Florentius Volusenus facts for kids
Florentius Volusenus (around 1504–1546 or 1547) was a Scottish scholar who loved learning, known as a humanist. He is most famous for his book De Animi Tranquillitate, which means "On the Tranquility of the Mind." His name, Florentius Volusenus, is a Latin version of his real name, which might have been Florence or Florens. His last name could have been Wolson, Wolsey, or Wilson. When he wrote letters in English, he called himself Volusene.
Early Life and Studies
Florentius Volusenus was born near Elgin in Scotland. He went to Aberdeen to study Philosophy. In his famous book, De Animi Tranquillitate, he wrote that the idea for his description of a peaceful place came from a dream. This dream happened after he talked with a fellow student by the River Lossie, which was near his home. At that time, he had been studying philosophy for four years.
Life in Paris and Travels
Later, Volusenus moved to Paris, France. There, he became a teacher for Thomas Wynter, who was said to be the son of an important church leader, Cardinal Wolsey. Volusenus visited England many times and was well-received by the king. After Cardinal Wolsey lost his power, Volusenus worked as a special helper for Thomas Cromwell in Paris. He was in England as late as 1534 and may have been a church leader in Speldhurst in Kent.
In Paris, he met other important scholars like George Buchanan. He also found support from powerful people like Cardinal Jean de Lorraine and Jean du Bellay. Volusenus was supposed to travel to Italy with du Bellay in 1535, but he got sick and had to stay in Paris. As soon as he felt better, he started his journey. In Avignon, a friend named Antonio Bonvisi suggested he seek help from the local bishop, Paul Sadolet. Sadolet was a very learned and religious man who made Volusenus a teacher at the school in Carpentras, giving him a good salary.
Volusenus often visited Lyon (where another scholar, Conrad Gesner, saw him in 1540). He probably also traveled to Italy, where he had many friends, and maybe even to Spain. In 1546, Sadolet wrote him a letter from Rome. This letter showed that Volusenus had decided to return to Scotland and wanted advice on how to deal with the religious disagreements happening at the time. However, he died during his journey back to Scotland, in Vienne in Dauphiné, either in late 1546 or early 1547.
His Main Work: De Animi Tranquillitate
Volusenus studied many languages, including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. But he is best known for his beautiful book, De Animi Tranquillitate (On the Tranquility of the Mind). It was first printed in Lyon in 1543. The book seems to have been written around that time, but Volusenus had been thinking about its ideas for many years.
This book shows the best of Christian humanism, which combines Christian faith with a love for classical learning. Volusenus admired a famous scholar named Erasmus, but he also shared his own thoughts on Erasmus's Latin writing and ideas.
Volusenus's own ideas were based more on Christian teachings and the Bible than on ancient Greek or Roman philosophy. He had a fresh and independent view of Christian ethics, which are moral principles based on Christian beliefs. He eventually developed ideas about how people can feel sure of God's grace and the presence of the Holy Spirit. These ideas were different from the traditional Christian beliefs of his time and were similar to the ideas of the German Reformers, who started the Protestant Reformation. The poems in his book, and the longer poem at the end, also show that Volusenus was a talented Scottish Latin poet. However, he is most remembered as a Christian philosopher.
The book De Animi Tranquillitate was printed again in Leiden in 1637 by a Scottish writer named David Echlin. Later editions of the book were published in Edinburgh in 1707 and 1751. The 1751 edition was put together by G. Wishart. These later versions included a short biography of Volusenus written by Thomas Wilson, who was a lawyer and the son-in-law of Archbishop Patrick Adamson. More facts about Volusenus can be found in letters and official papers from that time, as well as in Sadolet's own letters.
