Albericus Gentilis

, the most noted and famous Civilian, and the grand ornament of the University in his time, Brother to the eminent writer Scipio Gentilis, and both the Sons of Matthew Gentilis Doctor of Physick, by Lucretia his Wife, was born at La Chastell St. Genes in a Province of Italy called La Marca d’ Ancona, educated mostly in the University of Perugia, where being made Doctor of the Civil Law, in 1572. aged 21. soon after left his Country for Religion sake, with his Father and younger Brother Scipio before-mentioned. The Father and Scipio setled in Germany, but Albericus going into England found relief from several persons in London, and, by recommendations, obtained the patronage of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, Chancellour of the University of Oxon. But our learned author being desirous to lead an Academical life, he procured the Chancellours letters for that purpose, dated 24. Nov. 1580. wherein it appears, that he left his Country for Religion sake, and that his desire was to bestow some time in reading and other exercises of his profession in the Vniversity, &c. Soon after the date of the said letters, he journeyed to Oxon, and by the favour of Dr. Dan. Donne Principal of New Inn, and his successor Mr. Price, he had a convenient Chamber allowed to him in the said Inn, and not only Monies given towards his maintenance by several Societies, but soon after 6 l.—13 s.—4 d. per an. from the common Chest of the University. In the latter end of 1580, he was incorporated Doctor of the Civil Law of this University, as he had stood before in that of Perugia; and after he had continued some years in the said Inn, where he wrote certain books, and laid the foundation of others (of which the Students thereof have gloried in my hearing) he receeded either to C. C. coll. or to Ch. Ch. and became the flower of the University for his profession. In 1587. the Queen gave (a)(a) Vide Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 40. him the Lecture of the Civil Law for his farther incouragement, which he executed for about 24 years with great applause. As for the books by him published, which speak him most learned beyond the Seas, were all written in the University of Oxon; the titles of which are these.

De juris interpretibus, dialogi sex. Lond. 1582. qu. Dedicated to Rob. E. of Leicester, being the authors first fruits of his lucubrations.

Lectionum & Epistolarum quae ad jus civile pertinent lib. 1. Lond. 1583. oct.

De legationibus lib. 3. Lond. 1585. qu. Hannov. 1607. oct.

Legalium comitiorum Oxoniensium actio. Lond. 1585. oct.

De nascendi tempore disputatio. Witeberg. 1586. oct.

De diversis temporum appellationibus liber. Witeberg. 1586. oct.

Condicionum lib. unus. Lond. 1587. oct.

De jure belli cemmentatio prima. Lugd. Bat. 1588. qu. &c.

De jure belli com. sec. Lond. 1588. qu. &c.

De jure belli com. ter. Lond. 1589. qu. &c.

De injustitiâ bellicá Romanorum actio. Ox. 1590. qu. Before which is an Epistle dedic. to Rob. Earl of Essex, wherein the author saith, that he had then lying by him fit for the Press, Defensio Romanorum, & disputatio de ipsorum justitia bellica. But whether afterwards printed I cannot tell.

De Armis Romanis, libri duo. Hannov. 1599. oct. &c.

Disputationes duae. 1. De Actoribus & Spectatoribus fabularum non notandis. 2. De abusu mendacii. Hannov. 1599. oct. &c.

Duae literae ad Joh. Rainoldum de Ludis Scenicis. Middleb. 1599. Ox. 1629. qu. They are at the end of a book called, The overthrow of Stage-plays. See more in Jo. Rainolds and Will. Gager.

Ad primum Macbaeorum disputatio. Franc. 1600. qu. It follows the notes of Joh. Drusius made on the said book.

De linguarum mixturâ, disputatio pàrergica. This disputation, with the other immediately going before, are remitted into the fifth vol. of Criticks, p. 8073, 8093.

Disputationum de nuptiis libri vii. Hannov. 1601. oct. &c.

Lectionis Virgilianae variae liber. Hannov. 1603. Written to Rob. Gentilis his Son.

Ad tit. cod. de Maleficis & Math. de caeteris similibus commentarius. Hannov. 1604.

Item Argumenti ejusd. commentatio ad lib. 3. cod. de professoribus & medicis. Han. 1604.

Laudes Academiae Perusianae & Oxoniensis. Hanov. 1605. oct. Dedicated to Dr. Ralph Hutchinson President of S. Johns coll. by Rob. Gentilis his Son, then a Student in that house.

Disputationes tres. 1. De libris juris Canonici. 2. De libris juris Civilis. 3. De latinitate veteris Bibliorum versionis male accusatâ. Hannov. 1605. oct.

Disp. 3. 1. De [••] testate Regis absolutâ. 2. De unione Regnorum Britanniae. 3. De vi Civium in Regem semper injustâ. Lond. 1605. qu.

In Titulos codicis, si quis Imperatori maledixerit, ad legem juliam majestatis, disputationes decem. Hannov. 1607.

Epistola ad Joh. Howsonum S. T. P. In which Epistle our author doth learnedly interpose his judgment concerning Dr. Pyes book of divorce. Printed at the end of Dr. Burhills book intit. In controversiarum, &c. an. 1606. qu. See more in Tho. Pye, an. 1609. and in Rob. Burhill, an. 1641. The Reader is to note, that besides the answers of Pye and Gentilis, one Joh. Dove did prepare a third answer, but whether it was ever printed, I cannot tell.

Hispanicae advocationis libri 2. Hannov. 1613. qu.

Comm. in tit. Digestorum & verborum significatione. Hannov. 1614. qu.

Discourse of Marriages by proxy—Written to Egerton L. Chancellour of England. These are all, and enough too, that I have seen written by this eminent Doctor Gentilis, and whether any title is omitted, I cannot justly say it. He concluded his last day in the beginning of the year (either in the latter end of March, or beginning of Apr.) in sixteen hundred and eleven, 1611 but where buried, unless in the Cathedral of Ch. Ch. in Oxon, is yet uncertain. I have seen a copy of his (*)(*) In Offic. prerog. in Reg. Cope, part. 2. qu. 12. Will, written in Italian, dat. 14. June 1608. wherein he desires his body to be buried in the place, and in such manner, as his Fathers was, as deep and as near to him as may be, &c. Where his Father Matth. Gentilis died, or was buried, it doth not yet appear to me. Sure it is, if the information of Sir Giles Sweit, LL. D. who well remembred Alb. Gentilis, be right, it is evident, that he the said Alb. Gentilis died in Oxon. He left behind him a Widdow named Hester, who afterwards lived at Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, where she died in 1648. (ult. Car. 1.) and two Sons Robert and Matthew, the first of which, being afterwards a translatot of books, I shall elsewhere remember.