The Traytor executed The young Prince of Conde born The Admirall honoured New designs against the Protestants * Roch-sur-yon The Prince of Conde and Admirall complain to the King They are answered with scorns The second Civil War Paris blocked up by the Prince A Battell The Admirall wonderfully preserved The Royalists routed They joyn with the Germans The Admirals prudence Caen besieged by the Prince Peace concluded The Admirals Wife dieth His counsell to his Children His charge to Grelleus His Wives character Popish treachery A remarkable Providence A Prediction They send to the King The third Civil War A special providence The Protestants basely murthered The Queen of Navarr assists them Niort taken Engolisme besieged A Battell The Royalists beaten A special providence The Admirals danger His valour Prince of Conde basely slain His character The Prince of Navarr in his room The Admirals piety His Authority to take up Arms. Andelot's death The Admirals Letter to his Sons and Nephews His Faith The Germans aid the Protestants The Royalists beaten The Admirall sends to the King for Peace Lusiniac surrendred Poictiers besieged The Admirals sicknesse Treachery against the Admirall The Traitor executed The Royalists beaten The Admirall forced to fight His policy A special providence He is wounded His Army overthrown His courage He is condemned by the Parliament of Paris His house plundered His contentation His justice His Letter to his Sons and Nephews They send to the King for Peace A Tyrannical speech The Admirall falls sick Ambassadours from the King The great esteem of the Admirall The Treaty goes on Peace concluded The Admirals second marriage He marries his Daughter to Teligni Coligni's death in England His character Popish cruelties The Kings dissimulation The Kings dissimulation with the Admirall Royal dissimulation The Admirals entertainment at Court The malice of the Duke of Guise The Kings dissembling Letter The King dissembles with C. Lodwick Intercepted Letters which shewed the dissimulations The Admirals security The Queen of Navarr's death Her character The King sends for the Admirall His friends advertisements His security He went to Paris Warnings to the Admirall His confident answer Royal treachery The Protestants flock to Paris Deep dissimulation Rochel blocked up The Admirall deluded The King of Navarr married The Admirals Letter to his Wife The Kings dissimulation The Admirall wounded His admirable patience and Christian courage His charity His Prayer His comfort His Faith The Kings prophane dissimulation The King visits the Admirall His speech to the King The Kings answer Deep dissimulation The Bullet viwed Psal. 32.1 A Councel held by the Protestants Presages of the Massacre Monluc's advice The Kings dissimulation Deep dissimulation An ill omen Popish subtilty Counsell that the Protestants should leave Paris A Judas The Massacre projected The Kings dissimulation with the King of Navarr The Duke of Guise excites to the Massacre Fatall security The Queen-Mothers mischievous mind The sign of the Massacre The Admirals house assaulted The Admirals speech The Admirall slain His body basely abused His Head sent to Rome Yet buried His character His piety and zeal Examples prevalent His manner of preparing for the Lords Supper His care for education of children His contempt of the world Brotherly love His age His abstinence His daily exercise Teligni murthered and his young Son Her Parentage Her marriage Popish policy King of Navarr turns Papist The Queens constancy Popish policy The King of Navarr slain Treason against the Queen Gods providence over her Her going to Rochel Her Letters to the King c. Prince of Conde slain She encourageth the Army Her Countrey surprized And regained The Kings Edict Popish subtilty The match propounded Her pious care about it Ministers dissent about it Her zeal to propogate the Gospel She goes to the Court. The Kings dissimulation She goes to Paris She is poysoned Her sicknesse and religious carriage therein Her charge to her Son James 5.14 Her conference with the Minister Long life a blessing 1 Cor. 15.55 Her Prayer A Prayer Her patience The Minister Absolves her The Admirall came to her Her death
explain himself more fully to them which afterwards he did accordingly And so after long communication and great promises of favour the King gently dismissed him with these words Let every man have his Doctor as himself best liketh this shall be my Doctor His adversaries seeing and hearing this dust never after that time molest him any further He did many excellent works of Piety and Charity and amongst the rest he erected that famous foundation of Pauls School London where one hundred fifty three poor mens sons should be taught freely and for this end he built a very convenient dwelling house for the Schoolmaster He assigned also a large annual stipend both for the Head-Master and Usher whom he willed rather to be chosen out of the number of married men then of single Priests with their suspected chastity He left sundry rents and houses for the payment of those stipends which he committed to the oversight of the Worshipfull company of Mercers in London He caused to be ingraven upon the School in Latine Schola Catechisationis puerorum in Christi Opt. Max. fide bonis literis Anno Christi M.D.X. The first Moderator of this School was Mr William Lilly a man no lesse eminent for his Learning then Dr Collet was for this Foundation he made the Latine Grammer which ever since by authority hath been used in all Schools Dr Collet was very expert in the Scriptures especially in Pauls Epistles which he hath illustrated by his Commentaries He held Justification freely by the merits of Christs and not by our own works He was an enemy to the idle and unchast life of the Popish Clergy He abhorred those that persecuted the Professors of the truth He died Anno Christi 1519. and was buried in Pauls Church upon whose Tomb Mr Lilly engraved this Motto Disce mori mundo vivere disce Deo The Life of Miles Coverdale sometimes Bishop of Exester who died Anno Christi 1568. MIles Coverdale was born in the North of England and from his childhood was much given to learning and by his diligence and industry profited exceedingly therein so that in the reign of King Henry the eighth he was one of the first that professed the Gospel in England He was very well skilled in the Hebrew and translated the Bible into English and wrote sundry Books upon the Scriptures which Doctrine being new and strange in those daies he was much hated and persecuted for it especially by the Bishops whereupon he was forced to fly into the Low-Countries There he printed the Bibles of his Translation and by sending them over and selling them in England he maintained himself But John Stokesly Bishop of London hearing thereof and minding to prevent their dispersing in England enquired diligently where they were to be sold and bought them all up supposing that by this means no Bibles would be had but contrary to his expectation it fell out otherwise for the same money which the Bishop gave for these Books the Merchant sent over to Miles Coverdale by which means he was enabled to Print as many more which he also sent into England This caused the Bishops to pursue him with such eagerness that he was forced to remove himself out of Flanders into Germany and to settle himself under the Palsgrave of the Rheine where he found much favour At first he taught children for his subsistence but having learned the Dutch language the Prince Elector Palatine gave him a Benefice at a place called Burghsaber where he did much good by his Ministry and holy life maintaining himself partly by his Living and partly by the liberality of Thomas Lord Cromwell who was his good Lord and relieved him very much At length when by the happy coming in of King Edward the sixth Religion was altered in England and the Gospel had a free passage he returned into his native Countrey where he did very much good by Preaching At the time of the commotion in Devonshire for Religion he was appointed to go down as Chaplain with the Lord Russell who was sent to suppresse the same and after the work was over for his excellent learning and godly life he was made Bishop of Exester being consecrated thereunto at Lambeth by Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Anno Christi 1550. He most worthily performed that Office that was committed to him He preached constantly every Sabbath and Holy day and most commonly twice in the week he read a Divinity Lecture in one Church or other within the City of Exester Considering his Means he was a great lover of Hospitality and kept a very good house He was sober and temperate in his diet holy and blamelesse in his life friendly to the godly liberall to the poor courteous to all men void of pride full of humility abhorring covetousnesse and an enemy to all wickednesse and wicked men whose society he shunned and whom he would in no wise intertain or keep in his house or company His Wife was a most sober chast and godly Matron His houshold another Church in which was exercised all godlinesse and Vertue He suffered no one person to abide in his house who could not give an account of his faith and Religion and who lived not accordingly And as he was very carefull to promote Religion in his Diocess so was he as ready to give direction for good Government in all Ecclesiasticall affairs And because himself was not skillfull therein neither would be hindred from his godly studies nor encumbred with worldly matters and yet judging it meet that the Government should be carried on with all uprightnesse Justice and Equity he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his Chancellour and by the assistance of his Friends he obtained Mr Robert Weston Doctor of the Civil Law and afterwards Lord Chancellour in Ireland unto whose fidelity he committed his Consistory and the whole charge of his Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction allowing him not only all the Fees belonging thereto but also lodged and found him his Wife and Family horse and man within his own House and gave him a pension of 40lb lb per annum besides which was a very great matter in those daies so liberall was this good Bishop in the allowance which he made to this good Chancellor And surely the Bishop was no more godly and carefull in performing his Office of preaching then his Chancellor was diligent strict and just in doing of his Office without the reproach of partiality or bribery Yet notwithstanding that this godly Bishop lived most holily painfully and virtuously the common people whose old bottels were not capable of new wine could not brook nor digest him and when they could find no other cause this was judged a crime sufficient that he was a Preacher of the Gospel an enemy to Papistry and an honest married man Hereupon many devises were set on foot for his disgrace and removing him out of his
adde unto it eternal apprehensions and make them feel the fiercenesse of his anger Psal. 88.6 7. without any hope of being eased and after this can restrain and withhold them as he did Abimelech Gen. 20.6 For if one cease to be a Sonne because he commits a sinne that doth deserve eternal death then every sinne a child of Gods commits rends his relation or sonship off for every sinne deserves eternal death Rom. 6.23 and because in many things we offend all Jam. 3.2 we should be alwaies out of sonship and have neither certainty nor comfort in our estate unlesse he could give some ground out of Scripture to assure what sinnes put us out and what did not The Duke had sent to Doctor Preston to decline this clashing conference and assured him he was as much his Friend as ever and would have stopt it if he could but the Bishops had over-ruled it which the Doctor at the first believed and so was backward But when he saw the confidence of Doctor White and his Companion he doubted the sincerity of that assurance and was afterward informed that there had been a meeting at the Countesse of Denbies and the Duke had promised to leave him this gave him resolution and encouragement against the second conference which was managed in a manner by him alone against Master Mountague and Doctor White For when the Doctor saw the Duke begun to double with him he was less fearfull to offend him though the Duke still carried it with all the fairnesse that he could and appeared not in person When the time came for the second Conference the Doctor readily appeared and the first thing he charged Master Mountague withall was about his doctrine of Traditions which he affirmed he had delievered as grosly and erroneously as any Papist Gag pag. 38 39 40. For he justfied that place in Bazil where he saies The doctrine retained in the Church was delievered partly by written instructions partly by unwritten traditions having both a like force unto Piety which was so unlike to Bazil and the opinions of those times that it was generally believed to be put in by the Papists of later times Master Mountague confessed it was suspected by some of the preciser cut but Doctor Preston told him Bishop Bilson was none of them yet he did judge it supposititious and it must be so or Bazil acknowledged to be erroneous For he instanceth in praying towards the East and use of Chrisme or Oyl in Baptisme both which being rejected by the Church of England argues they held that place of Bazil not Canonical Master Mountague answered that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there used by Saint Bazil might signifie a thing that seemed so and so the sense might be that some things that seemed true of lesse esteem and consequence might be delivered by tradition as long as matters more substantial were taken from the Scriptures But Doctor Preston shewed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signified oftentimes doctrine and was used here by Bazil for those Heads of doctrine that were more principal and lesse exposed comparing them unto those places in the Temple whereunto the people had not accesse Master Mountague answered farther that his assertion was hypothetical that if a doctrine came from the same author it was no great matter whether it were by writing or word of mouth for either had the same authority But Doctor Preston told him Bazil was positive and spake directly and him he justified and therefore could not be hypothetical as he pretended It is a great step unto victory for to divide Paul sets the Pharisees against the Sadduces Act. 23.6 7 8. that he might save himself The Jesuites are so good at it that though they have but one to be their adversary they will endeavour to divide him from himself by moving passion or compassion or some affection of his own against him Doctor White had openly in the Commencement house maintained that Election is not ex praevisis operibus and therefore Doctor Preston resolved to pinch Master Mountague in that particular that he might bereave him of his animating Champion Doctor White There were four several places that Doctor Preston had observed to make good this charge the first which he produced was Gag pag. 179. Some Protestants hold that Peter was saved because God would have it so without respect unto his faith and obedience and Judas damned because God would have it so without respect unto his sin And added this is not the doctrine of the Protestants this is not the doctrine of the Church the Church of England hath not taught it doth not believe it hath opposed it Now Doctor White was very fierce and eager to engage told him it was no doctrine of the Church of England but a private fancy of some that Judas was condemned without respect unto his sin for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 The soul that sinneth shall die Ezek. 18.4 But Doctor Preston answered he did not charge that upon Master Mountague but the former part of the assertion that Peter was not saved without respect unto his believing and obedience and so Election should not be absolute but grounded upon faith and works foreseen Then saith Dr. White I have nothing against that but leave Master Mountague to answer for himself Dr. Preston was glad that he was eased of Dr. White and yet resolved to make advantage of it and therefore told Dr. White if he thought Election was not ex fide Praevisâ he desired to know whether saving grace were an effect and fruit of Election or no Dr. White acknowledged readily it was then said Dr. Preston Whosoever hath saving grace is Elected Now you know than an Elect person can never finally miscarry or fall away therefore whoever hath true grace can never fall away The old man saw the snare and would have avoided it by denying the consequence But the Dr. urged that wheresoever the Effect is there must be the Cause but Saving Grace is an Effect of Election This Dr. White would have denyed but the hearers murmured that the Effect could not be without the Cause as the day is not without the presence of the Sun Then Dr. White answered that Saving Grace was an Effect indeed but a common Effect But Dr. Preston urged that it was not more common then Election for all the Elect had Saving Grace and none but they and therefore they could never fall away But this said he is by the way I will now apply my self to Mr. Mountague But when Mr. Mountague perceived that his great Goliah Dr. White forsook him he was greatly troubled and cavilled at the words a while but the book adjudging it for Dr. Preston he said The Church of England had not declared any thing against it Dr. Preston alledged the seventeenth Article but told Master Mountague that he affirmed the Church of England did oppose it and he desired to know where But after one of the Lords had
the disposition of many of the deponents what little credit was to be given to them and that Master Hildersam might have had the most odious and capital crimes desposed against him by such Witnesses who did not only in matter of fact affirm upon oath that which all the Parish knew to be notoriously false but did also take upon them to know and deliver upon their oath the reason and ground of his pretended practice which they having ever been as all the neighbours knew meer strangers to him was impossible for them to do it The next term the cause came to be heard and censured but Master Hildersam hearing of the heavy sentence against Master Dighton and Master Holt November 21. 1616. viz. to return back to prison there to remain till they conformed themselves they were also fined a thousand pounds a piece pronounced excommunicate and ordered to be so publiquely denounced and injoyned to make their submissions in conceptis verbis in three several places and lastly they were condemned in expences and costs of the suit concealed himself and did not appear at the day of his calling and censuring but did eight daies before send a Copy of his answer to the several points that were desposed against him to his Advocate Doctor Hussey to be shewed to the Court Which Answer in the judgment of rational honest indifferent men was full and satisfactory To instance but in the proof of one Article and his Answer thereunto One George Reding deposed That upon Palm-sunday was two years he was one of those that came up to the Communion-Table in Ashby Church in several companies and though Master Hacket had before given warning that he would admit none that would not receive it kneeling refused so to receive it but would have received it standing and when he could not have it so yet stood still among them that kneeled till the Communion was done To which disposition Master Hildersams answer was That it is notoriously known to all the Inhabitants at Ashby that I was at that time sick in my bed and for many weeks before and after utterly unable to stir out of my Chamber neither did I ever at any other time present my self in that manner to the Communion-Table neither doth Master Hacket or any other deponent charge me with any such matter And this fellow that hath devised this against me whereof there was no colour at all of truth would in all likelihood have sworn any thing that might have done me hurt if he had been required to do it Notwithstanding this his answer to that and his answer to all the rest delivered as aforesaid to his Advocate the Court proceeded to censure him November 28. 1616. whereby he was pronounced a man refractory and disobedient to the orders rites and ceremonies of the Church of England And because he yet refused to submit himself and to joyn in the administration of publique Prayer and divine Service and Sacraments as they are here lawfully administred therefore he was by the Court pronounced a schismaticall person and a Schismatick and thought well worthy of severe punishment And in respect that he was the prime Ring-leader of all the schismatical persons in that Countrey both of the Clergy and Laity he was first fined two thousand pounds to his Majesties use pronounced excommunicate and ordered to be so publiquely denounced as also was ordered to be attached and committed to prison and so to be brought before the Commissioners to be degraded from his Ministry and was further ordered to make his publique submission conceptis verbis as shall be prescribed him by this Court and lastly he was condemned in charges When he heard of this terribly cruel sentence it was his wisdom now to conceal himself which accordingly he did for a long time in the City and God so hid him under the shadow of his wings that his adversaries could not meet with him During this time of his keeping close one Master John Hartly one of the Elders of the English Congregation at Leiden in Holland came with Letters of Credence from the Congregation making offer to him of the Pastors place then vacant which he resolved to have accepted of had not his Wives unwillingnesse to go over the Seas retained him here The foresaid fine of two thousand pounds was estreated without abatement into the Exchequer March 12. 1616. whence several Processes were issued to the Sheriffs of Leicestershire to enquire of his estate but they by several returns answered They could find none At length the said fine was begged and granted by his Majesty King James under the Great Seal to Master Williams Page to the then Marquesse of Buckingham whereupon Master Hilderdsam compounded both with him giving him a great summe of money and with the Registers also of the High-Commission Court for their part of the fine and obtained a discharge from them both I suppose it will be hard to find that any man was before or scarce hath been since in that Court so deeply fined and heavily censured meerly for his judgment and conscience having done nothing either factiously or contemptuously against that Government and those orders of the Church that were then established He was indeed alwaies from his first entering into the Ministry a resolved and conscientious Non-conformist as appeareth by the foregoing story and so continued to his dying day witnesse that clause in his last Will I do hereby declare and protest that I do continue and end my daies in the very same Faith and Judgment touching all points of Religion as I have ever been known to hold and profess and which I have both by my Doctrine and Practice and by my sufferings also given testimony unto He was a great admirer follower and friend of Master Thomas Cartwright famous for Religion and learning who left his papers to Master John Dod and him to peruse and publish what they thought fit Though he himself was a constant Non-conformist yet such was his ingenuity and Christian Charity that he respected esteemed and was very familiar with those he knew to be religious and learned though of another judgment He did alwaies oppose the separation of the Brownists and the semi-separation of Master Jacob with whom as also with some Ring-leaders of the former sort he had divers conferences and disputes He is called by Doctor Willet his Contemporary and sometimes Competitor The Hammer of schismaticks whom they commonly call Brownists as you have it in J. C. his Epistle to the Reader before the forenamed Lectures on John 4. That is Master John Cottons of new-New-England his dear and familiar Friend who there expresses his high opinion of the Authour those Lectures and his Treatise of the Doctrine of the Lords Supper printed 1608. annexed to a little Treatise of the like Argument set forth by a godly learned man his intimate Friend Master William Bradshaw of which Treatise of Master Hildersams Master Cotten
his gifts at Battersey bringing glory to God but the devil again raised up persecution against him One Master King Church-warden of the place was offended at him because he freely reproved sinne and boldly spake against the corruptions that were then in the Church by this man he was presented into the Commissaries Court and by his means cited to appear to answer certain Articles This was about the latter end of Queen Elizabeths reign not long before the coming in of King James Upon this citation he resolved to appear and came to London and being at the door of the Commissaries house Master Egerton his faithfull and Reverend Friend by Providence passing by came to him and having saluted him told him he had heard of the opposition made against him at Battersey and asked him if he would accept of a Call to go beyond the Seas his answer was having returned thanks for his kindnesse that he could not as yet resolve him forasmuch as he stood accused at present and was resolved what ever came of it to defend those Truths that he had publiquely delivered but yet professing a willingnesse to follow Providence whithersoever the Lord should call him Appearing before the Commissary he met with courteous usage and was friendly dismissed for at this time those men feared a change to be brought in by King James Not long after this he was called by the Merchant-adventurers to be Minister to their company beyond Sea whither breaking through all discouragements he went During his abode beyond the Sea at Stoade and Hamborough which was about the space of eleven years and an half he by the advice of the godly learned erected and established Discipline in that Church God did greatly blesse his Ministry and he begat among that little company many Sons and Daughters unto God He had Communion with the Netherland-Dutch Church at Stoade and at Altenon near Hamborough and with the godly that came out of England admitting them being desirous to come to the Lords Table In his Ministry he was very searching many coming and confessing those things which he had never heard of till it came out of their own mouthes In his carriage he was affable and courteous yet grave and awfull so that many durst not for fear do those things that otherwise they were disposed to The Merchants here found the benefit by the orderly carriage of their Factors there Yet here the Devil was not quiet for one of the prime Merchants taking exceptions against his impartiall dealing in his Ministry and the order in the Church threatned by such a day naming it to have him over into England but before that day came himself was summoned by death to another place He was very charitable himself allowing something yearly towards the maintenance of the suspended Ministers here and greatly furthered charity in others By his direction and encouragement Master Jones a rich Batchelour and one of the Elders of his Church bequeathed many thousands of pounds to pious uses which to this day speaks his praise He was eminent in self-denial for being made Executour by the said Master Jones of his last Will and Testament whereby he might have gained much to himself he never rested till he had caused him to alter his Will and to place others in his room Upon the dissolving of that company of Merchants he came over into England and being disappointed of a place in London intended for him by Master Jones he went to Monmouth in Wales and for some time held the Lecture setled there Afterward a Chappel being erected at Wapping he was called to that place and became the first Minister there Here he abode to his death being holy and exemplary in his life and conversation and aboundant in labours preaching constantly thrice a week and catechizing on the Lords day besides The tendernesse of his fatherly care and love of this people he expressed all the time of his living with them but especially in the time of the great sicknesse when remaining with them he preached constantly every Lords day and the Fast dayes notwithstanding all the danger that he was in the infection in that place being much spread and very violent The Providence of God over him at that time was very remarkable For although all the Families round about him were infected and his house adjoyned to the place of Burial yet neither himself nor any of his Family were any waies smitten with it Many were his labours in private being much sought unto both for counsell and for comfort What successe God gave unto his Ministry was evident by the many souls won and built up by him He was very studious and wrote much yet was alwaies averse from publishing any thing though often requested saying that the many Books that were daily set forth hindred the study and reading of the Holy Scriptures Once he committed to the Presse a Catechism fitted for his own Congregation and before his death had finished a large Tractate of the body of Divinity which still lies by He sought the good of all and was a precious savour unto some in whose hearts to this day his memory flourishes He foresaw the ensuing distractions with a grieved heart and raised himself up to comfort by contemplating the approaching time wherein Christ and his truth and his waies shall have the preheminence His judgement concerning some hath proved true asserting often that their principles would not if they continued in them suffer them to sit down on this side Anabaptism He was a Friend of truth and peace and an Instrument of refreshing the bowels of the poor many strangers for his sake giving in largely towards their relief Having finished his course being spent with labours he quietly and comfortably ended his daies and according to his last words went unto his God Anno Christi 1643. and of his age 69. having continued his Ministry at Wapping six and twenty years The Life of Master Julines Herring who died Anno Christi 1644. IUlines Herring was born in Flamber-mayre Parish in Mountgomery-shire 1582. His Father within three years after returned with his Wife and Family into Coventry where his Ancestors had been chief officers of the City in their course almost for the space of two hundred years and where he himself also was Sheriff and Maior living and dying in good estimation there This Julines his Son having had his first education in Shropshire with Master Perkin Minister at More-Chappel his Mothers near Kinsman where he learned the Principles of Religion was brought home unto Coventry where he was trained up in Learning under Reverend Master Tovey who then was Head Schoolmaster there While he was a school-boy he was noted for his diligence in reading the holy Scriptures delighting in those Chapters especially which treat of Faith in Christ and of repentance from sin to God And even then in
much good but of no blood nor division between the two Nations He was one of Gods special Remembrancers in behalf of England begging fervently that the Lords and Commons in Parliament might be preserved from the two destructive rocks of pride and self-interests He poured out his soul before the Almighty that he would appear for the Non-conformists cause in England and set up the Presbyterial Government according to the Scripture Rules He often professed himself to be no enemy unto the Persons of Bishops but an opposite to their Pride and Prelaticall Rule When news came unto him of the Battell at Edge-hill thus he spake with tears Oh Lord wilt thou write Englands Reformation in red Letters of her own blood yet preserve thine own People and maintain thine own cause for Jesus Christ sake He greatly bewailed the obstructing of Church reformation in England by them who professed themselves zealous for Reformation and it was no small offence unto him to hear of the Letters which came from some Independents at London into Holland wherein falshoods were reported to the reproach of some Presbyterians his known godly Friends in England He was a true Nathaniel indeed in whose spirit there was no guile and therefore all falshood and unworthy juglings were an abomination to his heart There was an holy harmoniousnesse in his whole conversation his life was a well-spun thread from the beginning to the end and tended much to the honour of his Profession and particular Calling Although he walked exactly with God and maintained the comfort of constant peace with him yet Satan was suffered to give him one furious assault the night before he died as was perceived by those who were then with him for rising upon his knees with his hands lifted up he spake these words He is overcome overcome through the strength of my Lord and only Saviour Jesus unto whom I am now going to keep a Sabbath in glory And next morning March 28. 1644. being the Sabbath day about the time when he was wont to go unto ministerial work in the publique Congregagation and the sixty two year of his life he was taken from his labours into rest unto the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven where he shall sing Hallelujahs for evermore The Life of Master John Dod who died Anno Christi 1645. IOhn Dod was born in Cheshire at a town called Shotlidge bordering on Wales not far from Malpus His Parents had a convenient estate worth a hundred marks a year which went to the eldest Brother This John was the youngest of seventeen and much beloved of his Parents He was sent to School to West-Chester and when he was about fourteen years old he was disposed of to Jesus Colledge in Cambridge where though he had little acquaintance yet the Lord prospering his studies he was chosen first Scholar and after Fellow in that Colledge he there remained near sixteen years The manner of his Conversion was thus The Steward or Boucher of the Colledge accused him to the Master for the non-payment of a considerable summe of money due for one of his Pupils which Master Dod had truly paid but he forgot to set it down Hereupon there was a vehement contest betwixt them about this businesse and the vexation of mind that he should be accounted a defrauder did so trouble Master Dod that he fell into a Feaver and was dangerously sick yet all this while he was but in a natural estate For though he had some good skill in the Theorick part of Divinity yet he was without any application and his affliction was this that he should be blamed for that which he from the Law and light of nature hated All his sorrow as yet was but worldly sorrow and as himself saies he neither did nor could tell how to pray At length the Lord put into his heart that Scripture Rom. 7. The Law is spiritual but I am carnal and sold under sinne and presently his sins came upon him like armed men and the tyde of his thoughts was turned and he left musing how he was wronged and seriously considered how he had offended God and he betook himself to great humiliation and earnestly besought the Lord for pardon and peace in Jesus Christ. Yet for some time he could find no comfort but going on to seek the Lord there follows after much humiliation much consolation and the Lord sealed to him that his sins were washed away with the blood of Christ. Then did he desire his accuser to come to him and told him that though he had accounted him to be his great enemy yet now he acknowledged him to be his good Friend for that he was a means to bring him unto God And afterwards it so fell out by Gods good Providence that it came to this mans remembrance that Master Dod had paid him the money and he was very sorrowfull for the wrong which he had done him and did him all the right he could for the healing of his name and Master Dod said that he had not a more faithfull Friend in all the Colledge during his abode there then this man proved When he was some years standing Master of Art he was appointed to oppose in the Philosophy Act at the Commencement which he did with great approbation insomuch as it was desired that he should dispute again the next Commencement but that he avoided When he preached his first Sermon in the University he had bestowed much pains about it binding himself to words and phrases but in his Sermon he was at a Non-plus whereupon he resolved afterwards never to pen his Sermon verbatim but his usuall manner was to write only the Analysis of his Text the proofs of Scripture for the Doctrines with the Reasons and Uses and so leaving the rest to meditation in which course he never found defect And whereas Doctor Fulk Doctor Chaderton Doctor Whitaker and some others had their frequent meeting to expound the Scriptures and therein they chose the Epistle to the Hebrews they were pleased from their loving respect to Master Dod to take in him amongst them While he continued Fellow of Jesus Colledge by the importunity of some godly people of Ely he went weekly and preached amongst them in that City where the Lord gave a great blessing to his Ministry His removall from Cambridge to Hanwel in Oxfordshire was thus occasioned Master Cope afterwards Sir Anthony Cope a man of eminent note who was much wrought upon by Master Dods Ministry sent a Letter to Doctor Chaderton to provide him a Minister for Hanwel which was then vacant Doctor Chaderton moved Master Dod to go to the place and after he had been a while and preached severall Sermons by the desire and consent of the people and by the approbation of the neighbour Ministers who had heard him he was setled as their Pastor While he was at Hanwel he preached twice every Sabbath catechizing also
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-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
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