of Scripture a clear judgment and strength of reason as well in the accurate stating of questions for debate as in confirming the truth and dissolving objections against it in all a great measure of Zeal Piety and Prudence All which procured him much reverence and esteem from the rest of his Brethren who judged his presence and assistance a very great help and advantage in that difficult work and bewailed his death as an unspeakable losse His judgment was known to be for the Presbyterian Government the principles whereof he did throughly understand and was well able to defend and was a very great Instrument for the promoting of it Yet in two things he was at first much unsatisfied but by the debates of the Assembly did professe himself to receive satisfaction in both One was concerning the Divine-Right of Ruling Elders wherein he afterwards professed himself to be fully convinced principally by the Authority of those two places 1 Cor. 12.28 where Government is attributed to a distinct rank of Officers inferiour to Teachers and 1 Tim. 5.17 which implyeth that there are other Elders which rule well beside those that labour in the Word and Doctrine The other was whether there ought not to be continued in the Church an Office superiour to that of Presbyters For although he did not approve of the Hierarchical Government as it was of late established and practised amongst us yet since it is confessed that Timothy and Titus as Evangelists did exercise an authority superiour to that of ordinary Presbyters the object of which authority seemed to be of perpetual continuance in the Church it seemed probable to him that the Office also of an Evangelist was no extraordinary Office but ought to be continued in the Church But hereunto he received satisfaction principally from hence that in case the Holy Ghost had intended the continuance of that Office he would withall have described the work and qualification of persons fit for it and taken some course for continuing the succession thereof as is done in that of Elders and Deacons But this being wholly omitted there being no more extant in that kind then concerning the Apostolical Office the power of working miracles c. We are rather to esteem that Office as well as these to be extraordinary and but of a temporary continuance expiring with the persons Being thus called to attend the Assembly at Westminster he was forced to intermit his ordinary residence at Ashwel being able only to exercise such a care of them as might be performed at a distance and by making occasionall journeys thither as he could obtain opportunities so to do But the ordinary exercise of the ministerial work there together with the profits of the place he put over to a godly and able Divine to be performed in his absence reserving notwithstanding his title to the place not knowing how soon God might afford him opportunity of returning to them again But unwilling to intermit the exercise of his ministerial function he did at first preach occasionally as he was requested in divers Churches in and about London resolving notwithstanding within himself to accept of the first invitation for the constant exercise thereof And accordingly being soon after requested by the Inhabitants of Dukes-place in London who were then destitute of a Minister to preach amongst them he did notwithstanding their inability to raise any considerable maintenance which might invite him willingly accept of that employment This work he performed amongst them with much faithfulnesse and diligence as well by publique reading praying and preaching amongst them twice every Lords day and at other times as there was occasion as also by administring the Sacraments publique catechizing and exposition of such portions of Scripture as were read amongst them And likewise as his custom had been elsewhere by more private acquaintance and converse with them in their Families whereby he might be the better able to afford personall directions and other Ministeriall helps to them as their severall conditions might require All which was performed with so much Meeknesse Wisdom and Piety and accompanied with such a blessing from God as that it made a very great impression on them for their good and was entertained by them with much approbation and affection they being ambitious who should enjoy most of his heavenly Communion and Converse with him Hereby in a short time he did much good informing such as were weak in knowledge setling and confirming such as were wavering in judgement and stirring up in all both by his heavenly conversation and Christian counsell a greater zeal and affection to the power of Godlinesse By reason of all which during the time of his abode amongst them they were much preserved both from errours and divisions whereunto the great unsetlednesse of the times did much expose them Afterwards when the new Church at Westminster was perfected and made fit for use the Inhabitants there and others concerned therein did sollicite him to undergo the charge of that great people with profer of far larger maintenance then he received or could expect from those of Dukes-place where the inhabitants were neither many nor of great estates But this consideration did not at all prevail with him who regarded the work more then the wages For although he doubted not but that both Religion and Reason did require a comfortable and honourable Maintenance for those that laboured in the work of the Ministry yet for his own part he was willing to deny himself in that particular if so doing might ought advance the service of God And so much the rather because being a Batchelour and intending so to continue nor at all addicted to pompous vanities or excesse either in diet or apparell in both of which he was exceedingly moderate he had the lesse need of being sollicitous in getting riches being indeed much more sollicitous how like a faithfull Steward to dispose and order what he had as might be most for Gods honour and service then how to encrease it Yet his removall being much pressed upon grounds of another nature he did at length with the approbation of those concerned on both parts refer the whole businesse to be considered and concluded by divers of the most eminent of his Reverend and godly Brethren of the Assemby whom he did frequently desire that they would wholly lay aside the consideration of maintenance and deliver their judgements what in other considerations they judged to be most agreeable to Gods will and his duty Hereupon they to whom the matter was referred meeting severall times about it and hearing at large what could on either side be alledged either for his stay or removall after mature deliberation had and seeking of Gods direction agreed in this opinion That setting aside the consideration of maintenance yet in regard of the eminency of the place the greatnesse of the Auditory the many persons of quality residing there and the great
both in the same Ship and ere it was out of ken two of the Guard were upon the shore to have apprehended Doctor Sands but God gave them a good passage so that they arrived safely at Antwerp and were invited to dinner to Master Locks house and as they were at dinner Master George Gilpin Secretary to the English house came to them and whispering to Doctor Sands said King Philip hath sent to make search for you and to apprehend you hereupon he immediately rose from dinner and though it rained very fast yet he went out at the gate that leads towards Cleveland where meeting with a Wagon he hasted away and came safely to Ausburg in Cleveland where he tarried fourteen daies and then travelled to Strasbourgh where after he had continued one year his Wife came to him There he fell sick of a great Flux which held him nine moneths and brought him to deaths door He had a child also that fell sick of the Plague and died His godly and vertuous Wife also fell sick of a Consumption and died in his armes Whil'st he remained there he was chiefly maintained by one Master Isaac an English Gentleman of Kent and one that suffered exile for the same cause of Christ he so entirely loved him that he was alwaies more ready to give then Doctor Sands was ready to receive so that he gave him above a hundred marks which Doctor Sands afterwards thankfully repayed again After the death of his Wife he travelled to Zurick in Switzerland and there sojourned in the house of Peter Martyr for five weeks space at the end whereof as they sate at dinner news was brought them of Queen Maries death and Doctor Sands by his friends was sent for back to Strasbourgh This news occasioned joy to all but Doctor Sands who was stricken to the heart to think that he was called back to new sorrows Master Bullinger and the other Ministers feasted him before his departure from Zurick and so he returned back to Strasbourgh where he preached and so in the company of Master Grindall he came for England arriving at London upon the Coronation-day of Queen Elizabeth By her for his singular piety and learning he was advanced to the Bishoprick of Worcester An. Christi 1559. and afterwards he was removed to the Bishoprick of London An. Christi 1570. And lastly he succeeded Doctor Grindall in the Archbishoprick of York Anno Christi 1576. In all which places he governed the Church with singular prudence and modesty and having finished his course on earth he went to receive his Crown in Heaven August the eighth Anno Christi 1588. being about the age of sixty and lies buried in the Collegiate Church of Southwell in Nottingham-shire He was a man of whom it is hard to say whether he were more famous for his admirable vertues or great learning as his Sermons yet extant in print do manifest He left many children of which three were Knights excellently qualified both in mind and body especially Sir Edwin Sands who deserved so well of his Countrey The Life of Master Richard Greenham who died about the year 1591. I Can yet learn nothing concerning the Countrey Parentage or first Education of Mr. Richard Greenham The first place where I find him was in Pembrook-Hall in Cambridge where he followed his Studies so hard and was so eminent for his proficiency in learning that he was chosen Fellow in that Society and after a while he was called to a Pastoral charge at Dry-Drayton not far from Cambridge and like a faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ he spared no paines amongst his people whereby he might advance the good of their souls His constant course was to preach twice on the Lords day and before the evening Sermon to Catechize the young people of the Parish His manner also was to preach on Mundayes Tuesdayes and Wednesdayes and on Thursdayes to catechize the youth and again on Fridayes to preach to his people and that on these week dayes the people might have the better opportunity to attend upon his Ministry his course was to be in the Pulpit in the morning so soon as he could well see He was so earnest and took such extraordinary pains in his preaching that his shirt would usually be as wet with sweating as if it had been drenched in water so that he was forced so soon as he came out of the Pulpit to shift himself and this wonderfull and excessive paines he took all his time Twice a day he prayed in his Family and after Sermon he used to call his servants together and examined them of what they heard and what they remembred And besides all these his publike labours he studied very hard rising every day both Winter and Summer at four of the clock in the morning He was very eminent for his charity to the poor whereof we have this notable Example In a time of scarcity when Barley was at ten groats the Bushell which in those daies was an extraordinary price he by his prudence brought it to passe that the poor had it sold to them for four groats the Bushell of every Husbandman in the Town and thus he effected it There were about twenty Plough-holders in the Town all which he by his holy perswasions drew to an agreement amongst themselves to hire a common granary and therein to lay up Corn for the poor some more some lesse every man accordingly to his ability so that some laid up one Coom some a quarter some three Cooms and Master Greenham himself laid in five Cooms all which was delivered out to the poor at a groat a peck There was one day in the week appointed for all the poor to come and be served at which time every one received according to their charge where there were but two in a Family they received one peck a week and so more according to that proportion only no Family had above three pecks a week He kept but two Beasts himself that the poor might have his straw and when other men sold their straw for two Shillings the dayes thresh he sold his for ten pence So that in that dear time all the poor in the Parish had been well neer famished had it not been for his prudence and liberality which he also continued till the price of Corn abated which was suddainly and extraordinarily for that Corn which was sold for a noble the Bushell was within one moneth after sold for fourteen pence the Bushell But during the fore-mentioned dearth by publike Order the Bushels were cut and made lesse This Master Greenham preached much against and publikely reproved wheresoever he came and withall gave his man a charge that if the Clerk of the Market sent for his Bushell to cut it he should not carry it in which was done accordingly for which he came into some trouble but the Lord delievered him out of the same Also at
unto others There was one Master Chaplin a woollen Draper in Warwick who made a Profession of Religion but many times brake out into scandalous practices Master Cartwright on a time walking with him in his Garden dealt plainly and faithfully with him rebuking him for his miscarriages and shewing him the dishonour that he brought to God and the Gospel thereby This so wrought upon Chaplin that he presently sunk down and being carried home died within a few hours after In his old age he was much troubled with the stone and gout which much empaired his strength yet would he not intermit his labours but continued preaching when many times he could scarce creep up into the Pulpit The Sabbath before his death which was the last Sermon that he made December the 25. he preached upon Eccles. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth and the spirit shall return to God who gave it The morning before his death which was the Tuesday following he was two hours on his knees in private Prayer In which as he told his Wife he found wonderfull and unutterable joy and comfort God giving him a glimpse of heaven before he came to it and within a few houres after he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God December the 27. Anno Christi 1603. And of his age sixty eight Master Dod preached his Funeral Sermon During his abode in the University he was of great power and credit in the Regent-house so that the Doctors feared lest the Precisians as they were then called should choose him Vice-Chancellour whereupon they procured the alteration of the Statute whereby the choice was formerly in the Regent-house and confined the Election of the Vice-Chancellour to one of those two whom the Heads should prick After long discontinuance Master Cartwright coming to Cambridge was importuned to preach on a week day in Saint Maries where there was a great confluence of all sorts to hear him grave men ran like boys in the streets to get places in the Church After Sermon he dined at Master Chaddertons and many went to the house to see and hear him speak The Life of Master Paul Baines who died Anno Christi 1617. PAul Baines was born in London and had his Education in his younger years at Withersfield in Essex under one Master Cosens his Schoolmaster from whence being fitted for it he was sent to the University of Cambridge and admitted into Christs Colledge where his conversation at first was so irregular that his Father being grieved at it before his death being intimately acquainted with one Master Wilson a Sailes-man in Birchin-lane he left with him forty pounds by the year desiring him that if his Sonne did forsake his evil courses and become an honest man he would then give him that fourty pounds per annum if not that he would never let him have it But it pleased God not long after his Fathers decease to shew him his sinnes and to work effectual repentance in him for the evil of his waies so that forsaking his former evil company and practices he became eminent for Piety and Holinesse and according to that of our Saviour Much being forgiven him he loved much After which gracious change wrought in him by the goodnesse of God it was not long before Master Wilson fell dangerously sick and hearing how God had dealt with his Master Baines he sent for him and desired him to pray with him by which as also by his savoury discourse finding that what he had heard of him rather came short of the truth then exceeded it according to that trust reposed in him perceiving himself to be upon his death-bed he told Master Baines of the fourty pounds per annum which his Father left with him and so faithfully delivered up to him those writings of the agreement which had passed betwixt his Father and him and being like to leave behind him a Wife and two Children he intreated Master Baines that as he had faithfully and carefully discharged his trust towards him so when God should take him away hence that he would have a care of his Wife and Children and be a Friend to them And Master Baines after Master Wilsons death that he might fully discharge that trust which was reposed in him and also by way of gratitude for that friendship and fidelity which he had found in Master Wilson married his widow But before this for his eminency in learning he was chosen Fellow in Christs Colledge where he so much through Gods blessing on his studies and endeavours improved his time and talents that he became inferiour to none for sharpnesse of wit variety of Reading depth of judgment aptnesse to teach holy and pleasant language wise carriage heavenly conversation and all other fulnesse of grace By his holy life and coversation also he did largely preach to all such as came neer unto him and for the heavenly frame of his spirit what it was his incomparable Writings will sufficiently demonstrate to all future generations When Master Perkins who was Lecturer at Saint Andrews in Cambridge had there for many years held forth a burning and shining light the sparkes whereof did flie abroad into all the corners of the Kingdom and after he had served in his generation was taken up into Heaven there was none found so meet to receive as it were the Torch out of his hand and succeed him in that great Office of bearing it before such a people as Master Baines upon whom also the spirit of that Elias was by experience found to be doubled In which station he so demeaned himself for some years that impiety only had cause to complain But all that favoured the wayes of God or savoured of Religion rejoyced and gloried in him and his Ministry as in a spiritual and heavenly treasure But at length the hour of darknesse came from Lambeth when Arch-bishop Bancroft sent Master Harsnet to visit in that Diocesse which was but a trick to suppresse those which were not friends to the Bishops Kingdom At which time though there were multitudes of unable and notoriously scandalous Ministers yet none were found worthy of censure but only Master Baines of whom indeed the world was not worthy and one other godly Minister like unto him It 's yet hard to say whether the silencing of this good man were more odious or the manner of it more shamelesse which was thus Their custome was for fashion sake at their visitations to have a Sermon and Master Baines was chosen out by the Visitor to preach it at this time not out of love and respect to him but from a designe either to ensnare him in his words if he did not apply himself to their humour or else to grace their ungracious courses if he did But it succeeded not handsomly either way for Master Baines delivered holy and wholesome Doctrine appertaining to the present audience in such a
affairs but gave peremptory order that his beloved Mariamne should be put to death for this only reason because another should not enjoy so great a beauty So the Duke would not another should enjoy the great abilities of Doctor Preston but was resolved to break him if he could yet in a civil Court way But the Doctor was too knowing not to see this afar off Prov. 22.3 Quae alii levia faciunt diu patiendo ea sapiens diù cogitando and had accordingly provided a succession of reserves wherein to hide himself The first and surest was his conscience 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world If a man be wellcome into his conscience he need not fear the stormes and blusters that he meets abroad In te recedas cum cogeris in turba esse When a man is forced to be where he would not as Peter was foretold he should be Joh. 21.18 yet he may in despite of them retire into himself Paul made it his businesse to have his conscience alwaies void of offence Act. 24.16 and so did Dr. Preston for though his actings being many of them above the common size were not alwaies understood and very often mis-interpreted yet he was innocent and upright alwaies in them An undeniable argument whereof was that he never sued for the least preferment as we have said but studied and often consulted how without breaking he might avoid them And though he lived like himself and gave relief to others yet it was ever of his own as very many yet alive can witness And indeed he was a man of very much Communion and sweet Society with God prayed much in private and by himself besides as Tutor with his Pupils and after as Master in his Family Whatever weakness he was in or business did occur kept many private daies of Fasting by himself especially before the Sacraments and Sabbath-daies and accordingly enjoyed a constant clearnesse and assurance of his Justification and interest in the blood of Christ even then when frailties and infirmities did most of all afflict and wound him He never that I know was troubled or perplexed about Adoption though very often about the imperfection of his graces and the unconstancy of Sanctification so as he studied most exactly that Treatise of the Saints Infirmities and there is nothing in all his works that may more properly be called his His next retreat was Lincolns-Inne for now he said the Duke was Chancellour and would endeavour to ingratiate himself and be a Benefactor and had bought Erpenius Manuscripts and did verily intend to found a Library and so it would be easie and in his power to out him of the Colledge and University For there was a resolution in some of the Fellows to petition the Duke without him and to annul the Statute of continuance or Commoration in the Colledge yet he conceived the Lawyers would pretend a kind of freedom and exemption For he saw when that holy blessed Dr. Sibbs was outed both of Fellowship and Lecture in the University yet by the goodnesse and prudence of Sir Henry Yelverton that constant Patron unto godly Ministers a vertue yet running in the veins of his posterity he was received and retained at Grayes-Inne unto his death therefore he would in no sort leave his title unto and interest in Lincolns-Inne but reserved it in his power unto his dying day But he knew Kings had long hands and that the Dukes were nothing shorter and that Lincolns-Inne though a great deal stronger and better built then Grayes-Inne yet would not hold out long in case the Duke should seriously beleagure it therefore he pondered of removing farther off if need were And having weighed all retreats resolved upon Basil in the Switzers Countrey as a place which the longest handed Kings had seldome touched even when it was a receptacle of their greatest enemies and therefore he resolved in case he could not be free in England to settle there and spend the residue of his surviving dayes in writing what he was not suffered to preach or had not published according to his mind He was naturally very affable and courteous unto strangers of any Countrey and by conversing much with them endeavoured to preserve his knowledge in the French and Italian languages But after he had thus resolved upon Basil he was very friendly to all he Germans that were dispersed from several Universities especially from the Palatinate for whom he procured several sorts of entertainments both in the Countrey abroad and in the University for which as he had very many Gratulatory Epistles from particular persons so one of note from the King of Bohemia under his Hand and Seal But he knew that these were but the Foxes earths that might successively be taken and possessed He therefore also thought upon that unum magnum of the Cat or rather of the Holy Ghost Prov. 18.10 the Name of the Lord that is the goodnesse mercy power of the mighty God where he was well assured he should for ever be free enough from Kings and Dukes Yet these did no way retard his industry in using means Obstructions quicked industrious and active minds but damp and clog the dull There is a Statesman of no mean esteem that writes professedly against the use of Cittadels and Forts because it makes the Souldier lesse resolved in engagements And the Spartans were forbidden to wall their City because it would incourage Cowardise But it did not take off Dr. Preston from his duty For finding that his standing at Court was untermined he resolved upon Buttresses to underprop him in the Countrey There was in the Countrey of Northampton a Gentleman of very able parts and clear affections to the publick good no stranger to the Court in former times nor to the Duke of Buckingham with whom the Doctor used to communicate affairs and who was then a Parliament man of much esteem to him the Doctor in a Letter discovers all shews him the hopelesse posture of the Duke how much they both were disappointed in him layes some directions what to do and urgeth activenesse This Letter by a sad misfortune was let fall by him that was intrusted to convey it about Temple-bar and handed from one to one untill it came to Sir Henry Spillers who having viewed and pondered the contents concluded it was a purchase that would ingratiate him unto the Duke and so immediately presents it to him The Duke was troubled to read his faults and face so shrewdly intimated and presaged His temper was exceeding good and he could mannage his affections many times with much serenity and moderation but now he was quite off and could not think of any thing but a revenge I have not known any thing so trouble and afflict the Doctor as this did that the Duke should have his hand against
Exercises at Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire and Repton in Derbyshire which were the meanes of great good to the souls of many both Ministers and private Chaistians in the parts adjacent He was the main upholder of these two Exercises for many years In January 1608. by the favour of William Barlow then Bishop of Lincolne he was allowed to preach again at Ashby aforesaid where he began his Lectures on John 4.10 January 31. and continued that Lecture weekly on Tuesday till Novemb. 12. 1611. These Lectures being one hundred and eight he published in his life time 1628. having them all written by himself before he preached them which course he took when he began those Lectures and continued it to his dying day blaming himself much that he began it no sooner and by that neglect both himself and others were deprived in a great part of the benefit of his former labours Novemb. 1611. he was silenced by Richard Neales meanes then Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield who complaining to the King of him the King commanded the Arch-Bishop to write to the Bishop of Lincolne to send for Master Hildersam and to silence him which was accordingly presently done The occasion of Bishop Neales complaint to King James was this One Edward Wightman a damnable Heretick afterward burnt at Lichfield for Blasphemy and Heresie dwelling in Burton upon Trent aforesaid and coming sometimes to the Exercise there the Bishop and his Friends gave out that Wightman learned his Opinions at least that of the souls sleeping of the Puritans and at the aforesaid Exercises and of Master Hildersam by name Bishop Neal informing King James of this the King commanded him when he went into the Countrey to send for Master Hildersam and to hear what he could answer Wightman in this matter The Bishop accordingly sent for Master Hildersam but would not hear his defence till Wightman came Wightman being called to his second publique hearing Novemb. 26r 1611. in the hearing of more then five hundred people charged the Bishop with sundry wrongs he had done him naming this for one That he had given it out that he had learned his Opinions from Master Hildersam whereas I professe said he he never taught nor confirmed me in any of them but was of all men ever most opposite unto me in them and caused mine own Friends to reject me for them Master Hildersam had long before in a private conference in the presence of Master Aberly the Minister of Burton who had intreated him to take some pains to reclaim Wightman shewed him that his Opinion of the souls sleeping was directly repugnant to the holy Scriptures and an Heresie long since condemned in the Church The places of Scripture he urged against him were these Luk. 16.22 23. 24.43 Phil. 1.23 Soon after he received a Letter from Wightman March 10. 1608. and perceiving by that and the report of others that he grew more and more obstinate in his errours and laboured to draw others unto it Master Hildersam took occasion in the next Exercise held at Burton viz. upon March 15. 1608. publiquely and at large to confute his errour the text that fell out that day to be handled leading him directly unto it viz. Heb. 9.27 Above a moneth after the said exercise viz. April 21. 1609. Wightman sent him another letter wherein he revileth him for the said speech at the said Exercise and took upon him after his manner to answer it Yet after this viz. November 27. 1611. before the Bishop he impudently avouched to Master Hildersams face that at the conference forenamed he should say that the whole drift of the Scripture indeed did make for the Opinion of the souls sleeping but that the Church had otherwise judged of the matter Master Hildersam did protest that he never spake or thought so and offered by Oath or any other means that should be required to avow that he ever held this his Opinion to be directly contrary to the Scriptures and a most detestable Heresie Master Aberly also who was present at the conference was ready to depose that Master Hildersam spake no such thing at that time but the direct contrary So that not only the rest that were there were fully satisfied but the Bishop himself also openly professed that he was assuredly perswaded that Wightman had greatly wronged him in this that he had said of him Thus was Master Hildersams innocency cleared in a publique audience during the time of Wightmans trial at Lichfield yet he remained under the censure of silencing which was procured to be inflicted on him upon this occasion and the two forenamed Exercises were put down Concerning which all the chief Gentlemen of worth in those parts certified unto the Arch-bishop Bancroft a little before his death that the profit which that Country which above most other places of the Land besides was known to stand in great need of such means of instruction received by them was exceeding great Master Hildersam continued silenced a long time yet could not live peaceably from men though he lived quietly with men For December 8. 1612. Letter missive were sent out of the High-Commission Court requiring his appearance there accordingly he appeared April 22. 1613. at which time he was judicially admonished and injoyned that saving the catechizing of his own Family only he should not at any time hereafter preach catechize or use any part of the office or function of a Minister either publiquely or privately untill he should be lawfully restored and released of his said suspension In the Spring 1614. he fell into a violent Feaver which held him long the malignancy of which struck up into the roof of his mouth and the gristle of his nose which endangered him much but by the blessing of God upon the care and skill of Physicians and Chyrurgeons he was recovered In Easter term 1615. by Letters missive he appeared in the High-Commission Court again which committed him to the Fleet for refusal of the Oath ex officio where he continued a Prisoner divers weeks at length he was removed by Habeas Corpus unto the Kings Bench where he continued a great while In both places he endured imprisonment three moneths Then he was delivered out of prison upon bond to appear the first Court day Term. Mich. 1615. but by dangerous sicknesse whereof affidavit was made in Court he was hindered from appearing at that time September 4 5 6. 1616. The Commissioners Doctor Lamb Master Owen Master Middleton and others sate at Ashby to examine witnesses to prove the Articles exhibited against Master Hildersam and his neighbours Master Dighton and Master Holt where the deponents were many of them professed adversaries specially Master Hacket then Vicar of Ashby who was the principal accuser and informer of the Court against them and so his testimony ought not in Law to have been received against them It might well have been discerned by
instruct the ignorant to satisfie the doubtfull to settle the wavering to comfort the dejected and to encourage all sorts in the exercises of Religion He was much in the house of Mistresse Katherine Redich of Newhall in Derbyshire widdow to Alexander Redich of Redich in Lancashire Esquire his bosome Friend his antient acquaintance and constant dear Friend to his death who survived him not above eight daies the grief for his death hastening as it was supposed her end In her house at Hamstead near London August 21. 1624. he fell sick of a violent Feaver which put him into such danger that the Physicians doubted of his Recovery he over-hearing some intimation of it when he thought none were in the room the Curtains being drawn about his bed he was over-heard by one in the room to speak audibly those words of Psal. 118.17 I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. At that time there was as little hope of his preaching as of his recovery But God in great mercy soon after restored him both to health and liberty The next year viz. June 20. 1625. he was licensed by Doctor Ridley then Vicar-general to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury to preach in the Diocesse of London Lincoln and Coventry and Lichfield under the Seal of that office By vertue of which License he began to preach August 3. 1625. in Ashby Church aforesaid those eight Sermons on Psal. 35.13 concerning Fasting Prayer and Humiliation for sinne which were published since his death viz. 1632. according to his own Copy left under his hand by his Son Master Samuel Hildersam September 28. 1625. he began his one hundred and fifty two Lectures on Psal. 51. published in the like nature 1635. After the last forementioned licensing he was silenced again March 25. 1630. by notice given him from the Court at Leicester of the Kings instructions for every Lecturer to read service in Surplice and Hood and he began to preach again Aug. 2. 1631. and so continued till December 27. 1631. which was the last Sermon that he preached Soon after he fell sick of his last sickness and discerning it to increase he sent for his forenamed Sonne dwelling at West-Felton in Shropshire fourty nine miles from Ashby He with his Wife came to him withall convenient speed January 13. and stayed with him till his death Their company and attendance at that time as alwaies formerly was very contenting and comfortable And of his Daughter-in-law who was by himself propounded as a meet Wife for his dearest Son and in whom he ever took much delight he was heard with affection to ingeminate these words Never man had a kinder Daughter-in-law His disease though not discerned to be so at the first proved the Scorbute the which being a dull and melancholick distemper indisposed him to speak much yet as he shewed wonderfull patience through his whole sicknesse so he used many holy and heavenly expressions to those that attended him or came to visit him who he being so much beloved and honoured in the Countrey were not a few He suggested unto some dear Friends his fears that Wolves would ere long come in amongst them and thereupon earnestly exhorted them to continue stedfast in the truth which they had received And occasion being given to mention those words 1 Tim. 3.5 How shall he take care of the Church of God looking to his Son he said Oh Son Son that care of the Flock is the main thing The most godly people in those parts his constant hearers who had been either converted to Christ or edified and confirmed in grace by his Ministry being very sensible of the great losse which not themselves only but the whole Church of God also would sustain by his death that they might not seem negligent in the use of any means within their reach to prolong his life and their own comfort did resolve amongst themselves to set apart a day that they might solemnly in publique seek the Lord by fasting and Prayer in his behalf wherein they had the hearty help of Master Simeon Ashe both in the morning and afternoon by Sermons and Supplications who did more owe himself unto Master Hildersam then to any other man having been first placed in the University under the tuition of famous Master Thomas Hooker fellow of Emanuel Colledge and afterwards directed and encouraged in his Ministry by his great care and love March 4. being the Lords day he grew very weak and was prayed for in the Congregation in Ashby Church both at the morning and evening exercise His Sonne prayed with him divers times that day and whilest he was praying the last time he departed and slept in the Lord between nine and ten of the clock that night viz. March 4. 1631. Thus he who had diligently heretofore kept the holy rest of the Sabbath did in the close of the Sabbath rest from his labours and having glorified God often both in publique and private on that day before was at last on that day received into glory Master Herring his dear and familiar friend being then at Coventry was sent for the next day and came and preached the Lecture in Ashby Church on Tuesday March 6. in the morning Master Hhildersam having taken order in his Will that there should be no Funeral-Sermon at his Burial and then spake like himself holily discreetly learnedly and affectionately concerning the losse that that Congregation the Countrey and whole Church had sustained by the death of him that was lately dead In the afternoon of that day his body was born by neighbour-Ministers to the grave accompanied by a great multitude both of Ministers and others who expressed much sorrow and lamentation He lived in Ashby aforesaid for the most part yet being often forced to remove his dwelling of fourty three years and six moneths with great successe in his Ministry love and reverence of all sorts He was very charitable to the poor himself and in exciting of his auditors to contribute towards their relief In few Countrey-Congregations in England the Collections for the poor were so large as they were at the Quarter-daies at his Lectures The losse of poor Ashby by his death was exceeding great for he was the Peace-maker amongst neighbours and the Patron of the poor wickednesse was checked and godlinesse cherished by his great care and wisdome He was a Friend to every one in a good cause and it was his unwearied delight to be Christianly seviceable in any kind He lived to a great age considering that his pains in preaching did ordinarily weaken him so much sixty eight years and five moneths yet this happinesse God vouchsafed to him which was more then ordinary that he out-lived not his parts but as his graces increased towards his end so his abilities of invention judgement memory elocution decayed not in his age He left a precious memory behind him had Letters of commendation written in the
latter-end Arminianisme began to sprout up apace in the University and he being fearfull that an Arminian might come to succeed him in his place after his death resolved if he could procure a godly and worthy man to resign his place to him in his life time which accordingly he did to famous Dr. Preston whom he yet survived and saw after him Dr. Sancroft and after him Dr. Holsworth to succeed in his Mastership He was of a very charitable disposition insomuch as if he heard of any godly Minister that was in want he would send them fourty or fifty shillings at a time Though he lived till he was very old yet his sight remained very good as may appear by this example A little before his death an old Servant of his came to see him and found him reading on a Book so that at the first he took no notice of her but when she came nearer lifting up his head he spake to her asking her what a clock it was She told him eleven I have said he here got a Book that I have been reading of ever since eight a clock for I like it very well and yet all that time he had read without Spectacles He lived eighteen years after the Resignation of his Mastership and in November Anno Christi 1640. resigned up his spirit unto God being about the age of ninety four years and was buried in S. Andrews Church Dr. Richard Holsworth the then Master of Emanuel preached his Funerall Sermon and gave him a large and deserved Commendation The Life of Master John Ball who died October 20. 1640. IOhn Ball was born about the year 1585. at Casssington an obscure village a mile from Hanborough in Oxfordshire he being set to School at Yarnton was found so apt to learn that the Schoolmaster prevailed with his Parents though of low estate to continue him Scholar there till he was fitted for the University Gods Providence by means of friends made way for his placing in Brazen-nose Colledge in Oxford where he improved very much in the knowledge of the Arts and he proved a quick disputant When he was Batchelour of Arts wanting meanes for his maintenance to continue longer in the University he accepted a motion made for his removal into the Countrey and was placed in the Lady Cholmleys house in Cheshire as Tutor to her Children where many other Children also were taught by him And though he came raw and ungrounded in Religion as himself was wont to expresse it from Oxford yet within a short time there appeared with the increase of his scholastical abilities the breakings forth of the power of Godlinesse in his conversation unto them who were most religious and judicious there who thereupon took him into their society for mutual edification in the waies of Gods fear Whereas there was great scarcity of godly painful Preachers in that corner of the Countrey in those times he did much frequent the Ministry of Reverend Master John Foord whereby he was not a little edified He had few Books and therefore perused the more seriously such as he had under-hand Calvins life published by Beza and his Commentary upon the Psalms made deep impressions upon his spirit Growing into acquaintance with the most godly people in those parts who much lamented the evils of the times he often associated with them in keeping private daies of Fasting and Prayer Himself with some other honest Christians were often convented to Chester and much troubled there for keeping a Fast on Ascension day their fault being aggravated by the Bishop and his Officers because they fasted upon that holy day As he took not up any opinion or practice till he had well weighed it So was he not much moved by any trouble which assaulted him in his way When others judged him ripe for the Ministry he was not hasty in adventuring upon that Calling because he was sensible of the weight thereof and also desirous to satisfie his conscience concerning the way of entrance by Episcopal subscription And upon the serious studying of the points in controversie betwixt the Bishops and Non-conformists he was dissatisfied to yield unto that subscription which was then strictly commanded Some conflicts he had with the then Bishop of Chester about Non-conformity but though he looked upon a Bishop in those times as a formidable creature yet he came off unshaken Having resolved upon the encouragement given by judicious Divines to enter into the Ministry when God should make a fair way for his admission without subscription by the intercession of Friends he with Master Julines Herring who afterwards was famous for the work of the Lord in Salop were made Ministers by an Irish Bishop being occasionally in London with freedom from the formentioned snare About the year 1610. he was called to be Minister at Whitmore a small village near unto New-Castle in Staffordshire where he was entertained into the house of Edward Mainwaring Esquire a pious and much esteemed Gentleman Here he married a godly Wife whom God had provided as an help meet for him he himself being alwaies a meer Scholar neither much minding nor intermedling in worldly affairs beyond the bounds of his Calling by whom he had six Sonnes and one Daughter Six of his Children were born unto him while he continued in Master Mainwarings Family where he found much love and did much service for every evening he expounded a portion of Scripture which was read in course and many mornings also was helpfull in Catechizing of the Family Hither many Ministers and others had often recourse unto him for counsell where they were alwaies friendly entertained and the Lord blessed that Family very much which doth still shew much kindnesse unto the Children of this good man Afterwards he removed with his own Family unto an house which Master Mainwaring had built for him where he had his seventh and last child born to him and where he dwelt till his death He was a great lover of Learning and therefore laid out in the first years of his Ministry all the money which he could spare from necessary expences in buying good Books with which he was so well acquainted having both a quick understanding and strong memory that he could readily give an account of all passages most remarkable in them He had so well studied Bellarmines controversies that it is scarcely credible what relation he could make ex tempore of them from point to point and shew from particular to particular where the fallacy and the weaknesse of his Arguments did appear And the like might be truly attested in reference unto the Arminian disputes and the other Church-Controversies both in former and latter times It was his custom to read over a Book when once he undertook it and no man could be more cautious in entertaining opinions without much mature consideration having well weighed all arguments produced on both sides both for and
The Presbyterians Champion yet he hath raised up other Worthies who do strenuously gain-say those extravagancies When his nature was enfeebled by constant study and great long-continued labours he passed the time of his languishing sicknesse with a sweet humble divine peaceable spirit He preached in publique so long as bodily ability could bear it and he continued to pray in his Family till strength failed Now his addresses to God were most holy and heavenly as Swan-like Songs the sweetest at last Though he spake not very much during his bodily decays yet the words which he used were solid and savoury Being asked what he thought of himself whether he should now die or recover he answered I do not trouble my self about that matter He often bewailed the infirmities of his life and in special now as at former times his inconsiderate entring upon the weighty Calling of the Ministry but he manifested withall an holy child-like confidence in Christ still strengthening his heart after his humble mourning for sinne with this consideration that the Scripture mentioneth weaknesses in the choicest Saints which were neither totall hinderances to the exercise of their faith in Christ nor to their salvation through grace This question being propounded to him what he now thought concerning his labours part whereof were then printed against the present separation in England He answered that though he had been weary of those controversies which hindered his going on in more profitable studies yet he did not repent of that which he had done only he desired God to pardon the defects which had cleaved unto that and his other services When any mention was made before him of his great labours to do good he would say and this was a speech which he much used If the Lord were not a God pardoning sinnes I was in a miserable condition And however he did say with tears that he had too much respect amongst men and that many judged that to be in him which was not such was his humility yet friends expressing ardent desires of his health for service sake he told them that he could have been content to have lived longer if the Lord had been pleased that he might been further usefull in his place and have born his share in sufferings with his Brethren For he expected a very sparp storm though he hoped it would be but short And he called it The last combate which we should have with Antichrist When towards his end he was asked how he did he would thus answer with a cheerfull contenance Going to heaven apace And as his conversation had for many years been in heaven the Lord who had ripened him for immediate Commu-with himself took him unto himself Octob. 20. 1640. and of his age about 55. The materials of this Narrative concerning the pious fruitfull life of that faithfull Servant of Christ Master John Ball were received from these Ministers of the Gospel and men of known integrity viz. Master John Taylor of Checkley in Staffordshire who was his Countrey-man and of his most ancient acquaintance Master Thomas Langley of Middlewich in Cheshire who besides his former intimatenesse continued under his Ministry above five years he being taken off from the exercise of his own Ministry by Episcopal power Master Simeon Ashe of St. Austins London who for the space of many years had been his bosome Friend and from Master George Crosse of Clifton in Staffordshre who daily conversed with him for sundry moneths both before and in the time of his last sicknesse who all of them do acknowledge themselves obliged to God for the spiritual good gained by this their dearly respected and much honoured Friend and Brother who since his death have been very sensible of their great losse by his removall But they and all others must learn to live upon Divine-immutable-All-sufficiency when creatures do fail Now the Just shall live by his Faith The Life of Doctor Potter who died Anno Christi 1642. BArnaby Pottor was born in Westmerland Anno Christi 1578. within the Baronry of Kendal and brought up at School there till he was fitted for the University Thence he was sent to Queens Colledge in Oxford where he was chosen first a Scholar of the House then a Fellow and afterward Provost Whilest he was Fellow he was a very carefull Tutor to many worthy Gentlemens sons whom he trained up in Learning but especially in true Religion He was a very humble and meek man a man of few words a sweet Preacher and a favourer of strict Professors of Religion It was the fashion and custom of the Fellows after dinner to sit or stand a while at the Hall door and discourse usually of divers points of Religion or of good Writers and sometimes of other trivial matters This man on a certain time when he heard them talk of many trivial things said nothing but observed what they said and when they had done talking he thus bespake them Now my Masters will you hear all your extravagant discourses for I have strictly observed and marked what you said and he told them every whit and they admired him for his memory It was his custom first to write one part of his Sermon and to commit it to memory presently and then another so that he could preach with much facility and upon a little warning He was for a while Lecturer at Abington and at Totnesse in Devonshire where he was much respected Then he proceeded Doctor in Divinity and was preferred by Sir Edward Giles to a Pastoral Charge which Knight was a worthy Gentleman in his Countrey and often chosen a Parliament man for Devon Doctor Potter married the Lady Giles her daughter when he was Doctor but of a years standing Not long after Doctor Ayray a worthy Provost of Qeens Colledge died whereupon he was chosen to succeed him in the Provostship with the unanimous consent of the Fellows when he was far from the University and never dreamed of any such preferment He was also Chaplain in ordinary to Prince Charles and accounted at the Court the penetential Preacher When he had been Provost about the space of ten years he resigned his place and went to his Pastoral charge in the Countrey and there resided yet he had not been there long but King Charles his Master cast a favourable aspect upon him and seeing he had not rewarded him for his long and faithfull service he chose him to be Bishop of Carlisle and though many sued for the place yet he said peremptorily that none but Potter should have it and surely his gracious Master honoured not him so much as he did himself and that age in the freedom of his noble and unexpected choice That which Nazianzen said of Basil may be fitly and properly said of this Bishop He was promoted he did not steal or shuffle himself into the chair he did not invade it the honour sought and followed him
When he was Bishop he was a constant Preacher and Performer of Family-duty both evening and morning and kept his Servants and Attendants in good order Being called to London in the beginning of the Parliament he made at Westminster a worthy and zealous Sermon wherein he inveighed against the corruptions that were crept into the Church especially in respect of Ceremonies so eagerly prest by sundry Bishops as bowing to the Altar and such like innovations His Sermon was well approved of by the best but he seeing the tumults that were then raised in London about the Parliament House and hearing that he himself was censured as Popish because a Bishop he took it grievously to heart sickned and died there about the great climactericall year of his age He was a great favourer of zealous Professors and Lecturers and therefore he was accounted by many a Puritanical Bishop and indeed some at the Court in King James his time said That Organs would blow him out of the Church He was well skilled in the Hebrew tongue and for his further Progresse therein disdained not to learn of one of the Fellows even when he was Provost He utterly disliked the Book of sports for Recreation on the Sabbath day and told a Minister with whom he was acquainted that if it were sent down to his Diocesse he would sleight it and urge none of his Jurisdiction to read it He was of a weak constitution of body melancholick and lean as being a hard Student and therefore to recreate his spirits he loved vocal musick and to this end he sent divers times for such Scholars in the Colledge as could sing well and he would bear a part with them in his lodgings after supper where they made most excellent melody He was the last Bishop that died as a Member of the Parliament and was Bishop of Carlisle some fourteen years The Life of Master Richard Sedgwick who died Anno Christi 1643. RIchard Sedgwick was born at East Deereham in the County of Norfolke Anno Cbristi 1574. His Father was a Clothier but by reason of a great losse by fire fell into decay He had an Uncle living in Yorkshire who was very rich and of large yearly revenues having no Children whereupon he took this Richard in his tender years home to himself and put him to School with an intent to make him his heir but God had laid up a better portion for him His Uncle and his Family were prophane hating the power of godlinesse and wedded to games and sports yet even in such a Family God visited him in mercy and awakened his soul by working in him hearty desires after himself While the rest of the Family were at their games and dancings he would be in a corner mourning His Uncle at first thought his retirednesse to have been bookishnesse and therefore rebuked him gently and called upon him to take more liberty but at last perceiving the truth of the thing he began to hate him and to deal roughly with him and not being able to bring him to his will cast him out of his Family saying that a Puritane should never inherit his land Before this his Father died and his Mother being industrious and sparing out of the little means she had left her maintained him at Peter-house in Cambridge where he profited greatly in all kind of learning He began the exercise of his Ministry in Kent where he being called to preach in the Cathedral at Canterbury in his Sermon touching the corruption of the Prebends and their Cathedral service he so far displeased them as that by threats they brought him to condescend through weaknesse to promise to recant and a day for this was appointed Upon his return home and his second thoughts he became very sad and in his perplexity took his Bible and opened it and at the first lighted on that encouraging Word of God to Jeremiah Jer. 1.7 8. Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee saith the Lord. By this he was so strengthened that he resolved to stand to what he had formerly delivered whatsoever dangers did attend him At the time appointed he preached again in the Cathedral having a very large Auditory both of the Countrey and City in which Sermon he confirmed what he had before delivered earnestly pressing the Prebends to reform the abuses amongst them By this they were so offended that they complained of him to the Bishop and so persecuted him that he was forced to forsake his place and to retire himself into private and was entertained for a time by Sir Edward Bois the elder a man eminent for Piety in those daies During this his retirement he came upon occasion to London and by the meanes of Master Egerton Pastor at Black-fryers was received into the Family of Sir Edward Anslow who lived in the City during the winter and in summer at Crawley in Surrey a place destitute of a preaching Ministry In this Family his encouragement was great but his labours aboundant Every day his usuall course was to pray in the morning at six a clock with the Husbandmen and at ten to pray with the rest of the Family and expound a Chapter in which course he went through the four first Books of Moses His course at night was after Prayer to catechize the Family by turns wherein he used no respect of Persons the meanest not being left out and the chiefest not forborn On the Lords day during his abode at Crawley he preached twice constantly and after publique exercise called the whole Family in private to render an account of what was delivered in publique In the winter when the greatest part of the Family was at London under an able Ministry he was ready to help others and by Providence was called to improve his talent at Battersey in Surrey Master Wybourne a Reverend Divine who constantly preached in that place having by a fall broke his legge and being disabled thereby to continue his labours desiring his assistance At this place the people were so affected with his Ministry that they requested him to continue to preach among them promising to strain themselves to provide him maintenance He had a fair call and opportunity denying himself to answer it for Sir Edward Anslow about this time had an estate befallen him in Hertfordshire whither he resolved to go to dwell in which place was an able and godly Minister Master Sedgwick seeing that by continuing in this Family he should not have occasion of exercising his publique Ministry relinquished fifty pounds annuity during his life assured to him by this worthy Knight and accepted of this call to preach at Battersey Before his departure out of this Family he married a Wife of an honest and Religious stock in the City of London He had not long exercised
Herring and Master Nicolls before mentioned who died at this good Ladies house were of chief worth Oh! what pathetical Blessings with Exhortations Encouragements and Prayers did this worthy man of God bestow upon this and the Families of other choice Friends before he took his last farewell of his dear native Countrey This Narrative would swell too big if report should be made of generals only in reference unto them who were naturally nearly related unto himself and his gracious Consort besides such who were very dear unto them both in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Some who beheld the last greetings betwixt him and Reverend Master Ball of Whitmore professe that they stick too deep in their breasts to be forgotten for after they had spent together well nigh one day and one night in conference they did like Jonathan and David frequently fall upon one another with mutual embracings they parted and closed again a third and a fourth time and when Master Herring was on horseback and Master Ball on foot they went together often shaking hands over the hedges and upon the finall salutation they comforted each other with this consideration That though they should never see one another again on earth yet they should meet in heaven And Master Herring was so deeply affected with those passages that he said to some of his company Two or three more such parting 's would hinder my journey beyond Seas and yet adding withall Master Ball hath conquered my passions In his passage out of England he with warm affections and heavenly benedictions took his leave of his own and his Wives Sisters with their Husbands whose dwellings were in divers Countries Those two eminently worthy Reverend Divines Master Oliver Bowles of Sutton in Bedfordshire and Master Barry of Cotsmore in Rutland who had married two of his Wives gracious Sisters as they had Brotherly respect in his bosome so they had special visits in his journey towards Holland He was necessitated secretly to take shipping at Yarmouth whither his Brother-in-law Master Bowles did accompany him because the then Arch-bishop had given order that no Scholar nor Minister should passe without License from the Councel-table Now whereas in his journey he had often prayed that God would yet further clear his call into Holland by two special Providences viz. 1. That he might not be examined whether he was a Minister for he professed that he durst not deny his holy calling 2. That God would strengthen him at Sea and grant him a comfortable voyage He had answers of singular grace returned in both He landed at Rotterdam September 20. 1637. and went aside from company so soon as with conveniency he could to blesse the Lord for his safe arrival and for all other favours vouchsafed unto him who had never before been upon the Sea The next day he went in a Waggon to Amsterdam and was met on the way by his dear Colleague with the Elders and Deacons of the Church and many of the English Merchants who expressed much joy for his safe coming unto them By them he was accompanied to the house of his good Friend Master Whittaker where he continued till his removal unto his own house upon the coming over of his Family into Holland His first Sermon was upon Psal. 24.1 The earth is the Lords c. wherein he much insisted upon this consideration That Gods Children still tread upon their Fathers ground whithersoever his Providence doth remove them and he preached with such satisfaction unto the hearts of his hearers that thereby way was made for his future acceptance and service The week following he was presented first unto the Honourable Lords the Magistrates of Amsterdam who kindly accepted him and gave him a gratuity towards the charges of his journey and afterwards to the Reverend Classis where he was lovingly received into that Society and thanks were given unto God for bringing him safe unto them Whereas it was his custom to pray every night before he went into his bed the night before a fasting day appointed by the States to seek direction in their Counsels and successe upon their Armies now before Breda he spake thus to his Son who attended him My heart is more fit for a thansgiving day and it would be so unto me if God would bring over my dearest Christian for that was his Wives name thy tender Mother with her company Come let us pray for them And the next morning when he was ready to go to the Congregation he heard that his dear Wife was come unto Amsterdam by which Providence his spirit being raised unto holy astonishment and admiration he uttered these words Oh what a God do I serve How exceeding mercifull is my God unto me What his prudent and pious coversation was and what high estimation he had in Amsterdam may be understood by the testimony of Master Rulice written by his own hand March 2. 1650. which is as followeth How acceptable and dear Master Herring my once Reverend Colleague was to us all Church Classis Magistrates yea to all who knew him it is publiquely known How faithfully he employed those excellent gifts which God in a large measure bestowed upon him in publique in private in his Sermons in his Advices in Consistory and Classes c. what need I mention for all well know For his private conversation what sweetnesse and inoffensiveness yea exemplary godlinesse did not he shew upon all occasions His sicknesse was lingering his death like a sleep As in his life so in his sicknesse and to his last breath he shewed that his heart was truly stored with patience faith love to God and his People heavenly-mindednesse zeal to the honour of God and with intire love to his Wife and Children But I must break off I hope that Reverend man who undertakes to publish the life and death of my most dear Brother and Colleague will so set it out that it may be a spurre to provoke the living to follow such a worthy Pattern and be a means of quickning many not only to walk faithfully in the way to heaven but also in that great function of the Ministry Thus farre Mr. Rulice The strangenesse of Independent Brethren of England when they came over into Holland was a great trouble unto this reall Saint and his constant Prayers were that they might neither be deceived themselves nor do any hurt unto the Government of the Reformed Churches He often said that those men had need of much caution because the devil in the times of purest Reformation would be a more subtill Angel of light then he was in Luthers daies When his Son returned into England he warned him to take heed of joyning with any part against the Presbyterial Government of the Reformed Churches For I am sure said he it is the Government of Jesus Christ. When the Scots first came into England it was his constant and affectionate Prayer that they might be instruments of
trieth faith and that the word should be rendred exploratorium rather then exploratio He alwaies expected troubles and prepared himself for them and put this difference between the affliction for which we are provided and others that the one are but blows on the Harnesse but the other are blows on the flesh Upon a time when an affliction was upon him which went to his very heart and in the expectation whereof he wept yet when he saw that it was the Will of God that it should be so he said to one whom he loved I will go and blesse God for I believe this shall be for my good He gave himself much to Fasting and Prayer and when he fasted his custom was to abstain from the dinner of the day before to the Supper of the day after His diseases till he was above threescore were only Feavers and these for the most part high and violent In the sixty third year of his age he had a Feaver in which there was small hope of life Doctor Oxenbridge was his Physician who waiting for the breathing out of the disease by sweating in which at last he had his desire he came to Master Dod and in the presence of divers said unto him Now I have hope of your recovery To which Master Dod answered You think to comfort me by this but you make my heart sad it is as if you should tell one who had been sore weather-beaten on the sea and conceiving he was arrived at the Haven where his soul longed to be that he must come back again to be tossed with new winds and waves In his greatest health and prosperity he would speak how he desired to be dissolved Upon a time a Gentleman blamed him for it saying he liked not servants who would have their wages before they had done their work but he seemed to be constant in this desire alledging these reasons amongst others that God had given him a setled assurance of Heaven and a sight of the excellency of Heaven and that the earth was but a prison and Heaven the Palace and there was perfect holinesse and happinesse He took all occasions to do good when he was in company by godly speeches seasoning those which came to him that unlesse it were their own fault they might be the better for him Being invited to a great feast where there were sundry Gentlemen and some of them began to swear he stopt them by discoursing of the greatnesse of that sin and that he might not burden their memories he quoted three Chapters every one was the first as the first of Zachary the first of Matthew and the first of James and he opened those Scriptures in such sort that they were all hushed and did not again offend in that kind while he was present amongst them The Word of God was his great delight his meditation was of it in the night and his discourse in the day When those that were with him were speaking of earthly things he would find out some way to bring in heavenly When he could not sleep in the night he would say that the meditation of the Word was sweeter to him then sleep When he had preached twice on the Sabbath and was aweary yet to those that came to him he would go on afresh in holy Discourses and the comforts which he found in his soul made him sometimes forget his body that he hath been speaking till he was ready to faint His eminency was in frequency aptnesse freenesse and largenesse of godly discourse in which respect it may be said of him that in the Countrey where he lived none were known who therein were equal to him But he was Micans inter omnes velut inter ignes luna minores He was very mercifull himself and to move Parents that were rich to mercy he would say thus You are caring and contriving to lay up for your children but lay up for your selves a good foundation against the time to come being rich in good works you will lay up treasure in the earth which is an unsafe place lay up treasures in Heaven that is the sure and safe place He loved and honoured those that feared God though in point of Subscription and Ceremonies they were not of his judgment and as he sowed so he reaped He was full of love himself and greatly beloved of others Doctor Preston whom good men loved for his excellent Piety and Learning was a faithfull friend of Master Dods and often entertained him at his chamber and esteemed much of him for his spiritualnesse in conference and conversation and for his ability to open Scripture and to comfort troubled spirits When the Doctors Consumption was upon him which put an end to his life he came to Master Richard Knightleys at Preston in Northamptonshire which was but a mile from Fausley where Master Dod had his abode and desired him to speak to him of death and heaven and heard him with patience and thankfulnesse Master Dod prayed by him when he lay a dying and preached his Funeral Sermon Also Master Throgmorton a pious and painfull Preacher of the Word an approved good man dying the same year of a Consumption came to Ashby not far from Fausley to have the help of Master Dods comforts and counsels He was oppressed with melancholy and a little before he gave up his soul to Christ he asked Master Dod What will ye say of him that is going out of the world and can find no comfort To whom he answered What will you say of our Saviour Christ who when he was going out of the world found no comfort but cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me This speech refreshed Master Throgmorton and within a little space of time after this he went to his heavenly inheritance Master Dod as he was of a weaned disposition from the world himself so he laboured to wean others He put this difference between rich Christians and poor that for poor Christians their Father kept the purse but the rich Christians keep the purse in their own hands But it might oftner fall out and did and therefore the purse was better in the Fathers hand then in the Christians He was wont to compare wicked men to waves of the Sea those which were of a great estate were great waves those which were of small estate were small waves but all were restlesse as waves To a Friend of his that was raised from a meaner estate to worldly greatnesse he sent word that this was but as if he should go out of a Boat into a Barge or Ship but there ought to be a serious and godly remembrance that while we are in this world we are upon the Sea He often repeated this that nothing could hurt us but our own sins and they should not hurt us if we truly repented of them and nothing could do us good but Gods favour and
that we should be sure of if we unfeignedly sought it Speaking of Davids penning the 51 Psalm after his murther and Adultery he put this glosse upon it That hearty and true repentance shall have cause to praise the Lord for his pardoning mercy He said Afflictions were Gods Potions which we might sweeten by Faith and faithfull Prayer but we for the most part made them bitter putting into Gods Cup the ill ingredients of our own impatience and unbelief He gave this reason why many of Gods people lived uncomfortably for that they shut their ear against what God said where they should open it and they opened their ear to what their carnal reason and Satan and the world said where they should shut it But said he the Psalmist was wiser Psal. 85.8 He would heare none of them all I will heare what the Lord God will speake His preaching was searching and when some did suppose that he had Informers and Spies because he came so close to them he answered that the Word of God was searching and that if he was shut up in a dark vault where none could come at him yet allow him but a Bible and a Candle and he should preach as he did He had an excellent gift in similitudes which did flow freely and frequently from him as all those knew who either heard him preach publiquely or discourse privately He called death the friend of grace though it were the enemy of nature and whereas the Word and Sacraments and Prayer do but weaken sin death kills it Speaking of Prayer he said a man was never in a hard condition unlesse he had a hard heart and could not pray Having preached out of that text O woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt he invited some women to dinner and told them it was a usuall saying Let a woman have her will and then she would be quiet Now the way for a woman to have her will is to have a strong Faith and to pray as that woman in the Gospel did Upon a time when he had preached long so that it was somewhat late before he went to dinner he said you shall have some Gentlemen will follow hounds from seven in the morning till four or five in the afternoon because they love the cry of dogs which to me was unpleasant hearing so if we love the Word we should be content though the Minister stood above his hour And he added methinks it is much better to hear a Minister preach then a Kennell of hounds to bark Speaking of Recreation he said he marvelled what the vocation of many was who were so eager for recreation And if we should come into a house and see many Physick-boxes and glasses we would conclude some body is sick so when we see Hounds and Hawks and Cards and Dice we may fear that there is some sick soul in that Family He told some Friends that if he were to passe sentence who was a rich man he would not look into his purse or chest how much gold he had laid up but look into his heart what promises were treasured up there For we count him rich that is rich in bonds and the pleading of the Promises in Prayer is suing of the bonds Speaking to a Minister who was to go to a place where there was but small means he told him that his care was to preach and do God service and then God would provide for him When he preached at Fausley and was much resorted unto as it was with him in other places he told a godly man of his acquaintance that if the Countrey knew so much by him as he knew by himself they would not have him in so much admiration Speaking about going to Law his Opinion was that it was better to buy Love then Law For one might have a great deal of love for a little whereas he could have but a little law for a great deal He would frequently say That was well which ended everlastinly well and that was ill which ended everlastingly ill And that a man was never undone till he was in hell This was a speech which he often used that if it were lawfull to envy any he would envy those that turned to God in youth whereby they escaped much sin and sorrow and were like unto Jacob that stole the blessing betimes This was a remarkable passage of Providence that upon a time when it was late at night it came into his mind that he must see a Friend of his some two miles off he had businesse and would have put it off but his thoughts were restlesse whereupon he went and when he came to the place all the Family were in bed but only his Friend who was esteemed truly godly but at that time was overwhelmed with tentations the occasion whereof was some cruelty offered to his Children Master Dod knew nothing either of the tentation or occasion of it But knocking at the door his Friend opened the door to him to whom he said I am come to you I know not why my self but I was restlesse in my spirit untill I had done it To whom his Friend answered You know not why you came but God knew why he sent you and withall pulled out a halter wherewith he had intended self-murder at that time which by Gods goodnesse was by this means prevented Speaking of losing for Christ he testified from his own experience that for the losse of one carnal Brother he had two hundred spiritual Brethren Before he was married he could not maintain himself and thereupon he was thinking how he should maintain a Wife and Children his living not being great but looking out of his study window he saw a Hen and Chickens scratching for their living and he considered thus with himself The Hen did but live before and had nothing to spare and now she had as much with that great Family When he saw a Christian to look sad he would use that speech which Johnadab did to Amnon Art not thou a Kings Son He would say to those that complained of losses and crosses that which Eliphaz did to Job Do the consolations of God seem small to you God hath taken away your children your goods but he hath not taken away himself nor Christ nor his Spirit nor Heaven nor eternal life He used to instruct Christians how they should never have a great affliction nor long and that was by looking upon things which were not seen which are eternal 2 Cor. 4.17 18. What can be great to him that counts the world nothing And what can be long to him that thinks his life but a span long To perswade them that are Christians not to return railing for railing he would say that if a dog bark at a sheep a sheep will not bark at a dog In these times of war at the first beginning of them when
after the seeking of spiritual illumination in hearing and reading c. and divine assistance in religious duties not contenting our selves with the use of parts and accomplishments or grace received but to look higher saying David that could preach excellently and had Nathan and Gad the Prophets also to preach yet cryes out for teaching thereby shewing that all that teaching would not do unlesse God teach also And Davids cryes Open mine eyes he had the light without but he must have light within viz. sight else he could not see the wonders of the Law though he had the Law He used to presse much to meeknesse and a sweet disposition to affability charity and cheerfulnesse not to be rigid sour tart nor sad least the world should think that we served an hard Master Being above eighty years old his pains were very great yet not painfull to him He preached almost all day long on the Lords day yet said it was no great matter to pay money when one had it all the labour was to get it He opened a Chapter and prayed in his Family after preached twice in publique and in the interim discoursed all dinner while but eat very little He brought in many with him to dinner besides his four or six constant Widows if his Wife began to doubt of her provision at sight of so many he would say Better want meat then good company but there is something in the house though cold This is not a day to feast the bodies but souls At first sitting down he would bid them help themselves and one another and see that none want Let me said he bid you but once for I would not speak a vain word to day After both Sermons the house would be filled and he being sate in his chair used to say if any have a good question or a hard place of Scripture to open let them say on and when he was faint he would call for a small glasse of Wine and Beer mixt and then to it again till night He was excellent in preaching occasionally from the creatures as he walked or rode His Ministry was so spiritual and yet so plain that poor simple people that never knew what Religion meant when they had gone to hear him could not choose but talk of his Sermon It mightily affected poor creatures to hear the Mysteries of God by his excellent skill that way brought down to their own language and dialect He was so holy and spiritual both in life and doctrine that he silenced even desperate and devillish opposers of Religion It was a discredit for any to speak evil of him because it must needs expresse much malice and all men most generally in his latter time at least honoured him He was very successefull in making peace though between desperate and almost implacable adversaries and some of them wicked mightily convincing them with Gospel-arguments to the overcoming and quieting of their spirits He would answer any questions propounded that were but fit for a Divine to speak to yet shewing his approbation or dislike of the question according to the honesty and spiritualnesse or curiosity and lightnesse of it When mean inferiour people came to speak with him if he was walking in the Church where he used most to study that he might have room to walk in being troubled with the stone or elsewhere if he thought them bashfull he would meet them and say Would you speak with me And when he found them unable to state their question he would help them out with it taking care to find the sore but would answer and deal so compassionately and tenderly as not to discourage the poorest soul from coming again to him If any questioned him about Ceremonies about which many then suffered he was very wary in dealing not shy in speaking his judgment but carefull of advising them according to their strength He would bid them take heed of being led meerly by the imitation of any body 〈◊〉 other mens arguments but look to their Scripture-light and see 〈◊〉 â—â—guments they had to bear them out and whether they could 〈◊〉 alone in that case if they should survive their patterns He would not have them make a businesse about lesser things and then fall off from what they began to professe Being to advise a young man in his choice of a yokefellow he bad him look principally after Godlinesse Men talk of a portion grace is the bâ—st portion The wise woman buildeth up the house viz. The godly c. Not the rich Some use to say There is a portion and civility and we will hope for grace But saith he rather make sure grace and hope for riches There 's far greater reason for it For Godlinesse hath the Promises riches hath none A Sonne or Daughter of God shall be provided for He would say he that could answer two questions well might have comfort in any place or condition viz. Who am I and what do I here Am I a Child of God and am I in my calling or way He hath given his Angels charge to keep thee in all thy waies And that the knowledge of two things would make one willing to suffer or die viz. What Heaven is And that it 's mine I said one if a man were sure To whom he answered Truly Assurance is to be had and what have we been doing all this while He used to say they that hope to go to Heaven as most do and had not good evidence for it were like a man that passing by a great house and estate would say This is mine but being bid to shew his title would say some body must have it and why not I Such is most mens title for Heaven During the time of his last sicknesse it pleased the Lord to try him by grievous pains most bitter and sharp of the strangury but when he had any intermissions he was breathing out such speeches as tended to the praise of God and to the edification of those that attended him He slept little all the night or day long before his death in all which time he imployed his attendants which were about him to read the Scriptures which he expounded to them And when his strength was spent with speaking he retired himself to Prayer and Meditation When he felt his paines returning he would intreat those that were about him to pray to God for him either to give him deliverance or patience His tentation a little before his death and his wrestlings with Satan were great so were his victories He spake to one that did watch with him all night about two of the clock in the morning that he had been wrestling with Satan all that night who accused him that he neither preached nor prayed nor performed any duty as he should have done for manner or for end but he said I have answered him from the example of the Prodigal
and the Publican His Faith and Patience were encreased and perfected by his sufferings He longed and thirsted to be with Christ which words he often uttered One of his last speeches was this with his eyes and hands lifted up to Heaven he sighed and said I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. His pains left him not an hour before his death his speech also then leaving him he could not eat nor drink two daies before his death And so quietly and patiently he ended his life making a happy change being fourscore and sixteen years old Anno Christi 1645. The Life of Master Robert Balsom who died Anno Christi 1647. RObert Balsom was born at Shipton-Montague in the County of Somerset Having spent some years in New-in-hall in Oxford upon his removall thence he was entertained by Master Bernard of Batcomb in the aforesaid County to teach School and preach sometimes as his Assistant under whom he greatly improved his abilities for preaching Upon the death of Master Bernard preaching occasionally at a neighbour village call'd Stoke among a company of poor untaught people one that lived thereabouts told him that if such a Minister should come and preach among that people where there was so small encouragement he should think that God had a great work to do upon them Hereupon Master Balsom promised to be their Minister where he enjoyed about fourty pounds a year The successe of his Ministry there was very great insomuch that he hath been heard say that there were but few Sermons that he preached there but he had intelligence that some one or other were converted by them The troubles growing in those parts by reason of our Civil Warres after one or two years abode there he was forced for his own safety to betake himself to Warder Castle in Wiltshire where he had not continued long but the Castle was besieged by the Kings party Upon the news of their approach he was minded to have gone for London but being desired by Colonel Ludlow the Governour of that Castle he remained there during the siege A little before the Castle was delivered up as they were in Treaty about the surrender of it Master Balsom walking upon the roof of the Castle heard three Souldiers say That they had sworn upon the Bible to take away the life of one in the Castle He asked one of them Who is that ye mean Is it our Minister They replyed Yes for he is a Witch which they affirmed upon this ground because the Castle had divers times been very strangely relieved with provision As at one time with a herd of Swine coming down to the gates which they took in and at another time by some Deer and Conies the siege then being not close but straightning them at a distance He asked them what was their names They told him they were the three merry boyes He replyed your names are very unsuitable to the times And so after some farther discourse parted with them After the surrender of the Castle and the enemies entry they presently seized on Master Balsom and clapt him up in a close low room About twelve a clock at night the key of the room was given to the three Souldiets that had sworn his death They having received the key presently entered the room where he was with another Souldier who was hanged the next morning No sooner came they into the room but they put off their hats and standing still lookt on him at a distance saying nothing to him He suspecting them to be the men that had sworn to take away his life spake to them thus Friends what is your business are not ye the men that have sworn to take away my life They answered to this purpose We have taken a wicked oath God forgive us but we will do you no hurt He desired them to come near unto him but they stood trembling perswaded him to make an escape voluntarily offering him their best assistance He answered now I suspect you you are ashamed to take away my life now I am in your hands but would perswade me to a flight that you might with the more colour kill me in the pursuit They assuring him they intended really the setting of him at liberty He asked what they thought would become of them They answered they would go along with him He replyed That you shall not do for if I be taken again I shall be but in the same case I am but if you be taken it will cost you your lives And therefore I will rather suffer the utmost that God shall suffer them to inflict upon me then hazard the lives of those that have shewed themselves so friendly to me Upon this they had him forth into the fresh air and in the mean time made clean his room and so left him The next morning a Councel of War was call'd and as they were debating to put him to death a Captain of the Councel stood up and said I will have no hand in the blood of this man and so went out of the room and no farther progresse was made as concerning him Afterwards they carried him in a Cart to Salisbury As he was carried through the town to the Prison the people of the town entertained him with great scorn and contempt and that night another Councel of War was call'd and packt for the purpose by which he was condemned to be hang'd Hereupon the High Sheriff of the County went unto him into the Prison and after much ill language that he used towards him he told him that he was come to tell him that he must prepare himself to die for he was condemned by the Councel of War to be hang'd the next morning at six a clock but withall assured him that if he would ask pardon of the King for his offence and serve his Majesty for the future as he had formerly served against him he should both save his life and have what preferment he could reasonably desire He answered for me to ask pardon where I am not conscious of an offence were but the part of a fool and to betray my conscience in hope of preferment were but the part of a Knave and if I had neither hope of heaven nor fear of hell I had rather die an honest man then live a fool or a knave The next morning he rose about five a clock being something troubled that he had slept so long About six a clock the Officers came into the room to bring him forth to execution While he was preparing to go with them he heard a Post ride in asking hastily Is the Prisoner yet alive who brought with him a Reprieve from Sir Ralph Hopton to whom he was carried to Winchester As he came to the gates of the town Sir William Ogle the Governour met him and told him that he would feed him with bread and water for two or three daies and then
spake to them to this purpose Friends I wonder at the providence of God in bringing you hither at this time for otherwise I must have sent for you And so declaring to them what had hapned to the afflicted man he desired them to spend some part of the night with him in seeking God for him which accordingly they did The next morning Master Balsom going to visit him again found him in a comfortable condition and asking of him how he did He answered Through the goodnesse of God I have overcome and am now as full of comfort as I was before of trouble And so continued all that day cheerfull but in great weaknesse and the next morning died no disease appearing upon him After some time of Master Balsom's abode there he was earnestly intreated to return into his own Countrey to which for some important reasons he was inclined but was as earnestly importuned by many of the inhabitants of Barwick either to abide with them or to return again to them And after many other Arguments as he was just parting with them as their last Argument to perswade him to stay with him they presented him with a list of about threescore that had been as they were verily perswaded savingly wrought on by his Ministry during the time of his continuance there He left them but with a mind of returning to them again if providence crost it not but his return was prevented by his death which hapned about two year after as he was endeavouring to get himself free from the place where he then was to return to them In which space of time he did much good as in converting many so in reducing many that were drawn away by Sectaries The Life of Master Herbert Palmer B. D. late Master of Queens-Colledge in Cambridge who died Anno Christi 1647. HErbert Palmer was descended of an ancient Family of that name allied to divers other Families of note of the Nobility and Gentry His Father was Sir Thomas Palmer of Wingham in East-Kent about six miles distant from Canterbury His Mother was the eldest Daughter of Herbert Pelham of Crawley in Sussex Esquire He was born at Wingham and was there baptized March 29. 1601. He had the happinesse of a prudent and pious Education His Father beside his Piety being a very wise man and of a more then ordinary understanding as well in State-affairs as those of a more private concernment His Mother beside her Prudence and other accomplishments more then ordinary in her sex was also eminently religious and both of them exceeding carefull of his education Himself also being even from his infancy much addicted to the serious study both of Religion and Learning in both of which he had made more then ordinary Proficiency in a short time and continued the exercise and improvement of them afterward The Symptomes of Grace and Piety began betimes to put themselves forth to the view and observation of others as soon almost as the exercise and use of reason so that we may not without good ground esteem him sanctified even from the Womb. When he was about the age of four or five years he would cry to go to his Lady-mother That he might hear somewhat of God So soon had these her Religious discourses made pleasing impressions on his apprehension Neither did these and such like expressions of affection to good things soon vanish away as childish apprehensions use to do but continued and encreased according as his years and the use of reason increased Mr. HERBERT PALMER He was early acquainted with the Book of God which he much delighted in and read with great affection insomuch that while he was but a child little more then five years old he wept in reading the story of Joseph and took much pleasure in learning of Chapters by heart And here was laid the first foundation of that great exactnesse in the knowledge of the Scriptures to which he did afterwards attain He had excellent natural parts both intellectual and moral which as they were soon capable of being imployed so they were soon set on work his Parents vigilancy being such that they suffered no time to be neglected He learned the French tongue almost as soon as he could speak English even so soon as that he hath often affirmed he did not remember his learning of it And he did afterwards attain so great exactnesse of speaking and preaching in that language together with a perfect knowledge of the state and affairs of that Kingdom especially of the Protestant Churches amongst them that he was often by strangers thought to be a native French-man and did not doubt but to entertain discourse with any person of that Nation for some hours together in their own language concerning the affairs of that Kingdom who should not be able by his discourse to distinguish him from a native French-man but judge him to be born and bred in France so well was he furnished with an exact knowledge both of the Propriety and due Pronunciation of that language and of the persons places and affairs of that Kingdom and the Churches therein A thing not often seen in one who had never been out of England When he learned the Latine tongue with such other parts of learning as younger years are usually imployed in at School his diligence and proficiency therein was such as produced both commendation and admiration And while others at vacant hours were following their sports and recreations he was constantly observed to be reading studiously by himself taking as much pleasure in good imployments as others in sports and counting that the best Passe-time wherein the time was best passed His carriage towards his Parents was dutifull and obsequious not only during his Minority but even afterwards which was very evident in that honour and reverend respect which he continued to expresse to his godly aged Mother to the day of her death which hapned not long before his own being also a special helper to her in the waies of holinesse And what he thus practised himself he did frequently commend to others being alwaies though himself unmarried a great asserter of Parental authority as well from that great emphasis which God puts upon it through the whole current of Scripture as from those remarkable judgments which in Scripture and in his own experience he had observed to be inflicted on disobedient and undutifull children whom as he was wont to say he had scarce ever known to escape some visible judgment for it in this life though possibly otherwise godly persons as also from those unavoidable mischiefs which do frequently ensue in Civil Societies where the authority of Superiours is vilified or contemned and which if well considered will be often found to take their first rise and original from the contempt of Paternal authority He was about the year 1615. admitted Fellow-Commoner in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge
read and five shillings in money to such as could not when they attained such a measure of knowledge as that they were judged fit to partake of the Lords Supper And such like rewards and incouragements he used to bestow on others as he saw occasion furnishing them with Books and writings and otherwise encouraging them according as they should manifest their diligence in gaining and improving their knowledge All which the generation to come and the children yet unborn may have cause to blesse God for when they shall receive the benefits thereof communicated from their Parents to them while others do as much as in them lies intail ignorance and atheism upon their posterity And because he found it difficult to bring those of shallow memories and weak capacities to understand and remember the Principles of Religion discerning that many who could not distinctly repeat the words did yet understand the matter and therefore were not to be despised or discouraged and others of firmer memories who were able to learn the words did understand little or nothing of the meaning of them He did therefore study how he might best remedy both those evils and to that end framed several forms of Catechisms in divers kinds At length he pitched on that form as the most convenient that he could think of which he published in print intituled An endeavour of making the principles of Christian Religion plain and easie of which so many thousands have been printed of late years and entertained with great approbation His method therein is this The answers which make up the main body of the Catechism are so many distinct Aphorisms or entire Propositions in themselves without dependance on the questions to make the sense entire containing in themselves a brief module of Divinity And to that purpose so much of the question is still repeated in the answer as is necessary to make the sense perfect Hereby the Learner is freed from a double inconvenience The one is that where the sense of an answer is imperfect he is forced to charge his memory with learning the question also or else to make use either of this Book or anothers help to ask the question that so that answer which he hath learned may be perfect sense The other is that aptnesse in the Learner to misapply the answer to a wrong question when he learns only the predicate of the Proposition without the subject Both which inconveniences are in this way in a great measure prevented Another thing mainly considerable in his method is That beside the main questions and the answers thereunto there are also annexed divers explicatory questions which require no other answer but Yes or No which without any further charging of the Learners memory do direct him to the distinct observing of what is contained in the principal answer and so to the understanding thereof whereas otherwise heedlesse Learners are apt Parot-like only to learn the words without at all regarding the meaning of them The same also will help to direst a weak memory the better to recite the larger answer if he be first required to give a particular answer to those expository questions for he will then have nothing to expresse in the full answer beside what in the Preparatory questions had been suggested to him As for example Quest. In what condition was man created by God at the first Was he made miserable No or very happy Yes In the Image of God Yes In what condition then was man created by God at first Answ. Man was created at the first in a very happy condition in the Image of God And in the same method he intended to digest the lesser Catechism composed by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster and authorized for publique use if God had afforded him life to have seen that Catechism perfected to the compiling whereof he had contributed no small assistance which therefore since his death hath been performed by one that was intimate with him and fully acquainted with his resolutions in that particular As he was carefull thus to instruct his flock so was he also vigilant to prevent disorders and misdemeanours amongst them in point of practice wherein he was not contented to use his own personal endeavours but did also ingage his Parishioners to contribute their best assistance thereunto whereunto they did oblige themselves in divers excellent Resolutions and Agreements concluded by common consent amongst them and subscribed by their hands viz. for the preventing and punishing of Drunkennesse and Tippling of prophaning the Lords day and of other prophane or disorderly demeanours during the exercise of Divine Worship by sleeping talking playing c. as likewise of stealing and pilfering of prophane swearing and cursing of rayling slandering whoredome fighting and quarrelling disobedience to Parents and Governours and of other misdemeanours in whom soever In the religious ordering of his own Family he was extraordinary vigilant and painfull that it might be so much as in him lay a Garden without weeds and that those which were under his roof might either not perish or at least not through his default Indeed his house was a School of Religion such as there are very few to be found insomuch that it was counted a great happinesse to live under his roof under the constant enjoyment of so much means for the souls good It was his great care to entertain none in his Family but such as were either truly godly or at least willing to be instructed and educated in the waies of God and who would be ready and willing to attend the exercises of Gods worship both publiquely and privately and to avoid all scandalous conversation It was his constant practice twice every day to pray with his Family not allowing any to be absent at which times he read to them some portion both of the Old and New Testament He was carefull also to catechize his Family twice every week and likewise on Friday and Saturday to require an account from them of the Sermons preached the Lords day before which he then repeated to them Having also while he was at Ashwel the Sonnes of divers considerable persons of the Nobility and Gentry sojourning in his house for their better education in Religion and Learning he maintaining in his house an Assistant as a Schoolmaster to teach them he required of them the like account in Catechizing and Repetitions as of his own Servants He had also daily after dinner and Supper a Chapter read by one of those Gentlemen in course and he whose turn was to read was required also after he had read to repeat the substance out of his memory which by constant custom they had attained an ability to perform very exactly after which himself used to go over the same briefly by way of exposition of what appeared difficult and noting such observations as were most obvious from the most remarkable passages therein Beside this he required his Servants after every meal to
the issue and did accordingly perform it though he were sensible of the great danger of so doing The like resolution he manifested in the question about the Sabbath when opposition was made against the Perpetuity thereof and the Morality of the fourth Commandement a matter wherewith his heart was deeply affected as being an high affront to the Majesty and Authority of God the thoughts whereof seemed to be continually in his mind as was evident by his prayers discourses counsels and endeavours and particularly by that elaborate discourse which he in conjunction with that Judicious Learned and Pious Divine Master Daniel Cawdrey published to the world entituled Vindiciae Sabbathi the latter parts whereof were long ago fitted for the Presse and want but invitations of publishing which might encourage the Stationer to undertake the charge And therefore when reading the Book for Sports on the Lords day bowing to the Altar reading the Service-book there c. were urged he was most resolute against them resolving rather to lose all and suffer any thing then to comply therein and with that resolution went to the Arch-bishops visitation at Welling held by Sir John Lambe where yet he found beyond expectation rather a connivance at him then an enforcement thereof And the like he did concerning the Convocation-Oath in the new Book of Canons in the year 1640. which he vigorously opposed and took a great deal of pains in evincing the unlawfullnesse thereof It is well known also what freedom and faithfullnesse he hath used in reference to the publique affairs as well in his ordinary Sermons at the New Church the Abby and Margarets in Westminster to which places the greatest number of Parliament men did usually resort as in those by special order preached to one or both houses of Parliament some of which are to be seen in print where he spared not to declare fully and plainly what God expected from them and freely to reprove what was amisse For as he was wont to say he did not in that place preach BEFORE them ut coram Judice but TO them authoritativè as by Commission from God and how much soever they might be superiour to him in other regards yet he was in that place superiour to them as acting in Gods Name and therefore would not be afraid to speak whatever was the Will of God that he should tell them notwithstanding any displeasure or danger which might by this means befall him for so doing And upon this consideration we may look upon it as a wise Providence of God so seasonably to take him away a little before those great transactions about the change of Government which were so directly contrary to his deliberate and setled judgment that he would certainly have thought it his duty to Speak much more then others would endure to Hear For although his judgment was clear for the lawfullnesse of Defensive Arms which was the Parliaments case as it was first stated as doth fully appear in that Treatise entituled Scripture and Reason pleaded for Defensive Arms wherein himself of all others had the greatest hand yet was as peremptory against Offensive Arms or attempting the Kings life whose person he judged sacred and inviolable and hath oft expressed himself to that purpose that in case this should ever come to be the question which he hoped he should never see he thought himself bound in conscience by speaking preaching and otherwise to oppose it to the utmost of his power whatever danger he might incurre by so doing which zeal of his though at that time he were like to have prevailed very little with men otherwise resolved yet it might have proved an occasion of much hurt to himself and therefore God in wisdom and mercy thought good to excuse him that piece of service He was in his conversation a man of much temperance and sobriety In his diet he abstained from strong drink altogether Wine he drank very sparingly so far forth only as the necessities of nature did require and did usually content himself to eat but of one dish at a meal and that none of the daintiest even when he had more before him In his apparell he did neither affect to be gay nor costly but decent nor to spend time in needlesse curiosity in dressing As for Recreations he scarce used any but in stead thereof refreshed himself with the Christian converse of Friends accounting time so precious that he would redeem it not only from sports but from sleep also so far as the necessities of nature would permit He was neither wastfull nor covetous but very liberall doing many acts of charity beside what hath been mentioned before to such as stood in need bestowing plenteous relief according as he was able both by his own hands and the hands of others so that those who received it knew not oft-times whence it came And when that eminent work of charity was on foot in Cambridge while he was Fellow of Queens Colledge whereby divers young Scholars who were forced by reason of the wars to fly out of Germany especially of the Palatinate were sent for hither and educated partly in the University and partly under able and godly Divines in the Countrey whereby they might be fitted to do God and their Countrey service when God should give them opportunity to return having here been educated in the knowledge of our language and the way of practical Preaching which hath been no where more eminent then in England which work succeeded beyond expectation he was one of the great actors therein and did contribute liberally thereunto The like assistance also he afforded to divers Hungarians Transilvanians and other strangers who came over into England for the same reason The time of his sicknesse was not long for having spent much of his natural strength in his constant labours in the service of God there was the lesse work for sicknesse to do His deportment therein was holy and heavenly His humility faith patience and submission to Gods Will eminently appearing from time to time and his discourse full of heavenly expressions till the time of his death Not long before his death when one had read to him the 38 Chapter of Isaiah having then some little hopes of his recovery and ready to go to prayer he desired him to stay a while that he might pray first which he did briefly as his weaknesse would permit but very fully both for himself the Kingdom the Church of God and all to whom he stood in any relation The heads whereof were soon after written as near as might be in his own words so far as the memory of those that were then present could call them to mind First blessing God for his goodnesse the night past Blessed be God that hath been so good to us this night Then praying in behalf of himself Great God heal the sinfulness of my nature Pardon all my transgressions Take from me a heart
of unbelief that I may not depart from thee the living God Deliver me from tentation Accept of Jesus Christ for me Teach me to improve all Providences To live upon the Promises Let Christ be my life O Lord let me never shrink from thee For the good of the publique Lord turn the heart of this Nation and all our hearts Turn the heart of the King Sanctifie the Parliament and make them faithfull Blesse the Assembly and make them faithful and upright with thee Let not the Army do unworthily but what thou would have them to do Blesse all the Ministers For other Nations Lord do good to Scotland and the Churches in France Blesse New-England and forrain plantations For the places to which he was related Lord provide a faithfull man for Queens-Colledge A faithfull man for this place New-Church in Westminster A faithfull Pastor for those in the Countrey For Friends and those about him Lord remember all those that have shewed kindnesse to me and have taken pains with me and recompence them Thou hast promised that he which giveth a Cup of water in the name of a Disciple and he that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward Afterwards having forgotten to crave a blessing upon somewhat given him to take he prayed Lord pardon my neglect and forgetfulnesse of thee and deliver from tentation and the evil of tentation Thou art holy if thou shouldst forsake us Our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Lord glorifie thy name in my poor spirit and let none of thy people ever see me shrink from thee for Jesus Christ his sake Being spoken to to cast the burden of his sicknesse and pain upon God he answered I should do very unworthily if when I have preached to others that they should cast their burdens upon God I should not do so my self In these and many other the like Christian expressions he did manifest the same savour of holinesse even to the time of his death which had been constantly discovered in the time of his life He departed this life Anno Christi 1647. and of his age 46. having served God faithfully and painfully in his generation being a very great Instrument of much good and an excellent pattern for imitation His body lieth interred in the New-Church at Westminster and his memory yet liveth in the minds of those that knew him The Life of Gaspar Colinius Great Admirall of France GAsppar Colinius or Coligni was descended of a very Ancient and Honourable Family his Predecessors had Kingly Priviledges in their own Country as the Power of Life and Death of Coining Money Imposing Taxes and Tributes c. His Father was Gaspar de Colonia or Colinius who lived under King Francis the first and had to Wife Ludovica Monmorancy the Sister of Annas Monmorancy Great Constable of France When in the year 1522. the Admirall Bonivet had taken Fontaraby in the Confines of Spain as soon as he was returned into France the Spaniards came and besieged it with a great Army The siege lasted twelve moneths whereby the Inhabitants suffered much extremity by reason of Famine King Francis hearing of it commanded this Gaspar to raise an Army and relieve Fontaraby which Army he presently Levied but in his march he fell sick and died at Ax August 4. Anno Christi 1522 leaving three Sons behind him Odet Gaspar and Francis Ludovica his Widow was made one of the Ladies of Honour to the Queen of France and was very carefull of the education of her Sons and lived a most chaste and vertuous life all the remainder of her daies dying in Paris Anno Christi 1547. Pope Clement the seventh seeking to increase his Authority in France made the elder Brother Odet a Cardinall knowing that by reason of the eminency of his Family he might be very usefull to him By which means the Inheritance fell to this our Gaspar the second Brother who was born Feb. 16. Anno Christi 1517. whose ingenuity and towardlinesse appearing in his childhood his Mother was very carefull of his education and for his Instruction in Learning she made choice of Nicholas Beraldus to be his Schoolmaster a man famous in those daies in France She also provided him Tutors to instruct him in Military Arts of such as were most skilfull therein This Gaspar being thus furnished both for Peace and Warre when he came to the age of twenty four the Dolphin of France the Kings eldest Son besieging Baion at that time Gaspar went to serve under him and to put in practice what he had before gotten in the Theory In which Service he shewed much alacrity and courage and in advancing near to the enemies Trenches he was wounded with a Bullet in his throat The same year also the King having intelligence that his and the enemies Army were ready to joyn battell in Insubria Gaspar obtaining leave hastened thither and in that battell gave great proof of his Valour and Prudence so that shortly after K. Francis dying and his Son Henry succeeding to the Crown he advanced him to great honour and whereas his Uncle Annas Monmorancy was Generall of the Horse he made this Gaspar Colonel of a Regiment of Foot In which Office he carried himself so well that in a little space he gat much repute for his Justice Valour and Prudence and thereby became very gratefull to the common people For whereas the Souldiers formerly by their rapines and plunderings used much to oppresse them this new Colonel kept them in awe by military Discipline especially he severely punished them for incontinency swearing and blasphemy and his Orders were so generally approved of that shortly after the King put them amongst his Military Laws The same King also advanced him to greater honour taking a great liking to him making him one of his own Horsemen which vulgarly are called of the Kings Order And whereas contention arose about that time between the King of France and King Henry the eighth of England about the Town of Bulloine which a little before upon conditions of peace had been pawned to the English the King of France distrusting the English made this Gaspar Governour of all that Countrey who presently going into Picardy whither King Henry of France had sent an Army to besiege Bulloine He with admirable art and diligence built a Castle near to it which was such a shelter to the French and did so hinder the Sallies of the English that in a short time they were forced to treat about surrendring of the City For the finishing of which Treaty the whole businesse was referred by the King of France to our Gaspar and his Uncle Rupipontius which being ended and the Town surrendred Gaspar returned to the King and was shortly after made the Great Admirall of France which amongst the French is counted the greatest honour in the Kingdom having the command of the Sea and
alwaies very studious of the Reformed Religion of an admirable courage and constancy in bearing the manifold afflictions which befell both her self and Husband and amongst her other excellent qualities and vertues she was alwaies very pitifull towards poor people and sick persons to whom she was very liberall in relieving and assisting of them and whereas many sick and wounded Souldiers were daily sent from the Camp to Orleance she frequently visited them so that the Physicians judged her disease to proceed from the stench of them Peace being proclaimed as is before specified in many places by the Kings Trumpeters the Admirall had scarce been three daies at his own house before Letters and Messengers came to him from many of his Friends signifying that instead of peace his enemies made great preparations for a more dangerous Warre for they observed that in every place such provision of War was made that if the Prince of Conde himself and the other associates did not timely prevent it they would be circumvented by their cruel enemies before they were aware and this they gathered from the Garrisons put into Orleance Altissiodore Blesa and other Cities surrendred to them as also by the Adversaries possessing themselves of all the Bridges and Passes over the Rivers keeping the Horse together in the heart of France and continuing two Regiments neer Paris under a pretence of a guard for the King Our Admirall finding these things to be true thought it most for his safety to retire into Tanlian to his Brother Andelot and from thence he shortly after removed to Nuceria a strong City under the Prince of Conde's Government whither formerly upon the like occasion he had carried his Wife and Family In his passage thither there fell out this memorable accident Near to the Town of Molinius there is a great Lake in the passage to Altissiodore when our Admirall came near it there was in his company an old man called Gripperius that had been a great traveller by sea and one that loved the Admirall very dearly this man observing a black cloud coming towards them carried with a violent wind he called to the Admirall desiring him to gallop to the next Town so fast as he could lest he should be oppressed with the violence of the storm approaching the Admirall hearkening to his counsell spurred on his Horse but before he had passed the narrow passages of the Lake there suddainly came such a violent tempest accompanied with a Whirlwind that many Horses and men were quite overthrown many were wounded with the great hailstones and almost quite slain The wind took off the Admirals hat which afterwards could never be found and one of his followers lent him his hat but herein the great mercy of God did appear that the Admirall scaped unhurt by the hail only one hailstone hit and hurt him about the ankle and had this storm taken him and his company a little sooner whilst they were upon the Lakes bank in all probability it had made an utter end of them The tempest being over our Admirall comforted his attendants and lifting up his eyes to Heaven he said O Almighty God I thank thee from whom I know this storm proceeds to warn us of the tempest of danger that is approaching by which we shall be sorely pressed but not oppressed When they were met together at Nuceria they sent divers Messengers with Letters to the King signifying that they had daily intelligence of the snares that were laid for their lives and therefore they beseeched his Majesty to pity his Kingdom wasted already with two Civil Warres and that he would not ruine his Kingdom but rather by his clemency and wisdom quench that fire that is kindled by the Guises Our Admirall also wrote to Margaret Daughter of King Francis and new Dutchesse of Savoy whom he believed to have great power with the Queen Mother intreating her to improve all her Authority and interest for the diverting of the storm that was approaching to the ruine of her Native Countrey But when he perceived that no arguments nor intreaty could prevail for peace and understood that Tavannius who was a little after made Marshall of the Kingdom was secretly drawing his Forces towards Nuceria there to compasse them in he advised the Prince of Conde that they should presently depart from thence and make all the hast that possibly they could to Rochel which by reason of their ancient priviledges had never hitherto admitted of any Garrison By the way they were to passe over the River Liger and in the train there was the Prince of Conde's Wife and six little Children whereof one was but a year old and two daies after followed the Admirall and Monsieur Andelots Children whom the Admirall had sent for to come to them At which time this strange Providence fell out When the Prince of Conde thought to transport his company in two or three little Ships privately over the River neer unto Sancerra it pleased God that a Foard was found whereby fifty Horsemen that were of the Princes train rode over and in the mean time the Ladies Women and Children were ferried over in Boats and no sooner were they gotten all over but though the day was fair the River suddainly rose so high that the Inhabitants of Sancerra took notice of the wonderfull Providence of God praying heartily for the safety and welfare of those little ones who had escaped such a danger The King hearing of this their going to Rochel by the advice of his Courtiers presently commanded all his Horse especially those that were in the Countries of Xantone and Poicters to hasten to Rochel He sent also his Brother Henry the Duke of Anjou to raise all the Forces he could and presently to march thitherwards In the mean time those of the Religion who relying upon the Kings promise and Proclamation of peace staied in their own Cities were every where basely murthered About this time Joane Queen of Navarr who in the former troubles had kept here own house abhorring such abominable treachery and perfidiousnesse after peace so often renewed getting what Forces she could together advanced with them to Rochel carrying with her her Son Henry who after her death was King of Navarr and her only Daughter These things being thus setled the Admirall drew some great Guns out of Rochel intending to besiege Niort and within a few daies had it surrendred to him Then he led his Forces to Engolisme which stands upon an high and steep hill having only one passage to it and therefore the enemies had a little before strongly fortified it but the Admirall planting his Ordinance on that side where it was saultable within a few daies space had it surrendred to him Presently after the Van of each Army met at Jasenullius and fought together the Admirall commanded that of the Protestants who charged the enemy so gallantly that they were presently broken
and scattered flying to Lusinian for safety leaving all their bag and baggage behind them so that the booty which the Admirall gat was estimated to be more worth then fifty thousand Crowns Two daies after they intercepted Letters from Fizius the Kings Secretary to the Queen-Mother much bewailing that losse Presently after the Admirall going to the Town of Jarnac fell into great danger and without a speciall providence had become a prey to his enemies For the enemy understanding that he purposed to transport his Forces over the River in that place by a bridge of boats they secretly laid an ambush on the other side and observing the Admirall where he was they let fly all their Harquebushes at him and others endeavoured to break the bridge of the Admirals side there was one Harquibushier that had often shot at the enemies and at last was by a bullet slain whereupon twelve more ran to his aid so that a tumult arising the Admirall ran with his naked Sword not having time to put on his arms and endeavoured to cut in sunder the cords wherewith the boats were fastened all which time the enemies ceased not continually to shoot at him yet God wonderfully preserved him and from that time forwards he resolved never to be without a Lifeguard for his assistance in such suddain accidents Two daies after the enemies having passed over the River Charenton the Prince of Conde feared lest they would compasse him about having lately joyned to them three thousand German horse and six thousand Swissers yet being of a very resolute and couragious mind he resolved to stop their course yet withall if possible to avoid a set Battell In the mean time word was brought to the Admirall that some of his Forces which were quartered in a neighbour village were circumvented by their enemies and yet valiantly defended themselves our Admirall hastened therefore upon the spur to their succour with some horse whom as soon as the enemies espied they compassed round about which being told to the Prince of Conde being more valiant then advised he brake into the midst of them where being oppressed with the multitude and his horse killed under him which also fell upon him he lifting up his beavour rendred himself to some of the Kings Captains who gave him their faith for his safety but presently after came Montisquius Captain of the Duke of Guise his guard not without the secret command of his Master as it was believed and setting upon Conde behinde his back as he was talking with the Captains dispatched him with a dagg shot into his neck He was a Prince inferiour to none that lived in that age for courage and courtesie he was eloquent in speech liberall affable to all and a most excellent Commander in Warre After his death his body was basely abused and at last in scorn laid upon a Shee-Asse and carried to Jarnac The Admirall being exceedingly grieved with this great losse and suspecting the issue made a retreat together with his Brother Andelot into the Town of St. Jan de Angeli and whereas he might have revenged the indignities done to the body of the Prince by shewing the like to the bodies of many of his great adversaries whom he had slain yet he would not do it but afforded them decent buriall which thing he also did during all the time of the Warres The Queen of Navarr being at Rochell and hearing of this great losse hastened to the Camp comforted the Captains and exhorted all the Souldiers not to be disheartned nor to forget their former valour telling them that she had brought her only Son Henry that was to succeed her in the Kingdom to be their Generall professing that she preferred the safety of the Army before the life of her Son To him was also Henry Prince of Conde Brother to Lewis that was lately slain adjoyned in this honour but the whole care for managing the Warre by the joynt consent of all the Commanders and Officers was wholly divolved upon the Admirall none having the like credit or authority amongst those of the Religion as he For it was well known that besides his singular skill in military affairs his justice and temperance there was none amongst all the Peers of France that had so openly embraced and professed the Religion as he He was the first that reformed his Family according to the Rule of Gods Word He was the man that presumed to prefer their Petition to King Francis the second that was nearly allied to the Guises by affinity He gave the first example to the Nobility of France of Piety who were grown extream loose by reason of the dissolutenesse of the Court and after he had once embraced the Reformed Religion he never gave the least occasion of scandall to the Churches And whereas many Delegates repaired often to him from the Churches he alwaies gave them wholsome and prudent counsell He first took up arms not to fight against the King as some misreported but at the request and Prayers of the Queen Mother Neither yet did he it either by his own private counsell or of the Queen Mother but by the Authority of the Parliament of Orleance the King being not yet twelve years old As also after the Kings Edict for Peace established and promulgated by the advice and consent of all the States of France because it was so notoriously violated by the Guises to the utter undoing of many honest Families and almost the ruine of many flourishing Cities and to the losse of the lives of many famous Captains to the great prejudice of the whole Kingdom and to the oppression of many flourishing Churches dispersed almost in every Town of France By all which that poor Kingdom was laid open to be a prey to any forreign Prince that should invade it After these things a grievous affliction befell the Admirall by the death of his Brother Andelot who in the City of Xantone died of a violent disease suddainly not without suspition of poison and the rather because it was a usuall saying of Biraguus shortly after made Chancellour That the War was not to be finished with so much hazard by armed men but rather by Cooks and Kitchin boyes Upon this occasion the Admirall wrote a Letter to his own and his Brother Andelot's sons who were with their Tutor at Rochel for comforting of them the tenour whereof was this Although I believe that the death of my Brother Andelot is very grievous unto you yet I thought fit to admonish you that you have great cause to rejoyce that you had so good a Father and Uncle of whom I dare affirm that he was truly Religious and eminent for his valour and skill in military affairs the remembrance of which vertues ought to be dear unto you that as much as may be you may be imitators of them yea I believe I may boldly affirm this of him that there is none in all
but being taken with a suddain disease he died Feb. 14. 1571. not without the suspition of poyson and was buried at Canterbury being about fifty years old He was a man of rare courage candor and faithfulnesse of a sharp judgment so that few were to be compared with him in managing great affairs Guillin his Chamberlain poysoned him with an Apple at the instigation of the Queen-Mother as he confessed at the time of his death when afterwards he was taken as a Spy at Rochel for which he was hanged But all this while the Duke of Anjou was a great enemy to the Protestants and boasted every where of his Victories against them yet the King did what he could to perswade the Queen of Navarr and the Admirall of his great good will towards them that they might be induced the more to confide in him Notwithstanding which the Papists in some places made slaughters of the Protestants As in Orenge whither all the Inhabitants returned who had been driven away in the time of the late Warres the Popish Souldiers made an assault upon them and slew them without regard of age or sex Also in Roan and other places they were slain in great number by the Popish rabble Whereupon the Queen of Navarr the Princes and other Protestant Nobles sent to the King to complain of the violation of the Edict and to require satisfaction for the same The King entertained them kindly protested that these things were done to his great grief and that he would so punish the Authors of these mischiefs as should be for the terrour of others Not long after viz. Anno Christi 1571. the King wrote very flattering Letters to the Admirall giving him very honourable tearmes inviting him to his Court at Blesa intreating him that he would be an instrument of concluding a Marriage between Henry Prince of Navarr and his Sister Margaret and to prevail the more with him he sent him word by his Messengers that no surer way could be found out for establishing the publique Peace of the Kingdom and for uniting all sorts of persons then by this Marriage And the better to delude him the Guises seemed to be every day lesse welcome to him then other and Monmorency the Admirals Sisters Son was used very familiarly by the King who often protested to him his good will towards the Admirall communicated to him the counsels of his greatest affairs for the managing whereof he told him that he had need of the Admirall for to be his Captain and Minister The Queen-Mother also according to her manner protested that she liked nothing better then that a certain Peace should be confirmed upon equal conditions the memory of former matters being blotted out By these means the Admirall was drawn to the Court where he was intertained extraordinary lovingly even beyond expectation so that when he fell down on his knees to do reverence the King took him up calling him his Father saying often and openly that a more desired day never shone unto him then that wherein he saw an end put to the Warre and a firm Peace setled in the whole Kingdom by his presence adding with a smiling countenance Now we have you with us you shall never depart from our side hereafter He was intertained with the same serenity of countenance by the Queen-Mother the Duke of Anjou but especially by the Duke of Alanson who much favoured him The King also seconded his words with deeds causing one hundred thousand Crowns to be paid him out of his Treasury for his private losses in the last Warres he gave him also the Revenues of the Cardinall his Brother which were very great for one year and also the furniture and houshold stuff of the said Cardinall A few daies after the Admirals return from the Court the young Duke of Guise by the instigation of the Cardinall of Lorraine his Uncle would have put in a new complaint against the Admirall for the death of his Father but the King interposing his Authority drew up a form of agreement which he made both of them to set their Seals to and to take their oaths for the keeping of it notwithstanding which the Duke of Guise shortly after entered Paris accompanied with many armed men which the Admirall hearing of being then at his House at Castellion he moved the King by his Son-in-law Monsieur Teligni that he might have leave to keep a small Guard for his own safety Whereupon the King wrote to him with his own hand and sent his Letter by Bricmald a man of great esteem for his vertue the tenour where of was this That it was most acceptable to him that the Admirall should be exceeding cautious and carefull of his own safety and therefore he gave him power to fortifie his Castle and to raise as great a Guard as he pleased desiring him to be confident without doubting of his good will towards him and that he would be as carefull of his safety as a Father of his Childes These Letters with many such like expressions of love being written with the Kings own hand many read with great delight and were now throughly perswaded that they ought no longer to doubt of the Kings good will and sincere affections to the Admirall Hereupon Count Lodwick of Nassaw whom we mentioned before thinking this a fit time and being secretly invited to the Court moved the King in the name of his Brother the Prince of Orenge for assistance telling him that there were many Cities in the Low Countries that being oppressed and tired out with the lust covetousnesse and cruelty of the Spaniards would willingly surrender themselves into his hands And after a few daies spent in debate about this businesse the King faithfully promised Count Lodwick that very shortly he would send a great Army under the command of the Admirall thither and it was further agreed upon betwixt them that if they succeeded in that War the King of France should have all the Countrey from Antwerp to Picardy and that the Prince of Orenge should have Holland Zeland and Frisland About this very time Letters were intercepted and sent to the Admirall written from the Cardinall Peleus to the Cardinall of Lorrain to this purpose That the King was never better affected then now and therefore because of his good affections together with the Queen-Mothers and the Duke of Anjou's he hoped there would be good issue of those affairs which were resolved on in the common Councel That the King at the Admirals coming to Court had carried himself more politickly then they could have expected whereupon the King believed that he had taken away all suspition from the Admirall and had left him no occasion of doubting of his love and good will towards him which Lorrain knew to be the basis by their joynt consent upon which their future proceedings did depend That some speech was indeed raised about warring upon the King
of Spain which the King made such use of that the Admirall thence collected arguments of his greater good will towards him That they must use such artifices whilst they expected an opportunity to effect what was resolved on That the King of Spain was throughly acquainted with all these proceedings that so he might suspect nothing by reason of those great preparations which were made for Warre for he was assured that this was done upon good grounds as subservient to the principal end That therefore he desired the Cardinall that whatsoever he had heard or should hear hereafter yet he should assure himself that the King would never depart from his first purpose and that whatsoever he did did but conduce to hasten the end of their Counsels and that both the King Queen-Mother and the Duke of Anjou were all very solicitous for this thing and that as soon as ever the businesse should be effected they would instantly send away Messengers to acquaint Lorraine with it And as for the businesse of the Prince of Navarrs marriage they hoped that it would quickly be effected for this was ro begin all their future designs c. He that sent these Letters to the Admirall hoped that he would have been warned by them to look to himself and his affairs but he had such a strong confidence of the Kings love and good will towards him which also was daily nourished in him by his Son-in-law Teligni that he which was most provident and sharp-sighted in all others businesses was fatally blind in this In the beginning of May 1571. the King desired the Queen of Navarr to go to Paris to provide all things necessary for the marriage where she arrived the fifteenth day of the same moneth and the fourth day of June she fell sick of a feavour whereof she died five daies after to the extream grief and sorrow of all her Servants and Friends Two daies before her death being in perfect memory she made a most Christian Testament and last Will finishing her course with singular piety and joy in God She was a Princesse of great experience by reason of her manifold adversities in all which she shewed an invincible constancy and heroicall greatnesse of courage most affectionate to her Religion very carefull of the education of her children training them up in the fear of God In her words most grave and full of motherly affections to them She had a ready and well advised wit was pitifull and easie to be intreated constantly maintained that which she judged to be good and agreeable to the will and good pleasure of God She had a great vivacity of spirit whereby she was able to comprehend all her affairs and had a lively grace in representing them either by word or writing She died June 9. 1572. and of her age 44. It was believed that she was poysoned by the smell of certain perfumes the Doctors and Chyrurgions which opened her were commanded not to open her brain where the mischief lay and therefore could not determine about the cause of her death The Admirrll in this time was at his house aa Castallion where he received many Letters and Messages from the King to come to him and because he stirred not the King sent Cavagnes and Briquemaud to fetch him that they might come to a conclusion about the Warres in Flanders and special commandment was given to the Provost of Merchants and other chief men that at the Admirals coming to Paris there should be no affronts done him About the same time the Admirall had many advertisements from his Friends both within and without the Realm that though he could not conceive any sinister opinion of the King his Mother or Brother that yet at least he would consider into what place he was about to thrust himself amongst so many implacable enemies But he resting upon the testimony of a good conscience and the providence of God rejected all those counsels as proceeding from mens covetousnesse or desire of new troubles which he abhorred worse then death and therefore taking a small train with him he went to Paris and was very honourably intertained by the King Queen-Mother the Kings Brethren and others to the great astonishment of the whole City At the Admirals coming to Paris amongst other Letters that were brought to him there was one that gave him these warnings Remember the Popish Maxime confirmed by the Authority of Councils That faith is not to be kept with Hereticks in which number the Protestants are accounted Remember the implacable spirits of the Papists at this time irritated by the last Warres There is no doubt but it is the fixed purpose of the Queen-Mother to destroy the Protestants by any means whatsoever Consider that she is an Italian of a most crafty wit born of the Progeny of Popes who contrives all extream things against her enemies Remember in what School the King hath been brought up from his childhood how he hath been taught to swear and forswear To pollute himself with whoredomes and adulteries To compose his countenance To counterfeit Faith and Religion How he hath been accustomed to cruelty and bloodshed How he hath been taught not to suffer above one Religion in his Kingdom How it hath been whispered into his ears That the Protestants seek to dispoil him of his life and Kingdom That he is not bound to keep Covenants made with armed Subjects That he is taught the Mysteries of State Policy Remember that Commodus caused Julianus to be slain whom he pretended to honour and imbrace as a Father That Antoninus Caracalla under the pretence of a Muster caused all the chief youths of the City to be slain That Lysander under the pretence of friendship commanded the throats of four hundred Milesians to be cut That lately Atonius Spinola invited all the chief men of Corsica to a Banquet where they were all slain That Christian King of Denmark used the same art to commit that horrid massacre at Stockholme c. That the Kings speech to his Mother at Blois was no secret when swearing fearfully he asked her whether he had not carried himself well at the coming of the Queen of Navarr To whom she answered That he had begun well but that would profit little unlesse he went on But I quoth he swearing often will bring them all into the net Wherefore if you be wise haste both out of the Court and City with all speed as out of a most impure sink The Admirall having read this Letter though he were offended yet lest he should seem to neglect the prayers and warnings of his Friends he returned this answer That there was no place left any longer for these suspitions That he was verily perswaded that so great perfidiousnesse could not enter into the heart of so good a King That indeed the Duke of Anjou was more estranged from the Protestants but that hatred would by degrees cease by
benefit of night some escaped By this time Cossen with some Swissers of the Duke of Anjou's guard had removed the chests and were come up the stairs One Beheme a German was the first that entred the chamber who seeing the Admirall sitting there said Are not you the Admirall I am quoth he but you young man should have regard to my hoary head and old age But Beheme exchanging no more words struck him with his Sword and first embrued himself in the Admirals blood then Cossen Atinius and the rest followed and slew him with many wounds This Atinius reported afterwards that he never saw a man in so present a danger to have born out death with so great a constancy Then did the Duke of Guise from below ask if the businesse were done answer was made that it was But said he the Duke of Engolisme will not believe it except he see him himself therefore cast down his body out at the window with that they hurled it down headlong into the Court all defiled with gore blood whereupon the bastard of Engolisme wiping the blood from his face with his handkerchief and thereby knowing him kicked him in a scornfull manner Some say it was the Duke of Guise that did it Then one of the Duke of Nevers servants cut off his head and carried it to the King and Queen-Mother who caused it to be embalmed and sent it as a present to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorrain to assure them of the death of their capitall enemy The people fell upon his Corps as mad men one cuts off his hands another his feet another his privy members and for three daies space drag his poor carcasse about the streets with all indignity Then some boyes would have thrown it into the River Seine but others dragged it to the gallows at Mountfaucon where they hung it up by the thighs and the shoulders downward but within few daies Francis Monmorency who had seasonably withdrawn himself from the danger caused some trusty persons to take it down by night and bury it in the Chappell at Contilia This was the end of this brave man who was the very first Noble man in all France that durst professe himself a Protestant and a helper of them He was marvellous zealous in performance of the exercises of Religion He used to rise very early and then putting on his night-gown and calling his Servants about him he went to prayer with them Then he set time apart to hear the Deputies of the Churches which were sent to him or for such like publique businesses Each other day in the forenoon he had a Sermon preached before him after which he returned to his businesse till dinner which being ready his Servants came in and there the Admirall standing by the Table and his Wife by his side one of David's Psalms were sung and a blessing craved upon the meat which course he did not only observe at his own house but every day in his Camp without intermission When the cloth was taken away he presently arose and standing with his Wife by him either himself or his Chaplain returned thanks At supper-time the same was done both with Prayers and Psalms And because he found it difficult to get all his Servants together at bed-time in regard of their various employments he caused them all to come in presently after supper where after a Psalm he went to prayer with them By this his excellent example very many of the French Nobility were enduced and encouraged to use the same discipline in their Families the Admirall often admonishing them that if they would embrace godlinesse in the life and power of it it was not enough for the Master of the Family to hear Sermons and to order his life in an holy and religious manner unlesse by his authority and example he brought all his houshold to joyn with him in the same When the time for receiving the Lords Supper approached he used to call his Friends and all his Family to him and shewed them that he must render an account to God for them as well as for himself If any discord was between them he reconciled it If any were ignorant he took care that they should be better instructed If any were obstinate he plainly gave them notice that it was better for them to remain at their own homes then for him to maintain such ungodly persons in his retinue He alwaies esteemed the carefull education of Children in good Schools a singular benefit of God and he called it the Seminary of the Church saying that ignorance of good letters was the cause of errour both in Church and State and that Popery crept in and kept in by that means Hereupon he erected a fair School at Chattilion under his Castle in a pleasant and wholesome place and bestowed great cost on it where he maintained Learned Interpreters of the Hebrew Greek and Latine tongues he maintained also many poor boyes and young men in that School He was modest and moderate in his desires after the world for though he had great Honours and Offices conferred upon him whereby he might much have enriched himself yet he added not so much as one Lordship or plough-land to the Inheritance left him by his Fathers He husbanded his estate and houshold affairs frugally yet having very many Noblemen and Gentlemen that resorted to him upon publique business he gave them free and hearty entertainment whereby he spent all that he saved at other times by his frugality Yea his extraordinary expences were so great that he left his Heir in debt no lesse then fourty thousand Crowns paying to his creditors yearly use-money no less then six thousand Crowns There was such incredible love and concord betwixt him and his two Brethren that all three seemed but to have one mind betwixt them He lived fifty three years six moneths and eight daies and was slain Aug. 24. 1572. He was of a middle stature of a ruddy colour his members equall and well compacted of a mild and cheerfull countenance of a small and pleasant voice yet somewhat slow and gentle of a healthy constitution of a comely gate and gesture abstemious in the use of Wine of a moderate diet and sleep for he never used to sleep above seven hours at the most After the Edict for Pacification he suffered no day to passe but before he went to bed he set down the things in his journall which fell out in the Civil Warres and were of any moment which being found after his death was carried to the King and admired by his very adversaries who thereby saw his quiet constant and composed mind in the midst of his greatest businesses When the Warre was finished and he was retired to Rochel no day passed over his head wherein he did not morning and evening read over one of Calvin's Sermons upon Job which History he used to call
then to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity Then he asked her if they should go to prayer with her which she desiring they performed it by her whilst this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection in calling upon God Prayer being ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of unfeigned Repentance and of the sorrow that she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which she had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospel and Ambassadour of the Son of God by the authority given to him having the word of reconciliation committed to him he assured her in the Name of Christ that all her sinnes were forgiven by God and that they should never come in account against her at his judgment seat yea that she should no more doubt thereof then if the Son of God from Heaven should say unto her Daughter be of good comfort thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose sins ye remit they are remitted c. And the reason is because the Word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight then if himself uttered the same Then he asked her Majesty if she accepted of so gracious a message which assured her of the free pardon of all her sins Yes saith she with all my heart and make no doubt thereof Not long after came in the Admirall Coligni and with him another Minister to whom she gave ear a good space together his speech tending to prepare her for death and when he had finished his speech he also prayed with her which she attended to with great affection Then she requested that those two Ministers might stay all night with her in her chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greatest part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these Ministers gave to this gracious Lady one after another besides which she required them to read to her some Chapters of the holy Scriptures which were pertinent to her condition and so they read out of St. Johns Gospel from the fourteenth to the end of the seventeenth Chapter After which they went to prayer with her which being ended the Queen desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to read again Whereupon one of them made choice of certain of David's Psalms full of ardent and affectionate prayers suting to this Princesse present condition by reason of her affliction and for a conclusion read Psal. 31. wherein the Prophet amongst other things doth commend his spirit into the hands of God Because saith he thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth Then the Queen willed them to pray with her again and thus was the most part of that night spent in such holy exercises during all which time the Ministers never discerned in her the least sign of impatience notwithstanding the violence of her affliction Yea whereas immediately before her sickness she had shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons Marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required yet it was admirable to observe that after this sicknesse had seized on her God wrought in her such a neglect and forgetfulnesse of all such matters that she never shewed to have so much as a thought thereof This night being thus spent and past by this Noble Queen she persevering in the expressions of such like affections and ardency of faith the next morning between eight and nine of the clock she departed this life to take possession of a far better sweetly yielding up her spirit into the hands of God June 9. Anno Christi 1572. being the sixth day after she fell sick and of her age 44. She had her perfect speech and memory even to the hour of her death shewing not only that staidnesse and soundnesse of judgement which ever in times past she had in the care about the salvation of her soul but also in the well settlement of her worldly affairs The King made as if he had conceived great grief for her death putting on mourning attire wherein also the whole Court followed his example lest by this suddain accident their Counsels and futurh desperate designs might be prevented Also to avoid all jealousies and suspitions of her being poisoned by reason of her suddain sicknesse and death her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chyrurgery who found her Heart and Liver very sound only some scirrousnesse on one side of her Lungs but her Head they might not open where the malady lay by which means the discovery of it was prevented Anonymus Soli Deo Gloria FINIS A TABLE OF The Principal things contained in this Part OF THE LIVES A. AFflictions profitable to Gods children p. 202 Antinomians practice 52 Apostacy plagued by God 25 Assurance to be sought 211 Astrologers are lyers 99 B. BIble is translated into English 4 Bishops enemies to godly Ministers and to the power of Godlinesse 1 2 20 21 28 29 30 41 46 48 53 58 61 63 89 106 109 146 148 149 162 163 185 189 191 201 223 A Bishop enjoyned to ask a Minister forgivenesse in his own Congregation 163 C. CHarity eminent 88 151 155 168 174 191 202 225 Charity of good Ministers 2 13 14 24 76 186 237 240 Comfort at death 142 Comforting afflicted consciences 16 173 202 204 Constancy 151 171 297 Contentation 55 177 171 Conversion 27 86 99 144 184 199 Conversion of a Jaylor 9 Courage 245 270 283 Courage of Gods Ministers 9 43 109 163 186 214 222 239 D. DEath desired 203 Death not feared 208 Devil dispossessed by Prayer 91 216 E. ENvy 46 Examples prevalent 294 F. FAith 86 180 205 207 267 285 Family cared for and well instructed 5 72 164 169 190 226 248 262 267 295 Fasting and Prayer 171 174 200 203 228 Fidelity 27 246 Flight refused in time of persecution 9 10 Flight embraced 12 Friendship sincere 391 221 Frugality 174 G. GRatitude 27 39 176 H. DAnger of unprofitable Hearers 81 Heretick burned 147 Hospitality 200 202 Humility 249 Humility of Gods Ministers 25 39 55 151 174 179 180 182 187 191 206 209 210 222 224 I. INgratitude 56 Joy unspeakable 25 202 L. Life exemplary 81 Long life why a blessing 303 M. WHat makes a compleat Man 81 What makes a compleat Minister 82 Meeknesse of Gods Ministers 25 174 207 Ministers cared for by God 5 6 10 11 Ministers dearly loved 195 Ministers falsly accused 52 Ministry of the Word successefull 21 25 30 67 79 87 89 147 158 164 167 186 201 213 217 231 P. PArents honoured 219 Painfulnesse in Preaching 1 5 14 22 41 46 56 157 164 173
183 185 187 191 200 210 219 222 223 231 232 Papists enemies to faithfull Ministers 5 8 9 29 Patience 89 207 283 307 Peacemakers blessed 15 210 Persecutors plagued by God 186 Persecution 251 Poverty of Gods Ministers 29 55 Prayer frequent and powerfull 25 86 91 191 196 The Benefits of it 205 Predictions and Prophesies 7 12 90 263 Providences speciall 5 10 11 12 33 36 37 42 54 59 62 89 91 144 145 150 161 164 184 187 206 213 215 216 217 239 261 263 265 270 298 Prudence 40 60 72 110 158 167 177 224 237 264 S. SAbbath-breakers plagued by God 160 165 Sabbath sanctified 227 Self-denial 40 89 185 186 221 230 Sin the greatest of evils 205 Slanders cast upon Christs Ministers 48 147 Sleep moderated 19 Studiousnesse of Ministers 9 24 34 79 153 172 191 Swearing how prevented 203 Sympathy with the Churches sufferings 25 177 T. THankfulnesse in Afflictions 211 Thanksgiving excellent 17 W. WOrd of God highly prized 19 26 153 189 203 219 World contemned 22 24 204 Z. Zeal 103 238 301 Zeal for the Sabbath 72 Zeal against Sectaries and Separatists 72 151 176 178 191 197 FINIS Errata in this Part of the Lives PAge 35. line 14. dele long l. 27. read demeanour p. 45. l. 4. dele therefore l. 32. r. he for they p. 47. l. 6. r. a for as p. 62. l. 35. r. bought for brought p. 70. l. 35. dele be p. 71. l. 13. put in of p. 83. l. 43. r. decease for disease p. 85. l. 12. r. skilfull for skill p. 94. l. 22. r. he took for then an took p. 105. l. 1. r. had l. 2. r. flower p. 134. l. 41. dele and. p. 151. l. 45. r. heal for zeal p. 168. l. 17. r. 1635 for 1631. p. 179. l. 18. r. yet for yea p. 189. l. 2. r. three penny for third p. 217. l. 31. r. them for him p. 246. l. 26. r. preferred for preserved p. 250. l. 5. r. your for our p. 262. l. 2. r. now for new p. 288. l. 20. r. Chieftains for Christians p. 293. l. 29. r. erected for elected p. 298. l. 27. r. lawfull for unlawfull Some other literall faults there are which are easily amended His birth and education His travels His going to Oxford He is famous for preaching His character His judgment of T. Aquinas The Bishops hate him And article against him The Archbishop frees him The Bishops implacable malice They accuse him to the King The King favoures him His Charity His death His Birth and Breeding The Bible translated His flight his Bibles printed He removes into Germany His return into England He is made Bishop of Exester His diligence in his place His character His care of his Family His liberallity He is hated by the Papists A special providence His imprisonment His deliverance He goes into Denmark To the Palatinate His return into England His death A Prediction Dr Mouses inconstancy and ingratitude Dr Sands his Oration His courage Meeknesse He is imprisoned in the Tower Flight refused· A Jailor converted His Name was Thomas Wyat. Sr Tho. Wyat profers him his liberty His prudent answer His release from prison He is again sought for A special providence A Prophecy He flies beyond sea A special providence His sicknesse His Wife died Charity His return to England He is a Bishop His death He was Fellow in Pembrook-Hall His remove to Dry Drayton His extraordinary pains His hard Studies His Charity A great Peace-maker 〈◊〉 â—isliked Martin Mar-Prelate He is convented before the Bishop His Prudence He is dismissed His Piety His skill in curing spiritual diseases His remove to London His death His Birth His studiousnesse He is a Lawyers Clarke His return to Cambridge His Disputation before the Queen He is chosen Professor His multitude of hearers He is questioned before the Vice-Chancellor He is expelled the University The Articles for which he was expelled His travels beyond-sea Beza's testimony of him He is Preacher to the English Merchants He is chosen to answer Dr. Whitgift His imprisonment His contempt of the world His favour with the Earl of Leicester King James sends for him into Scotland He is sent to for counsell He is made Master of the Hospital at Warwick His esteem in the Countrey His diligence in the Ministry He is importuned to answer the Rhemist Testament Encouraged by Sir Francis Walsingham He is sollicited thereto by the Doctors of Cambridge * Church-Discipline And by the Ministers of London and Suffolke His discouragements in the work The work left imperfect His going into Gernsey His contempt of the world His charity His Prudence His studiousnesse His meekness His humility His sympathy with the Church His frequency in Prayer The successe of his Ministry A remarkable judgment upon a loose Professer His last Sermon Joy unspeakable His death His Birth and Education His Fathers Prudence His conversion Mr. Wilsons fidelity Mr. Baines his Gratitude He is chosen Fellow He is chosen Lecturer Prelatical malice He is silenced His painfulness and piety And poverty The Bishops malice Gods Providence His faithfulnesse and prudence His Character by Dr Sibbs The manner of his death His Parentage His Education at Worcester His return to Bosworth Gods Providence in providing for him His going to Cambridge Admitted into to Emanuel Colledge His diligence in his studies Dr Chadertons care for him Sidney Colledg built His journey into Guernsey Mr Cartwrights love to him His carriage in his place His return to Cambridge Mr Cartwrights commendation of him His gracious deliverance in his return Gods special Providence over him A Miracle of mercy He is admitte-Fellow in Sidney Colledge His Gratitude His humility His inviolable friendship His prudent and winning carriage His Prudence His self-denial He enters into the Ministry His imployment at Abington And at Steeple-Morden The occasion of his first trouble The Bishops subtlle practices A special Providence His courage He withdraws from the Colledge His Letter to a Friend about it His return to the Colledge He is sent for to Chatham He goes to Chatham His faithfulness in his place A motion of marriage made to him Satans malice against the progresse of the Gospel He is accused to the Bishop Sir Francis Hastings his Letter to the Archbishop in his behalf Bishop Bancrofts malice Master Bear-blocks malice against him He is charged with Heresie His Letter to Master Bearblock about that charge The Antinomians practice A Spie sent to entrap him He is falsly accused He is summoned before the Bishop He is summoned before the Bishops Subscription made a snare He is suspended from Chatham Another Spie sent to entrap him The Inhabitants of Chatham Petition for him to the Bishop Gods Providence for him He departs from Chatham He is setled at Newhall His small means of Maintenance His contentation His Letter to a Friend about it His humility His great pains Monstrous ingratitude He is chosen Lecturer at Christ Church London Bishop Bancrofts malice
special Providence His humility His death His Birth His education His love of the Scriptures His remove to Cambridge His call to Cawk The education of her children His call to Shrewsbury Satans malice His suspension His judgment against separation His studiousnesse His painfulnesse His humility and charity His servent Prayers His remove to Wrenbury A character of Mr. Nicholls Mr. Herrings character His call to Amsterdam The reason of his remove His Letter martyrdome The Lady Bromleys love to Christs Ministers His arrival in Holland His entertainment there His first Sermon Return of prayers His fear of Independency His death His birth and education His first going to Cambridge His conversion His disputation at the Commencement Note He preached a Lecture at Ely His removall to Hanwel His great pains there His frequency in fasting and prayer His hospitality His second marriage The great successe of his Ministry His deprivation His preaching at Fenni-Compton His removall to Cannons-Ashby He is again silenced He had an excellent gift in conference His comforting of afflicted consciences Joy unspeakable Note He is placed at Fausley His hospitality His charity The benefit of afflictions Troubles to be expected His frequency in Fasting and Prayer His diseases His desire of death The reasons of his desire His taking occasions to do good How he prevented swearing His delight in the Law of God His mercifulnesse His love and charity Dr. Prestons love to him He comforts Mr. Throgmorton His weanednesse from the world What wicked men are like Note Afflictions Gods potions The power of his Ministry His excellency for similitudes Benefits of death Benefit of Prayer Benefit of Faith We should not be weary of hearing Sinfull recreations Promises great riches His humility Love better then Law The benefit of turning to God betimes A special Providence His Faith How afflictions may be lessened Meeknesse Comfort in dangers His Faith Cavaliers cruelty His patience Death not feared Passionate rebukes unprofitable What contention should be amongst married persons His manner of preaching The Scope of his Prayers His exposition of Scripture His custom in preaching What preaching is unprofitable True humiliation His preaching by signes Christians should be cheerfull His indefatigablenesse The benefit of plain preach-king His holy life His peace-maing His acutenesse His humility His modesty What Wise should be chosen How we may alwaies have comfort What will make us willing to suffer Assurance to be laboured foâ— Thankfulness in afflictions Prayer His tentation and victory His faith and patience His death His call to Stoke The great successe of his Ministry His flight to Warder Castle Special providences His remove to Sarum He is condemned to be hanged His courage and constancy A special Providence His remove to Winchester He is urged to recant His remove to Oxford His Release He is sent for by the Earl of Essex His going to Barwick A special Providence Possession Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom Satan Balsom A special Providence The great successe of his Ministry His death His Parentage His birth and education He was sanctified from the Womb. His frequent reading of the Scriptures His natural endowments His skill in the French His industry His observance of his Parents Despisers of Parents usually punished by God His admission into the University He is made Fellow of Queens Colledge His care over his Pupils He is ordained Minister His call to Canterbury The occasion of it Friendship His self-denial He was a burning and shining light His opposition to innovations His humility He doth good abroad He is opposed by Sectaries and Cathedralists His Lecture put down He is again restored Tentations prevented His remove to Ashwel His great pains His humility and sincerity His prudence His diligent catechizing His prudent charity His Cathechism His manner of reforming disorders His Family-Government His care for sanctifying the Sabbath His secret duties His Fasting and Prayer His frequency in reading the Scriptures His holy and exact walking He is made University-Preacher He is made a Member of the Assembly His conscientiousnesse therein His fitnesse for it His care for Ashwel in his absence His choice to Dukes-place His self-denial His great pains The success of his Ministry His call to the new Church His temperance The reasons of his removall His great pains A faithfull Pastor His amiable and affable disposition His care about the Lords Supper He is made Master of Queens Colledge His Government of the Colledge His care to promote Religion there His care to advance learning His charity His prudence A true Nathaniel His zeal His courage and faithfulnesse His vindication of the Sabbath A special Providence His faithfulnesse His judgment about the King His temperance and sobriety His liberality and charity His last sicknesse His Prayer before death His death His Parentage His Fathers death His Mothers death Popes Policy His Birth His education His valour He is wounded His advancement His military discipline His military service He is made Admirall He is made Generall He makes Peace with the Emperour His distast of perjury The cause of the feud betwixt him and the Guises His courage St Quintan besieged His fidelity to his Countrey His industry The French Army routed The City battered St Quintan taken The Admirall taken His sicknesse a means of health to his soul. He devests himself of his Offices His temperance Andelot questioned for Religion His stout Answer His imprisonment The cause why he left his Offices His godly wife encourages him Persecution attends the Gospel He instructs and reforms the Family The power of Religion His prudent humility How Christ is received in the Sacrament He partakes of the Sacrament to the great joy of the Churches Persecution the bellows of the Gospel A meeting of the Nobility His zeal and courage The Protestants Petition His boldnesse A Parliament desired The Protestants persecuted The Admirals oversight A general convention of the States A petition for the Protestants The malice of the Clergy The Protestants freed from persecution Churches allowed them A massacre by the Duke of Guise The King seized on by the D. of Guise Why the Protestants first took arms Prince of Conde made Generall The Admirall made Lieutenant Generall P. of Condees facility The Q Mothers perfidiousnesse P. of Conde prisoner The Admirall releases him His eldest Son dieth The Guises call in forraign help And so do the Protestants The Admirall taketh their ammunition A Battell Conde taken prisoner The Admirals valour John Poltrot slew the Duke of Guise A wicked brag A peace concluded The Admirall accused He clears himself The controversie determined by the King The Admirall cleared Treachery against the Admirall He forgives the Traitor The Q. Mothers mischievous counsels Her subtilty God follows her with the plague The Guises attempts against the Protestants frustrated by the Admirall Lies raised of him His speech to the Parisians His speech to the Parliament New treachery against him
and Conduit-pipe of strength and power Act. 14.10 Joh. 5.8 9. as Lazarus Joh. 11.43 44. Thus God by bidding and commanding men to take grace doth thereby fit them and enable them to do it as that Creeple Act. 3.6 7 8. was by the command inabled so Saul Act. 22.13 being commanded to receive his fight was inabled the same moment to look upon him and so vers 16. being commanded to wash away his sins had the blood of Christ provided ready for to do it So these commands are not like those the Apostle speaks of Jam. 2.16 for here is something given when God bids he doth not Verba dare sed rem But it was further urged by the Doctor that God had no pleasure in the death of wicked men Ezek. 33.11 but that he would rather they should repent and leave their sins Ezek. 18.23 and vers 32. if therefore God were not ready to the utmost of his power to give them grace he could not be excused from dissembling and double-dealing But Dr. Preston answered That superiours may command unable persons for many reasons but cannot be said for to dissemble unless they refuse to give when the required condition is performed As if I bid one come unto me and I will give him six-pence if I refuse when he is come I did dissemble but if he comes not he cannot charge me for their not coming may be for want of will Joh. 5.40 as well as for want of power Joh. 6.44 Now if I know a Creeple will not come though he could I may punish him for it It 's true God delights in nothing but himself his joy and comfort is terminated only in himself not in the creature but as some way served and represented by it for God made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 yea for his pleasure Rev. 4.11 That is the exercise and illustration of some one of his attributes as his power Exod. 9.16 Rom. 9.17 his wrath Rom. 9.22 Never did strong man glory of his strength more then God doth of his Soveraignty and Omnipotency Job 40.9 10 11 12 13. Now if it fall out that in the illustration and exercise of these his glorious attributes and excellencies some creatures smart yet he delights not in their smart and sufferings but in the demonstration of his own Omnipotency Ahashuerus makes a Feast to all the States and Orders of his Kingdome to shew the riches of his glorious Kingdome and the Honour of his excellent Majesty Esth. 1.3 4. This was not done without the smart and suffering of many of the creatures yet he delights not in their sufferings but in his own magnificence and bounty When Christ was at the Feast Joh. 2.1 2. he doth not condole the death of all those innocents that went to make it up Qui fruitur poena ferus est but rejoyced in the good cheer and good will of the Friend that bade him There were few present of Doctor Prestons Friends and accordingly this conference was represented and reported with all the disadvantage that could be to him insomuch that many Parliament men that were his friends were much offended at it which occasioned him as soon as he came to Cambridge to write the several passages and send them to those friends that were unsatisfied But it was an evidence that the Duke and Dr. Preston were not so great but that he sticked to the Prelates and would in the issue leave Dr. Preston and the Puritans which much abated good mens affections to the Duke and it was believed that he had no such footing in the Kings affections as he did pretend unto Posteà Maecenas speciem potius quam vim tenuit in amicitia Principis They thought his greatnesse began to languish and it was believed in the University that there was another favourite in being though yet obscure for the Earl of Suffolke much about this time died who had been a long time Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and great meanes was used to set the Duke up for to succeed him but good men were fallen off because of his deserting Dr. Preston and others did believe his glory was departed and so the Earl of Berkshire the former Chancellors second Son was set up against the Duke and many visited for him that loved greatnesse and were servants good enough unto the times and it 's believed it had been carried for him against the Duke if the wisdome of Dr. Goffing then Vice-Chancellor and some others in the scrutiny had not prevented it but it was pronounced for the Duke and great care was taken for the investing of him in a very solemn manner A representative of the University is designed to attend him at York-house in their habits and a sumptuous Feast provided for their entertainment the Duke sate in the midst of the Table among the Doctors where by some body there was an health begun unto the King When it came to Dr. Preston for to pledge it he was uncovered and bowed as others had done but drank but very little and so delivered it unto the next but one of the Doctors took notice that he drank not all and told him he had seen him drink as great a glass of wine and did believe he could have drunk this if he would but that he loved to be singular The Dr. acknowledged he was not skilfull in the laws of drinking healths and therefore if he had offended he desired it might be imputed to his ignorance but he thought the end was to shew respect unto the persons named which was done best by the Ceremonies that preceded as being bare standing up and such like wherein he said he had not willingly offended but if it were an Engine to Court-intemperance and engage men unto greater quantities then themselves liked it fell short of that modesty and freedom of the Heathens Esth. 1.8 and was a sin in all but in men of their degree and rank and an abominable wickednesse The Duke misliked this incivility and frowned on the Doctor that occasioned it but it was believed it could not have been done without assurance that the Dukes affections were ebbing towards Dr. Preston And no wonder for his end being to make impressions of good upon the Court he could not but see if they did not succeed they would recoil If you manure and sow your land if the seeds subdues it not and conquers it it is enabled to bring forth the stronger weeds Heb. 6.7 8. If your Pearles be cast before swine they will also turn again and rend you Mat. 7.6 The Duke had now seen the worth and way of Dr. Preston he had found that he could not winne him and make him his he could not therefore in the way of policy but labour and resolve to wrack and sink him When Herod was convented by prevailing conquering Augustus for his great assistance of Mark Anthony his adversary and knew it would be in Augustus power to take his head off he setled his