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Pierre Viret's Ideas and Attitudes Concerning Humanism and Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Robert D. Linder
Robert D. Linder
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of History, William Jewell College
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Extract

Historians for some time now have tried to solve the extremely complex and very interesting problem of whether or not the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth-century represented a reaction against or an extension of Renaissance attitudes and ideas. Debate over whether or not the Reformation was essentially medieval or modern has taken several forms. One of the methods used to approach the problem has been that of studying in detail the life and thought of certain leaders of the Protestant movement in order to ascertain whether they were basically men of the Middle Ages or individuals who contributed substantially to the making of the modern world. Pierre Viret was one of those early champions of the Protestant drive for reform, in particular of that branch of the Protestant Reformation later known as Calvinism. This study represents an attempt to demonstrate to what extent he was influenced by Renaissance attitudes and ideas.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , March 1965 , pp. 25 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1965

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References

1. Viret's dates were 1511–1571. The best biography of Viret yet written is by Barnaud, Jean, Pierre Viret, Sa vie et son oeuvre, (Saint-Amans: G. Carayol, 1911)Google Scholar. However, Barnaud should be used with care since he often is uncritical and sketchy in his presentation. Also his work has become increasingly outdated by a considerable amount of recently discovered material concerning Viret.

2. Viret, Pierre, Metamorphose chrestienne de M. Pierre Viret distinguee en deux parties, (Genève: Jaques Bres, 1561), p. 496Google Scholar. Also see, Poget, S. W., Les Écoles et le Collège D'Orbe, (Lausanne: F. Rouge, 1954), pp. 20–23.Google Scholar

3. Viret, Pierre, Disputations chrestiennes en maniere de deviz divisées par dialogues, (Genève: Jehan Girard, 1544), pp. 7–9.Google Scholar

4. Doumergue, Emile, Jean Calvin, Les Hommes et Les Choses du Son Temps, 7 vols., (Paris: Éditions de “La Cause,” 1899–1927), vol. 1, pp. 68–73Google Scholar; Massebieau, Louis, Les Colloques scolaires du seizième siècle et leurs auteurs, (1480–1570), (Paris: J. Bonhoure, 1878), pp. 54 ff.Google Scholar; Tarsot, Louis, Les écoles et les écoliers à travers les âges, (Paris: H. Laurens, 1893), pp. 113–125Google Scholar; Godet, Marcel, Le Congrégation de Montaigu, (1490–1580), (Paris: H. Champion, 1912), pp. 1–44Google Scholar; and, Woodward, William Harrison, Studies in Education during the Age of the Renaissance, 1400–1600, (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1906), pp. 106, 128–129.Google Scholar

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9. Calvini Opera, vol. 21, col. 717Google Scholar, “Annales,” June 5, 1559. This volume Calvini Opera contains the “Amuales” which are chronologically listed excerpts from various manuscript records that pertain to Calvin's life and activities.

10. Ibid., vol. 21, cols. 717, 735, “Annales,” June 5, 1559, and September. 1, 1559; and Barnaud, , Pierre Viret, pp. 545–546.Google Scholar

11. Viret to Calvin, dated Dec. 5, 1561, Nimes, , Calvini Opera, vol. 19, cols. 149–51Google Scholar; Doumergue, , Jean Calvin, vol 7, pp. 413–414Google Scholar; Viret, Pierre, Instruction chrestienne en la doctrine to toy et tIe l'Evartgile, 2 vols., (Genève: Jean Rivery, 1564), vol. 2Google Scholar, prefatory letter to the Church at Montpeffier, dated Dec. 12, 1563, Philippi, Jean, Mémoires tIe Jean Philippi, printed in Choir tIe Chroniques et Mdmoires sur l'histoire tIe France, vol. 12, edited by Buchon, J. A. C., (Paris: A. Desrez, 1836), pp. 353, 355–356Google Scholar; Sieur de Soubise to the Council of Geneva, dated Nov. 19, 1562, Lyon, published in Geisendorf, Paul-F., “Pierre Viret a Lyon, 1562. Documents inédits,” Les Cahiers Protestants, 45me année, no. 5, (11. 1961), pp. 252–253Google Scholar; and, Barnaud, , Pierre Viret, pp.581–632.Google Scholar

12. Latourrette, Louis, “Les Dernières Anées de Pierre Viret,” Revue de théologie et tIe philosophic, série 2, (1938), pp. 60–68.Google Scholar

13. Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vol. 2, pp. 812–903Google Scholar. In this rather extensive passage from his major work, Viret used teleological arguments based natural theology in an attempt to prove the existence of a personal God to Renaissance skeptics.

14. Professor W. H. Woodward considered Cordier a great Latin teacher, an outstanding humanist scholar, and “the most notable representative of Huguenot education” of his time. Woodward, , Education in the Age of the Renaissance, pp. 154–166Google Scholar. Also see Eugène, and Haag, Émile, La France Protestante, 2nd ed., 6 vols., (Paris: Libraire Fischbacher, 1877–1888), vol. 4, cols. 681–695.Google Scholar

15. Farel to Calvin, dated Feb. 5, 1539, at Neuehâtel, Herminjard, Correspondance, vol. 4. pp. 232–240Google Scholar; Viret to Calvin, dated Sept. 27, 1545, at Lausanne, , Calvini Opera, vol. 12, cols. 177–178Google Scholar; and, Le Coultre, Jean Jules, Mathurin Cordier; et les origines de la Pédogogie Protestante dans les Pays de Langue Française, (1530–1564) (Neuchâtel: Secrdtariet de l'Université, 1926), p. 178.Google Scholar

16. This collége was a grammar school for children, especially those preparing to enter the Academy.

17. C. S. Curione to Calvin, dated Sept. 7, 1542, at Lausanne, Herminjard, , Correspondance, vol. 8, pp. 118–120Google Scholar; Gessner to Gwalther, dated June 24, 1539, at Lausanne, Hermiujard, , Correspondance, vol. 5, pp. 333–335Google Scholar; Viret to Farel, dated June, 1551, at Lausanne, , Calvini Opera, vol. 14, cols. 130–132Google Scholar; Biographie Nationate, published by L'Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 28 vols., (Bruxelles: émile Bruyland, 1866–1944), Article: “Antoine Schore,” vol. 21, cols. 932–937Google Scholar; Geisendorf, Paul-F., Theodore de Bèzc, (Geneva: Labor et Fides, 1949), pp. 37–38Google Scholar; and, Vuilleumier, Henri, Histoire de l'Éguse Réformdc du Pays de Vaud sous la Regime Bernoiś, 4 vols., (Lausaune: Dditions Ia Concorde, 1927–1928), vol. 1, pp. 400–405.Google Scholar

18. Viret, , Disputatiorcs chrestiennes, 1544Google Scholar, passim., Viret, Pierre, Dialogues du tIesordre qui est a present au monde, et des causes d'iceluy, et du raoyen poury remedier, (Genèva: Jean Girard, 1545), p. 365Google Scholar; Viret, Pierre, Le monde a l'empire et le monde demoniacle, fait par Dialogues, (Genève: Vincent Bres, 1561), p. 196Google Scholar; Viret, Pierre, L'Interim, fait par dialogues, (Lyon: Claude Senneton, 1565), p. 25Google Scholar; and, Viret, Pierre, Response aux questions proposees par Jean Ropitel, minime, aux ministres de l'Eglise Reformie tIe Lyon, (Lyon: Claude Sennieton, 1565), pp. 124–125.Google Scholar

19. The wide range of Viret's citations and his use of quotations seems to preclude the use of any kind of compendium of the classics in his writings. Rather it seems to me that the manner in which he employs the writers of antiquity clearly demonstrates a thorough knowledge of most of their works. Viret easily could have read them in the original since he knew both Greek and Latin well.

20. For examples, see Viret, , L'Interim, pp. 27, 70, 84, 192, 211, 270–271, 288–289, 296–298Google Scholar, and passim., Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vols. 1–2Google Scholar, passim.; Viret, Pierre, De l'sestat, de La conference de l'authorite, puissance, prescription et succession tant de la vraye que de La fausse Eglise, (Lyon: Claude Seuneton, 1565), pp. 48 ff., 56 ff., 275 ff., 727Google Scholar; Viret, Pierre, De L'institution des heures canoniques et des temps determines aux prieres des Chrestiens, (Lyons: Jean Saugrain, 1564), pp. 9–28, 33–35, 39, 54–55, 66–67Google Scholar; Viret, Pierre, Des principaux poincts qui sont aujourd'huy en different, touchant La saincte Cene de Jesus Christ, et La Messe do L'Eglise Romaine, et de La resolution d'iceux, (Lyon: Claude Senneton, 1565), pp. 85 ff., 100, 114, 253Google Scholar; and, Viret, Pierre, Les cauteles et canon de la messe, ensemble la messe du corps de Jesus Christ, (Lyon: Claude Ravot, 1563), pp. 110 ff.Google Scholar

21. Viret, , Disputatious chrestienne, 1544Google Scholar, passim.; Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vol. 2, pp. 817 ff.Google Scholar; Viret, , Dialogues du desordre, pp. 221 ffGoogle Scholar., and passim.; and, Viret, Pierre, Exposition familiere de l'oraison de nostre Seigneur Jesus Christ, (Genève: Jean Girard, 1548), pp. 15 ff.Google Scholar

22. For numerous examples, see Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vols. 1– 2Google Scholar, passim.; Viret, , Disputations chrestiennes, 1544Google Scholar, passim.; Viret, , L'Interim, pp. 371 ff.Google Scholar; Viret, Le monde a l'empire, passim.; and, Viret, , Dialogues du desordre, pp. 131–134, 221, and passim.Google Scholar

23. For numerous examples, see Viret, , L'Interim, pp. 189, 241–254, 288Google Scholar; Viret, Metamorphose chrestienne, passim.; Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vols. 1–2, passim.Google Scholar; Viret, , Disputations chrestiennes, 1544, passim.Google Scholar; Viret, Dialogues du desordre, passim.; and, Viret, Lemonde a l'empire, passim.

24. Lucian, Ovid and Juvenal are cited extensively by Viret in his two major satirical works, the Disputations chrestiennes of 1544, and the Dialogues du desordre of 1545. The first part of the Disputations chrestiennes was enlarged, revised and published with the same title at Geneva by Jean Girard in 1552. The Dialogues du desordre was later revised and subdivided into several smaller works, the most popular of which were the widely read Le monde a l'empire et le monde demoniacle and the Metamorphose chrestienne. Besides the Vincent Bres edition of 1561, (which I cited in footnote 17, and which seems to me to be the best of several) there were a number of other printers who brought out almost identical versions of Le monde a l'empire in 1561: Jaques Bres, Jaques Berthet, and Guillaume de Laimarie. Laimarie republished his edition of the work without change in 1579 and 1580. Fraaçois Hardy reprinted an identical volume in 1609. The second half of Le monde a l'empire was translated into English and published in London by T. Dawson in 1583, with the title The Worlde possessed with Devils. In addition to the 1561 edition of the Metamorphose chrestienne which I already have cited in footnote 2, another printing appeared in 1592 from the presses of Jean le Preux. The second part of the Metamorphose chrestienne was translated into English in 1585, and published by R. Waldergrave with the title The schoole of beastes.

25. Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vol. 2, pp. 893–894Google Scholar; and Viret, , Disputations chrestienne, 1544, pp. 40–42.Google Scholar

26. Highet, Gilbert, Juvenal the Satirist, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1954), p. 2Google Scholar; and, Rose, Herbert J., A Handbook of Latin Literature, (London: Methuen and Co. Ltd., 1954), p. 405.Google Scholar

27. For further information concerning the nature of Juvenal's satires, see the following: Highet, , Juvenal the Satirist, pp. 44–58Google Scholar; Rose, , A Handbook of Latin Literature, pp. 405–409Google Scholar; Mackail, M. W., Latin Literature, (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1900), pp. 222–224Google Scholar; and, Hadas, Moses, A History of Latin Literature, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1952), pp. 278–279, 282–288Google Scholar. My own judgments on the character of Viret's satires are based on his two major satirical works, the Disputations chrestiennes of 1544, and the Dialogues du desordre of 1545.

28. Highet, Gilbert, The Classical Tradition, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1953), pp. 303–321. See esp., p. 305.Google Scholar

29. Viret, , Disputatious chrestiennes, 1544, pp. v–vi.Google Scholar

30. Ibid., 1544, pp. 78–79.

31. Viret, Pierre, La necromance papale faite par Dialogues, en maniere de devis, (Genève: Jean Gerard, 1553), pp. 35–36.Google Scholar

32. Viret, , Disputatious chrestiennes, 1544, p. 161.Google Scholar

33. Viret, , Dialogues du desordre, pp. 914–994Google Scholar; and, Viret, , Instruction chrestienne, 1564, vol. 2Google Scholar, prefatory letter to the Church at Montpellier, dated December 12, 1563, at Lyon, Sigs. C vi. verso., [C viii. verso., and C ix].

34. Viret, , Dialogues du desordre, pp. 943–963.Google Scholar

35. Ibid., pp. 928–934, 962; and, Viret, Pierre, Instruction chrestienne et somme general de La doctrine comprinse ès sainctes Escritures, (Genève: Conrad Badius, 1559), pp. 802–803Google Scholar. Viret also felt it would be ideal for every intel-igent young boy to go on to college where he could take advanced studies. In conjunction with this idea, he advocated a system of scholarships for financially destitute but deserving students. Ibid. Also see Sayous, Pierre André, Etudes littéraires sur les écriyams français de la Réformation, 2 vols., 2nd ed., (Paris: G. Fischbacher, 1881), vol. 1, pp. 195–196.Google Scholar

36. Viret, , Dialogues du desordre, pp. 943–963.Google Scholar

37. ibid., pp. 991–92.

38. Woodward, , Education in the Age of the Renaissance, pp. 10–25Google Scholar. For a furtlier discussion of various humanist educators who attempted to introduce more effective methods of teaching into their schools by being more lenient in their treatment of children, see Ibid., pp. 62–63, 76–77; Garin, Eugenio, L'educazione in. Europa, 1400- 1600, (Bari: Editori Laterza, 1957), pp. 13–40, 119–127, 147–153Google Scholar; and, Highet, Gilbert, The Art of Teaching, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954), pp. 217–224.Google Scholar

39. See Ascham, Roger, The Scholemaster, (London: John Daye, 1570)CrossRefGoogle Scholar. Ascham lived from 1515–1568.

40. For information on J. A. Alsted (1588–1638) and J. A. Comenius (1592–1670) as educators, see Graves, Frank P., Great Educators of Three Centuries, (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912), pp. 32–33, and 36–50.Google Scholar

41. Some of this has already been done with varying degrees of success. Calvin was himself something of a humanist, and both Calvin and Beza received humanist training as young men. See Breen, Quirinus, John Calvin: A Study in French Humanism, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1931)Google Scholar; Baird, Henry Martyn, Theodore Beza, the Counsellor of the French Reformation, 1519–1605, (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1899)Google Scholar; and, Geisendorf, Théodore de Bèze.