, whom the common consent of all ecclesiastical historians has placed
, whom the common consent
of all ecclesiastical historians has placed among the most
eminent of the reformers, was born at Bretten, in the
Palatinate upon the Rhine, Feb. 16, 1497. His family
name, Schwartserd, in German, means literally black earth,
which, according to the custom of the times (as in the case of Oecolampadius, Erasmus, Chytraeus, Reuchlin, c.),
was exchanged for Melancthon, a compound Greek word
of the same signification. His education was at first
chiefly under the care of his maternal grandfather Reuter,
as his father’s time was much engrossed by the affairs of
the elector Palatine, whom he served as engineer, or commissary of artillery. He first studied at a school in Bretten, and partly under a private tutor, and gave very early
proofs of capacity. He was afterwards sent to Pfortsheim,
a city in the marquisate of Baden, where was a flourishing
college, and here he became known to the celebrated
Reuchlin, to whom it would appear he was distantly related, and who assisted him in learning the Greek language. Probably by his advice, Melancthon went to the
university of Heidelberg, where he was matriculated on
Oct. 13, 1509. Such was his improvement here that his
biographers inform us he was admitted to his bachelor’s
degree, although under fourteen years of age, and that he
was intrusted to teach the sons of count Leonstein. Yet,
notwithstanding his extraordinary proficiency, he was refused his degree of master on account of his youth; and,
either disappointed in this, or because the air of Heidelberg did not agree with his constitution, he left that university in 1512, and went to Tubingen, where he resided
six years.
Baillet has with much propriety classed Melancthon
among the enfans celebres, or list of youths who became
celebrated for early genius and knowledge. It is said that
while at Heidelberg he was employed in composing the
greatest part of the academical speeches, and Baillet adds,
that at thirteen he wrote a comedy, and dedicated it to
Reuchiin. With such capacity and application he could
not fail to distinguish himself during his residence at Tubingen, where he studied divinity, law, and mathematics,
and gave public lectures on the Latin classics, and on the
sciences. About this time Reuchiin had made him a present of a small edition of the Bible, printed by Frobenius,
in reading which, we are told, he took much delight. In
1513 he was created doctor in philosophy, or master of
arts, and had attracted the notice of Erasmus, who conceived the highest hopes of him “What hopes, indeed,
”
he said about may we not entertain of Philip Melancthon, who though as yet very young, and almost a
boy, is equally to be admired for his knowledge in both
languages What quickness of invention what purity of
diction what powers of memory what variety of reading
what modesty and gracefulness of behaviour!
”