religious minds with a feare of the Skye falling about our ears and nature breathing out her last gaspe yet we flâ—ttered our selves in to a vaine beliefe that the Muses were eternall and though all other things fade like flowers yet that the Arts were immortall untill this great Atlas of learning with whom sacred studies seemed to totter if not lye on the ground taught us by his death the vanity of that our hope Whose happy passe agreeable to his godly life God forbid that any should deplore with Heathenish rikes lamentable Elegies since our ferventest zeale can now wish him no other addition to his happinesse then that of Virginius Rufus to have another Tacitus to make his Funerall Panegyricke As for me when I behold this solemn and sad Assembly not usually accustomed to such dejected lookes me thinkes I see those teares that fell from the royall eyes of great King Xerxes dropping at the view of his puissant Army which makes me deeply â—igh because in this deplored mirrour blubbered with teares I finde the reflection even of your mortality For which of you now can hope that either learning wisdome or vertue can prolong his life since the churlish Sisters refused to spare this mighty Hercules of the Orthodox Faith this great Champion of Christian Religion though they were solicâ—ted by the teares of our Mother the University and importuned by the prayers of our sorrowing Church Verily if the inâ—stimable treasures of thy minde and indefeizible riches of thy soule could have contributed any thing to the strength and vigour of the body thou shouldest still have lived worthy Reynolds not so much according to thine owne desire who wishedst for heaven as houres who wished longer for thee and so lived 1000. that thou shouldst never have dyed waxed old or drooped But to the great losse of Man-kinde and prejudice of Learning it fals out far otherwise even that in those who more enrich their minde with the treasures of wisdome and knowledge the soule sooner growes weary of her earthly habitation and aspireth to heavenâ— and their body also by reason their spirits are wholly spent in that noble yet laborious worke of study more speedily faileth and decayeth Which was the true cause that thou Reynolds after so many conquests and triumphs over the enemieâ— of our Faith yet the strength of thy body being impayred in the end didst yeeld to nature and breathedst out thy victorious soule and leftest nothing to us but sighes for our sad losse But what could not thy singular piety nor thy vertue nor thy sanctity nor thy so much admired learning preserve thee Or didst thou resolve to live no longer because there was nothing left which thy studies had not already attained unto Was not Ficinus worthy thy perusing who discourseth so learnedly not onely of the preservation of health but also of the prerogation of our life to eternity upon earth Well long enough peradvâ—nture thou hast lived for thy particulâ—r ends long enough to be so truely honoured that 't was not possible that ever thou shouldest out-live thy fame Yet not long enough for the Common-wealth which misseth in thee a perfect sampler of all vertues Not long enough for the University which hath lost in thee the light of a glorious taper of learning nor yet long enough for the good state our pure Religion which tossed in the swelling billowes of a troubled Sea is ready almost to suffer shipwracke for want of thee her skilfull Pylot Truth it is none can denie it that like a second Cocles but yet more couragious thou didst rout the troâ—pâ— of thy stoutâ—st enemies Truth that even wheÌ„ the enemy had cut off the bridge on which thou stoodst thou leaping downe to thiâ—â— eternall honour didst preserve the colourâ— and as â—ast didst beate the adversaries to a shamefull retreat But the leâ—guer is not yet broken up for though thou hast unmaâ—ked the Idolatry of the Church of Rome and exposed it to the detestation of God and man yea and thy sword was evâ—n at the throat of that Antichristian monster and through the sides of Iohn Heart thou struckst Popery it selfe to the very heart yet Sanders remained untouched save that he hath felt the revenging hand of God upon him and dyed miserably being starved on the Irish mountains Bellarmines forces are not quite discomfited or all Baronius his impostures sufficiently discovered to speake nothing of those monsterous heads of heresies which like Hydras continually grow up in the Church one under another In the midst of such troubles how couldest thou finde leasure to dye since the harvest is so great and the labourers so few so few indeed or none like thee since Superstition like to our Virginian Sea swels continually with newer billowes This oh this was the sad complaint of our lamenting Church fetch'd from the deepest sense of bitternesse and sorrow as if she her selfe had been ready to expire with thiâ— our Reynolds But what Timanthes hath the skill to pourtray the sadder if yet a sadder can be immagined and more dejected countenance of our Mother the University Here flow the teares so free That drowne our Niobe Alasse she thinkes still on nothing but Reynolds sees nothing but Reynolds and in the strength of her disturbed fancy heares talks with catches at Reynolds And truely though in this flourishing age our mother be blessed with such a great and numerous issue that she hath more reason to rejoyce that shee s become so fruitfull then bewaile so much her present losse and she might now if ever take up the language of the mother of â—rasidus my son was a good Souldier indeed and valiant but Sparta hath many left that are like him yet I cannot chuse but excuse her tears of piety and my selfe justly lament with her when I consider that she hath lost her Reynolds who let none repine at it did so much out-shine the rest of her sons in the clearest lustre of the best perfections both in languages Arts and Sciences that he seemed to flye above the pitch of humane wit and industry as if he had been borne of purpose to discover the height of the Muses utmost abilities Sirs I detract from no man in giving Reynolds his due I know that neither these grave Fathers assembled who here at home doe honour our Oxford with their authority letters and piety nor those our right reverend religious and learned Prelateâ— abroad who sitting at the helme of the Church are become admired Patterns to the whole Christian world of wisdome sanctity and learning will ever envy his 〈◊〉 encomiums If any man shall thinke lesse of Reynolds then of those great lights either of Church or University because he shined not so gloriously either at home or abroad in lustre of eminent fortunes and outward preferments let him remember the testimony which the great Bishop S t. Austine gave of Saint Ierome Though a Priest be inferiour to a Bishop yet Hierome the Priest
they pleased they affirming that it contained words of blasphemy and he averring that a line or two excepted there was nothing in it but the sayings of the auncient Doctors confirming his assertions hardly could he have leave to utter a few words and that not without oft interruption and with telling on their fingers-ends how many words he had spoken Aâ— length they excomunicated him with the greater excomunication and haveing passed sentance of condemnation against him turned him over to the Secular power On the fifteenth day of the same moneth he was by Brookes Bishop of Glocester assisted by some other degraded at which time he requested the said Bishop to second his petition to the Queene that such Tenants as he had made Leases to while he was possessed of the Bishoprick of London his Sister among the rest might quietly enjoy the sam this he promised to do acknowledging it to be agreeable to equity and right but it seemes it could not be obtained for that cruell bloud-sucker whose Mother and Sister he had so kindly delt with thrust his Sister and her Husband against all Law and conscience out of the keeping of a Park which he had conferred upon them nor is it likely that the rest fared much better then they did The day following he suffred together with Master Latimer who much strengthned him as by conference before so at the Stake then The evening before he suffered he washed his Beard and his Feete and bad those at boord that supped with him to his wedding the next day demanded of his brother Master Shipside whether he thought his sister his wife could find in her heart to be there and he answering that he durst say she would with all her heart he professed to be thereof very glad At suppertime he was very cheerfull and merry desiring those there present that wept of w ch number M rs Irish his Hostesse tho a blind and eager Papist was one to quiet themselves affirming that tho his breakefast was like to be somwhat sharp and painfull yet his supper he was sure should be pleasant and sweet His brother offred to watch all night with him But he refused it telling him that he intended to go to bead hoping to sleepe as quietly that night as ever he did in his life So on the next day being the sixteenth of October this meeke Sheepe of Christ and yet a stout Bel-weather of his flock faithfull and constant to his blessed shepheard and soveraign owner unto death yea unto paines and torments worse then death was together with his copartner both in defence of the Faith and of afflictions for the defence of it brought out to the place of their Martyrdome in a Ditch or low parcell of ground lying on the North side of the City behind Baliol Colledge where Doctor Smith who had before in King Edwards time recanted instead of a Sermon made a bitter invective against them which they offred to answer but when they could not bâ— permitted to speâ—k they committed their cause to God commended their souls into his hands and with much readinesse and resolution yeelded their bodies to the mercilesse flames and such cruel torments therein as other their breathâ—rn and fellow-witnesses of Christ had bâ—fore thâ—m undeâ—gonâ— wherein this our worthy and valianâ— spirituall Champion through the iâ—discretâ—on oâ— those that composed â—he pile and managed the fewell about him hindring there where they thought to helpe and lengthening his torments by those meanes whereby they hoped to have shortened them endured a long time in grievous paines to the heart griefe of the behoulders burning in a manner by piece-meale till at lengâ—h having passed this fiery triall his soule was as in a flaming Chariot with Elias carried up into the highest Heaven Some works of his though not many remaine 1 A Protestation or Determination delivered in the Schooles at a Disputation in King Edwards dayes 2 His Disputations at Oxford in Qâ—eene Maries time 3 An assertion of the true faith concerning the Lords Supper against Transubstantiation translated after into Latine and Printed aâ— Geneva 4 A Treatise concerning the right forme of Administration of the Lords Supper 5 A Treatise against setting up and adoring of Imagis 6 A Conference betweene him and Master Latimer in Prison 7 A large Farewell to his faithfull friends together with a sharp Admonition to obstinate Papists 8 An other Farewell to the imprisoned and exiled for the Gospel 9 A Treatise conâ—aimning a Lamentation for the change of Religion and a comparison of the Romish doctrine with that of the Gospell 10 Divers pious Letters written to divers persons Read in the progresse of this blessed story Romes cursed â—ruelty and Ridlyes glory Romes Sâ—râ—ns song but Ridlyes carelesse eare Was deaf They â—hâ—rmd â—â—t Ridly would not hearâ— Rome sâ—â—g preferment but brave Ridleys tongue Condemn'd that fâ—lse Preferment which Rome â—ung Rome whisâ—red wealthâ— but Ridly whose great gaine Was godlinesse he wâ—v'd it with disdayâ—e Rome threatned Durance but great Ridleys mind Was too too strong for threats or Chaines to binde Româ— thundred death bâ—t Ridlyes dauntlâ—sse eye Star'd in deaths face and scornd death â—tanding by In spite of Rome for Englandâ— Faith he â—tood And in the flames he seald it with his Blood PETRVS MARTYR The Life and Death of Peter Martyr THe yeere from Christs birth 1500. â—s for many matters of much moment very remarkable Among others for the Jubilee that Pope Alexander the sixt whose hâ—â—lish life and dismall end the stories of those times relate held that yeere at Rome and the terrible tempest that ensued the same wherein the Angell that stood on the top of the Popâ— Church was overthrown and the Popâ— owne Chamber by the fall of a â—unnell so â—eaten downe upon him that diverse of those were slain that attended then upon him and he himselfe so buried in the rubish that he was hardly got out alive The same yeere amidâ—â—hiâ— height of Popish imposture together with these direfull presages of its downefall was born to Philip King of Spain his son Charles after Emperor the first of that name under whom the Gospell though much against his will gained good footing in Germany And the same yeer also came into this world that famous Scholler and Divine Peter Martyr Vermily one that much furthered the advancement thereof as well in those parts as else-where He came of that ancient and worshipfull family of Vermily born at Florence in Italie Stephen Vermily his father and Mary Fumantine his Mother His name was given him by his Parents from one Peter of Milaine a Martyr reported to have been slain sometime by the Arrian faction whose Church stood neere unto their house This Peter Martyr being the onely son of his Parents that attained to any yeeres was by them carefully trained up in good literature from a child his mother her selfe a prety scholler reading Terence to him in Latin After which domestick discipline
dead but it could not be granted least it might raise a scandall on him amongst the Papists He was buried in the common Church-yard without any extraordinary pompe and without any Grave-stone laid over him for which cause Beza wrote these Funerall Verses Romae â—uentis terroâ— ille maximus Quem mortuum lugent boni horrescunt mali Ipsa a quo potuit virtutem discere virtus Cur adeo exiguo ignotoque in cespite clausus Calvinus lateat rogas Calvinum assidue comitata modestia vivum Hoc tumulo manibus condidit ipsa suis. O te beatum cespitem tanto hospite O cui invidere cuncta possunt marmorae How happens it that this is Calvins share To lye under this little unknowne pareâ— Is not this he who living did appeare Decaying Romes continued dread and feare Whose death the godly doth with sorrow fill And at whose name the wicked tremble still Whose life was knowne to be so holy cleare That vertue might have learn'd a lesson here 'T is true but know that humble modesty Which in his life did him accompany That hath ordained this green and turfie cover On his deceased Corpes to be laid over But since thou coverest such an one as hee How can the Marbles all but envy thee A little before his death he delivered an excellent Oration unto the Senate unto which was also added a serious exhortation unto all the Pastors of Geneva His Workes which he hath set forth for the generall good of the Church which are sufficient declarations of his worth are these which follow Commentaries upon the old Testament 1. Vpon Genesis 2. An Harmony upon the four bookes of Moses 3. Vpon Iosuah 4. Vpon the Psalmes Lectures 1. Vpon Ieremiah 2. Vpon the twenty one of Ezekiell 3. Vpon Daniel 4. Vpon the lesser Prophets Upon the new Testament 1. His Harmony on the Evangelists 2. His Coment on the Acts. 3. On all Pauls Epistles 4. On the Hebrews 5. On Peter Iames Iohn Iude. His Sermons 1. Vupon Deuteronomy 2. Vpon the Decalogue 3. Vpon Iob. 4. Vpon 119. Psalme 5. Vpon the Canticles 6. Upon 38. Chapters of Isaiah 7. Vpon the eight last Chapters of Daniel 8. Vpon the Nativity Passion Death Resurrection Ascention of Christ. 9. Vpon Gods Election and Providince 10. Vpon the first of Kings 11. Vpon Iosuah Other Works 1. His institutions 2. Vpon the Eucarist 3. Vpon the victory of Iesus 4. Genevaes Catechisme 5. Of Reforming Churches 6. Of Scandals 7. Of Free-will 8. Against Anabaptists 9. Libertines 10. Sorbonists 11. Against Iudiciall Astrology 12. Of Predestination 13. Of a true Communicant 14. Part of Seneca enlightened with a Commentary 15. His answer unto Sadolets Epistle Had we but such Reformers in our dayes As Calvin was we should have cause to praise Their bless endeavours but alas our Times Are daily acting not Reforming Crimes Heroick Calvins heart was alwayes true To truth and still would give the Church her due His soul was truely willing to take paines More for the publicke good then private gaines His life was fil'd with troubles yet his mind Even like the glistring Glow-worme alwayes shin'd Brightest when most surrounded with the night Of sad afflicâ—ions Calvins whole delight Was in the law of God from which his heart Being steelâ—d with truth could not be mov'd to start The Life and Death of William Farellus who dyed Anno Christi 1565. WIilliam Farellus was born in the Delphinate of a Noble family Anno Christi 1589. and senâ— to Paris to be brought up in learning and was one of the first that madâ— a Publick Profession of the Gospell in France but wâ—en persecution arose he fled into Helvetia where he grew inâ—o â—amiliarity with Zuinglius â—ecâ—lampâ—diusâ— and Hallâ—rus Anno Christi 1524. he went to Basil where he profâ—rred a publick Disputation with the Popish Divines of that place but the Masters of the University would not suffer it till the Senate interposing their autohrity and then Farellus set up his Theses publickly which he also maintained by desputation but the Bishop and his Associates drove him from Basil from thence he went to Mont-pelier and to some other places where he Preached the Gospell with so much fervor and zeal that all might see that he was called of God thereunto He coming to Metin Preached in the Chuch-yâ—rd belonging to the Dominicans who by ringing their beâ—lâ— thought to have drowned his voice but having a strong voyce he did so thunder it out that he went on audably to the end of his Sermon Anno Christi 1528. he with Virete went to Geneva where they planted the Church and propagated the Gospell and where by his earnest obtâ—station Calvin was forced to make his aboad Anno christi 1553. the Genevians though they owed themselves to him yet were carried on with such fury that they would have condemned Farell to death And afterwards they did such things against him that Calvin wished that he might have expiated their anger with his blood And from thence he went to Neocome where he discharged his Pastorall office with singular diligence and zeal When he heard of Calvins sicknesse he could not satisfie himselfe though he was seventy years of age but he must goe to Geneva to visit him He survived Calvin one yeare and odd Moneth and dyed age 76. years anno christi 1565. He was very godly learned innocent in life exceeding modest stout and sharp of wit and of such a strong voyce that he seemed to thunder in his speech and so fervent in Prayer that he carried his Hearers into heaven with him Renowned Farell liv'd a life Not spotted with the staines of strife He lov'd the thoughts the name of Peace His vertues had a large encrease Earth was his scorn and Heav'n his pride In Peace he liv'd in Peace he dy'd The Life and Deoth of Vergerius who dyed Anno Christi 1565. PEter Paul Vergerius excellently learned both in the Law and Popish Divinity he was sent by Pope Clement the seventh as his Legate into Germany to improve his uttermost abilities to hinder a Nationall Councill where accordingly he bestirred himselfe to hinder and endamage the Lutherans and to encourage the Popish Divines in opposing of them Anno Christi 1534. Paul the third sent for him to Rome to give him an account of the state affairs in Germany after which he sent him back into Germany to promise the Princes a Generall Councill to be held at Mantua but withall to perscribe such rules about coming to it as he knew the Protestant Divines would not accept of he had in charge also to stir up the Princes mindes against the King of England and to profer his Kingdome to whosoever would conquer it and to try if by any meanes he could take off Luther and Melancthon from prosecuting what they had begun Anno Christi 1535. he was called home againe by the Pope and when he had given him an account of his Legation he was sent presently