.
Lightfoot, who was himself a great rmister of Hebrew
and rabbinical learning, says, that in the writings of
Broughton, “the serious and impartial student of them
will find these two things. First, as much light given in
scripture, especially in the difficultest things thereof, as is
to be found in any one author whatsoever; nay, it may be,
in all authors together. And, secondly, a winning and
enticing enforcement to read the scriptures with a seriousness and searching more than ordinary. Amongst those
that have studied his books, multitudes might be named
that have thereby grown proficients so far, as that they
have attained to a most singular, and almost incredible
skill and readiness, in his way, in the understanding of
the Bible, though otherwise unlearned men. Nay, some
such, that, by the mere excitation of his books, have set
to the study of the Hebrew tongue, and come to a very
great measure of knowledge in it; nay, a woman might be
named that hath done it. This author’s writings do carry
with them, I know not what, a kind of holy and happy
fascination, that the serious reader of them is won upon,
by a sweet violence, to look in the scripture with all
| possible scrulinousness, and cannot choose. Let any one
but set to read him in good earnest, and, if he find not,
that he sees much more in scripture than ever he could
see before, and that he is stirred up ’to search much more
narrowly into the scripture than ever he was before, he
misseth of that which was never missed of before by any
that took that course, if multitude of experiences may
have any credit.” It will justly be thought in the present
age, that Dr. Lightfoot formed’too high an opinion of the
value of Broughton’s writings; but in whatever estimation
they may now be held, the celebrity of Broughton in his
own time, and his extraordinary learning, gave him a reasonable claim to some memorial in a work of this kind.
Many of his theological Mss. are preserved in the British
Museum, of which a list is given in Ayscough’s catalogue. 1
This text has been generated using commercial OCR software,
and there are still many problems; it is slowly getting better
over time.
The text was scanned and OCRd several times, and
a majority version of each line of text was chosen.
Please don't reuse the content
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A concent of Scripture, by H. Broughton (1590) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A letter to a friende, touching Mardochai his age which helpeth much to holde the trueth, for that chiefe prophecie of our saluation, in Gabriels seuenties, which shew that most exactly 490. yeeres after the angels speech Christ the most holy should be killed to giue life. Dan 9.23. (1590) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A short vievv of the Persian monarchie, and of Daniels weekes beeing a peece of Beroaldus workes: with a censure in some points.Chronicon Sacrae Scripturae auctoritate constitutum. English. Selections (1590) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Textes of Scripture chayning the holy chronicle vntyll the sunne lost his lyght, and the Sonne brake the Serpentes head: dying, rising, and ascending. (1591) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A treatise of Melchisedek prouing him to be Sem, the father of all the sonnes of Heber, the fyrst king, and all kinges glory: by the generall consent of his owne sonnes, by the continuall iudgement of ages, and by plentifull argumentes of scripture. (1591) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An apologie in briefe assertions defending that our Lord died in the time properly foretold to Daniel For satisfaction of some students in both vniuersities. H. Broughton. (1592) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
To the most high and mightie prince Elizabet, by the grace of God Queene of Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande, defender of the fayth. &c. (1594) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A seder olam, that is: order of the worlde: or yeeres from the fall to the restoring A seconde apologie for the angel Gabriels proprietie of trueth, in his holy and healthy message, of the cleernes and certainty for our redemption: and a further answere to some, litle thinking that all humane libraries may by them selues, and must by Scripture be controlde: vvith a long preface touching the humanity of the gentry of Cambridge, and higher, in fauour of ancient learning. (1594) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A defence of the holy genealogies whose ignorance hath greatly hurt the Iewes, and hundered Christianitie. (1595) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A direction to finde all those names expressed in that large table of genealogies of Scripture lately gathered by I.S. whereof the first number serueth for the side margentes, and the later answerable to the highest fygures. (1595) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Daniel his Chaldie visions and his Ebrevv: both translated after the original: and expounded both, by reduction of heathen most famous stories vnto the exact proprietie of his wordes (which is the surest certaintie what he must meane:) and by ioyning all the Bible, and learned tongues to the frame of his workeBible. O.T. Daniel. English. Broughton. (1596) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An awnswear vnto the righte honorable the Lordes, of the Quene of Englandes most honorable privy councell concerning and Ebrew epistle of a rarely lerned Iew, most reverent towardes the Ebrew skill of English, [and] endeuoring the good of all Christendome. By Hugh Broughton. (1597) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An epistle to the learned nobilitie of England Touching translating the Bible from the original, with ancient warrant for euerie worde, vnto the full satisfaction of any that be of hart. By Hugh Broughton. (1597) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An apologie to my Lorde Treasorer touching a speach vttered vnto His Lordship by my Lord of C. (1597) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An epistle of an ebrew willinge to learne Christianity sent by him to London: & thence, by the Archb. of Canterburies aduise, to Basil: thence returned vuith [sic] some further spech vpon it vnto the Quene of Englandes most excellent maiesty. By Hugh Brughton: ... (1598) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Declaration of generall corruption of religion, Scripture and all learning; wrought by D. Bilson While he breedeth a new opinion, that our Lord went from Paradiseto [sic] Gehenna, to triumph over the devills. To the most reverend Father in God Iohn Wm. Doct. in Divinitie, and Metropolitan of England. By Hugh Broughton. (1603) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An aduertisement of corruption in our handling of religion To the Kings Majestie. By Hugh Broughton. (1604) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Two little workes defensiue of our redemption that our Lord went through the veile of his flesh into heaven, to appeare before God for vs. Which iourney a Talmudist, as the Gospell, would terme, a going vp to Paradise: but heathen Greeke, a going downe to Hades, and Latin, descendere ad inferos. Wherein the vnlearned barbarous, anger God and man, saying, that Iesus descended to Hell: and yeelde vnto the blasphemous Iewes by sure consequence vpon their words, that he should not be the Holy one of God. By Hugh Broughton. (1604) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A comment vpon Coheleth or Ecclesiastes framed for the instruction of Princf [sic] Henri our hope. By Hugh Broughton. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An explication of the article katēlthen eis haidoū of our Lordes soules going from his body to paradise; touched by the Greek, generally haidou, the vvorld of the soules; termed Hel by the old Saxon, & by all our translations; vvith a defense of the Q. of Englands religion: to, & against the Archb. of Canterbury: vvho is blamed for turning the Q auctority against her ovvne faith. Sundry epistles are prefixed and affixed. by H. Br. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Positions of the vvord Hades that it is the generall place of soules: and holdeth as vvell the godly vvhich are in paradise, as the vvicked that are in Tartarus. With a catalogue of our heresies, from which one word handled by a right Grecian would haue saued vs. To the BB. of England. By Hugh Broughton 1605. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A replie vpon the R.R.P.Th. VVinton. for heads of his divinity in his sermon and survey Hovv he taught a perfect truth, that our Lord vvent he[n]ce to Paradise: but adding that he vvent thence to Hades, & striving to prove that, he iniureth all learning & christianitie. To the most honorable henry prince of Great Britany. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Certayne questions concerning 1. Silk, or vvool, in the high priests ephod. 2. Idol temples, commonly called churches. 3. The forme of prayer, commonly called the Lords prayer. 4. Excommunication, &c. Handled betvveen Mr Hugh Broughton remayning of late at Amsterdam in the Low contreyes. and Mr Henry Ainsvvorth teacher of the exiled English Church at Amsterdam aforesayd. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
The familie of David for the sonnes of the kingdome, vvith a chronicle vnto the redemtion [sic]. (1605) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
The Lamentationes of Ieremy, translated vvith great care of his Hebrevv elegancie, and oratorious speaches: vvherin his sixfold alphabet stirreth all to attention, of Gods ordered providence in kingdomes confusion. VVith explicationes from other scriptures, touching his story & phrases. By Hugh BroughtonBible. O.T. Lamentations. English. Broughton. (1606) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Tvvo epistles vnto great men of Britanie, in the yeare 1599 Requesting them to put their neckes unto the work of theyr Lord: to break the bread of the soule unto the hungry Iewes, by theyr writinges, or by theyr charges, through such as be ready to declare all that theyr necessity doth require. Printed now the second time, in the yeare synce the creation of the world 5532. Or yeare of the Lord 1606. Translated by the auctour for the use of such as would & should know what in this cause ought to be performed.Two epistles unto great men of Britanie, in the yeare 1599. (1606) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Our Lordes famile and many other poinctes depending upon it opened against a Iew, Rabbi David Farar: who disputed many houres, with hope to overthrow the gospel, opened in Ebrew explication of Christianitie; that instructed, Rabbi Abraham Ruben. With a Greke epistle to the Geneveans. By H. Broughton. (1608) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A petition to the lords to examine the religion and cariage of D. Ban. Archb. By Hugh Broughton (1608) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A petition tho [sic] the lordes chancelours of both vniversities, & to all the noble LL. of Albion & Ierne [sic] to help reformation of errours bred by not knovving that T̀o katelthein eis adou' in the crede meaneth à going vp to paradise & no going to gehenna nor feeling of gehenna torment' : the ignorance of vvhich article hath vvroght [sic] much ruine to the Gospel vvher men geue over all resistance. (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A most humble supplication vnto the king for present performance of long purposed allowance, to open the law in the letters and tongue of Adam: for Iewes and all the sonnes of Adam. (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
To the right honorable the lords of His Maiesties most honorable Privey Counsell (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A defence of the booke entitled A co[n]cent of Scripture for amendment of former Atheian most grosse, and Iudaique errours, which our translations and notes had: against the libel, scoffing a Scottish mist: and slaundering that the Iewes epistle sent from Byzantian Rome, was a forged worke, and not in deed sent thence. By Hugh Broughton. (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
To the right honorable Rich. Archb. of Canterburie, H.B. wisheth g. (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An ansuer vntho [sic] the complaint of R. Cant. that he is an athean, Ievv, vilain, traitour, in Rabbi Dauid farars [sic] disputation at Amsteldam. (1609) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Iob To the King. A Colon-Agrippina studie of one moneth, for the metricall translation: but of many yeres for Ebrew difficulties. By Hugh Broughton.Bible. O.T. Job. English. Broughton. (1610) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A petition to the king to hasten allowance for Ebrew institution of Ebrevves (1610) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A reuelation of the holy Apocalyps. By Hugh Broughton.. (1610) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A censure of the late translation for our churches sent vnto a right worshipfull knight, attendant vpon the king. (1611) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A require of agreement to the groundes of divinitie studie wherin great scholers falling, & being caught of Iewes disgrace the Gospel: & trap them to destruction. By H.B. (1611) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A declaration vnto the Lordes, of the Iewes desire these fiftene yeres for Ebrew explication of our Greke gospell hindered by a brase of wicked selly D.D.: wherof the God of Iewes & Gentiles hath payd the one: & will pay the other: when he hath detected who he is. (1611) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A petition to the King. For authority and allowance to expound the Apocalyps in Hebrew and Greek to shew Iewes and Gentiles: that Rome in Cæsars and pope, is therein still damned. And for translaters to set over all into other large-vsed tongues. (1611) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A commendation of Rabbi Rubens original seking Ebrew Gospel from Albion to be kept for posterity by the L L. care: A monument against a sonne of Belial: who hindred the proceding of a most glorious cause: to call the curse of Iewes & Gentiles to light vpon him.. (1611) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
The holy genealogie of Iesus Christ both his naturall line of fathers, which S. Luke followeth, chap. 3, and his kingly line, which S. Matthew followeth, chap. I, with fit notation of their names / by H. Br. (1612) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Obseruations vpon the first ten fathers. By H. Broughton (1612) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
A letter to a friende, touching Mardochai his age which helpeth much to holde the trueth, for that chiefe prophecie of our saluation in Gabriels seuenties: which shew, that most exactly 490, yeeres after the angels speach, Christ the most holy should be killed, to giue life. Dan 9.23. (1612) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
An exposition vpon the Lords Prayer, compared with the Decalogue as it was preached in a sermon, at Oatelands: before the most noble, Henry Prince of Wales. Aug. 13. Anno 1603. VVith a postscript, to advertise of an error in all those that leaue out the conclusion of the Lords Prayer. Also, the Creed is annexed, vvith a short and plaine explication of the article, commonly called: He descended to hell. By Hugh Broughton. (1613) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.
Christmas, the Christians grand feast: its original, growth, and observation, also of Easter, Whitsontide, and other holydayes modestly discussed and determined. Also the beginning of the yeare, and other things observable. Where also among other learned men, you have the judgment of those eminent men; Josephus Scaliger, Rodulphus Hospinian, Matthæus Beroaldus, Joh. Causabon, Doct. Fulk, M. Cartwright, Alsted, Hugh Broughton, Master Mead. / By Thomas Mocket; sometimes of Queens Colledge in Cambridge, and Mr. of Arts in both the Universities; and now pastor of Gildeston in Hartfordshire. Novemb. 26, 1650. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy. (1651) by Broughton, Hugh, 1549-1612.