Gribaldi Mattheo (1506-1562)

Gribaldi Matthew (Gribadus ; Ital. Matteo Gribaldo,) surnamed Mofa, and sometimes called Cherianus or Cheriensis, from Chieri, in Piedmont, the place of his nativity, was a learned Civilian of Padua. He taught in several Schools and Colleges of Italy and France ; as Pisa, Perugia, Toulouse and Valence. Melanchthon intimates, that he was dismissed by the Senate of Venice, on account of a leaning towards Protestantism ; and Pancirollus says, that he was the colleague of Tornielli, author of "Commentaries on the Pandects," and being suspected of heresy, was under the necessity of quitting Padua. On renouncing Catholicism he joined the Calvinistic party ; but his views respecting the Trinity caused him to be numbered among the Unitarians, or New Arians.

He was present, in 1548, at the death of Francis Spira, of which tragical event he wrote an account, at the close of that year ; and Celius Secundus Curio, in a Preface to that account, speaks of Gribaldus in the highest terms, as a learned Civilian, and profound Lawyer.

On leaving Italy, Gribaldus went into France, and delivered lectures on the Civil Law for some time at Toulouse. He was at Geneva in 1553, a year which is memorable, in the annals of that city, for the martyrdom of Servet. On that occasion he sought an interview with Calvin, which was at first declined, but afterwards granted, on condition that whatever might be said should be uttered in the presence of Calvin's colleagues, and three Elders. To this stipulation Gribaldus assented, but the conference was suddenly broken oif, for the reason about to be assigned. When Gribaldus went to the place appointed, Calvin refused to extend to him the hand of Christian fellowship, unless he would first make it appear, that he and all present were agreed in their opinions respecting the Trinity, and the Deity of Jesus Christ. Gribaldus, not prepared for such a reception, abruptly quitted the room. He was then summoned to appear before the Magistrates, and required to give an account of his faith ; but nothing was elicited from him, by which he could be made to criminate himself. Shortly afterwards, however, some expressions escaped him, from which it was inferred, that he was tainted with heresy. On being interrogated by Calvin, he said, that it was contrary to the acknowledged rules of equity, that he should be molested, because his faith happened to differ from that of the Church of Geneva. This objection was overruled: but it was ultimately determined by the Senate, that, as he was a foreigner, he should not be pressed any further, Calvin, in the mean time, undertaking to keep a strict watch over his conduct, during the remainder of his residence at Geneva.

Under these circumstances, Gribaldus deemed it most prudent to take his departure, and repaired to Tubingen, where he was appointed to the chair of Civil Law. His lectures drew together crowded audiences ; but his heresy being detected by the vigilance of Jerome Gerhard, a brother Civilian, who was employed by the Duke of Wirtemberg as a spy upon his conduct, he found it necessary again to consult his safety by flight. This was in 1556 ; and on the 6th of June, in the year following, legal proceedings were commenced against him at Tubingen by James Andrea.

In the year 1558, we find him at Fargias, a village on the confines of the Genevese territory, in the prefecture of Gex, where he possessed an estate, and granted a temporary asylum to Valentine Gentilis. For this act of humanity, combined with other circumstances, involving him in a suspicion of heresy, he was imprisoned at Bern ; but being terrified by the fear of punishment, he consented to subscribe the orthodox Confession of Faith, and thus regained his liberty.ÉcouterLire phonétiquement

In 1559 or 1560, he was giving lectures at Grenoble, on subjects connected with the legal profession. But his stay there was of short duration ; for persecution on account of his religious opinions drove him from that place, as it had before driven him from Tubingen.

The precise time of his death has not been ascertained ; but Bayle places it in the month of September, 1564. His death saved him from the severity of an ecclesiastical tribunal, which was ready to pronounce sentence against him, on account of his religious opinions. He was carried off by an infectious disease, the malignity of which was such, that he was abandoned by every one ; and it was with difficulty that any person could be found, to commit his remains to the grave.

Le moment précis de sa mort n'a pas été constaté ; mais Bayle la place dans le mois de Septembre 1564. Sa mort le sauva de la sévérité d'un tribunal ecclésiastique, qui était prêt à prononcer une sentence contre lui, à cause de ses opinions religieuses. Il fut emporté par une maladie infectieuse, la malignité de ce qui était telle, qu'il fut abandonné de tous ; et c'est avec difficulté qu'une personne pouvait être trouvée, pour mettre ses restes dans la tombe. 

The author of the "Dialogue between Calvin and Vaticanus" (Resp. 8) is supposed to allude to Gribaldus, as a certain Jurist, (" quidam Ictus," an abbreviation for Jurisconsultus,) who said of Servetus's opinion, that Jesus Christ, as regarded his humanity, was the true and natural Son of God, born of God and the Virgin,—" Such an opinion is not very offensive to me ; and, what is more, I have always thought so myself, even from a boy." He is said to have held, that the Divine Nature was divided into three Eternal Spirits, distinguished from each other, not only by number, but also by subordination ; so that the deity of the Son and Holy Spirit, together with that of other celestial natures, was referred to the Father alone, who was underived, and God of himself, as the sole fountain and head of Divinity.

Beza says, in allusion to certain eminent Antitrinitarians, who were the associates, and fellow-labourers of Gribaldus, in the cause which he had espoused,—"fuit quoque in hac cohorte pene veteranus, Gribaldus Jurisconsultus."

Gribaldus was the author of many valuable legal works, the titles of which are given by Sandius and Bayle, but which it is unnecessary to specify in this place. Sandius also refers to a writing, containing an outline of his religious opinions. The Rev. S. R. Maitland, in his " Index of English Books in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth," mentions, under the name Matthew Gribalde, (p. 50,) "An Epistle concerning the terrible Judgments of God," &c, which is probably an English translation of Gribaldus's Account of the death of Francis Spira.

(Vidend. Sandii B. A. pp. 17, 18. Bayle, Diet. Hist, et Crit. Art. Gbibaud. Bock, Hist. Ant. T. II. pp. 456 — 465. Trechsel, Lelio Sozini und die Antitrinitarier seiner Zeit, 5ter Abschnitt. S. 277—302. Melch. Adam. Vitae Germ. Theolog. p. 183. Vitae Germ. Jureconsult. et Politic, p. 94. Moreri, Diet. Hist. Art. Gkibauld. Moshemii Inst. H. E. Saec. xvi. Sect. iii. P. ii. C. iv. § vi. et Kef. Lubieniecii Hist. Ref. Polon. L. ii. C. v. p. 108. Calvini Epist. N. 238, p. 440. Contra Libellum Calvini, etc. Resp. 8.)

 
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