Augustin Marlorat
Encyclopedia
Augustin Marlorat du Pasquier (Augustinus Marloratus) (1506-October 31, 1562) was a French Protestant reformer, executed on a treason
charge.
about 1506. At the age of eight he was placed in an Augustinian monastery, where
he took the vows and was ordained priest in 1524. Nine years later he was abbot of a monastery at Bourges
, but, becoming indoctrinated with the principles of Protestantism, he left France in 1535 and took refuge in Geneva
, where he worked as a proof-reader for Greek and Hebrew.
At the recommendation of Pierre Viret
he was appointed to a pastorate in Grissier near Lausanne
, and there married. From Grissier he was called to Vevey
, where he remained until 1559. The dismissal of Viret in the controversy on excommunication
, however, led Marlorat, who approved the rigidly Calvinistic procedure, to resign, and after a brief time in Geneva he was sent in July to Paris as pastor of the Evangelical congregation there. After a year he accepted a call to Rouen
as first preacher, where Protestants were still struggling to secure the right to hold public services. On the accession of Charles IX of France
in December 1560, they addressed a petition, written by Marlorat, to the parliament and the king, requesting permission to use a church.
The petition was refused, but the Protestants of Rouen felt themselves able to defy the edict of July 25, 1561, and hold their services in the halls of the ancient tower.
Marlorat likewise addressed a printed petition to Catharine de' Medici, in which he asserted the loyalty of the Protestants, and in August of the same year he was summoned to the Colloquy at Poissy
. In debates there with the doctors of the Sorbonne
, in January 1562, on images and baptism
, he was one of the three spokesmen of the Protestants.
Returning to Rouen, Marlorat presided over the provincial synod held on January 25, 1562. After the massacre at Vassy
on March 1, 1562, the Protestants of Rouen planned to seize their city. On the night of April 15 they carried out their purpose, and Marlorat was appointed one of the three heads of the new government, which still professed to be loyal to the king. Rouen was speedily fortified, and on May 27 the city was invested by an army under the command of the Duc d'Aumale, who, however, was forced to retire on June 12. On Sept. 29 a second
force led by Charles himself, Anthony of Navarre, and others appeared before the city. Rouen was gradually reduced, but Montgomery, who commanded the besieged, like Marlorat, would accept no terms which did not include free exercise of the Protestant religion, and on October 26 the city was carried by storm. Marlorat and his family were captured and imprisoned. Three days later he was tried before the parliament on a charge of high treason
, and on October 30 was condemned to be executed in front of the church in which he had preached. The sentence was carried out on the following day.
Robert Estienne
had proposed to publish new Biblical commentaries by Marlorat. English translations were made of his commentary on Mark and Luke by Thomas Tymme
(London, 1583), on John by the same (1575), on II and III John by Nathaniel Baxter
(1578?), and on Revelation by Arthur Golding
(1574). Marlorat also prepared the index to the Institutio of John Calvin, which later formed an integral portion of
the work.
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
charge.
Life
He was born at Bar-le-DucBar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc, formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture . The department is in Lorraine in north-eastern France-Geography:...
about 1506. At the age of eight he was placed in an Augustinian monastery, where
he took the vows and was ordained priest in 1524. Nine years later he was abbot of a monastery at Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, but, becoming indoctrinated with the principles of Protestantism, he left France in 1535 and took refuge in Geneva
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...
, where he worked as a proof-reader for Greek and Hebrew.
At the recommendation of Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret was a Swiss Reformed theologian.- Early life :Pierre Viret was born to a devout middle class Roman Catholic family in Orbe, a small town now in Switzerland. He was a close friend of John Calvin....
he was appointed to a pastorate in Grissier near Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, and there married. From Grissier he was called to Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
, where he remained until 1559. The dismissal of Viret in the controversy on excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
, however, led Marlorat, who approved the rigidly Calvinistic procedure, to resign, and after a brief time in Geneva he was sent in July to Paris as pastor of the Evangelical congregation there. After a year he accepted a call to Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
as first preacher, where Protestants were still struggling to secure the right to hold public services. On the accession of Charles IX of France
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
in December 1560, they addressed a petition, written by Marlorat, to the parliament and the king, requesting permission to use a church.
The petition was refused, but the Protestants of Rouen felt themselves able to defy the edict of July 25, 1561, and hold their services in the halls of the ancient tower.
Marlorat likewise addressed a printed petition to Catharine de' Medici, in which he asserted the loyalty of the Protestants, and in August of the same year he was summoned to the Colloquy at Poissy
Colloquy at Poissy
The Colloquy at Poissy was a religious conference which took place in Poissy, France, in 1561. Its object was to effect a reconciliation between the Catholics and Protestants of France....
. In debates there with the doctors of the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, in January 1562, on images and baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, he was one of the three spokesmen of the Protestants.
Returning to Rouen, Marlorat presided over the provincial synod held on January 25, 1562. After the massacre at Vassy
Vassy
Vassy may refer to:*Vassy, Calvados, a commune in the Calvados département, France*Vassy, Yonne, a commune in the Yonne département, France* Vassy , an Australian-born R&B singer...
on March 1, 1562, the Protestants of Rouen planned to seize their city. On the night of April 15 they carried out their purpose, and Marlorat was appointed one of the three heads of the new government, which still professed to be loyal to the king. Rouen was speedily fortified, and on May 27 the city was invested by an army under the command of the Duc d'Aumale, who, however, was forced to retire on June 12. On Sept. 29 a second
force led by Charles himself, Anthony of Navarre, and others appeared before the city. Rouen was gradually reduced, but Montgomery, who commanded the besieged, like Marlorat, would accept no terms which did not include free exercise of the Protestant religion, and on October 26 the city was carried by storm. Marlorat and his family were captured and imprisoned. Three days later he was tried before the parliament on a charge of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
, and on October 30 was condemned to be executed in front of the church in which he had preached. The sentence was carried out on the following day.
Works
The chief works of Marlorat were:- Novi Testamenti catholica expositio ecclesiastica (Geneva, 1561);
- similar commentaries on Genesis (1561), the Psalms, and the Song of Solomon (1562);
- posthumous commentaries on Isaiah (1564) and Job (1585);
- a concordance, Thesaurus in locos communes rerum dogmatum ... et phraseon ... ordine alphabetico digestus (ed. W. Fenguereius, London, 1574).
Robert Estienne
Robert Estienne
Robert I Estienne , known as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and also referred to as Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century English writers, was a 16th century printer and classical scholar in Paris...
had proposed to publish new Biblical commentaries by Marlorat. English translations were made of his commentary on Mark and Luke by Thomas Tymme
Thomas Tymme
Thomas Tymme was an English clergyman, translator and author. He combined Puritan views, including the need for capital punishment for adultery, with a positive outlook on alchemy and experimental science.-Life:...
(London, 1583), on John by the same (1575), on II and III John by Nathaniel Baxter
Nathaniel Baxter
Nathaniel Baxter was an English clergyman and poet. In earlier life tutor to Sir Philip Sidney, and interested in the manner of Sidney's circle in literature and Ramist logic, he became more sternly religious in his opinions...
(1578?), and on Revelation by Arthur Golding
Arthur Golding
Arthur Golding was an English translator of more than 30 works from Latin into English. While primarily remembered today for his translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses because of its influence on Shakespeare's works, in his own time he was most famous for his translation of Caesar's Commentaries, and...
(1574). Marlorat also prepared the index to the Institutio of John Calvin, which later formed an integral portion of
the work.