to keep private what he should tell them he imparted his Commission telling them how acceptable it would be to the Emperour if they would send to him Brentius but if they refused the Emperour would destroy their City c. It pleased God that whilest he was thus perswading the Magistrates there came in one later then his fellowes and the Commissary not minding it did not tender the Oath to him so when they were dismissed this man wrote to Brentius Fuge fuge Brenti cito citius citissime which note was brought him as he sate at supper having read it he told his Family that he must goe forth upon businesse but would return ere long As he was going out of the City he met the Commissary who asked him whither he went He answered To a sick friend in the Suburbs who had sent for him Well said the Commissary to morrow you must dine with me He replyed God willing and so they parted Being thus escaped he hid himselfe in a thick Wood and for some weeks together he lay in the Wood all day and every night came into a Villege to a friends house where he lodged he wrote also to the Magistrates of Hale that if they could and would protect him he was ready to come back and not to forsake his flock but if they could not he did not desire that they should indanger themselves for his sake They answered that they could not protect him and therefore left him free to goe whither he pleased Presently after Vlricus Prince of Wurtenburge invited him to him and ordered him to be so private that he himselfe might not know where he was that if he was asked he might safely deny his knowledge of him yet upon suspicion his Castle was searched but Brentius was in another place where in his retirement he wrote a Comment upon the ninety third Psalm afterwards he went to Basil as to a safer place where his wife dyed of a Consumption from thence he removed to the Castle of Horrenburge in the Hyrcinian Wood where he changed his name and gave out that he was the Keeper of the Castle and whilst he was there he frequented the Sermons in a neighbor towne where the Minister used to spin out his Sermons to a great length whereupon Brentius took occasion modestly to tell him of it to whom the Minister answered You Castle-keepers think all time too long at Church but no time too long that you spend in drinking Brentius smiling at it said no more Whilest he was there he perfected his Comment upon Isaiah and some other Works afterwards he had great profers made him by the Citizens of Magdeburge by Edward the sixth King of England and by the Duke of Broussia but he refused them all and thus continued in banishment for the space of two years Anno Christi 1550. Vlricus Duke of Wurtenburg dyed and his son Christopher succeeding he resolved to restore the Ministers which were driven away by the Interim to their Charges within his Dominions and to perfect the Worke of Reformation and for that end sent for Brentius and kept him in his Castle of Stutgard that he might have his advice and assistance in carrying on of that work neither was he discouraged by the admonitions of the Princes and Bishops nor by the threats of the Garrisons that were about him but caused Brentius to write a Confession of Faith and of the Doctrine of Christian Religion and â—bout the chiefe points in Controversie which he intended to send to the Councill of Trent about that time Brentius married againe one Catharine Isenmam a choise woman who was a great comfort to him all the rest of his life by whom also he had twelve children the year after the Pastor of Stutgard dying Brentius was chosen in his room in which place he continued all his life and carryed himselfe with much sedulity piety and prudence in the same Anno Christi 1557. he was sent by his Prince to the Conference at Worms which came to nothing because the Popish party would not suffer that the Scripture should be â—he Judge of their Controversies In his old age he wrot upon the Psalmes and whereas there were many Monasteries in Wurâ—enburge out of w ch the Fryars were driven he perswaded his Prince to turn them to Schools for the training up youth in learning which was accordingly don and once in two years Brentius visited those Schools and tooke notice how the Scholars profited in learning and encouraged them to make a daily progresse therein he had almost finished his Comment upon the Psalmes when as his old age worn out with studyes and labors put a period unto the same and his end was hastned by grief for the immature death of hiâ— Prince for whom he professed that he would willingly have sacrificed all his estate and his owne life also Falling inâ—o a Fevor whereby he perceived that his end approached he made his Will wherein he set downe a Confession of his Faith and sending for the Ministers of Stutgard he caused his Son to read it to them requested them to subscribe their hands as witnesses to it he also received the Sacrament and exhorted them to unity in Doctrine and love amongst themselves he was exceeding patient in all his sicknesse neither by word nor gesture shewing the least impatience alwayes saying That he longed for a better even an eternall life the night before his death he slept sweetly and when he awaked the Minister repeated the Apostles Creed and asked him whether he dyed in that Faith to whom he answered Yea which was his laâ—t word and so he quietly resigned up his spirit unto God Anno Christi 1570. and of his Age 71. He was buried with much honor â—nd had this Epitaph Voce stylo pietate fide candore probatus Johannes tali Brentius ore fuit With voice style piety faith candor grac'd In outward shape Iohn Brentius was thus fac'd Toss'd in the ship of fortune Bâ—entius sail'd From place to place his courage never fail'd But with resolved Constancy he bent His minde to suffer free from discontent The rage of Papists could not make him yeeld To their desires True vertue was his shield The strength of his afflictions added strength Unto his soul his suffrings had no length Except of dayes and them he knew to be Bâ—t servile Subjects to Mortality Thus like a patient sufferer he fled From earth to heaven and there repos'd his head The Life and Death of Peter Viretus who dyed Anno Christi 1571. PEtâ—r Viretus was born in the Country of the Bernates brought up in learning at Paris where he began to be acquainted with Farellus from thence he went to Lusanna where he was chosen Pastor and spent much of his time in teaching and writing there and when Calvin was sent to the Conference at Worms Anno Christi 1541. and from thence to Ratisbone he obtained of the Senate of Lusanna that Viretus should
and Death of John Piscator who dyed Anno Christi 1625. JOhn Piscator was born at Argentine Anno Christi 1546. at which time Germany was on fire with civill Wars Yet that hindred not but he followed his studyes very hard and profited exceedingly in learning when he came to the study of Logick with great felicity he joyned Ramus and Aristotle together And afterwards having made a good progresse in the study of Divinity he was called to Herborn to be the Professor there and his labors were so gratefull to young Students that many flocked thither out of Germany France Hungary Poland and other Nothern Countries He wrote many things with great diligence and labor scarce affording any rest to himselfe He translâ—ted the whole Bible with great pains and faithfulnesse into the German Tongue besides his Logicall and Theologicall Analisis of the greatest part of it He dyed at Herborn Anno Christi 1625. and of his age 80. This Jâ—hn Piscator born at Argentine For his rare parts in Arts did fairly shine Iâ— Heâ—bâ—rn where Professor he became And exercis'd that place with so much fame That many Students out of Germany Fâ—â—nce Poland and from out of Hungary Came flocking thither for his grave direction Which he afforded them with sweet affection I' th Germane toâ—gue the Bible he translated And it with learn'd Analisis ornated And thus his dayes in pious pains being spent At fourscore years his soule to heaven he sent ANDREW WILLET The Life and Death oâ— Andrew Willet IT is not long since a large Relation was published a Ann. 1634 prefixed before the fift edition of his Synopsi Papi and written by the same hand with this of the life and death of that faithfull servant of Christ Dr. Andrew Willet yet least omitted in this honorable Catalogue he should lose his b Augu. Cenâ— lib. 10. câ— â—7 right of association in renowne and glory with these his Fellow-labourers in the service of the Gospell I though good not onely to abridge part of that former discours which alone were but c Syne episâ— 141. to bring forth the same birth againe but to d Id. ep 99. adde some remarkeable things then unremembered or undiscovered being such as may conduce both to the advancement of his memory e Terent. in Adelph and the encouragement of our imitation who often follow patterns more then precepts f Lips de Consâ— l. 2. c. 4. This learned prudent and pious man was born of worthy and religious Parents by whom he enjoyed that g Eâ—rip Cyâ—pr Epist. libâ— 4. Ep. 5. choyce blessing and happinesse of ingenuous godly education and example His Father Mr. Thomas Willet was in his yonger time Subalmoner unto King Edward the sixt while Doctor Coxe was chiefe Almoner and Schoolmaster to that royall Prince who was presented of God unto this Iland only ut spectaculi spiraculi res to use Tertullian's words a faire-flourishing and sweet-smelling flower soon withered and taken away The sad times of persecution under Queene Mary then succeeding King Edwards Almoner and Subalmoner with many more were not onely forced from Court but th' one from his Country the other from his comfort of his wife and family for the safety of their lives and consciences till that cloud was blowne over and Queene Mary dead Then roâ—e Englands Deborâ—h that mirrour of her sex and miracle of the World Queen Elizabeth Exiles returned home amongst them Doctor Coxe who was advanced to the Bishoprick of Ely and soon after preferred his old Chaplaine Master Willet this Doctors Father to a Prebend in that Church and to the Parsonage of Barley in Hertfordshire both which in his old age he resigned unto this his Son who lived and dyed in them h Ambros. li. 1. de Abrah cap. 8. never having ambitiously hunted after higher promotions i Aâ—ad Frans sâ—â—lour ch 21 which he rather studied to deserve then to obtaine observing how in ordinary courses some k Lips enjoy prefermentâ— others merit them yet he went on so cheerfully in his praise-worthy labours as if his pains had been his payment according to that reason given by some why they that bore the heat and burthen of the day had put equall pay with him that came at the last hour into the Vinyard Matth. 20.12 l Canâ— Mos 〈◊〉 3. epist. 4. Because say they their worke is reckoned into their wages it being no little honour to be so imployed of God This Doctor was both born and bred in the Towne or City of Ely lying within the Fens of Cambridgeshire a soyle not unlike the place of Augustines birth if we beleeve m In Aug. de Civit. Deâ— lib. 16. cap. â— Lud. Vives and others wherupon Erasmus n Praef. ad lib. Epi. D. Augu takes occasion to divine that had that Father been born and lived in Italy or France his wit though uncomparable had been much more refined and the fruits thereof much more abundant And Apollonius Tyaneus o Apâ—l Philostrat in vit A.T. li. 6. c. 6. ascribes the subtile inventions of the Indians unto the purer beames or cleerer ayre wherein they live Whereas the auncient heathen gave the attribute of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto their choysest wits as if they were men fallen from heaven as they said of p Antip. apud Pâ—uâ— in vit Hoâ— Homer q Tertius â— coelo cecidiâ— Cato Iuven Cato and the like And as Homer said of Aegypt so may we say of every Country r Sophoc l. in Ajac. There 's many good and bad things mixt together Neâ— refert quâ terrâ natus qui renatus it matters not where he was borne that 's new born For that which is of the earth is earthly Joh. 3.31 But every good giving every perfect gift is from above Iam. 1.17 which even the heathen Poet acknowledgeth speaking thus These and all gifts of the mind God I say workes in mankind From the Grammer Schoole in Ely where by reason of his industry unusuall in such years denying himselfe even s Iulian in Caesar. necessary recreation he had given many t Lips de Constat lib. 2. c. 5. Hom. rudiments of future hopes he was at thirteen years of age or thereabout sent to the University of Cambridge He was first admitted into Peter-house where he was well grounded and afterward removed to Christ's Colledge where he was preferred to a Fellowship every where he found Learnings doores open to him Being but nineteen years of age he under-tooke the defence of his Master Aristotle in a Latine Tractate against Tempell a lover of Peter Ramus whereof as I have heard divers Copyes were dispersed one of which not long since I saw with an Epistle deditatory to a Pralaâ—e of that age as if he had intended it for the presse But his first booke which came forth in print was that De animâ— natuâ—a viribus written by him at
that behalfe sent over letters unto him wherein he perswaded him with Paulus Fagius to come into England assuring them both of kinde entertainment and a sufficient stipend if it would please them to continue amongst them These Letters comming to their hands because they saw little or no hopes of doing any good in Germanie they resolved to visit England and Bucer taking his leave of the Senate of Strasburge after he had supplyed a Pastorall office amongst them the space of twenty yeeres he with Fagius went for England in the yeer of grace 1549. where they arrived in good health and were most courteously entertained and a place provided for them in the University of Cambridge for the expounding of the holy Scriptures and a large Stipend allotted unto them for the maintenance of their Families the University conferring one priviledge on him which was not given unto any before him being this that according to his desire he was inaugurated into his Office without any publicke Ceremony He was much admiâ—ed of in the University for his learning for the integrity of his life and conversation for his plainenesse in his apparell for his temperatenâ—sse in his dyet for his constancy in his labours and for his patience in his sicknesse Within short time after they came hither they both fell into an irrecoverable sicknesse by reason of the change of the ayre and dyet Fagius was the first that yeelded his soul into the hands of God Bucer followed shortly after who before his death prayed unto almighty God that he would not suffer England to fall into those sinnes which had brought Germany unto great misery and withall desired that those things which he had written unto the King concerning the discipline of the Church might take firme footing in the Kingdome Master Iohn Bradford coming to him in the time of his sicknesse and telling him that he would remember him in his prayers being that day to Preach he uttered these words Ne abiicias me Domine in tompore senectutis meae cum defecerit virtus mea forsake me not O Lord in the time of my age and when my strength faileth me Being admonished in his sicknesse that he should arme himselfe against the assaults of the Divell he answered that he had nothing to doe with the Divell because he was wholly in Christ and God forbid God forbid but that I should have some experience of his heavenly comfort After Sermon Bradford came to him againe and after some words declared unto him the great feare which the Physitians had to prescribe any thing unto him by reason of the weaknesse of his body which he apprehending with his eyes fixed towards heaven he uttered these words ille ille regit moderatar omnia he he it is that ruleth and governeth all thiâ—gs and so in the midst of many godly prayers he quietly yeelded his soul unto the hands of God on the 27. of February in the yeere of our Lord 1551. being 61. yeeres of his age he was buried with great solemnity in Saint Maâ—ies in Cambridge to the griefe of many students before his buriall a Funerall Sermon was delivered by Gualterus Haddon at his buriall by Doctor Parker After the death of Edward the sixt his sister the Lady Mary comming to the crowne she restored the doctrine of the Church of Rome and in her dayes Cardinall Poole the Popes Legate being a man of great Authority laboured with might and maine for the rooting out of haeresie and haeretick for so he termed the Gospell and the professors thereof and for that cause he appointed five Inquisitors for the reformation of the University of Cambridge these obtained that the bones of both these faithfull Ministers of Christ should be digged up condemned of haerisie and delivered to the Magistrate to be burnt together with all the bookes of theirs which were extant in the kingdome but in the raine of Queene Elizabeth this sentence was not approved but rejected and they were reckoned amongst the number of Martyrs which had suffered for the truth of Christ. The labours which he left behind him as so many witnesses of his sufficiency and worth are these which follow 1 The Psalmes done out of Latine into Hebrew 2 Enarrations on the four Evangelists 3 Metaphrases one the Epistle of St. Paul 4 A reconciling of hard places of Scripture 5 Commentaries of the Romans and the Ephesians 6 A Commentarie on Sophonuâ— done out of Hebrew 7 A preface to the fourth Tome of Luthers postils 8 Of the true doctrine discipline and Ceremonies of Chuâ—ches 9 A Graâ—ulaâ—orie letter unto the Church of England 10 An answer to the two Epistles of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester concerning the single life of Priests 11 Of the best way to have Counsels 12 A treatise of restoring Church good 13 An Epistle to the Vniversity aâ— Marpurge 14 To those of East Friezland 15 The confession of the foure Cities Strasburge Constance Menning and Lindare 16 An Apologie against Brentius that jmages are not to be had in Churches 17 Of the Baptisme of Infants 18 Of the Euchâ—rist 19 Of a Nationrall Synead 20 Of a Councell against Coceleius and Gropperus 21 Of the false and true administration 22 Of the Lords Supper 23 Of offering Masses 24 Of care for â—he dead 25 Of Purgatorie 26 Causes of the absence of Divines from the councell of Trent 27 Of the kingdome of Christ unto Edward the sixt King of England 28 Lectuers at Cambridge upon the Ephesians 29 Of the power and use of the ministery 30 An admonition to the Ministers at Switzerland 31 Psalâ—er translated into Dutch 32 An admoniâ—ion to the Ministers at Strasburge 33 Of the true office of a Pastor 34 Of the Iewes how for to be suffered amongst Christians 35 A Confutation of the new faith set forth at Loran 36 A defence of the Colenish reformation 37 A defence against Gropperus 38 An anâ—wer to a dialogue against Protestants 39 Of Church-goods and who are the right possessors of them 40 Against the Bul of Paulus the third and his Legates demands 41 A godly admonition to the Emperour Princes and other states of the Empire assembled at Wormes 42 Against the restoring of the Masse 43 Impediments of Reformation 44 Against the Sophistes of Colen 45 Of the conference at Reinsburge 46 An exposition of the 120. Psalme 47 A treatise of Afflictions 48 A refutation of Calumnies 49 A Sermon at Berne 50 Of the Ministers and Sacraments 51 Luthers commentaries on the two Epistles of Peter 52 Some writings of Sturmius 53 Retractations with Commentaries on the Gospell 54 A treaâ—ise that none ought to live to themselves That light of truth which shin'd in Bucers brest Inlightned others and restor'd much rest To many whose unquiet souls did lye Under the burthen of Idolatry He was laborious striving every houre To sucke some hony from each pleaâ—â—ng flowre He was belov'd of all that lov'd to pry Into the bosome of Divinity
time in Breadstreet he said Yea And will you said Mordant preach so again Yes said he to morrow you may hear me there where I will confirme by Gods Word all that I then Preached I would counsell you said the other to forbeâ—r Saunders said if you will forbid me by lawfull Authority I must then forbear Nay Mordant I will not forbid you and so they parted Mordant went presently to Bishop Bonner and informed him of Master Saunders his purpose to Preach the next day which accordingly he did and at his lodging being â—omewhat troubled in his thoughts a friend of his asked him hâ—w he did truly said he I am in prison tilâ— I be in prison In the afternoon he prepared himselfe to Preach again but Bonner sent an officer for him who carried him to the Bishop where was Mordant also the Bishop charged him with Treason Heresie and Sedition and required him to write his judgment about Transubstantiation which he did saying You seek my blood and you shall have it I pray God you may be so baptized in it that you may hereafter loath blood sucking and become a better man then Bonner sâ—nt him to Gardiner where he waited four hours before he was called in and after some discourse with him Gardiner sent him to prison to whom he said I thanke God that at last he hath given me a place of rest where I may pray for your conversion He continued in prison one yeere and three months in a lettter to his wife he writes I aâ— merrie and I trust I shall be merrie maugre the teeth of all the Divels in hell Riches I have none to endow you with but that treasure of tasâ—ing â—ow sweet Christ is to hungrie consciences whereâ—f I thanke my Christ I doe feel part that I bequeath unto you and to the rest of my beloved in Christ c. Being at last brought again to examination and lifâ— bâ—ing promised if he would recant he answered I love my life and libertie if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience but by Gods grace I will â—bide the most extremitie that man can doe against mee rather then doe any thing against my conscience Being condemned he was sent to Coventrie to be burned when he came near the place of execution he went chearfully â—o the stake kissing of it and saying Welcom the Crosse of Christ welcom everlasting life and the fire being kindled he sweetly slept in the Lord. Doctor Pendleton and this Master Saunders meeting together in the beginning of Queen Maries reign and speaking of the Persecution that was like to ensue about which Master Saunders shewed much weaknesse and many fears Pendleton said to him What man there is much more cause for mee to fear then for you forasmuch as I have a big and fat body yet will I see the utmost drop of this grease of mine molten away and the last gobbit of this flesh of mine consumâ—d to ashes before I will forsake Iesus Christ and his Truth which I have professed yet not long after upon triall poore feeble faint hearted Saunders by the power and goodnesse of God sealed the Truth with his blood whereas proud Pendleton played the Apostate and turned Papist He from inferior Parents did not spring But such as noble were in every thing Nor did his life but to their splendor adde Which make both them and all that knew him glad For he in knowledge did so high excell That â—asseth aut of man almost to tell Whether his knowledge or his vertues were The more resplendant yet a holy feare Did séem to equall both and which doth crown Him all triumphant he past Martyrdome With â—uch high courage and so rare a zeale That I want words his worth for to revealâ— The Life and Death of John Hooper who dyed Anno Christi 1555. JOhn Hooper was a Student and Graduate in the University of Oxford where having abundantly profited in the study of other Sciencâ—s he was stirred up with a fervent desire to the love and knowledge of the Scriptures in which study he joyned earnest prayers to his diligence for the better understanding of the same but the six Articles coming out at that time hâ— was so hated by some especially by Doctor Smith that he was compelled to leave the Univâ—rsity and went to live with Sir Thâ—mas Arrundel and danger approaching there also he left the Kingdome and went to Paris yet after a while he returned again and lived with one M r. Senâ—low but understanding that snares were again laid for him with much difficulty and danger he escaped the second time into France and from thence travelled into Germanie at Zurick Master Bullinger became his especiall friend where he studied Hebrew and hearing that King Edward the â—ixt was come to the Crowne he was desirous to returne into England and when he tooke his leave of Bullinger he with harty thanks for all kindnesses promised to write often to him of all his affaires but saith he the last news â—f all I shall not be able tâ— write for where I shall take most pains there shall you â—ear of me to be burned to ashes Returning to London he preached twice but at least once every day the people so flockt to him that the Churches could not contein them in this pains-taking he continued to his lives end neither did his labour breake him nor promotion change him nor dainty fare corrupt him he was of a strong body sound health pregnant wit and of invincible patience spare of dyet sparer of words and sparest of time a liberall hous-keeper and very grave in his carriage Being by King Edward made first Bishop of Glocester then of Worcester he carried himselfe so uprightly and inoffensively that his enemies had nothing to say against him He used to goe about from town to towne and from village to village to preach unto the people he governed his house so that in every corner of it there was some smell of vertue good example honest conversation and reading of the Scriptures In his Hall there was daily a table spread with good store of victuals and beset with poore folke of the City of Worcester by turns who were served by four at a Mesâ—e with whole and wholesome meat and when they were served being before examined by himselfe or his deputies of the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandements then he himself sate down to dinner and not before In the beginning â—f Qâ—een Maries dayes he was sent for by a Pursivant to London and though he had opportunity and was perswaded by his friends to flye yet he refused saying Once I did flye but now being called to this place and vocation I am resolved to stay and to live and dye with my sheepe By Winchester when he came to London he was railed upon and committed to prison afterwards also at his examination they called him Beast Hypocrite c. which he bore without answering againe in the Fleeâ—
there afterwards for falling not long after into a very dangerous sicknesse whereof he hardly recovered the Fathers of his Order in a generall Assembly shortly after his recovery supposing that the ayre of that City did not so well agree with him made him their Generall Viâ—iter when he had been yet but three yeeres at Naples In which imployment supported by the Cardinall Gonzagâ— the Protector of their Order he so carryed himselfe suppressing some that carryed themselves tyrannously in their places severely chastising others that lived loosly leudly that though he gained much grace and credit to the Order no lesse love and affection to himselfe from the better minded among them yet incurred he withall much envy ill-will from those that were otherwise disposed It is a point of divellish policy too oft practised under a sembleance of honour to prefer men to such places as may prove prejudiciall to them and become a meanes of their overthrow Some of these Machiavilians therefore in a generall meeting of the Fathers of the Order at Manâ—ua knowing a deadly fewd and inveterate hatred to intercede betweene the Inhabitants of Luca and those of Florence our Martyrs Country move to have him made Pryor of Saint Fridian in Luca a place of great esteem for that the Pryor of that House hath Episcopall Jurisdiction over the one moity of the City hoping that for Countries sake he should there find opposition and molestation more then enough The motion was on all hands soon assented unto but the event answered not their expectation For by his wise kind and discreet carryage among them he gained so much good will and esteeme with them that they affected him no otherwise then as if he had been a native and by a solemn embassage made suite to the Principall of the Order that Peter Martyr might not be removed againe from them Here to advance both Religion and Learning among them he procured learned men of great note to read to the younger sort the tongues one Latine and the other Greeke and a third which was Emmanuell Tremellius the Hebrew He himselfe daily read to them some part of Saint Pauls Epistles in Greek and examined them in the same to the whole Company before supper he expounded some Psalme to which exercise diverse learned of the Nobility and Gentry did also usually resort and every Lords day he preached publikly to the People By which his godly labours many attained to much knowledge as appeared afterward by the number of those who after his departure thence sustained exilement for the truth among whom that famous Zanchie one These his good proceedings his adversaries much maligning held a meeting at Genoa and convented him thither But he having intellidence of their complotment and taking warning by their late dealings with a godly Eremite of the same Order resolved to decline them and to betake himselfe to some place of better safety Having therefore committed to his Deputy the charge of the Monastery and his Library his onely wealth to a trusty friend in Luca to be sent after him into Germany he left the City secretly and from thence travelled first toward his owne Country to Pisa where meeting with certaine religious Noble men he celebrated together with them in due manner the Lords Supper and from thence by letters both to Cardinall Poole and to those of Luca he rendred a reason of his departure from them After that coming to Florence but making no long stay there he departed from thence for Germany and passing the Alpes came into Switzerland wher he arrived first at Zurick and passing thence to Basil was by Bucers procurement called over to Strasbourge where for the spâ—c of five yeers with much amity and agreement they joyned together in the Lords worke during which time he expounded the Lamentations of Ieremy the twelve lesser Prophets Genesis Exodus and a good part of Leviticus Here he tooke him a wife one of a religious disposition and in all respects a meete match for one of his ranke and profession who lived with him eight yeeres died in England at Oxford where she had lived in great repute with the best for her singular piety and with the most for he charity corrrespondent thereunto though after her decease in Queen Maries dayes her remaines were inhumanely digged up againe and buried in a dunghill but in Queen Elizabeths dayes restored to their former place of Sepulture againe For after that our Martyr had spent those five yeeres at Strasbourge he was through the procurement of Archbishop Cranmer sent for by letters from King Edward into England and made Reader of Divinity in the University of Oxford There in his readings to which those of the Popish faction also resorted he expounded the first of Saint Paul to the Corinthians and though much envying and stomaking him yet with some patience they his Popish hearers endured him untill he came to handle the Doctrine of the Lords Supper but then they began to breake forth into some outrage to disturbe him in his Lectures to set up mâ—licious and scandalouâ— schedules against him to challing him to disputes which he waved not but maintained first in private in Doctor Cox the Vice chancellors house and afâ—er in publike before his Majesties Commissioners deputed to that purpose where with what strength of Argument and authorty of Scripture he convinced his Antagonists the Acts yet extant may evidently shew This way little prevailing they stirred up the seditious multitude against him by reason whereof he was compelled to retirâ— him to London untill that tumult was supprest Then returning againe for his better security the King made him a Canon of Christs Chuâ—ch by meanes whereof he had convenient housing within the Colledge with more safety Thus setled the second time he proceeded in his wonted employmâ—nt opening now also the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans and being in times of vacation called up to London by the Archbishop for his aid and advice in Ecclesiasticall affaires and in composing of Ordinances for the government of the Church And in this course he continued being never out of action untill by the decease of thâ—t our English Phaenix so much admired in his life and bewailed at his death not with ours at home but by others also and that of a divers religion abroad upon the succession of his sister Queen Mary one of a contrary disposition his employment surceased and with somewhat adoe he gat liberty and departed the land and though being way-laid which he had notice of both on this side and beyond the seas yet by Gods good providence and protection he passed unknown and undiscovered through Brabant and other Popish territories and gat in safety to Strasbourge Thither returning he was received with the greater joy in regard of the dangers he had past and escaped and was restored to his professors place againe Therein being resetled he read upon the booke of Iudges and because the Senate
Reformation in the Churches he was informed by Melancthon that Ecclesiasticall government did consist 1. In the soundnesse and puritie of Doctrine 2. In the lawfull use of the Sacraments 3. In a conservation of the Minister of the Gospell and in obedience towards the Pastors of the Churches 4. In the preservation of an honest and godly Discipline which was to be upheld by an Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction 5. In the upholding of Schooles 6. In supplying such persons as are imployed in weightie matters with sufficient necessaries Which points he caused to be dispersed amongst the Churches but they wrought little or no Reformation the yeer following Germanie was oppressed with civill Warres which when it was greatly lamented by Melancthon some out of malice misinterpreting his words accused him unto the Emperour as one who laboured to hinder his proceedings in the Reformation of Religion for which cause the Emperour intended his death but he was defended and delivered by the intreaty of Mauritius the Prince Elector who possessed the Emperour with a contrary opinion Not long after it happened that there were great preparations for the Councill of Trent and safe going and returning being concluded on Melancthon was sent with the Letters of the foresaid Mauritius and taking Norimberge in his way he was commanded to stay there untill he received an answer concerning that faith which was generally to be embraced of all the Churches During his aboad at Noremberge he heard the newes of the Expedition of Mauritius against the Emperor in regard of the Lantgrave of Hassia who was detained captive Wherefore Melancthon lefâ— Noremburge returned again to Wittemberge Many are of opinion that if he had been present at the said Councill and had been suffred to declare his mind freely amongst them he would have redified many of their judgements concerning matters of religion Being come unto Wittenberge he constantly went forward in his exercise of teaching and preaching the word of God untill he fell into an irrecoverable disease whereby his vitall spirits grew so feeble that he was made unfit for the performance of his pastorall office and weaknesse increasing every day more and more upon him he was constrained at the last to yeeld unto death and in the midst of many heavenly prayers he surrendred his soul unto him that gave it in the yeer of our Lord 1560. in the 63. yeere of hiâ— age and after that he had preached the space of 42. yeeres unto the inhabitants of Wettemberge Where he was buried with great sorrow and lamentation being laid side by side with Luther For his excellent gifts he was not onely reverenced by Protestant Divines then living but he also gained a singular approbation of such as were his professed enemies He was of a meane stature not exceeding the common sort of men his forehead smooth and high his haire thin his neck long his eyes beautifull and peircing he was broad breasted and in generall there was a proportionable agreement betwixt all the parts of his body in his youth he stammered something in his speech but reaching unâ—o a maturity of age he so corrected that infirmity that it gave no offence unto his Auditors the learned treatises which he left unto the Church whose reformation both in doctrine and discipline he greatly laboured for in his life are here inserted Tome 1. 1. Commentaries on Genesis 2. Explications on some Psalms 3. Vpon the Proverbs Annotations on 4. Matthew 5. Iohn 6. 1 Corinthians 7. An Apologie for Luther against the Paritians 8. Anabaptistists 9. Sentences of Fathers 10. Of the qualification of Princes 11. Of the tree of consanguinity Tome 2. 1. A Comment on Paul to the Romans 2. School-notes on the Colossians 3. Common places of Divinity Tome 3. 1. A confession of Faith 2. A Catechisme 3. A method of Preaching 4. Theologicall Disputations 5. Of Vowes 6. Of the doctrine of the reformed Church 7. An Epistle to John Earle of Widae Tome 4. 1. Philosophicall workes 2. Commentaries on Aristot. Ethicks 3. Politicks 4. An Epitome of Morall Phylosophy Tome 5. 1. A Latin Grammer 2. A Greeke gram 3. Logicke 4. Rhetoricke 5. Enarrations on Hesiods workes 6. Arithmaticke 7. Epigrams These were printed by Hervagius but there are divers others set forth by Christopher Pezelius As 1. An admonition to those that read the Alcaron 2. A defence for the marriage of Priests 3. Commentaries on Daniel 4. A discourse on the Nicene Creed 5. Luthers Life and Death 6. Schoolâ—-notes on Cicero his Epistles 7. Translations of Demosthenes and Plutarch 8. Greeke and Latine Epigrams 9. Two Tomes of Epistles 10. Carion his Cronologie â—nlarged Would thy ingenious Fancy soare and flye Beyond the pitch of moderne Poesye Or wouldest thou learne to charme the conquerd eare With Reth'riks oyly Magik wouldest thou heareâ— The Majesty of language wouldest thou pry Into the Bowels of Philosophy Morall or Naturall Or wouldest thou sound The holy depth and touch the unfathom'd ground Of deepe Theology Nay wouldest thou need The Sisteme of all excellence and feed Thy empty soule with learning's full perfection Goe search Melancthons Tomes by whose direction Thou shalt be led to Fame if his rare story Can make thee emulous of so great a glory The Life and Death of John a Lasco who died Anno Christi 1560. IOhn Lascus was born of a noble family in Poland and brought up in learning afterwards travelling to Tygure in Helvetia he was by Zuinglius perswaded to betake himselfe to the study of Divinity and when he might have been preferred to great honor in his owne Country such was his love to Christ and his Church and such his hatred to Popery that he chose with Moses to suffer affliction with the people of God rather then to live in worldly honor and peace amongst his friends coming into Frisland Anno Christi 1542. he was called to be a Pastor at Embden where he fed and ruled his flock with great diligence the yeere after he was sent for by Ann the widdow of Count Oldenburg to reform the Churches in East-Frisland and the next yeer after by Albert Duke of Prussia but when he agreed not with him in judgement about the Lords Supper the worke remained unperfected about that time the Emerour persecuted the Protestants he was sent for by King Edward the sixth upon Cranmers motion into England where he gathered Preached unto and governed the Dutch-Church which remain's to this day In the dayes of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond-Sea and went with a good part of his Congregation into Denmarke but there he found but cold entertainment by reason of his differing from them about the Lords Supper the Churches of Saxonie also rejected them not suffering them to live amongst them upon the like reason at length that poore Congregation found entertainment in Frisland under the Lady Anne Oldenburg and setled at Embdem Anno Christi 1555. he went thence to Francford upon Main where with the consent of
Prisoners he wonderfully refreshed and comforted them by his godly exhortations and consolations drawn from the Scriptures whereby they were much confirmed in the Christian Faith and whereas before they were almost pined through want of food God so stirred up the heartâ— of some to bring reliefe to Zegedine that all the rest of the prisoners were provided for plentifully thereby Remaining thus in prison he was not idle but wrote there his Common-places and some other Works thus he remained in Prison above a year in which time three of his children dyed which added much to his aâ—fliction and though his people had used the intercession of all their great men there about for his liberty yet all prevailed not till it pleased God that a Noble Baron and his Lady passing by that way saw this worthy man of God in so miserable a plight that the Lady much pitied him and afterwards being in Child bed and ready to dye she requested her Lord who loved her dearly for her sake to improve all his interest in the Bashaw to procure Zegedines liberty which he with an oath promised to perform and accordingly engaged himselfe to the Turk that he should pay 1200. Florens for his ransome thereupon he was released and went about to diverse Cities to gather his ransome and God so enlarged mens hearts towards hâ—m that in a short time he carried 800. Florns to this Baron and so returned to his people at Calmanâ—sem The year after being 1564. as he was going by coach to Buda when the horses came near the great river Danubius being very hot and dry thy ran violently into the river but behold the admirable providence of God when they had swam some twenty paces in the river they turned back again and drew the coach and him safely to the shore The same year by the Imposition of Hands he ordained three excellent men Ministers About that time there came a bragging Fryar and challenged him to a Disputation which he willingly accepting of the great Church was appointed for the place and many of both sides resorted thither and the Fryar came with much confidence his servants carrying a great sacke of Bookes after him but in the Disputation Zegedine did so baffle him that all his friends shrunk away with shame and the Fryar with his great sack was left all alone so that himselfe was fain to take it on his own shoulders and goe his way About that time the Vaivod who had before betrayed him coming to the place where Zegedine was desired to speake with him and requested him to forgive him professing that he could rest neither night nor day he was so haunted with apparitions and the Furies of his own conscience which Zegedine easily affented unto In the year 1566. Zegedine being very hot invited a friend to goe with him to the River of Danubius to bathe himself but as they were swiming his friend looking about him saw not Zegedine and wondering what was become of him so suddenly at last he spyed his hoarie hairs appearing above water and swimming swiftly to him Zegedine was sunk whereupon he diving to the bottome of the river caught hold of him and drew him forth carrying him to a Mill that was not far off where he laid him to bed about midnight Zegedine coming to himself enquired how he came there and who drew him out of the River hiâ— friend told him the whole story and kept him carefully till he recovered In the year 1572. he fell into a mortall dsease which so much the more afflicted him becausâ— he could not sleepe whereupon he sent for a Chirurgion who gave him a bitter potion which caused him to fall a sleepe but after a little while he quietly breathed forth his last being sixty seven years of age How full of patience how divine Was this our learned Zegedine Though cast in prison and restrain'd From food yet he the truth maintain'd His heart resolved from his youth Rather to starve then starve the truth For Disputations few there were That could with Zegedine compare His rare example lets us know Patience o'recomes the greatest woe The Life and Death of John Knox who dyed Anno Christi 1572. JOhn Knox was born at Gifford in Lothain in Scotland Anno 1505. of honest Parentage brought up first at School then sent to the University of Saint Andrews to study under Master Io. Maior who was famouâ— for learning in those dayes and under whom in a short time he profited exceedingly in Philosophy and School Divinity and took hiâ— Degrees and afâ—erwards was admitted very young into Orders then he betook himself to the reading of the Fathers especially Augustine's Works and lastly to the earnest study of the holy Scriptures by w ch being through God's mercy informed of the Truth he willingly embraced it and freely professed it and imparted it to others But when there was a persecution raised up by the Bishops against the Professours of the Truth he fled into England where he preached the Gospel with much zeal fruit both at Berwick Newcastle and London He was much esteemed â—y King Edward the sixt who proffered him a Bishoprick which he rejected as having Aliquid commune cum Antichristo something in it common with Antichrist King Edward being dead the pâ—rsecution raised by Queen Mary made him leave England and goe to Frankefort where for a time he preached the Gospel to the English Congregation but meeting with opposition there both from Papists and false brethren he went to Geneva Anno Christi 1559. and of his age 54. the Nobility of Scotland with some others beginning the Reformation of Religion sent for him home and shortly after he was setled Minister at Edinbrough where he preached many excellent Sermons Anno Christi 1566. the Earl of Murray being slain on the Saturday Knox preaching at Edinbrough the next day amongst the papers given of those that desired the prayers of the Church he found one with these words Take up the man whom yee accounted another God At the end of his Sermon he bemoaned the losse that the Church and State had by the death of that vertuous man adding further There is one in this company that makes this horrible murder the subject of his mirth for which all good men should be sorry but I tell him he shall dye where there shall be none to lament him The man that had written those words was one Thomaâ— Metellan a young Gentleman of excellent parts but bearing small affection to the Earl of Murray he hearing this commination of Iohn Knox went home to his Sister and saâ—d That Iohn Knox was raving to speak of he knew not whom His Sister replyed with tears If you had taken my advice you had not written those words saying further Thaâ— none of Iohn Knox his threatnings fell to the ground without effect And so indeed this came to passe for shortly after this Gentleman going to travell dyed in Italy having none to assist
these distractionâ— of the Church but these contentions ceased and were taken away by the death of Luther yet there followed an happy consent and agreement betwixt Calvin and the Church of Geneva of the one â—ide and the Tigurines on the other concerning the Sacrament wherein Calvin seemed to adhaere unto the opinion of Luther in the judgement of the Tigurine Ministers Wherefore that he might free himselfe from this suspition taking Farellus with him he came unto Tigurum where a forme of agreement was written by Calvin and Bullinger and approved of by the Churches of Râ—etia and Helvetio and afterwards published for the generall good of the Church and by this means God so disposing the Churches were not onely united firmely amongst themselves but also many were confirmed and strengthned in the knowledge of the truth And this agreement set such an edge on the teeth of their Adversaries that they began more bitterly to inveigh against the truth of Christ and still labouring to propagate the truth he wrote severall Decades unto Edward the sixt King of England And because a free and unmolested Preaching of the Gospell was granted unto the English he sent frequent letters unto the Nobility Bishops and Pastors of the Church exhorting them unto a perseverance in the worke begun and that with all purity and constancy During which act of his a Legate came from the Pope with Authority to command the Helvetian Prelates to be present at the Councill of Trent Who was answered by Bullinger that Concilium Tridentinum institutum esse ad opprimendam veritatem that that Councill was ordained for the suppressing of the truth and withall he denied Helvetios Evangelicos Papae obedientiam ullam debire that they owed not any obedience unto the Pope at all whose yoak they had now cast off c. Not long after there was a dissention in the Church of Geneva concerning Gods Election the Author whereof was Hieronimus Bolsecus a Professor of Physick who openly opposed the doctrine of Calvin exhorting the people not to suffer themselves to be seduced and led away by him affirming Bullinger and many other learned Divines to be of the same opinion with himselfe wherefore it seemed good unto the Senate and unto the bretheren of the Church of Geneva to send unto Bullinger for his opinion concerning that point who in expresse words returned this answer that he which did teach that Gods eternall Election did depend on foreseen Faith did malitiously abuse the doctrine of the Church of Tigurum About this timâ— Edward the sixt dyed in England whose eldest sister coming to the Crown changed that forme of Religion established by her brother and subjected the whole Kingdome againe to the Pope of Rome sharply persecuting those who were knowne to make profession of the true faith wherefore many Noble and learned men were inforced to flye some into Germany many into Switzerland building themselves a Colledge at Tigurum being greatly assisted by Bullinger who then ratified that covenant of friendship which he had formerly promised in the dayes of Henry the eight In the yeere 1561. the Councell of Trent was begun againe by Pius the fourth then Pope but the States and Protestant Princes of Germany refused to be present and likewise the English together with the Helvetian Cities during the continuance of which Councell Bullinger laboured to extirpate the haeresies newly crept into thâ— Church viz. That of Brentius affirming of the Ubiquity of the humaine nature untill such time as a mercilesse pestilence invaded the City of Tigurum ceazing upon Bullinger himselfe insomuch that he dispaired of his life and therefore called the Ministers of Tigurum unto him and took his leave of them with a grave admonition but it pleased God to restore him again unto his former health and he became an instrument of much good after in the Church about this time or immediately after began that War which was called Sacrum and the Prince of Condey suspecting some treason intended against his Excellency sent an Embassador unto the Switzers in generall and unto Bullinger in particular to intreat some â—de and succours from them but the Embassadour of the King coming thither at the same time there was no answer given unto the Embassador of the Prince of Condey who after a private manner departed from Tigurum forthwith there arose cruell Warres in France great was the number of Pastors and godly persons who fled som to Geneva some to Berne and most of them being in extreame want and poverty Bullinger caused publick collections to be made for them in the Churches whereby they received unexpected reliefe and so he continued being carefull for the members of the Church that their doctrine might be pure and uncorrupted untill it pleased God to viâ—it him with his last sicknesse which indeed was the longest it continuing for the space of four whole monthes in which time he endured the sharpest paines with an admirable patience yeelding no signe or token of any indignation or displeasure the greater paines he suffered the ferventer were his prayers unto God whensoever he found some easâ— he would enter into some good discourse either with his family or with such strangers as came to visit him to whom he would often say si deo visum fuerit mea opera â—lterius in ecclesiae ministerio uti ipse vires sufficiae libens illi parebo sui 〈◊〉 voluerit quod opto hac vita c. It seemeth good unto Almighty God to account me worthy to exercise a Pastorall office in his Church yet longer let him give me strength and I will willingly obey him but if he will call me out of this life which is the thing that I desire I am also ready to obey his will for nothing can be more welcome unto me then to leave this wretched and sinfull world and to goe unto my Saviour Christ. His paines still increasing he caused the Pastors and Professors of the City to come unto him unto whom he delivered a large Oration where in the first place he kindly thanked them for that their love in comming unto him afterwards he opened unto them that faith in which and for which he was ready to lay downe his life in the thiâ—â— place he freely and from his heart forgave all his Enemâ—es then he exhorted them constantly to continue in that doctrine which they had together Professed with him and withall he wished them to take heed of the vulgar vice of the Germaine Nation because they who were subject unto that sin could by no meanes doe good in the Church of God such good things as proceed from them will be contemned of the people he exhorted them also unto a concord and unity amongst themselves to love one another and to defend one another because they should be sure enough to find many opposers and enemies who would desire nothing more then their ruine and in the last place he advised them to have a reverend respect
Stephen Gardiner Lord Chancellor of England who railed upon him asked him if he knew him not c. to whom he answered Yea I know you and all your greatnesse yet you are but a mortall man and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks why feare you not God the Lord of us all c. But after other discourse he sent him to the Kings Bench commanding his Keeper to keep him strictly In Prison he spent his time in prayer reading the Scriptures Preaching to the prisoners and to others that resorted to him he was diverse times examined of his Faith and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries for which at last he was condemned to dye when his sentence was read he told them that God the righteous Judge would require his blood at their hands and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist and their tyranny against the flocke of Christ. He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd and all the way as he went he was very merrie as one that went to a banquet or Bridall In his journey the Sheriff of Essex perswaded him much to return to the Popish Religion c. to whom at last he answered I well perceive now that I have been deceived my sâ—lfe and shall deceive many in Hadley of their expectation when the Sheriff desired him to explain his meaning hoping that he would recant he said I am a man of a very great carkasse which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley Churchyard but I see I am deceived there are a great number of worms there which should have had jollie feeding upon this carryon but now both I and they shall be deceived of our expectation when he came within two miles of Hadley he desired to alight and being downe he leap't and fet a frisk or two saying God be praised I am now almost at home and have not past a mile or two and I am even at my fathers house at Hadley towns-end a poore man with five children met him crying O dear father and good shepheard God help and succour thee as thou hast many a time succouâ—'d me and my poore children The streets were full of people weeping and bewailing their losse to whom he said I have preached to you Gods Word and Truth and am come to seal it with my blood He gave all his money to the poore for whom he was wont thus to provide formerly once a fortnight at least he used to call upon Sir Henry Doil and other rich Clothiers to goe with him to the Alms houses to see what the poore lacked in meat dâ—ink apparell bedding and other necessaries withall â—xhorting comforting and rebuking as he saw occasion Comming to the plâ—ce of execution he was not suffered to speak to the people who much lamented his death yet he was very chearfull saying Thanks be to God I am even at home and when he had prayed and made himselfe ready he went to the stake and kissed it the fire being kindled he held up his hands called upon God saying Mercifull father of heaven for Iesus Christ my Saviours sake receive my soul into thy hands and so stood still without moving till one with an halberd strook out his brains Among the many Champions of the Lord Who with their blood to Truth did beare record And feared not in furious flames to fry That they Christs Gospels light might magnifie Was pious precious Doctor Tailor stout Who did the fight of Faith to th' death fight out A very learned painfull Pastor grave Who to his Flock full testimony gave Of his great wisdomeâ— charity and love And all Soul saving graces from above Who for opposing Romes impiety Being apprehended and condemnâ—d to dye He kist his Stake being bound to it in chaines Burning a Popish wretch beat out his braines And thus this blessed Martyr chéerfully Went to his heavenly home triumphantly IOHN BRADEFORD The Life and Death of John Bradford NExt to this last mad Septenary of unchristian liberty and unparalled distractions the Devill never seem'd to injoy more chaine in this Kiâ—gdome then in the time of Queene Mary wherein laying hold on the weaknesse and superâ—ticion of a silly woman bred up in Popery and by reason of the bar interpos'd betwixt her and the Crowne by her Royall Brother Edward the sixt wholly subjected to the violent and bloody counsels of that faction which finally prevailed in her restitution and establishment he kindled more Bonefires in the space of three or four yeerâ—s in England then the world had at any time beheld in so few yeeres and in one Kingdome since the last of the first â—en Persecutions I dare not upon Master Foxes bare report who was somtimes and perhaps of purpose by the adversaries themselves miserably abus'd in hiâ— informations acknowledge all for Martyrs whom I finde in his Catalogue But what will Stapleton or any other Papist get by that The Church of Englaâ—d as it was of late reformed the Reformation by Law established hath produced added as many genuine knowing valiant Champions to that Noble Army as wiâ—hin these thousand yeers any Church in Christendome which is glory enough without hooking in either Heretique or Schismatique or any other who suffered for nothing lesse then well doing And from a chiefe place amongst those holy men and witnesseâ— to the truth of the Gospell of Iesus Christ all Stapletons exceptions bitter rayling and intemperat scoffes can not ought not exclude this blessed Saint and servant of God Iohn Bradford as shall evidently appeare to as many as wiâ—hout prejudice shall peruse and pondor his insuing History which God willing we will drive throuh the whole Course of his life from his Birth to his Martyrdome But to take our rise from his Birth He was borne in Manchester the quality of his Parentâ— though their meanes be not recorded may be easily gathered by his Education which was the best that either that place or those times could â—fford for he arrived very early at the knowledge of the Latin Tongue and for Ariâ—hmaticke he had few equals in those parts both which bâ—ing adorn'd and helped forward by a faire and speedy hand he became fit for imployment abroad before any great notice was taken of him at home which moved Sir Iohn Harrington a noble Knight and in good esteem both with King Henry the eight and his Son Edward the sixt to assume him into the number of his fellowes and imploy him in his most private and and urgent affaires both at home and abroad For at Bulloigne he was Treasurer at warres and here he had the charge and oversight of all his Majesties buildings In both imployments he found the service of young Bradford who besides his honesty and diligence had a notable dexterity in casting up and Auditing accoumpts of such importance that where ever he imploy'd him he committed all to his trust and own'd whatsoever he did
eyes of the most renowned Doctor of the Chaiâ— Peter Martyr by whom he was presented Batchelour of Divinity and now nothing seemed to stand in his way from orderly ascending to higher degrees and preferment in the Church But the face of the skye is not more changeable then the condition of our estate in this world all the fair weather we spake of but now was overcast in a moment for by the untimely death of Edward the sixt and by the succeeding advancement of Queen Mary to the Crown a bitter storm of persecution fell upon the newly reformed Church of England and blew away many of our prime Doctors and other men of eminent worth and among them our Iewel who now banished from his native Soyl found yet great comfort in conversing first at Frankeford with Sir Francis Knowls and his eldest Son Robert Horn and Edward Sands and afterwards at Argentine with Iohn Poynet Edmund Grindall Iohn Cheek Anthony Cook Richard Morison Peter Carew Thomas Wroth and divers others These noble Confessors deserve rather the naming because in this their retiring they seemed as it were to fetch their fees to make the greater leap in England where after their return they were highly preferred Grindall to the Archbishop first of York then of Canterbury Sir Francis Knowls to be privy Councellour and Lord Treasurer Robert Lorne to the Bishoprick of Winton Sands of London Poynet of Worcester and the rest all of them to eminent places in the Church and Commonwealth to set off their future glory their present poverty and misery served as a foyl It was yet for the present lamentable to see these men of worth who had change of houses in their own Country hardly getting a shed to shelter them from wind weather in forreign parts they who opened the fountain of their bounty to other men in England were now constrained in Germany to fetch waters of Comfort drop by drop from others Conduits At the first the pious charity of the Londoners be it spoken to the honour of that City was as an unexhausted mine to them till by Stephen Gardner it was discovered and the rich vein stopt by the imprisonment of their chief Benefactors And now these servants of Christ of whom England at this time was not worthy were putt o many difficult plunges yet partly by the comfortable letters of Zuinglius Peter Martyr Calvin Melancthon Pelican Lavater Geznar and other privy Pastours of the reformed Churches beyond the Seas they were held up by the chin and partly by the charitable contributions of Christopher Prince of Wittenberg and the Senators of Zurick they were so kept above water as it were with bladders that none of them utterly sunk in their hope And for Iewell in particular though he were tossed from pillar to post and sometimes dashed upon one rock and sometimes upon another yet in the end he found safe harbour in Peter Martyrs house first in Argentine and after in Tigury where it is hard to say utrum Euripides ex Archelai an Archelai ex Euripides familiaritate fama magis incluruerit Whether Iewel gave more luster reputation to his Host or his Host to him certain it is Iewel assisted Peter Martyr in setting forth divers Books and by name his learned Comentaries upon the Iudges And very fortunate to the Church oâ— God was the conjunction of these two Stars of the first magnitude for from them had we the first light to find the tract of those who in the former Ages and purest time walked with a right foot to the Gospel and professed the Doctrine of the reformed Churches Although we must acknowledge our Churches very much indebted in this kind to Reynolds Whitaker Bilson Abbot CaÌ„mier Morney and Chemitius yet it cannot be denied that these later tinded their candles at these Torches for Peter Martyr had cleered the judgement of Antiquity in the point of the Sacrament and some other controversies between us and the Church of Rome and Iewel in all before Chemitius took Andradius to task or Bilson Allen or Reynolds Hart or Whitaker Stapleton or Abbot Bishop or Morney Perrane or Camier Bellarmine our Iâ—wel was the first who made a publick challenge to all the Papists in the world to produce but one cleer and evident testimony out of any Father or famous Writer who flourished within five hundred yeers after Christ for any one of the many Articles which the Romanists at this day maintain against us and upon good proof of any such one allegation to yeeld them the bucklers and reconcile himselfe to Rome and although Harding and some others undertooke him and entered into the lists with him about the controverted Articles yet they came off so poorely and Iewel on the contrary so amazâ—d and confounded them with a cloud of witnesses in every point in question that aâ— Bishop Godwine upon good ground affirmeth no one thing in our age gave the Papacy so deadly a wound as that challenge at Pauls Crosse so confidently made and bravely maintained But this challege was not now made in the time of Iewels banishment but after his returne into England at this time he and many other cleare lights of the Church were hid under a Bushell till the fire of persecution of England in which not onely many faithfull bretheren but diverse reverend Fathers as Latimer Cranmer Ridley and Hooper were burned to ashes for the testimony of the truth was laved out partly by the teares of compassionatâ— Confessors povring out their souls to God in publick and private but especially by the blood of so many Noble Martyres But as soone as God in justice looked upon the persecutours of the truth and called Queen Mary and thoâ—e who diped their hands in his Saint blood to his tribunall and set Queen Elizabeth upon her sisters throne that mirrour of Princes and parragon of her sex and phaenix of her age restoring at the same time preachers to the Gospell and Gospell to the preachers themselves in the first year of her Raigne commanded a survey to be taken of the whole Realme and finding in many parts palpable Egyptian darkenesse sent for all these concealed lights above mentioned and after they were fetcht from under the bushels which had covered them she set them in golden candlesticks in all the Counties within her Dominions and among them Iewell in the diocesse of Sarum Where he shined most brightly for eleaven years and after his extinction by death left a most sweet smell behind him the savour of a good name much more pretius then oyntment for his Apostolick doctrine and Saintlike life and prudent government and incorrupt integrity unspotted chastity and bountifull hospitality In his first visitation he began and in his last he perfected such a reformation not onely in the Cathedrall and Parochiall Churches but in all Courts of his jurisdiction that even those who before esteemed not so well of Iewell as Bishops yet now were brought to have a reverend opinion
was bâ— them with all joyfulnesse received as one who laboured with them for the converting and wining of Soules unto Christ and for the propagation of his truth and was by them appointed to Preach publickly in â—he Church and to teach openly in the schoole so that within short time the doctrine of the Gospâ—ll tooke firme rooting in many plâ—ces of the City and they altered many things in the Church concerning Masse the Sacraments holy dayes jmages and the like rendring strong reasons for what they did in a booke set forth by them and dedicated unto Frederick the Prince Elector Palatine Now because â—here was a difference betwixt the professors of the Gospell concerning some important matters therefore a meeting was appointed at Marpurge where Bucer and Hedio had conference with Luther and Zuinglius where they agreed in all points the Sacrament of the Lords Lupper onely excepted wherein Consubstantiation was affirmed on the part of Luther yet they departed each from the other friendly intending to abstaine altogether on both sides from strife and contention and to pray unfainedly unto the Lord that he would vouchsafe to instruct and guide them with his holy Spirit in the way of truth But Bucer hearing that this dissention amongst them concâ—rning the Supper of the Lord was very gratefull unto the Papists he went unto Luther againe to urge him to a reconciliation in that point from whom he received such an answer that forthwith he went to Zuinglius and the Switzers to perswade them to adhere unto the same Doctrine for well he foresaw what great hurt that Sacramentary dissention would â—ring unto thâ— Church if it were not quickly cut off and taken away In the yeere of our Lord 1531. it pleased God to open the eyes of the Inhabitants of Vlmes so that they greatly desired a reformation in their Churches and for that cause they requested the Senâ—te of Strasburge thâ—t Bucer might be sent over unto them to lay the ground of so happy a building which was faithfully performed by Bucer together with the helpe and assistance of Oecolampadius and a forme of Divine worship prescribed unto them but perceiving still the course of the truth to be hindred and stopped by this difference about the Sacrament with the consent of the Electâ—r he repaired againe to Luther being resident at Wittenberge where afâ—er some discourse conclusions concerning the Sacrament were agreed on betwixt the Divines of Wittenberge and Highec Gumanie in the yeere 1536. yet after some consideration Bucer renounced the opinion of Luther concerning Consubstantiation although he had subscribed unto it at Wittenberge and taught the Contrary wherefore Bucer with many others were there deteined by the Lantgrave of Hassia untill they came to an agreement amongst themselves the chiefe heads whereof were sent unto Basil which were not approved of by the Senate then Bucer returned to Strasburge went forward in his exercise of Preaching and Teaching not only in the Church but also in a publick schoole w ch had been newly erected at the proper cost and charges of the Senate where he remained unto the yeere 1541. about which time the Emperor Carolus Augustus retâ—rned into Germany and commanded a publick conference at Reinspurge a City in Bavaria concerning the reformation of Religion and through the meanes nnd intreaty of Frederick Prince Elector Palatime and other Protestants and Princes he appointed Iulius Alugius Iohannes Eccius Iohannes Gropperus Papists and Phillip Melancâ—hon Martinus Bucer and Iohannes Pistorius Protestants for the performance thereof the Emperor himselfe greatly charged them in so weighty a matter to have respect onely to the glory of God and of his truth and not to be carryed away w th any other favour or affection whatsoever but in their conferences such disagreements were found amongst them that by no meanes their opinions could be reconciled because also that Germany at that time feared the approching of the Turkes the assembly was dissolved In this Assembly Gropperus tooke great notice of Bucer much applauding him for his lenity conjoyned with a comely gravity and withall commended him unto Heirmannas then Arâ—h-bishop of Colen who at that time endeavoured also a reformation in the Churches and told him that he was a man most fit for such a purpose being excellently learned a lover of peace and a man of an unspotted life and conversation wher upon Hermannus sends for Bucer who in the yeer 1542. came unto him who w th exceeding joy received and entertained him where together with Melancthon he wrote the manner of reforming Churches which they dedicated unto the same Archbishop many of the inhabitants approved of the worke and willingly yeelded unto a reformation but the Clergy and those of the Colledge were mightily incensed against Bncer greatly reproaching and reviling him affirming that they had rather lead their lives under the Turk then under a Magistrate who intended to settle that reformation and thereforâ— they desired that Bucer and all those new Doctors as they termed them might be far removed from that City shuting as it were the gates of mercy against their owne soules and Gropperus who formerly had shewed and professed much love unto him came now to be his greatest enemy and the Archbishop for his desire of a reformation was excommunicated by the Pope and deprived of his functioâ— and gâ—vernment by the Emperor and all those partâ— returned againe like dogs unto their vomit In the yeere 1546. there was another assâ—mbly appointed by the Emperour at Renispurge unto which also Bucer was called who at that time had a great conflict with Petrus Malvanda a Spaniard touching the justification of a sinner before God but in regard of diverse troubles which did accompany these times nothing could be concluded In the yeere 1548. Iulius Pflugius Michael Heldingus and Iohannes Agricola by the commandemâ—nt of the Emperour wrote a forme of Ecclesiasticall reformation little or no way differing from the opinions of the Church of Rome which worke was approved by the Emperour and Bucer was craftily called by a Magistrate of Brandenburge unto Auspurge to subscribe unto the same worke perswading him that it was collected out of the most learned writers but Bucer uderstanding the matter fully told him after a freindly manner that he could not approve of it because it savored too much of the doctrine of the Church of Rome neither would he be drawne thereunto although the same party promised to confer large benefits upon him This Booke by the command of the Emperour was thrust upon the Reformed Churches and those who withstood it were severely punished either with imprisonment or banishment and as it happily fell out the fame of Bucer and hard fortune of his painfull contemporaneans came into England in the reigne of that vertuous Prince of blessed memory Edward the sixt even when a Reformation began to be established in the Church wherefore Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury perceiving that he would be advantagious in