preached in the beginning of every year Brief determinations of Theological Questions in the Schools very many and written with his own hand Fuller and more exact determinations of questions at the Commencement of the same number with his Latin Sermons a Book against Stapleton De originali peccato written fair and prepared for the Press The loss of these we may impute to his Immature Death For by a winter Journey to London and immoderate watching he contracted a Disease whereof he died peaceably breathing out his Spirit sweetly as an infant and saying He desired to live no longer unless for Gods Honour and the Churches service He was honourably buried in his Colledge having been Regius Professor An. 16. Head of St. Johns An. 9. Decemb. 1595. AEt 47. IV. Dr. Andrew Willet From Dr. Peter Smith 1. THere is no way more expedite of instruction to good life as Polybius wisely observeth than by the knowledge of things past and of the noble acts of famous Worthies their Histories are our Documents and their honours our incitements whereas Fame contemned brings contempt of Virtue We are not easily moved with Precepts Examples are more powerful Wherefore I have adventured briefly to sum up a few remarkable passages of the Life and Death of the Laborious and Learned Dr. Willet whose worth in the full Latitude cannot easily be expressed and my guide herein shall be either certain knowledge or most credible relation 2. It was ever esteemed no mean blessing to be well descended and though thy Fathers goodness shall avail thee little if thou beest not good yet it availeth much to make thee good Such a good Father had this worthy man by name Mr. Thomas Willet a grave Divine who in his younger time was Sub-Almoner unto that Reverend Prelate Dr. Cox Eleemosynary and Schoolmaster unto Edward VI. our Englands young Josiah of most blessed memory After whose death Dr. Cox being in Exile during the Reign of Queen Mary this Mr. Willet was not only deprived of his Service but enforced for his Conscience to forsake his first Promotion in the Church of Windsor and to betake himself to the House of a truly noble Gentleman who was a faithful Obadiah and hid him in those days of persecution But when Dr. Cox by Queen Elizabeth was advanced to the Bishoprick of Ely his antient Chaplain then repairs unto him is lovingly embraced and preferred to a Prebend in his Church And afterward when a Messenger told the good Bishop the Parson of Barley in Hartfordshire was dead the Bishop replied He is not dead And when the party avowed he was dead the Bishop again replies I tell you the Parson of Barley is not dead for there he sits pointing at Mr. Willet who was then sitting at the Table 3. The Rectory being thus added to his other means did now enable him to do works of Charity and as he had freely received so he freely gave He remembred that he had been the Dispenser of a Princes Alms and still retained a magnificent mind that way His Wife was as nobly minded and as free In her elder years when her Children were disposed of in the world her manner was to call her poor Neighbours in and feeding them to say Now again have I my Children about me Thus they laid up blessings for their seed were preserved upon an unexpected accident befalling a Proctor of their Colledge undertook his Office at the Commencement and being as Thucydides saith of Themistocles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very dexterous and ready to perform any thing well upon the sudden his Orations were such as gained the approbation and applause if not the admiration of all his Auditors both their own and strangers who knew the straits of time wherein he was confined 7. After he had spent 13 years in that University his Father now grown old resigned his Prebend in the Church of Ely which by the Favour of Queen Elizabeth sede vacante was conferr'd upon him Hereupon he left his Fellowship and betook himself to the Society of a Wife of the Kindred of old Doctor Goad Provost of Kings Colledge In this estate God bless'd him with a numerous Issue 8. His manner was to arise early in the morning and to get half way on his Journey before others could get out he came down at the hour of Prayer taking his Family with him to Church after he was preferred to the Rectory of Barley upon the death of his Father there Service was publickly read either by himself or his Curate to the great comfort of his Parishioners before they went out to their daily Labours Prayers being ended he returns unto his task again until near dinner time then he would recreate himself a while either playing upon a little Organ or sporting with his young Children and sometimes he would use cleaving of Wood for exercise of his Body At his Table he was always pleasant to his Company telling some pretty Apothegme or Facete Tale and seasoning it with some profitable Application After dinner his custom was to refresh himself a little sometime sitting in Discourse sometime walking abroad and now and then taking some view of his Husbandry after which straightway to his better employments again till supper time so that commonly without extraordinary avocations he spent no less than eight hours a day in his Study 9. By which long continued course he had read the Fathers Councils Ecclesiastical Histories c. and published Books to the number of 33 besides nine more unprinted He hath much variety of matter in his larger sixfold Commentaries where he hath collected and judicially disposed those things which you have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scatteringly in many several Books and saving the Readers cost and pains hath molded up together the choicest flour of Commentaries old and new that appear upon those parts of the Scripture but his Synopsis Papismi carrieth away the prize before all other Writings wherewith Dr. Willet hath adorned our Church being now the fifth time and that by special Commendation from his Royal Majesty published Justly is he numbred by Bishop Hall sometime his Collegue in the Service of Prince Henry among those Worthies of the Church of England to whom he gives this Elogy Stupor mundi clerus Britannicus 10. Amidst all his pains of Writing and his other Studies he never omitted his usual exercise of Preaching In his younger time he read the Lecture for three years together in the Cathedral Church of Ely for one year in St. Pauls in both with singular Approbation of a most frequent Auditory Sometimes he preached in Cambridge both Ad Clerum and Ad Populum discovering himself to be the only man Quem rus non infuscavit whom the Country had not stained and therefore at his last Degree was chosen to answer in the Divinity Act. 11. This being over he returns to his people again daily teaching them and instructing them in a plain Familiar way applying himself to their capacity and
upon a general charge imputing to the Church of England the great crime of Schism and by this they thought they might with most probability deceive unwary and unskilful Readers for they saw the Schism and they saw we had left them and because they consider'd not the Causes they resolved to out-face us in the Charge The Bishop now having an Argument fit to employ his great abilities undertakes the question and in a full Discourse proves the Church of Rome not only to be guilty of the Schism by making it necessary to depart from them but they did actuate the Schism and themselves made the first separations in the great point of the Pope's Supremacy which was the palladium for which they principally contended He made it appear that the Popes of Rome were Usurpers of the Rights of Kings and Bishops that they brought in new Doctrines in every Age that they impos'd their own devices upon Christendom as Articles of Faith that they prevaricated the Doctrines of the Apostles that the Church of England only return'd to her Primitive purity that she joyn'd with Christ and his Apostles that she agreed in all the sentiments of the Primitive Church 18. The old Bishop of Chalcedon known to many of us replyed to this excellent Book but was soon answer'd by a Rejoynder made by the Lord Bishop of Derry in which he so pressed the former Arguments refuted the Cavils brought in so many imimpregnable Authorities and probations and added so many moments and weights to his Discourse that the pleasures of reading the Book would be the greatest if the profit to the Church of God were not greater Whenever men will desire to be satisfied in those great questions the Bishop of Derry's Book shall be their Oracle 19. I will not insist upon his other excellent Writings but it is known every where with what Piety and acumen he wrote against the Manichaean Doctrine of fatal necessity which a late witty man had pretended to adorn with a new Vizor but this excellent person washed off the ceruss and the meretricious paintings rarely well asserted the Oeconomy of the Divine Providence and having once more triumph'd over his Adversary betook himself to the more agreeable attendance upon Sacred Offices and having usefully and wisely discoursed of the Sacred Rite of Confirmation impos'd hands upon the most illustrious Princes the Dukes of York and Glocester and the Princess Royal and ministred to them the promise of the Holy Spirit and ministerially established them in the Religion and Service of the Holy Jesus 20. And one thing more I shall remark that at his leaving those parts upon the Kings Return some of the Remonstrant Ministers of the Low-Countries coming to take their leaves of his great man and desiring that by his means the Church of England would be kind to them He had reason to grant it because they were learned men and in many things of a most excellett Belief yet he reproved them and gave them caution against it that they approached too near and gave too much countenance to the great and dangerous errours of the Socinians 21. He thus having serv'd God and the King abroad God was pleas'd to return to the King and to us all as in the days of old and we sung the Song of David In convertendo captivitatem Sion When King David and all his Servants returned to Jerusalem this great person having trod in the Wine-press was called to drink of the Wine and as an honorary Reward of his great Services and Abilities was chosen Primate of this National Church He had this Remark in all his Government that as he was a great hater of Sacriledge so he professed himself a publick enemy to non-residence and religiously against it allowing it in no case but of necessity or the greater good of the Church 22. There are great things spoken of his Predecessor St. Patrick that he founded 700 Churches and Religious Covents that he ordained 5000 Priests and with his own hands Consecrated 350 Bishops How true the story is I know not but we are all witnesses that the late Primate whose memory we now Celebrate did by an extraordinary contingency of Providence in one day consecrate two Archbishops and ten Bishops and did benefit to almost all the Churches in Ireland and was greatly instrumental to the endowments of the whole Clergy and in the greatest abilities and incompararable industry was inferiour to none of his most glorious Antecessors 23. The Character which was given of that Learned Primate Richard of Armagh by Trithemius does exactly fit this our Father Vir in divinis c. He was learned in the Scriptures skilled in secular Philosophy and not unknowing in the Civil and Canon Laws in which studies I wish the Clergy were with some carefulness and diligence still more conversant He was of an excellent Spirit a Scholar in his Discourses an early and industrious Preacher to the People And as if there were a more particular sympathy between their souls our Primate had so great a veneration to his Memory that he purposed if he had lived to have restor'd his Monument in Dundalk which time or impiety or unthankfulness had either omitted or destroyed So great a lover he was of all true and inherent worth that he loved it in the very memory of the Dead and to have such great examples transmitted to the intuition and imitation of Posterity 24. At his coming to the Primacy he knew he should at first espy little besides the ruines of Discipline a Harvest of Thorns and Heresies prevailing in the hearts of the people the Churches possessed by Wolves and Intruders mens hearts greatly estranged from true Religion and therefore he set himself to weed the Fields of the Church He treated the Adversaries sometimes sweetly sometimes he confuted them learnedly sometimes he rebuked them sharply He visited his Charges diligently and in his own person not only by proxies and instrumental deputations he design'd nothing that we know of but the Redintegration of Religion the Honour of God and the King the restoring of collapsed Discipline and the renovation of the Faith and the Service of God in the Churches and still he was indefatigable and even in the last Scene of his life not willing that God should take him unemployed 25. The last of January God sent him a brisk alarm of Death whereupon he made his Will in which beside the prudence and presence of Spirit manifested in making a just and wise settlement of his Estate and provisions for his descendants at midnight and in the trouble of his sickness and circumstances of addressing death he kept still a special sentiment and made confession of Gods admirable mercies and gave thanks that God had permitted him to live to see the blessed Restauration of his Majesty and the Church of England confessed his Faith to be the same as ever gave praises to God that he was born and bred up in this Religion and prayed
A REMEMBRANCER OF Excellent Men. I. Dr. John Reynolds II. Mr. Richard Hooker III. Dr. William Whitaker IV. Dr. Andrew Willet V. Dr. Daniel Featley VI. Walter Norban Esq VII Mr. John Gregory VIII Bishop Duppa IX Archbishop Bramhall X. Bishop Taylor Ecclus. 44. 1. Let us now praise Famous Men. LONDON Printed for John Martyn at the Bel without Temple-Bar 1670. TO THE Noble and Ingenious Gentleman-Scholar J. H. In hopes he will live to increase the Number of Excellent Men. THIS REMEMBRANCER Is Dedicate by C. B. A REMEMBRANCER OF Excellent Men. I. Dr. John Reynolds From Sir Wake 's Latin Oration 1. HOW Frail and uncertain is the Life of Man I wish if it had pleased God we might have learned some other way than by this present spectacle Yet must we not lament overmuch the death of this excellent Person whose happiness we cannot doubt of being well assured of his Piety and Virtue one to whom no part of felicity is wanting but that of Virginius Rufus to have another Tacitus to give him a Funeral Commendation As for me whilst I behold this concourse of Scholars at other times pleasant to me now upon this occasion sad and call to mind the Royal tears of Xerxes poured forth at the view of his numerous Army I cannot choose but mourn and sigh having before my eyes as in a glass the image of your Mortality also 2. For who is there that in confidence of Learning Wisdom and Virtue can far extend the hope of Life when the inexorable power above hath not pleased to spare this great propugnator of the Orthodox Religion notwithstanding the tears of our Mother the University and the importunate Prayers of the grieved Church Certainly if those inestimable riches of the mind and unperishable Graces could impart their efficacy to the Body and give strength and vigour to it Reynolds had still lived here not according to his own desire who preferred Heaven but ours who would enjoy him he had lived so as never to dye to grow old or to be sick 3. But to the great loss of Mankind it falls out contrary that the more any man hath enriched his mind with those Divine Ornaments of Learning and Wisdom so much the more hastily does the Soul it self weary of her earthly Tabernacle aspire to a higher dwelling and the Body having spent all the spirits in those noble but laboursome studies fail and decay This was the Reason why this Learned Man after so many Scholastick Victories and triumphs his strength of Body being wasted breathed forth his glorious Soul and left us to lament his departure Indeed he hath lived long enough for himself long enough for Fame which yet he could not have out-lived but not long enough for the Common-wealth which hath need of so perfect a pattern of all Virtue not for the University which wanteth that Light of Learning now extinguished not for the Common Interest of Religion which being deprived of such a Patron is liable to danger 4. For although he hath pull'd off the disguise from the Roman Idolatry and expos'd it to the hatred of God and Man although he hath almost cut the throat of the Antichristian Monster though he hath transfixed the very heart of Popery through the sides of Hart yet Sanders is still untouch'd but he hath felt the hand of God in the Irish Mountains where he wandred Bellarmine is not quite broken Baronius his frauds are not all discovered not to speak of our growing Adversaries In the midst of so much work how could such a man find the leisure to dye the Harvest being so great and the Labourers so few scarce any at all like unto him 5. This is matter of Lamentation to the Church whereof she is so sensible as if she seemed ready to faint at the Death of Reynolds But our Mother the University hath a countenance more sorrowful if more may be and all bedewed with her tears She thinks upon nothing but her Reynolds seemeth still to see her Reynolds to hear Reynolds and to embrace his shadow I cannot deny that our happy Mother hath in this Age so numerous an off-spring of Learned Sons that she may rather rejoyce in her fruitfulness than complain of her loss and if ever now take up that speech of Brasidas his Mother Brasidas indeed was a Worthy and Valiant man but Sparta hath many more such Nevertheless I cannot choose but favour and excuse her pious tears and just grief when I consider she hath lost a person who let not Envy hear so far outshined the rest of her Sons 8. Now let that foul impudent Railer Weston go vomit forth what scurrilities he will and accuse our Doctor of slowness and of pretending Sickness He thinks us all very dull who held such a person in so high Veneration and believed him to be sick whom alas we see dead And yet Weston himself when he so inveighed against the Heads of our University that even for being Married some of them he by name accusing of wickedness could not find so much as one act to be reprehended in the whole life of this most Holy man 9. But he was far off what did they that stood at nearer distance They all dearly lov'd the man they lov'd his manners and integrity And if perhaps his resolute severity and stiffness of mind without favour and partiality might be blamed in him or if any thing else but what could Verily that fault would sooner become a Virtue than our Saint be made Vitious No question but he is in a blessed condition among the Holy Angels As for us who reverence the Memory of this best and wisest man we shall not doubt to pronounce Oxford will then be happy when any equal and like to him shall succeed into his place For we may have whom their great Eloquence infinite Reading sublimity of Wit gravity of Judgment Virtue Humanity Candor and all these shewed in excellent Monuments and Writings may very much commend Reynolds certainly we shall not have In B. Mariae Ox. Maii 25. 1607. Concerning Doctor Reynolds out of Dr. Crackanthorps Defensio Ecclesiae Anglicanae c. 69. p. 491. An. 1625. DOctor Crackanthorp there tells the Archbishop of Spalato that Dr. Reynolds was no Puritan as he called him but he himself a great Calumniator For first he professed that he appeared unwillingly in the Cause at Hampton-Court and meerly in obedience to the Kings Command And then he spake not one word there against the Hierarchy Nay he acknowledged it to be consonant to the Word of God in his Conference with Hart. And in Answer to Sanders his Book of the Schism of England which is in the Archbishops Library he professes that he approves of the Book of Consecrating and Ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons He was a strict observer also of all the Orders of the Church and University both in publick and his own Colledge wearing the square Cap and Surplice kneeling at the Sacrament and he
himself commemorating their Benefactors at the times their Statutes appointed and reading that Chapt. out of Ecclesiasticus which is on such occasions used In a Letter also of his to Archbishop Bancroft then in Dr. Crackanthorp's hands he professes himself conformable to the Church of England willingly and from his heart his Conscience admonishing him so to be And thus he remained perswaded to his last breath desiring to receive Absolution according to the manner prescribed in our Liturgy when he lay on his Death-bed Which he did from Dr. Holland the Kings Professor in Oxford kissing his hand in token of his love and joy and within a few hours after resigned up his Soul to God II. Mr. Richard Hooker From Mr. Isaac Walton 1. HIS Schoolmaster perswaded his Parents who intended him for a Prentice to continue him at School till he could find out some means by perswading his rich Uncle or some other charitable person to ease them of a part of their care and charge assuring them that their Son was so enriched with the Blessings of Nature and Grace that God seemed to single him out as a special Instrument of his Glory And the Good man whose name I am sorry I am not able to recover told them also that he would double his diligence in instructing him and would neither expect nor receive any other reward than the content of so happy an employment 2. His Parents and his Master laid a Foundation for his future happiness by instilling into his Soul the Seeds of Piety those conscientious Principles of loving and fearing God a Belief that he knows the very secrets of our Souls that he punisheth our Vices and rewards our Innocence that we should be free from Hypocrisie and appear to man what we are to God because first or last the crafty man is catch'd in his own snare These seeds of Piety were so seasonably planted and so continually watered with the dew of Gods blessed Spirit as hath made Richard Hooker honour'd in this and will continue him to be so to succeeding Generations An. 3. Eliz. John Hooker gave Bishop Jewell a Visit at Salisbury and besought him for Charity sake to look favourably upon a poor Nephew of his whom Nature had fitted for a Scholar but the estate of his Parents was so narrow that they were unable to give him the advantage of Learning and that the Bishop would therefore become his Patron and prevent him from being a Tradesman for he was a Boy of remarkable hopes The Bishop appointed the Boy and his Schoolmaster should attend him about Easter next following and then after some questions and observations of the Boy 's Gravity and Behaviour gave his Schoolmaster a reward and an annual Pension to his Parents promising also to take him into his Care 4. An. 1567. About the 14th year of his Age the Bishop commended Hooker to Dr. Cole President of C. C. Colledge who provided for him both a Tutor which was said to be John Reynolds and a Clerks place which though not a full maintenance yet with the Contribution of his Uncle and the continued Pension of his Patron the good Bishop it gave him a comfortable subsistence And in this condition he continued unto the 18th year of his Age still increasing in Learning and Prudence in Humility and Piety 5. About this time of his Age he fell into a dangerous Sickness which lasted two months all which time his Mother having notice of it did in her hourly Prayers as earnestly beg his life of God as the Mother of St. Augustin did that he might become a true Christian and their Prayers were both so heard as to be granted Which Mr. Hooker would often mention with much joy and as often pray That he might never live to occasion any sorrow to his good Mother whom he loved so dearly that he would endeavour to be good even as much for hers as for his own sake 6. As soon as he was perfectly recovered from this Sickness he took a Journey from Oxford to Exeter to satisfie and see his good Mother and by the way visited the good Bishop After his return to his Colledge came sad news of the death of his Learned and Charitable Patron But Dr. Cole raised his Spirits and bad him go chearfully to his Studies and assured him he should not want 7. A little before his death Bishop Jewell meeting with Bishop Sandys who had been his companion in exile began a story of his Hooker and in it gave such a Character of his Learning and manners that though Bishop Sandys was educated in Cambridge where he had obliged and had many Friends yet his Resolution was that his Son Edwin should be sent to Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford and by all means be Pupil to Mr. Hooker though his Son Edwin was then almost of the same Age. For said the Bishop I will have a Tutor for my Son that shall teach him Learning by Instruction and Virtue by example And doubtless as to these two a better choice could not be made For by great industry added to his great Reason He did not only know more but what he knew he knew better than other men And such was his pious behaviour that in four years he was but twice absent from the Chappel-Prayers and there he shewed an awful Reverence of that God which he worshipped He was never known to be angry or passionate or extreme in any of his desires never heard to repine or dispute with Providence but by a quiet gentle submission bore the burthen of the day with patience And when he took any liberty to be pleasant his wit was never blemish'd with Scoffing or the utterance of any conceit that bordered upon or might beget a thought of looseness in his hearers 8. In the 19th year of his Age Decemb 24. 1573. he was chosen to be one of the 20 Scholars of the Foundation And Feb. 23. 1576. his Grace was given him for Inceptor of Arts Dr. Herbert Westphaling a man of note for Learning being then Vice-chancellor The Act following he was compleated Master his Patron Doctor Cole being Vicechancellor that year and his dear Friend Mr. Henry Savil of Merton Colledge being then one of the Proctors That Savil which afterward founded two famous Lectures in the Mathematicks and enriched the world with that laborious and chargeable Edition of St. Chrysostomes Works in Greek 9. And in this year 1577. Mr. Hooker was chosen Fellow of the Colledge happy also in being the Contemporary and Friend of Dr. John Reynolds and of Dr. Spencer both which were after successively made Presidents of that Colledge men of great Learning and Merit and famous in their Generations Happy he was also in the Pupillage and Friendship of his Edwin Sandys after Sir Edwin Sandys known by his Speculum Europae and of George Cranmer the Great Archbishop and Martyr's grand Nephew a Gentleman of Singular hopes both whom a desire to know the Affairs and
by hastning to give life to his Books But this is certain that the nearer he was to his Death the more he grew in Humility in holy Thoughts and Resolutions 27. In this time of his Sickness and not many days before his death his house was rob'd of which he having notice his question was Are my Books and written Papers safe And being answered that they were his reply was Then it matters not for no other loss can trouble me 28. About one day or two before his death Dr. Saravia who knew the very secrets of his soul for they were supposed to be Confessors to each other came to him and after a Conference of the benefit of the Churches Absolution it was resolved that the Doctor should give him both that and the Sacrament the day following Which being performed he returned early the next morning and found Mr. Hooker deep in Contemplation and not inclinable to discourse which gave the Doctor occasion to require his present thoughts to which he replyed That he was meditating of the number and nature of Angels and their blessed Obedience and Order without which peace could not be in Heaven And oh that it might be so on earth And a little afterward Lord shew Mercy to me and let not death be terrible and then take thine own time I submit to it let thy will be done And after a little slumber Good Doctor said he God hath heard my daily Petitions for I am at peace with all men and he is at peace with me And from that blessed assurance I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me Then after a short conflict betwixt Nature and Death a quiet sigh put a period to his last breath and he fell asleep 29. He died in the 46. or 47. year of his Age Mr. Cambden who hath the year 1599. and the Author of that Inscription on his Monument at Borne who hath 1603. are both mistaken For it is attested under the hand of Mr. Somner Canterbury-Register that Hooker's Will bears date Octob. 26. 1600. and that it was prov'd Decemb. 3. following He left four Daughters and to each of them 100. l. his Wife Jone his sole Executrix and by his Inventory his Estate a great part of it being in Books came to 1092 l. 9 s. 2 d. His youngest Daughter Margaret was Married unto Ezekiel Clark a Minister neer Cant. who left a Son Ezekiel at this time Rector of Waldron in Sussex 30. Dr. Henry King Bishop of Chichester in a Letter to Mr. Walton My Father's knowledge of Mr. Hooker was occasion'd by the Learned Dr. John Spencer who after the Death of Mr. Hooker was so careful to preserve his three last Books of Ecclesiastical Politie and other Writings that he procur'd Henry Juckson then of C. C. Colledge to transcribe for him all Mr. Hookers remaining written Papers many of which were imperfect for his Study had been rifled or worse used by Mr. Clark and another of Principles too like his These Papers were endeavoured to be completed by his dear Friend Dr. Spencer who bequeathed them as a precious Legacy to my Father then Bishop of London After whose death they rested in my hand till Doctor Abbot then Archbishop of Canterbury Commanded them out of my Custody They remained as I have heard in the Bishops Library till the Martyrdom of Archbishop Laud and were then by the Brethren of that Faction given with the Library to Hugh Peters and although they could hardly fall into a fouler hand yet there wanted not other endeavours to corrupt them and make them speak that Language for which the Faction then fought which was to subject the Sovereign power to the people Thus for Bishop King 31. Soon after Mr. Hooker's death Archbishop Whitgift sent for Mrs. Hooker to Lambeth and examined her concerning those three last Books to whom she confessed That Mr. Clark and another Minister near Canterbury came to her and desired that they might go into her Husbands Study and III. Dr. Will. Whitaker From the Latin Life before his Works 1. NAzianzen saith Let a Minister teach by his Conversation also or not teach at all Herein shewing his Zeal rather than his Judgment for Christ would have the Doctrine even of the impure Pharisees sitting in Moses Chair to be heard and his Apostle rejoyceth that Christ is preached howsoever though out of Envy and Contention Nevertheless it is true the Doctrine is more accepted when it is delivered by a Clean hand and when the Will of God is declared to us by one that does it The more worthy is the holy and learned Whitaker to be set forth whose great care was Vertere verba in opera as St. Jerom speaks to be an example of what he taught and who deserved a better Pen an Homer to describe this Achilles than mine yet shall I endeavour to recompence the want of Oratory by my diligence and Fidelity in the Narration 2. He was born in Lancashire at Holme in the Parish of Burnbey a mountainous place in such an Air as is fittest to cherish a purer Wit his Parents both of good Families and noble Alliance Having passed his Childhood under their Tuition and learned the first Rudiments of Grammar under his Master Hartgrave to whom afterward he was a good Benefactor at 13 years of age his Uncle Dr. Nowell the famous Dean of Pauls for his better Education sent for his Nephew into his house and kept him in Pauls-School till he was fit for the University 3. At the age of 18. the good Dean sent him to Cambridge and placed him in Trinity-Colledge under the care of Mr West where for his proficiency in Manners and Learning he was chosen first Scholar then Fellow of the House and performed both his private and publick Exercises with such commendation that in due time he was honoured with his Degrees in the Arts and having with much applause attained them gave not himself to ease as many do but followed his Studies with greater vehemence 4. His first-fruits he gratefully paid to his Reverend Uncle in the Translation of his Elegant Latin Catechism into as Elegant Greek And further to shew his Affection to the Church of England he rendred the Liturgy or Divine Service into pure Latin Lastly he adventured upon a greater work and excellently translated into the Latin Tongue that learned Defence of Bishop Jewell against Harding wherein 27 Theses are maintained out of the Monuments of Fathers and Councils within the first 600 years after Christ A work of great use to the Church and promising that the Translator would in time be Author of the like 5. After he had performed a solemn exercise at the Commencement being upon a dissention between the Proctors chosen to be Father of the Artists whose office is to praise encourage and exhort the proceeders and to handle some Questions in Philosophy and had thereby filled the University with admiration of his Learning and
though he knew how to turn his tongue to a Courtiers ear yet he more affected the simplicity of plain Preaching And always in denuntiation of Judgments he would put on the Bowels of Compassion and the spirit of Meekness sugaring every bitter Pill like a wise Physician that it might go down the more pleasantly neither were his labours in vain enjoying such a people as received his Instructions with delight For there was a sweet harmony between the Life and Doctrine of this Reverend man whether we look upon him as at home or as abroad with others 12. It was my happiness to make aboad under his roof his House was a little model of a Church and House of God here morning and evening Sacrifices were offered unto God daily his Children after supper read some part of Holy Scripture and he required of every one present that they should remember some one Sentence or other and afterward he himself as he thought convenient would rehearse the same again adding some exposition and now and then some Application to them Together with these private exercises of Piety no man more religiously observed the Publick Congregations than he did continually calling upon his houshold to follow him to Gods Holy House where especially he is to be worshipped Besides his endeavour was to order his Family like a little Common-wealth He had his Laws and Ordinances set up in Tables directing his Family in their several Offices and Duties both Oeconomical and Moral and in all these things so much as might become his place he made himself an exact pattern and example to them all 13. It may be some searching eye may hap to spy out one trained up under his good Discipline who yet peradventure groweth not after the seed first sowen in him It is a blessed gift of God to have all good Children but every man nay every good man cannot enjoy it St. Austin saith well Though I keep a watchful Discipline over my house yet am I but a man and they are men that live under me neiter dare I arrogate to my self that my House should be better than the Ark of Noah where yet amongst but eight persons there was one Reprobate found or better than the house of Abraham or Isaac or Jacob or better than the Family of Christ our Lord where was one Judas or lastly better than Heaven when the Angels fell Truly when I call to mind his many blessings of his Children I may use the words spoken to the Mother of St. Austin a little varied Fieri non potest ut Filius istarum benedictionum pereat 14. As for his Charity to others he entertained two of his nearest allies being fallen into some want at his own Table many years and maintained for the most part a Son of either of them at the University It was usnal and annual with him to give a dole of Bread unto the poor on the Coronation day and on the Powder Treason At Christmas he gave Corn to some of the poor of his Parish to others mony to others yea to all the rest of his Neighbours liberal and loving entertainment In the time of Harvest when the Fields were crowned with Gods Blessings he would scatter of his heaps with a full hand and a chearful heart among the Gleaners who rejoyced at his coming into the Field If he set any one to work no Master paid more freely nor more speedily than he if the poor bought Corn of him as they did often they were sure ro gain both in price and Measure if he bought any thing of them he would give them more than they demanded and his substance increased with his bounty 15. Had any of his Neighbours suits and troubles abroad he was their Counsellor whom they always even the meanest found easie of access 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as friendly to be spoken with Had they need of the assistance of some great persons he would intercede for them either personally or by Letters Had they Jars and janglings among themselves he would call both parties and handle them so with mild and courteous speeches that he would soon compose their differences And such was his Humility that he would condescend to any office for their good himself would sometimes write their Bills amd Bonds and other instruments to save them expences And such things being ended he would return with great alacrity to his higher Contemplations Lastly for the Town of Barley where he lived being not able to do what his heart desired he gave out of a little Tenement which he bought twenty shillings per an to the poor for ever and perswaded some other his richer Friends to a greater liberality to this same Town He was indeed a powerful perswader to works of Piety but in none more than in soliciting that old Gentleman Mr. Sutton to that Heroick work of his in the erecting of his Hospital whom he earnestly desired not to be like that Antigonus sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the future giver but to do something in his life And doubtless he during life projected that which after death was honourably effected 16. He studied chiefly to do good unto poor Ministers not only by his private bounty but he prevailed with the Dean and his fellow Prebendaries of Ely to grant considerable Augmentations for three poor Vicars out of the Impropriations belonging to that Church and he induced old Mr. Castell to yield out of his Impropriation of Tadlow ten pounds per an to the better maintenance of the Vicar of that Town Never may they want their due honour with men and reward with God who religiously take care to cherish and continue these good works so happily begun 17. The exercise of Hospitality was even hereditary to him from his Parents This Abraham so loved nay he loved still saith Chrysologus That he would scarce think himself happy in Heav'n if he were depriv'd of the use of it if he may not have Lazarus lie in his bosome And Synesius saith By being harborous he entertained God himself So this liberal and godly man whose doors were open to any worthy of entertainment enjoyed the comfort of many happy Guests some of them strangers men of other Nations who having heard the Fame of him in their own Countries Travelling to see this Land have in their way resorted to his house as ambitious of his Acquaintance But sometimes his goodness was abused as once by a Jew entertained in his house and seemingly converted calling him Father and pretending to desire Baptism but when the time of Solemnity was at hand the Jew vanished and ran away without returning thanks to the Doctor for all the courtesies received Another Impostor a Roman Catholick begged his Prayers and Instructions and humbly desired upon Repentance to be admitted to the Holy Communion but when the time came this Guest appeared not and was seen there no more A third Intruder was a Separatist who seemed a long time inclining but at
others eat and drink at his cost And for an eminent proof of his Charity but a little before he took his bed in his last sickness he lent freely to one that had dealt falsly enough with him and was likely for so doing to be utterly ruin'd by the fraud of another he lent I say to him notwithstanding a considerable summe of mony to preserve him from perishing So notable was his Charity in returning good for evil 15. It pleased God to enlarge his Patience by the manner of his last sickness which seizing at length on his Lungs deprived him of the use of his Speech for any length or continuance of speaking during which time I never observed in him the least impatient carriage in word or deed or any repining at the heavy hand of God upon him but silently he submitted himself under the scourge like him that said I became dumb and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing 16. And lastly for his Constancy as he approved it in the course of his Life so to the Death constant he was to the Religion he had been born and bred up in an obedient Son of the Church of England as he had ever professed himself to be and suffered for it Heartily he answered to all questions that were asked him about the profession of his Faith willingly and readily submitted himself to Gods will for leaving the world gladly forgave all that had offended him and wherein he had offended any professed himself willing to ask forgiveness and to make restitution 17. Being put in mind of the Sacrament he would not for Reverence sake receive it in the Evening but deferred it till the next morning and then most piously and devoutly like one that bowed the knees of his heart when those of his body failed him with eyes lifted up and hands bent to Heav'n he received it and when he heard after both kinds taken Lord grant it may nourish you to eternal life chearfully and audibly he said Amen After which he dismissed us from longer praying by him being desirous to be left for the present to his own private Devotions and requested us to pray by him again in the afternoon as if he had foreseen the certain time of his departure and in the afternoon according to his own appointment at Prayer we continued by him till toward five in the evening At which time most meekly and silently and like a Lamb he departed and quietly slept in the Lord. Ob. Apr. 1659. VII Mr. John Gregory From Mr. John Gurgany 1. A Mersham in the County of Buckingham ennobled hitherto only by the Honourable Family of the Russels may now boast in the birth of this Learned man Which happened on the tenth of November 1603. And though his Parents were but of mean Extraction and Estate yet of such noted Piety and Honesty as gained them love and respect from the best of that place 2. Whence this their eldest Son about the 15th year of their pious Education of him was chosen by the worthy Dr. Crook to wait upon Sir William Drake and soon after on Sir Robert Crook at Christ-Church in Oxford where they had the happiness to be under the tuition of the most ingenious and learned Dr. George Morley 3. This young Scholar for divers years studied 16 of every 24 hours and that with so much appetite and delight as that he needed not the cure of Aristotle's drowsiness to awake him In his first Academical exercises his worth like the rising of the Sun began to discover it self darting forth such fair hopes and glimmerings of future perfection as were quickly espied by the then vigilant Dean of Christ-Church Dr. Duppa since Lord Bishop of Sarum who immediately received him into favour and soon after made him Chaplain of Christ-Church and after that his own Domestick and Prebendary of Chichester and Sarum 4. For which favours he now began about 26 years old to publish to the world his worth and gratitude in the dedication of his Notes on Learned Ridleys civil Law to his honour'd Patron the Bishop of Sarum In which Notes he made an early discovery of his Civil Historical Ecclesiastical Ritual and Oriental Learning together with the Saxon French Italian Spanish and all Eastern Languages through which he miraculously travelled without any guide except Mr. Dod the Decalogist whose society and directions for the Hebrew Tongue he enjoyed one Vacation near Banburie For which courtesie he ever gratefully remembred him as a man of great Piety and Learning Gravity and Modesty Of which Graces also this person was as great a Possessor as Admirer 5. Hence these many tracts both in English and Latin were bashfully laid by in his youth as Abortives Some whereof are now published and entituled Posthume as so many Testimonies and monuments of his general Learning For which he was much honoured by the acquaintance and favour of men of the greatest honour and eminence that this Age hath produced besides the Correspondence in points of Learning which he held with divers famous men abroad as well Jesuits and Jews as others 6. And now being like the Sun in his Zenith ready to shine in his greatest lustre behold the whole Kingdome began to be clouded Yet the hope of a clear day preserved this Learned man a while sufficiently spirited for study whereby he composed and published a little before his death those his excellent Notes upon some passages of Scripture in which kind of holy study he intended to spend the rest of his life 7. But after 20 years trouble with an hereditary gout improved by immoderate study and now invading his stomach the thred of his life being laboriously spun out but 39 years foreseeing the Glory was now departing from our Israel his spirits began to fail in an extraordinary manner 8. For recovery and supportation whereof his first noble Patron the Bishop of Sarum being disabled by sequestration c the liberal hand of a second Mecaenas was presently extended Ed. Bishop Esq Of whose Charity I may say as our Saviour of that Unguent Was it not to bury him Yes and to raise him too with Fame being very active and free toward the publication not only of his posthumous Tracts but also of some other of greater expectatation 9. And here is to be lamented the loss of that his excellent piece entituled by himself Alkibla In which with very great Judgment and Learning he vindicated the Antiquity of Eastward Adoration 10. Some suspected him a favourer of the Roman way but their jealousie to my certain knowledge was unjust and groundless he having often declared and protested not only to me but also to many of his familiar friends his Abhorrence of Popery and his sincere Affection and constancy to the Protestant Religion as it was established in England by Acts of Parliament 11. And as he lived so he dyed also a most obedient and affectionate Son to his distressed Mother the Church of
as it is the best incentive to great things so to conceal what good God hath wrought by them is great unthankfulness to God and good men 2. This great man whom God hath lately taken from our eies was bred in Cambridge in Sidney Colledge under Mr Hulet a grave and a worthy man and he shewed himself not only a fruitful plant by his great progress in his studies but made him another return of gratitude by taking care to provide a good employment for him in Ireland where he then began to be greatly interested Augustus Caesar gave his Tutor an honourable Funeral Marcus Antonius erected a Statue to his Gratian the Emperour made his Master Ausonius to be Consul and our worthy Primate suffered not the industry of his teacher to pass unrewarded 3. Having passed the course of his studies in the University and done his Exercise with that Applause which is usually the reward of pregnant wits and hard study he was remov'd into Yorkshire where first in the City of York he was an assiduous Preacher but by the Disposition of Divine providence he happened to be engaged at Northalerton in disputation with three pragmatical Romish Priests of the Jesuits order whom he so much worsted in the Conference and so shamefully disadvantaged by the evidence of Truth represented Wisely and Learnedly that the famous Primate of York Archb. Matthews a learned and most excellent Prelate and a most worthy Preacher hearing of that Triumph sent for him and made him his Chaplain In whose service he continued till the Death of the Primate but in that time had given so much testimony of his great dexterity in the Conduct of Ecclesiastical and Civil Assairs that he grew dear to his Master and in that employment was made Prebendary of York and then of Rippon The Dean of which Church having made him his Sub-dean he managed the affairs of that Church so well that he soon acquired a greater fame and entred into the possession of many hearts and admiration to those many more that knew him 4. There and at his Parsonage he continued long to do the duty of a Learned and good Preacher and by his wisedome eloquence and deportment so gain'd the Affections of the Nobility Gentry and Commons of that County that as at his return thither upon the blessed Restauration of his most Sacred Majesty he knew himself obliged enough and was so kind as to give them a Visit so they by their coming in great numbers to meet him their joyful reception of him their great caressing of him when he was there their forward hopes to enjoy him as their Bishop their trouble at his departure their unwillingness to let him go away gave signal testimonies that they were wise and kind enough to understand and value his great worth 5. But while he lived there he may seem like a Diamond in the dust his low fortune cover'd a most valuable person till he became observ'd by Sir Tho. Wentworth Lord President of York whom we all knew for his great excellencies and his great but glorious misfortunes This great person espied the great abilities of Doctor Bramhall and made him his Chaplain and brought him into Ireland as one whom he believed would prove the most fit instrument to serve in that design which for two years before his arrival here he had greatly meditated and resolved the Reformation of Religion and the Reparation of the broken Fortunes of the Church 6. The complaints were many the abuses great the Causes of the Church vastly numerous but as fast as they were brought in so fast they were by the Lord Deputy referred back to Doctor Bramhall Who by his indefatigable pains great sagacity perpetual watchfulness daily and hourly consultations reduc'd things to a more tolerable condition than they had been left in by the Schismatical principles of some and the unjust prepossessions of others for many years before For the Bishops were easie to be oppress'd by those that would and they complained but for a long time had no helper till God raised up that glorious instrument the Earl of Strafford who brought over with him as great affections to the Church and to all publick interests and as admirable abilities as ever before his time did invest and adorn any of the Kings Vice-gerents 7. And God fitted his hand with an instrument as good as his skill was great For the first Specimen of his Abilities and diligence in recovery of some lost Tithes being represented to his late Majesty of blessed and glorious Memory it pleased his Majesty upon the Death of Bishop Downham to advance the Doctor to the Bishoprick of Derry Which he not only adorned with an excellent spirit and a wise Government but did more than double tht Revenue not by taking any thing from them to whom it was due but by resuming some of the Churches Patrimony which by undue means was detained in unfitting hands 8. But his care was beyond his Diocess and his zeal broke out to warm all his Brethren for by the favour of the Lord Lieutenant and his own incessant and assiduous labour and wise conduct he bought in divers Impropriations cancell'd many unjust alienations and did restore them to a condition much more tolerable I say much more tolerable for though he rais'd them above contempt yet they were not near to envy But he knew there could not in all times be wanting too many that envied to the Church every degree of prosperity And for ever since the Church by Gods blessing and the favour of Religious Kings and Princes and pious Nobility hath been endowed with fair Revenues the enemy hath not been wanting by pretences of Religion to take away Gods portion from the Church c. I have heard from a most worthy hand that at his going into England he gave account to the Archbishop of Canterbury of 30000 l. a year in the recovery of which he was greatly and principally instrumental 9. But his care was not determined in the exteriour part only and accessories of Religion he was careful and he was prosperous in it to reduce that Divine and Excellent Service of our Church to publick and constant Exercise to Unity and Devotion and to cause the Articles of the Church of England to be accepted as the rule of publick confessions and perswasions here that they and we might be populus unius labii of one heart and one lip building up our hopes of heav'n on a most holy Faith and taking away that Shibboleth which made this Church lisp too undecently And the excellent and wise pains he took in this particular no man can dehonestate or reproach but he that is not willing to confess That the Church of England is the best Reformed Church in the World God by the prosperity of his labours and a blessed effect gave testimony not only of the piety and wisdom of his purposes but that he loves to bless a wise instructor when he is vigorously
to God and hoped he should die in the Communion of this Church which he declared to be the most pure and Apostolical Church in the whole world He prayed to God to pardon his frailties and infirmities relyed upon the Mercies of God and the Merits of Jesus Christ and with a singular sweetness resign'd up his soul into the hands of his Redeemer 26. But God who is the great Choragus and Master of the Scenes of Life and Death was not pleas'd to draw the Curtains There was an Epilogue to his life yet to be acted and spoken He returned to Actions of Life and went on in the methods of the same procedure as before was desirous still to establish the Affairs of the Church complain'd of some disorders which he purposed to redress girt himself to the work but though his Spirit was willing yet his Flesh was weak and he was heavy unto death and look'd for the last warning which seiz'd on him in the midst of business and though it was sudden yet it could not be unexpected or unprovided by surprize and therefore could be no other than that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Augustus used to wish unto himself a civil and well natur'd death without the amazement of troublesome circumstances His passive fortitude had been abundantly tryed before and therefore there was the less need of it now his active Graces had been abundantly demonstrated by the great and good things he did and therefore his last Scene was not so laborious but God call'd him away something after the manner of Moses which the Jews express by osculum oris Dei the kiss of Gods mouth that is a death indeed foresignified but gentle and serene and without temptation 27. To sum up all he was a wise Prelate a learned Doctor a just Man a true Friend a great Benefactor to others a thankful Beneficiary where he was obliged himself He was a faithful Servant to his Masters a loyal Subject to the King a zealous Assertor of his Religion against Popery on the one side and Fanaticism on the other The practice of his Religion was not so much in form and exteriour Ministeries though he was a great observer of all the publick Rites and Ministeries of the Church as it was in doing good for others He had the sate of the Apostle St. Paul he passed through evil report and good report as a deceiver and yet true He was a man of great business and great resort he divided his life into Labour and his Book he took care of his Churches when he was alive and even after his death having left 500 l. for the repair of his Cathedral of Armagh and St. Peters Church in Drogheda He was an excellent Scholar and rarely well accomplished first instructed to great excellency by natural parts and then consummated by study and experience Melancthon was us'd to say that himself was a Logician Pomeranus a Grammarian Justus Jonas an Orator but that Luther was all these It was greatly true of him that the single perfections which make many men eminent were united in this Primate and made him illustrious It will be hard to find his equal in all things for in him were visible the great lines of Hookers Judiciousness of Jewels Learning and of the Acuteness of Bishop Andrews He wrote many things fit to be read and did very many things worthy to be written which if we wisely imitate we may hope to meet him in the Resurrection of the Just. Ob. 1663. X. Dr. Jeremy Taylor L d Bishop of Down From Dr. George Rust. 1. HE was born at Cambridge and brought up in the Free-School there and was ripe for the University afore Custom would allow of his admittance but by that time he was thirteen years old he was entred into Caius Colledge and as soon as he was Graduate he was chosen Fellow 2. He was a Man long afore he was of Age and knew little more of the state of Childhood than its Innocency and pleasantness From the University by that time he was Master of Arts he removed to London and became publick Lecturer in the Church of St. Pauls where he preached to the admiration and astonishment of his Auditory and by his florid and youthful Beauty and sweet and pleasant Air and sublime and rais'd Discourses he made his Hearers take him for some young Angel newly descended from the visions of Glory 3. The Fame of this new Star that out-shone all the rest of the Firmament quickly came to the notice of the great Archbishop of Canterbury who would needs have him Preach before him which he performed not less to his wonder than satisfaction His Discourse was beyond exception and beyond imitation Yet the wise Prelate thought him too young But the great youth humbly beg'd his Grace to pardon that fault and promis'd if he liv'd he would mend it 4. However the grand Patron of Learning and ingenuity thought it for the advantage of the world that such mighty parts should be afforded better opportunities of study and improvement than a course of constant Preaching would allow of And to that purpose he plac'd him in the Colledge of All-Souls in Oxford where love and admiration still waited upon him which so long as there is any spark of Ingenuity in the breasts of men must needs be the inseparable attendants of so extraordinary a worth and sweetness 5. He had not been long here afore my Lord of Canterbury bestowed upon him the Rectory of Upingham in Rutland-shire and soon after preferr'd him to be Chaplain to King Charles the Martyr of Blessed and immortal Memory Thus were Preferments heaped upon him but still less than his deserts and that not through the fault of his great Masters but because the amplest Honours and Rewards were poor and inconsiderable compar'd with the greatness of his worth and merit 6. This great man had no sooner launch'd out into the world but a fearful tempest arose and a barbarous and unnatural War disturb'd a long and uninterrupted Peace and Tranquillity and brought all things into disorder and confusion But his Religion taught him to be Loyal and engaged him on his Princes side whose cause and quarrel he always owned and maintain'd with a great courage and constancy till at last he and his little Fortune were shipwrack'd in that great Hurricane that over-turn'd both Church and State This fatal storm cast him ashore in a private corner of the world and a tender Providence shrouded him under her wings and the Prophet was fed in the Wilderness and his great worthiness procur'd him friends that supply'd him with bread and necessaries 7. In this solitude he began to write those excellent Discourses which are enough of themselves to furnish a Library and will be famous to all succeeding Generations for their greatness of Wit and profoundness of Judgment and richness of Fansie and clearness of Expression and copiousness of Invention and general usefulness to all the purposes of a