Méric Casaubon
Encyclopedia
Méric Casaubon (14 August 1599, Geneva
– 14 July 1671, Canterbury
), son of Isaac Casaubon
, was a French
-English
classical scholar
. Although biographical dictionaries (including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
) commonly accentuate his name to Méric, he himself did not do so.
to a French father, scholar Isaac Casaubon
; he was named for his godfather Meric de Vic. After education in Sedan
, at an early age he joined his father in England, and completed his education at Eton College
and Christ Church, Oxford
(B.A. 1618; M.A. 1621; D.D. 1636).
His defence of his father against the attacks of certain Catholic
s (Pietas contra maledicos patrii Nominis et Religionis Hostes, 1621), secured him the notice and favour of James I
, who conferred upon him a prebendal stall
in Canterbury Cathedral
(stall IX) which he held from 1628 to his death. He also vindicated his father’s literary reputation against certain impostors who had published, under his name, a work on The Origin of Idolatry (Vindicatio Patris adversus Impostores, 1624).
During the English Civil War
he was deprived of his benefices and his prebendal stall at Canterbury Cathedral and retired to Oxford refusing to acknowledge the authority of Oliver Cromwell
, who, notwithstanding, requested him to write an "impartial" history of the events of the period. In spite of the tempting inducements held out, he declined, and also refused the post of inspector of the Swedish
universities offered him by Queen Christina
. After the Restoration
, he was reinstated in his benefice
and his stall in Canterbury and devoted the rest of his life to literary work. He died at Canterbury and is buried in the Cathedral.
Méric Casaubon’s reputation was overshadowed by that of his father; but his editions of numerous classical authors, especially of the Meditations
of Marcus Aurelius, were especially valued, and reprinted several times (but by modern standards, his translation is difficult reading). He had an interest in the study of Anglo-Saxon, which he shared with his lifelong ‘trustie frend’ William Somner
. Edward Stillingfleet
, whom Casaubon admired, bought many of his books, which are now in Archbishop Marsh's Library
, Dublin. Some other volumes from his library came into Canterbury Cathedral Library through William Somner
.
, and circumscribed the domain of the supernatural
. The next year he produced an edition of John Dee
, portraying him as having dealings with the Devil. The background is of orthodox Anglicans wishing to discredit the sectarian Protestants of the period; but also to validate the existence of spirits to atheists. Casaubon was in touch with Nicholas Bernard
about the Dee manuscript. Following the Restoration, Casaubon wrote supporting the traditional theories of witchcraft
. He was in fact operating on several fronts: as well as attacking those who would deny the supernatural entirely, and limiting the role of reason in faith, he defended humanist learning against the claims for the new natural philosophy
, emanating from figures in the Royal Society
who saw it as completely replacing the old learning.
1628-1671 : prebendal stall IX at Canterbury Cathedral
1630-1634 : rector of St Mary in the Marsh, Kent
1634-1634 : rector of Old Romney, Kent
1634-1662 : vicar of Minster, Kent
1634-1662 : vicar of Monkton with Birchington, Kent
1643/1644 : ejected from his benefices by Parliament
1660 : reinstated to the living at Minster
1662-1671 : rector of Ickham, Kent
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
– 14 July 1671, Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
), son of Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
, was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
classical scholar
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. Although biographical dictionaries (including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
) commonly accentuate his name to Méric, he himself did not do so.
Life
He was born in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
to a French father, scholar Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
; he was named for his godfather Meric de Vic. After education in Sedan
Sedan, France
Sedan is a commune in France, a sub-prefecture of the Ardennes department in northern France.-Geography:The historic centre is built on a peninsula formed by an arc of the Meuse River. It is around from the Belgian border.-History:...
, at an early age he joined his father in England, and completed his education at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
(B.A. 1618; M.A. 1621; D.D. 1636).
His defence of his father against the attacks of certain Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s (Pietas contra maledicos patrii Nominis et Religionis Hostes, 1621), secured him the notice and favour of James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, who conferred upon him a prebendal stall
Prebendal stall
A prebendal stall is a seat, usually in the back row of the choir stalls, where a prebendary sits. It was a place of honour for dignitaries who were members of clergy on the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church....
in Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
(stall IX) which he held from 1628 to his death. He also vindicated his father’s literary reputation against certain impostors who had published, under his name, a work on The Origin of Idolatry (Vindicatio Patris adversus Impostores, 1624).
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he was deprived of his benefices and his prebendal stall at Canterbury Cathedral and retired to Oxford refusing to acknowledge the authority of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, who, notwithstanding, requested him to write an "impartial" history of the events of the period. In spite of the tempting inducements held out, he declined, and also refused the post of inspector of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
universities offered him by Queen Christina
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
. After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, he was reinstated in his benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
and his stall in Canterbury and devoted the rest of his life to literary work. He died at Canterbury and is buried in the Cathedral.
Méric Casaubon’s reputation was overshadowed by that of his father; but his editions of numerous classical authors, especially of the Meditations
Meditations
Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161–180 CE, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy....
of Marcus Aurelius, were especially valued, and reprinted several times (but by modern standards, his translation is difficult reading). He had an interest in the study of Anglo-Saxon, which he shared with his lifelong ‘trustie frend’ William Somner
William Somner
William Somner was an English antiquarian scholar, the author of the first dictionary of the Anglo-Saxon language.-Life:He was baptised in the church of St. Margaret, Canterbury, on 5 November 1598, but according to a statement of his widow and surviving relatives, the date of his birth was 30...
. Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
, whom Casaubon admired, bought many of his books, which are now in Archbishop Marsh's Library
Marsh's Library
Marsh's Library, situated in St. Patrick's Close, adjacent to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland is the oldest public library in Ireland. It was built to the order of Archbishop Narcissus Marsh in 1701 and has a collection of over 25,000 books and 300 manuscripts.-Foundation:The library was...
, Dublin. Some other volumes from his library came into Canterbury Cathedral Library through William Somner
William Somner
William Somner was an English antiquarian scholar, the author of the first dictionary of the Anglo-Saxon language.-Life:He was baptised in the church of St. Margaret, Canterbury, on 5 November 1598, but according to a statement of his widow and surviving relatives, the date of his birth was 30...
.
Controversy
In 1656 he wrote against enthusiasmEnthusiasm
Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or...
, and circumscribed the domain of the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
. The next year he produced an edition of John Dee
John Dee
John Dee was a Welsh mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I.John Dee may also refer to:* John Dee , Basketball coach...
, portraying him as having dealings with the Devil. The background is of orthodox Anglicans wishing to discredit the sectarian Protestants of the period; but also to validate the existence of spirits to atheists. Casaubon was in touch with Nicholas Bernard
Nicholas Bernard
Nicholas Bernard was an English clergyman and pamphleteer. A dean in Ireland at the time of the Rebellion of 1641, he wrote descriptions of current events. He was also the biographer of James Ussher.-Life:...
about the Dee manuscript. Following the Restoration, Casaubon wrote supporting the traditional theories of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. He was in fact operating on several fronts: as well as attacking those who would deny the supernatural entirely, and limiting the role of reason in faith, he defended humanist learning against the claims for the new natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
, emanating from figures in the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
who saw it as completely replacing the old learning.
Benefices
1626-1630 : rector of Bleadon, Somerset1628-1671 : prebendal stall IX at Canterbury Cathedral
1630-1634 : rector of St Mary in the Marsh, Kent
1634-1634 : rector of Old Romney, Kent
1634-1662 : vicar of Minster, Kent
1634-1662 : vicar of Monkton with Birchington, Kent
1643/1644 : ejected from his benefices by Parliament
1660 : reinstated to the living at Minster
1662-1671 : rector of Ickham, Kent
Works
- Pietas contra maledicos patrii Nominis et Religionis Hostes (1621)
- Vindicatio Patris adversus Impostores (1624)
- (transl.) Marcus Aurelies Antoninus the Roman Emperor, his Meditations Concerning Himself (1634)
- A treatise of use and custome (1638)
- De quatuor linguis commentationis, pars prior: quae, de lingua Hebraica: et, de lingua Saxonica (1650)
- A Treatise Concerning Enthusiasme (1656). Facsimile ed., introd. Paul J. Korshin, 1970, Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, ISBN 9780820110776.
- A true and faithful relation of what passed for many years between Dr. John DeeJohn Dee (mathematician)John Dee was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy....
and Some Spirits (1659) - Of the Necessity of Reformation (1664)
- On Credulity and Incredulity in Things natural, civil and divine (1668)
- A Letter of Meric Casaubon to Peter Du MoulinPeter du MoulinPeter du Moulin was a French-English Anglican clergyman, son of the Huguenot pastor Pierre du Moulin and brother of Lewis du Moulin. He was the anonymous author of Regii sanguinis clamor ad coelum adversus paricidas Anglicanos, published at The Hague in 1652, a royalist work defending Salmasius...
Concerning Natural Experimental Philosophie (1669). Facsimile ed., introd. David J. Lougee, 1977, Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, ISBN 9780820112846. - Generall Learning: A Seventeenth-Century Treatise on the Formation of the General Scholar (ed. Richard Serjeantson, 1999)