ARIAS MONTA'NUS, BEsEnfarus, a Catholic divine noted for his great linguistic attainments, was b. 1527, in the village of Frexenal de in Sierra, situated amongst the mountains separating Estremadura from Andalusia. He studied first at Seville, and afterwards at Alcala de Henares, where he distinguished himself by the ardor he mani fested in the acquisition of the oriental languages, Arabic, Syriac, and Chaldee. He next proceeded on a tour through Italy, France, Germany, England, and the Netherlands, in the course of which he obtained a knowledge of various modern tongues. Be was present at the celebrated council of Trent; but on his return to his own country, he resolved to retire into seclusion, and dedicate his whole time to literature. In 1568, how ever, Philip II. persuaded him to repair to Antwerp and superintend the publication of the famous edition of the "Polyglot Bible," executed in that city at the suggestion of the printer, Christopher Plantin. After four years' labor, the work was issued under the
title Biblia Sacs-a, Ilebraice Chaldaice, Grave et Latine, Philippi IL Regis Catholici Pletate et Studio ad Sacrosancke Eccle,sia MUM. Chph. Plantinus excudehat. It was received with universal applause. The Jesuits, to whom A. was sincerely and strenuously opposed, alone attempted to fasten the charge of heresy on the author, who made several journeys to Rome to clear himself of the accusation. Philip II. rewarded him with a pension of 2000 ducats, besides bestowing on him various other. emoluments. He d. at Seville in 1598. His literary works are very numerous. They relate principally to the Bible and to Jewish antiquities; but he also wrote a poem on rhetoric. and a history of nature.