malice which never speaks well with the odious name of Piccards upon the account of their correspondence with those famous Christians of the Valtoline but we may truly say of them in reference to their obedience to the Gospel as our Saviour said of such Behold my Mother Sister and Brother Read through and you will say as much This is the lamentation thou enquirest after a Church such a Church so rooted so spread is fallen as to the world but as to God taken up into Paradise and at her transplanting hath let fall as the Prophet his cloak on his Successor some of her fruit of Gospel-order among us O! if thou hast any bowels as the Elect of God pity her ancient seat tremble at the judgements of God which are like to come on that place which could not bear her precious fruit from which Luther and our Author made a Prognostication of her fall page 35. sure Germany must drive heavily deprived of such Chariots and Horsemen If we have any pity to our selves let us lament our loss and fear to miscarry upon the like rock of inveterat opposition to a real reformation Either we are beter or worse if worse as we have just cause to think then what will become of the dry tree if this be done to the green If better or nearer the pattern then we must smart worse if we answer not our greater priviledges For he which knows his Masters will c. O! that the tears and blood of this noble part of Gods vine might cure the leprosie of that part which is yet amongst us that the light which is put out there may shine in our candlestick that a Church dying at home may live here with us nor indeed can any Church dye or be put out the Kingdom of God must needs be above the prevailing assaults of the Kingdoms of this world but is onely removed Mat. 21.43 Rev. 2.5 O! God forbid that that which cost this Church so much care and sweat treasure and blood to set before us may not be onely in testimonium for a witness against us If you ask what that is I answer that 's the Legacy it self viz. a Copy of a real Reformation A copy I say and so no wonder if it answers not to the original adequately and exactly it is rather matter of commendation that it is drawn so near to the life of Religion as it is What this Brethren-Church would have done appears in J. Huss their first Bishops Apologie of which we read in the reverend Authors preface viz. the Law of Christ sufficeth for the Government of the Church without the additaments of humane Ordinances but what generation is that that contracts not some soil in running through the puddle of this world we give them therefore allowance according to Tertullian Unusquisque Patrum ex consuetudine sui seculi contraxit suam labem We consider the malignant influence the Pope hath had even upon them by reason of their nearness of scituation to them and their frequent assaults upon them and wonder not that they were overawed as they have been with the prevailing of custom confirmed and enacted by Constantines zealous affecting and asserting the Episcopal Dignity which yet our Author strenuously invalidates in the latter end of his Exhortation and that Canon of the false Apostles cited Anno. pag. 90. which of what authority it is it being against even those Apochryphal Canon of Greg. and Gratian as also of what validity the Scriptures they bring for that kinde of Episcopacy are I leave to the impartial Reader to judge Not to say that Zepperus speaks somewhat otherwise of the German Episcopacy lib. 2. cap. 10. But be it so that in some Ministrations of their Presbyterian Senate they were something more Episcopal then the rule will bear wherein we assert them not I would our Episcopacy were as much Presbyterian as theirs and our Presbytery as much in exercise as theirs which yet might be were all our Bishops well-affected as they ought to be to that which is our Soveraigns glory and strength in the midst of his Subjects the Royal Proclamation Indemnity and Indulgence We indeed for soundness of Doctrine saving some Papaturient Laudensian Prelates are as they and for gifts perhaps as our Author modestly acknowledges Exhortation pag. 140. beyond them especially since the Episcopal gag hath been by Act of Act of Parliament taken out of the Churches mouth whereby blessed be God we have been for these last twenty years exempted from that fatal disaster which our Author piously inveighs against under the notion of Imperial Papacy and Papal Empire Exhort page 28. but for union and confirmation in the reality of Reformation Personal or Ecclesiastical multa desiderantur which yet we finde did obtain among them and have been happily as covenanted so endeavoured in these Realms our gracious Soveraign also graciously condescending hereunto We have here a Copy not of Grotian Cassandrianism viz. as Erastianism or Congregational Brownism nor yet of Lordly Prelatism our Author condemns this Exhort page 29. wherein he inveighs against the factious or made-Religion of scandalous Forms Liturgies and Ceremonies imposed ib. alibi and against secular Dominion in Prelacy which he saith is one of those things which Solomon saith the earth groans under and cannot long bear pag. 19. and indeed against the root of this plant or number of a man the Divine ax and hand hath been especially of late years stretched out nor can we believe the wound to be cured though we see it skin'd over considering that notwithstanding all the Divine dreadful visitations yet the worm both in its fruit and root doth yet again so revive with it self giving life to nothing but that which is against his Majesties Royal Proclamation Indempnity and Indulgence Surely they cannot have far to go under the load of the guilt of former persecutions and notorious corruptions they having passed through so much fire and yet being not purged but binding all mischief upon themselves by self-invented Altar-worship under which so many souls are fallen and crying out How long Lord how long for with such sacrifices not required the jealous God will not long be well pleased See whether thou findest a copy of such an Episcopacy and Ministration here No you 'll finde our Reverend Author as a faithful Physician prescribing well to mollifie and take down this crusted excrescence of the Church if possibly the Poyson and that which was not in the beginning viz. all self-invented embasing mixtures in the Ordinances Offices Ministrations Institutions of Christ in his Church may be purged out If his operations be painful we must thank our selves an intemperate Patient makes a rugged Physitian and well it is if any way we may be healed and restored to the life of Religion soundness of Doctrine health of Discipline strength of Vnion beauty of Order vigor of the Spirit heat of Zeal in the power of godliness In order to which behold
custom if you would not be offensive to them nor have them so to you Which judgement of Ambrose Augustine saith he always looked on Tanquam coeleste Oraculum As for the state and pomp of that pretended Order which is as the Alder in our Garden I 'll tell you a story There was a Garrison of Souldiers and divers Commanders over them amongst the rest there was one a true Veteran that had been trained up in the School of War under most of the Princes of Christendom This Captain instead of those soft delights other Gentlemen and Commanders wasted their time in spent his inconversing with and training his Souldiers would be upon the Guard when his turn came himself no weather could prevent it his house instead of being furnished with silken beds rare looking-glasses curious pictures was stored with barrels of meal rice pease so placed low that they served instead of chairs and stools his rooms hung with flitches and gammons of Westphaly bacon dried beef fish c. materials with which he kept a constant table and welcomed all his Souldiers in the Sum was always in fight or service and he had these Souldiers close to him they would go through fire and water with him what men soever failed of their duty his never did but were all of a knot and unanimous in their attendance upon him in any service I 'll only apply it thus that would our reverend Fathers of the Church be more upon the guard themselves be employed in the Churches duty and not commit that Solecism in Government which the learned Bacon thinks one of the insolubilia to do their work by deputation of a Chancellor would they instead of keeping distance converse more familiarly with their flocks and step in now and then to a Countrey Minister on a sudden whom it may be they may finde standing sentinel and encourage him in his duty would they instead of giving and forcing on the people Quelchechoses of Forms and Ceremonies give them solid meat and nourishment the pure Word of God in the institutions of Christ suffer that only to be read expunded urged in the Church would they instead of making their houses Lordly Courts to fright poor people and Ministers from coming at them make them Oratories for Prayer and expounding Scripture of Gods institution setting up catechistical and expository Lectures so many days in the week either by themselves or their Chaplains or calling in the assistance of some learned and pious Presbyters would they enquire in their Visitations after prophaneness and censure that more deeply then some have done non-conformity to self-invented will-worship and encourage painful conscientious Ministers more then their Predecessors have done lazy idle drones I durst become their bondman if one or both of thâ—se two things did not follow that all the godly sober religious people in the Land would become their fast friends and strive who should do them most honour or else the Devil and all his Instruments would be as mad against them as they are now again already against the Puritans 3. Once again we see what it is that makes the Church glorious and unanimous viz. living up to the noble principles of Religion in self-denial humility piety in all ranks of people For till the love of the Lord Jesus and the desire of the salvation of souls hath taken more root in the hearts of Pastors and Christians we cannot expect any Settlement Beauty or Order in the Church 'T is not the priding of a mans self in the name of a Son of the Church can advantage Religion no more then the Jews boasting they had Abraham to their Father did promote it among them For our Saviour tells them when that cry was loudest the state of Religion was at the lowest among them No the Church the Spouse of Christ is meek-hearted and lowly full of tenderness and goodness and her children indeed are like her But they which instead of this spirit fall a beating their Brethren or scoffing or envying at them may indeed be in the Church but yet as Cain in Adams and Ishmael in Abrahams family onely the spots and blemishes thereof 4. Yet again I observe the ligaments and soder of these Churches to be their mutual consent in Discipline which we see required not onely of Ministers but of all Christians how necessary this is experience doth demonstrate For the first primitive Church had no other bond nor have the Reformed Churches abroad in many places any other not but that the Patronage of Princes and Magistrates is a great Strength and Bulwark to Religion and that people are bound to bless God exceedingly when he raiseth up such Nursing Fathers for the Church to be over it in the Lord. Yet we see that meer Politique bands do snap asunder and make way for schism and division especially when the Prudential superior Order of the Clergie do ride and the inferior grind for then they are apt to take the first opportunity to unyoke themselves But if a superiority among Ministers in the Church on a prudential account be thought necessary for Humanum institutum episcopatus non damnamus sed tantum negamus a Christo esse Imperatum as we say with Junius let it be set up by the mutual consent and choice of the rest or the Body of the Ministry and their obedience will be more constant in the Lord and more fixed then by any subscription of oaths of Canonical obedience whatsoever In a word let the poyson and what was not from the beginning be taken out of the Ordinances and offices of Christ in the Church and the power of godliness in good earnest endeavoured and this Church which is otherwise giving up the ghost will yet through the blessing of God recover and do well and we shall have great cause to bless God for this true Protestant Bishop Comenius his pious Endeavours in laying this Book at his Majesties feet as an expedient for an Accommodation not with the Romish but the Reformed Churches Which that it may effect is the earnest prayer of him how is Thy Servant in the Work of the Lord JOSHVA TYMARCHVS Books printed for and sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-side Folio's THe History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place also a relation of the bloody Massacre 1655 and a Narrative of all Transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morland A Commentary upon the holy Writings of Job David and Solomon viz. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs Being part of those which by the ancients were called Hagiographa Wherein the diverse Translations and Expositions of all the most famous Commentators are propounded examined and censured By John Mayor D.D. To the Church of England Hitherto tossed with divers tempests
Bohemians always getting the better 34. Besides at home also the affairs of the Bohemians were in great confusion For some abetted Caesar and the Pope others maintained the Sacrament cause of the Cup So that both were incensed unto onslaughts on each other with horrible outrage the Papist especially raging against the greatest Zealots against the Superstitious as it is recorded in the History of the Persecutions of the Bohemian Church Chap. 10. where many instances of Martyrdom are recited 35. So that the Bohemians falling into Schisms among themselves the greater part of them which was the worst helped on the Persecution of the true faithful Christians They had been indeed all zealous in opposing Antichrist after the example of Mr. Huss but now by reason of his death they being destitute of some eminent prudent valiant Person to bâ— their Captain which might keep the hurring rout in some good order they fell a pieces one against another and stirred up cruel dissention among themselves for the meaner sort both of the Laity and Clergy onely letting out their strength for the Cup-communion whence they were called Calixtini were securely negligent of the other points of Mr. Luther But the Taborites among whom Wencenslaus Coranda and Nicholaus Episcopius far excelled the rest with a few others attempted to keep up simplicity and purity in all the Articles and Ceremonies The one part cryed we must not separate from the Church in all Rites the other we will not endure any Superstitious Altars 36. Some persons also stept in under an hypocritical disguise which to promote the Kings and the Popes cause widened the breaches and traducing the Abettors of more pure Doctrine with the odious name of Piccardi stirred up the common peoples abhorrence of them Now the Waldenses were called Piccardi who in former time being banished out of France seated themselves in Austria and had been there branded with the name of the foulest Hereticks Nay some also there were that so powerfully wrought upon Zisca the Captain of the Taborites that he came over and adhered to the Calixtini and Persecuted the said Piccardi with fire and sword even as much as the very Pontificians did Thus tumultuously were all things in all places carried 27. So that truly it had been no wonder if the Pontifical Faction had utterly rooted out this people they being at such variance among themselves But wonderful was the goodness of God which so wisely over-ruled Humane folly that neither foes nor friends got any thing of which they could boast themselves For as often as the King came near the self-divided Bohemians with his Army so often did they renewing peace among themselves make good the common cause with common strength Zisca and Procopius both as one Captain of the Taborites having the chief conduct of affairs and God granting them wonderful successes and victories 38. Now therefore the King and Pope seeing they could make no work of it by force of Arms betook themselves to fraud and calling yet another Council to Basil in the year 1432. there very fairly cog the Bohemians into a friendly Treaty about these differences and for their publique security they would give them any satisfaction whatever they would desire The Legates then being sent to the Council among whom of Divines the chief were John Rokyzanus Bishop of Prague and Nicholaus Episcopius Bishop of the Taborites of the Statesmen Procopius Holy Duke of the Taborites Wilhelmus Kostka Baron of Postupira c. They were courteously entertained and their Questions or Positions being demanded they offered four Articles which they desired might be granted them or they were ready to make them good The Articles were thus formed 1. That the use of the Cup ought to be restored to the people and all the holy things to be celebrated in their Mother Tongue 2. That the Clergy must have no secular Government 3. That the Word of God must be freely taught 4. That publique offences must be publiquely reproved The Popes Legate demanding Whether they had any more for he was told that they held that the Orders of the Monks was from the Devil Procopius answered Why whence can it be which is instituted neither by Patriarchs nor Prophets nor by Christ nor his Apostles c. 39. Then appointed they some on both sides to hold the Disputation concerning the Questions given and the Dispute lasted full fifty days Now when they could not confute the Bohemians they came to a friendly Composition and all things were so carried Rokyzan being charmed and he inchanting others with the hope of an Archbishoprick that the said Articles were yielded to the Bohemians onely that they should promise to return to their obedience to the Roman See and to observe the Ceremonies thereof This Transaction they called Compactata i. e. Articles of Agreement or Covenants and so the Legates were dispatched from the Council and the King into Bohemia to acquaint them That the Bohemians were received into the bosom of the Church and esteemed as dear Sons thereof They call a Convention of Estates wherein Rokyzan sets before them in much state of words how that according to their own hearts desire they had now obtained those things for which they had so much wasted the Kingdoms treasure telling them that now they had better thoughts of the King and Pope then sometime afore when they called them the Apocalyptical Whore and Beast 40. It grieved most of them especially the Zelots of Tabor that they should thus swerve from Husses steps and return into the Tents of Antichrist again So that they opposed the agreement what they could and it came to blows again But herein the Taborites were worsted and fain to yield being so grosly beaten out that they could not rally to make any further head or attempt So that they had nothing left to defend themselves withal save onely the Sword of the Word and the Shield of Patience This was done in the year 1434. 41. In year 1435. Rokyzan was solemnly in the Convention of Estates chosen Archbishop but he taking it impatiently that his Consecration with the solemn Rites was put off by the King and he deluded began again together with his Faction to busle against the injustice of the King and State and domineering power of the Pope But fearing the King he withdrew himself from â—rague for three years For a little after this time Sigismund dyed and Albert his Successor also within two years space leaving behinde him his Son Ladislaus who had been brought up with Frederick the Emperour 42. Now here in the interregnum and much more when Ladislaus being deceased George Podebrand whom Rokyzan had fully at his lure succeeded began that prophecy very much to be fulfilled Manassâ—h shall devour Ephraim and Ephraim Manassâ—h and both shall be against Judah For the Pope with Interdicts Censures Execrations raved against George and the Calixtins they banding back again upon the Pope and the Monks even as good as they brought
drawing about some bush-wood From this their dwelling in such lurking places they were afterward in a scoff called Jamnici or Cavers 58. Moreover these Brethren made a certain order among themselves that the Seniors should be chosen by votes and have the ordering of affairs allotted to them and the rest promise to be ordered by them then with the advice and counsel of these the chief of them which were of the dispersion through Bohemia and Moravia being called they held Synods in those mountains and made certain decrees viz. How they should carry it among themselves how towards others friends and foes also Kings and Magistrates and the like often setting apart times of praying and fasting among themselves with the dispersed and consulting out of the word of God about those things which were needful for a reformation of life and Doctrine 59. Their cheif care was for Pastors of souls where they should procure them when they which they now had were deceased that to expect till some of the Roman Ordination should out of love to the truth come over to them was a matter of uncertain hope And they remembred that Rokyzan did often affirm professedly that all things must be reformed to the very foundations that therefore Ordination was to be set on foot at home by that power which Christ hath given to his Church That while they had some ordained among them they should ordain others and they again others still to succeed them and their desires inclined much this way as also their judgements But there was one thing which did strike their hearts with some fear whether that Ordination would be legitimate enough if a Presbyter ordain a Presbyter without a Bishop and how they should be able to defend such ordination if it should be called in question either amongst others or their own 60. At length after many perplexing thoughts for some years together it was agreed in the year 1467. that the eminentest men out of Bohemia and Moravia of about fifty years old should with many tears and prayers poured out to God resolve to make evidence of the will of God by lot that he would be so pleased to declare whether that which was propounded were acceptable to him and seasonable at that time Then they by votes chose from among them nine men which they judged fit before the rest to take the office of the Ministry upon them and they put into the hand of a child called into the Assembly not knowing what was doing twelve hidden lots or schedules and bid him distribute to these nine nine of them were blancks EST It is he being written upon three only whereupon it might have so faln out that all the nine might have had blancks and this was to be the discovery of the negative will of God but so it came to pass that those three that were written on did alight into the hands of three among them viz. Matthias Kunwaldius a most pious person Thomas Prelaucius a very learned person Elias Krenovius eminent for singular diligence and industry 61. They imbracing these with joy as given to them by a Divine hand began to consult about their confirmation even by a new way of Ordination and they knowing that there was some Waldenses in the Borders of Moravia and Austria that they might consult for satisfaction of the scruples of the consciences of others as well as their own both for the present and future they send unto them Michal Zamberg with two others to acquaint them with what they had done and ask their judgement concerning it They light upon Stephen their Bishop then getting another Bishop and some of the Ministers to be present with him declare unto them their original the Articles of their Doctrine and what horrid things they had undergon in Italy and France They also hearing approving and joying them upon the relation they made of their separation from the Pope and the Calixtines Yea moreover creating them three Bishops by imposition of their hands they conferred on them power to ordain Ministers and sent them away 62. Our Brethren were glad to understand these thlngs and being desirous of Christian Unity they deliberate whether they might not fall in to make one people and one Church with the Waldenses They were very much taken with the purity of their Doctrine and their endeavour of a Christian conversation but it displeased them that they concealed the truth and did not profess it freely but studying to evade persecutions frequented the Churches of the Papists and communicated in their Idolatrous worship It was resolved that they would admonish them of this and some other things therefore sending again fit persoâ—â— they acquaint the Waldenses with these things They testified their good liking of their purpose to come into unity with them giving them to understand that as to the faults they charged upon them they were neither ignorant of them nor did they excuse them but confessed they were departed from the ancient purity of their Fathers and would bethink them of amending They agreed on both parts that upon a certain time they would give one another a meeting to take further order about the business but before that time came the Papists this being divulged began to rage against the good Waldenses Stephen their Superintendent at Vienna suffers burning the rest the most of them getting over to Marchia and from thence were scatterd to Moravia and especially Fulneca 63. And from this transaction of the Brethren of Bohemia with the Waldenses it arose that afterward they were also honoured with the name of Waldenses But they would never own it complaining often publickly in their writings That it was given to them through a mistake And herein they alledge for the cause both Truth and necessity Truth because they took not their Doctrine from them nor were they the Authors that founded that Unity nor yet were they reformed by them but they themselves desired to be reformed of their mischievous errors by them Again it was of Necessity because they thought it prudence not to derive upon themselves but rather to decline the Decrees made published by the Magistrates against the Waldenses yet withal that they received from the Waldenses power of Ordination and thereby external Succession they would never deny although for the present time it was their wisdom to pass over even this in silence 64. But it pleased God that the Brethren in Bohemia should be Fellow-sufferers with the Waldenses in the Austrian Persecution For George the King solemnly calling the Estates into a Convention in the year 1468. enacted a bloody Statute against them That every one of the Nobles in their respective Territories of his Principality or Jurisdiction should do his endeavour to apprehend whom soever they could of the Piccardi and severely punish them upon occasion according to their pleasure By this severity to compel the separation Hereupon there were sore Persecutions until the decease of George on March 22.
people as the Waldenses in the world or no. Others exceedingly wondred what should come into the heads of the Scythians all Polonia Russia Moravia Sarmatia to own scarce any other but the Waldenses Confession Fearing no doubt lest they should with their inventions infect and defile the pure and holy Doctrine which they had lately embraced for this cause which indeed is very weighty I thought it incumbent upon me that the Waldensian Confession which at this time was hardly to be found or gotten might be printed and published and I doubt not but all that savour pure Doctrine even at first taste as they say will highly commend not onely their Confession but the Polonians themselves and all others whoever they be that have any where received it into their Church and so be obliged to pray to our heavenly Father that of his infinite goodness he would please to maintain encrease and speed more and more every day the Reformation of the Churches so happily begun amongst them Hereupon I thought good besides the Testimony of Martin Luthâ—r a most reverend and holy man which aprroved and extolled the Church-way of the Waldenses to subjoyn also the deserved attestation of many other persons of very great Learning Piety and Authority especially of Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer Wolfgang Masculus which seem to me to be yet more taken with this same Confession then Luther Howbeit he in very plain and serious words as I said extols it too Now indeed though I know how considerable a person I am yet I warn the Churches in Christ newly replanted these last forty years that they be not taken up with this onely that they have prevailed so far as to root out Popish Superstitions and other Abominations from them but that they would also be diligent and sollicitous to take care for the keeping of Peace and Purity and the genuine Doctrine of the Divinity of the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ and not onely so neither but yet further for the introducing of the Discipline and a mortified life as may comport with such Doctrine Hitherto Vegerius 95. Moreover sending the Brethren in Prussia this their Confession he writes thus among other things The Princes in Germany wonder what took me in the head to joyn my self to the Piccards but when they hear me they will supersede their admiring And a little after I hope I have taken such a course that many in a great part of Europe will understand what the Waldensian Confession is and also be in love with it which thing is altogether to be ascribed to God 96. Four years after March 19. 1561. he wrote to the Brethren again in these words As the Spirit of God hath overpowered me to break off from that Adulterate Church of Antichrist that 't is now more then ten years by the grace of God I separated from it So it now still excites me to seek that Church which seems to me the best wherein to lay my bones when I shall return my spirit into the hands of my Heavenly Father I am therefore bound hereunto if it be Gods will not onely upon my own account but also to set a good example for others How mean soever I am I have made my self a president in flying out of the Papacy and indeed I abhor the Doctrine thereof with my whole heart Now I desâ—â—e to make attestation That I do not condemn the Doctrine of the Churches wherein I am but I rather cleave to those Churches wherein Discipline is most strictly observed I say I cannot but approve of the other Churches but I would have withal the other part of the Gospel i. e. Discipline too I profess therefore that I must needs prefer your Churches before all other And least any shâ—uld think me to have been but lately of this judgement I call God to witness I have ever been thus affected towards these Churches since my first taste of the Gospel yea and there be many that bear me witness that I have asserted them to my utmost I might adde there be two actions of mine which shew me as being of this minde The one is that I allayed the fury of the most Sereno King of the Bohemians Maximilian when he was possessed with bitter prejudice against them c. In a word if your Churches please to receive me I will heartily incorporate my self to them and dye with them c. and inasmuch as I have voluntarily renounced outward advantages I seek them not amongst you The hand of the Lord hath touched me sore my affections endeavors and thoughts now run another way 97. â—nd writing in particular to John Rokitam he addes I desire nothing more of my Heavenly Father then that he would transplant me into the bosom of your Church For in brief I prefer it before all other and would freely give publike testimony of this my judgement thereof before them all I doubt not but my Noble Lord James Earl of Ostrorog will communicate to you some writings about the Council of Trent I apprehend the Spirit of God sets it much upon my spirit to go to that Council and truly if they shall give me such security for my passage as I demand I shall not be able to refrain but I must go There is danger indeed lest they should serve me as they did John Huss and Jerome of Prague But I cannot bestow my life better then if I lay it out in martyrdom I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I pray do my salutations to our Brothers George and Peter and all the rest of the Ministers of the Word of God I beseech you with my whole heart pray for me Our Heavenly Father encrease the Celestial riches of his Spirit and of Faith in the hearts of all his people through Jesus Christ our Lord Thus far Vigerius But it was not given to this excellent man to compass either of his desires viz. either to be transplanted into the Church of Polonia nor to be crowned with Martyrdom he being a little after by a fair natural death translated unto the Heavenly Mansions 98. The Churches of Polonia the less in the interim as it were still tossed up and down could come to no establishment of Order both a good part of the Nobility and they which were privily proselited from Italy following Arrianism in their judgements and declining the yoke of Discipline Concerning which John a Lasco a Baron of Polonia which two years before laying down Episcopal Dignity in his own Countrey out of love to the truth travelled into other Countreys and having performed the Pastoral office of a Pastor in the Outlandish Churches which sojourned at London Embda Franckfort near by Maine returned being sent for into his Countrey Anno 1566. in his Letter to John Nigran Antistes of the Brethren in Bohemia and his Colleagues Anno 1558. writes thus We have yet nothing here among us in any settled Posture c. but it is plainly