Verga, Solomon Ibn-, a Jewish historian, was born in Spain in 1450, where he practiced medicine. He is the autlior of min^ :33i:3, the Sceptre ofJudah, a Jew- ish history, composed in part from notes left by his father, and afterwards continued by his son, rabbi Joseph ben- Solomon, of Adrianople. The book itself tells us that its author was employed by the Spanish synagogues in several difficult negotiations during the later years of his residence in the Peninsula. We have but few par- ticulars of his life, after he shared in the banishment of his brethren; even the year of his death is unknown. The Sceptre of Judah, which was published first in Adrianople in 1544, and often since, was translated into Jewish-German in 1591, and often; into Spanish by Meir de Leon (Amsterdam, 1G40); into Latin by Gentius (ibid. Kiol); but the best translation is the German of j\L Wiener (Hanover, 1855, 185G, 2 vols.). Extracts in German are also given by Eisenmenger in Neuentdecktes Judenthum. vol, i; by Schiidt, Jildische Denkwiirdigkeiten, vol. i; and by Zedner, Auswahl Ms- torischer Stiicke cms hehr. Schi-iftstellern (Berlin, 1840), p. 90 sq. See Fiirst, Bibl.Jud. iii, 473 s(j.; De' Rossi, IHzioiKtrio Storico ( Germ, transl. ), p. 326; Finn, aSV- phnrdim, p. 456 ; Steinschneider, Jewixh Literature, p. 251; Da Costa, Israel and the Gentiles, p. 398 sq. ; Griitz, Gesch. d. Juden, ix, 343 sq. (B. P.)
Vergara, Jose, a Spanish painter, was born at Valencia in 1726. He displayed line artistic powers at an early, age. He adopted the style of the prints of Spagnoletto, and studied the works of Coypel and Paolo de Matteis. He painted many portraits and numerous pictures for the churches of Valencia and neighboring cities, in oil, fresco, and distemper. The most noted of his paintings arc the Conception of the ]'ir(/iri, in the Convent of San Francisco, at Valencia; and Telemachns and Mentor, in the Academy of San Ferdinando. He was chosen director of the Academy of San Carlos, at Valencia, and held the office until his death, in 1790. See Spooner, Bii)f/. /list, of the Fine A rts, s. v.
Vergara, Juan de, a Spanish artist, son and pu- pil of Nicolas, was born at Toledo about 1540. He was distinguished as a painter, scul|itor, and architect, and assisted his father and brother in the execution of the glass paintings in the cathedral, which occupied about forty years. After his father's death he directed the works in painting and sculpture in the cathedral. He was very intimate with El Miido. He died in 1606. See Spooner, Bin//, /list, (f the Fine A rts, s. v,
Vergara, Nicolas de {the Elder), a Spanish paint- er and scul|)tor, was born at Toledo about 1510. His works are to be found chiefly in the Cathedral of Tole- do, where he directed the painting and sculpture from
1542, for a period of thirty-two years. He also exe- cuted a part of the paintings on glass in the same edi- fice, which were continued and completed by his sons, Nicolas and Juan. He died in 1574. See Spooner, Bio<j. Hist, of the Fine Arts, s. v.
Verge (Lat. virga) is a stafof wood or metal, sur- mounted with a figure, emblem, or device, borne before a bishop, dean, rector, or vicar, in entering or leaving church, and on other public occasions. Several speci- mens of verges of the period of the Restoration, made of precious metals, exist in some of the churches of Loudon. The term is also used for a rod or staff car- ried as an emblem of authority; also a stick or wand with which peojjle are adiuitted tenants, by holding it in the hand and swearing fealty to the owner. — Lee, Glossary of Liturg. Terms, s. v.
Verger (jnagifer, hastinarius') is an officer of the Church of England and C(nitinental churches, who car- ries the verge (q. v.) before the bishop, dean, or other dignitary. On the Continent they are sometimes fan- tastically dressed.
Verger (or Vergier), de Haurene. See Du-
VEKGER.
Vergerius, Peter Paul (the Younger'), an Italian jurist, priest, and Reformer, ranks as one of the most noteworthy personages produced by the 16th century. He was born of noble parents in 1498, at Capo d'Istria, and was educated for the law at Padua. After gradua- tion and the subsequent practice of his profession in dif- ferent Italian cities, he went to Rome, and was appoint- ed, under pope Clement VII, papal nuncio to Germany, for the purpose of preventing the convoking of a nation- al council. A similar mission was intrusted to liim by Paul HI. in connection with which he had interviews with Luther and the elector John Frederick. His ser- vices were rewarded with the dignit}- of titulary bishop of Madrusiimi, in Croatia, and afterwards, in 1536, with the bishopric of his native town. Tiie curious feature is mentioned in this connection that Vergerius spent ten years in Capo d'Istria before he obtained consecration to the priesthood and the episcopacy; and no light is thrown upon his occupations or the mode of administer- ing his diocese during that period. In 1540 he visited Worms and took part in the colloquy there held, deliv- ering, during its progress (Jan. 1, 1541), a pacific address in the interests of a general, and against the holding of a national, coimcil, which was censured at Rome as be- ing too conciliatory. He at once returned home, and entered on the study of the writings of the Lutherans, in order that by refuting them he might demonstrate the soundness of his own orthodoxy; but he was him- self converted by their arguments, and his brother Gio- vanni Battista, bishop of Pola, came to share his views. Both prelates now began to labor zealously for Christ, instructing the people publicly and in private, and urg- ing them to lead godly lives. In Capo d'Istria, partic- ularly, reforms in the monastic institution were energet- ically prosecuted; superstitions like the invoking of the aid of St. Rochus against pestilence, and of St. Anthony against erysipelas, were condennicd ; and traditional be- liefs like the legends of St. (Jeorge and St. Christopher were declared to be mythical. The consequence was that an investigation of the diocese was undertaken by a papal commission in 1545, and that the brothers Ver- gerius were cite<l before the legate Delia Casa, patriarch of Afpiileia. They protested and appealed to the Coim- cil of Trent, then just 0|«'ned, and Peter Paul placed himself under the protection of cardinal (ilonzaga of jMantna ; but afterwards visited Trent, where his request to be permitted to speak in bis defence was not allowed. A cominission found him guilty of heresy. Soon after- wards he went to Padua, and visited the unhappy apos- tate Francis Spiera (q. v.) repeatedly, with the result to himself that he was confirmed in his devotion to the Gospel. He handed an apology to the suffragan of Padua, Dec. 13, 1548, in which, while not explicitly con-